JP5195585B2 - Communication quality priority setting system, method, apparatus, and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication quality priority setting system that sets priority for controlling communication quality for data that is layered and distributed by multicast.

  In the technical field of information distribution via a communication network, multicast distribution that can reduce the load on the communication network is used.

  In the technical fields of streaming distribution and real-time distribution, hierarchical distribution is performed in which distributed data is distributed in a plurality of layers. Specifically, in this hierarchical distribution, the distribution data is integrated with the basic hierarchy to ensure the minimum quality allowed for the transmission of information before distribution, and higher quality information is integrated with the basic hierarchy. Are divided into a plurality of hierarchies and one or more extended hierarchies for obtaining the hierarchy. A plurality of hierarchical data generated by hierarchization is distributed.

  With this hierarchical distribution, for example, the receiving terminal device on the receiving side selects the number of layers to be integrated so that the amount of data to be received becomes the amount of data that matches the data processing capability, the speed of the line used, etc. be able to. In that case, the receiving terminal device can output information of an appropriate amount of data according to its own data processing capability by receiving and integrating only the hierarchical data of the selected number of layers. On the other hand, the transmission device on the transmission side can perform data distribution without worrying about the data processing capability of the device on the reception side.

  For example, when receiving data for real-time video distribution at the receiving terminal device, if the data processing capability of the receiving terminal device is low, even if the distribution data is received as it is, frames may be dropped and the video may not be output properly. is there. In such a case, the receiving terminal device may be able to output a video with no frame dropout with a minimum quality by receiving and processing only the base layer data. In addition, if the terminal device has a high data processing capability, it is possible to output high-quality video by receiving and integrating hierarchical data of the extended hierarchy in addition to the basic hierarchy.

On the other hand, even when the number of layers to be integrated is determined based on the data processing capability of the receiving terminal device and the speed of the line used, depending on the congestion status of the communication network that changes from moment to moment, it Drops may occur.
Specifically, in real-time distribution and IP phone using a communication network, it is necessary to ensure a certain communication speed. If communication delay occurs due to congestion of the communication network, the audio and video will be interrupted. Output is impossible.

  In such a case, there is QoS (Quality of Service) as a technique for ensuring communication quality in a communication network. In the control using QoS, for example, a certain bandwidth is secured for specific communication on the communication network, or packet transfer based on priority is performed.

  In relation to the above-described technology, for example, in Patent Document 1, hierarchically encoded data is stored as a payload in a packet transmitted at a data transmission site, and at the hierarchical level of the encoded data stored in the packet. It is described that corresponding priority information is given to the packet header, and the data receiving side performs processing referring to the priority information.

JP 2003-152544 A

By the way, in the technique described in Patent Document 1, priority information is added to data at a data transmission site as a distribution device.
Therefore, it is not necessary for the distribution apparatus to support hierarchical distribution, and it is necessary to have a mechanism for adding priority information to data.

  Therefore, for example, when an attempt is made to implement the technology described in Patent Document 1 using an existing distribution device, the distribution device is modified to add a new mechanism for adding priority information to data. It is necessary and costly and troublesome.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described situation, and without adding a new mechanism for adding priority information to data to a distribution device that distributes distribution data in a hierarchical manner and distributes it to the data. An object of the present invention is to provide a communication quality priority setting system capable of setting a priority for controlling communication quality.

In order to achieve the above object, a communication quality priority setting system according to the first aspect of the present invention includes:
A distribution device that hierarchically distributes distribution data and distributes it by multicast;
Connected to the distribution device and a multicast communication network including a communication path of distribution data distributed by the distribution device and controlling communication quality based on a priority added to the data to be communicated, from the distribution device A communication quality priority setting device for setting priority to data transmitted to the multicast communication network;
A communication quality priority setting system comprising:
The distribution device includes:
The distribution data is hierarchized into a plurality of hierarchies composed of a lowest hierarchy that is a basic hierarchy and one or more upper hierarchies that are one or more extended hierarchies integrated with the basic hierarchy, Hierarchical data generation means for generating hierarchical data corresponding to each of the plurality of hierarchies;
Group address setting means for setting a group address of a multicast group for each hierarchy in each of a plurality of hierarchy data generated by the hierarchy data generating means;
Hierarchical data in which the group address set to each of the plurality of hierarchical data by the group address setting unit is added as destination information to the plurality of hierarchical data generated by the hierarchical data generation unit, and the destination information is added And hierarchical data transmission means for transmitting to the communication quality priority setting device,
The communication quality priority setting device includes:
Hierarchical data receiving means for receiving hierarchical data transmitted by the hierarchical data transmitting means;
Group address reading means for reading a group address added as destination information to the hierarchical data received by the hierarchical data receiving means;
Hierarchy discriminating means for discriminating the hierarchy of the hierarchical data received by the hierarchical data receiving means based on the group address read by the group address reading means;
Priority setting means for setting the highest priority to the lowest hierarchy and setting the priority to the hierarchy determined by the hierarchy determination means so as to set a lower priority for the higher hierarchy;
Priority adding means for adding the priority set by the priority setting means to the hierarchy data received by the hierarchy data receiving means;
Priority added hierarchy data transmitting means for transmitting the hierarchy data to which priority is added by the priority adding means to the multicast communication network,
It is characterized by that.

Further, the communication quality priority setting method according to the second aspect of the present invention includes:
A distribution device that hierarchically distributes distribution data and distributes it by multicast;
Connected to the distribution device and a multicast communication network including a communication path of distribution data distributed by the distribution device and controlling communication quality based on a priority added to the data to be communicated, from the distribution device A communication quality priority setting device for setting priority to data transmitted to the multicast communication network;
A communication quality priority setting method using a system comprising:
A plurality of hierarchies in which the distribution device comprises distribution data including a lowest hierarchy that is a basic hierarchy and one or more upper hierarchies that are one or more extended hierarchies integrated with the basic hierarchy A hierarchical data generation step for generating hierarchical data corresponding to each of the plurality of hierarchies;
A group address setting step in which the distribution device sets a group address of a multicast group for each layer in each of a plurality of layer data generated by the layer data generation step;
The distribution apparatus adds the group address set to each of the plurality of hierarchical data by the group address setting step to the plurality of hierarchical data generated by the hierarchical data generation step as destination information, and the destination information A hierarchical data transmission step of transmitting the added hierarchical data to the communication quality priority setting device;
A hierarchical data receiving step in which the communication quality priority setting device receives the hierarchical data transmitted by the hierarchical data transmitting step;
A group address reading step in which the communication quality priority setting device reads a group address added as destination information to the hierarchical data received by the hierarchical data receiving step;
A hierarchy determination step in which the communication quality priority setting device determines a hierarchy of hierarchy data received by the hierarchy data reception step based on the group address read by the group address reading step;
The communication quality priority setting device sets the priority to the hierarchy determined by the hierarchy determination step so that the highest priority is set to the lowest hierarchy and the lower priority is set to the higher hierarchy. A priority setting step;
A priority adding step in which the communication quality priority setting device adds the priority set by the priority setting step to the hierarchical data received by the hierarchical data reception step;
The communication quality priority setting device, the priority addition layer data transmission step of transmitting the layer data to which the priority is added in the priority addition step to the multicast communication network;
It is characterized by including.

A communication quality priority setting device according to the third aspect of the present invention is:
In order to distribute distribution data in a hierarchical manner and distribute it by multicast, the distribution data is divided into a lowermost hierarchy that is a basic hierarchy and one or more higher hierarchy that is one or more extended hierarchies integrated with the basic hierarchy. And generating hierarchical data corresponding to each of the plurality of hierarchical levels, and assigning a group address of a multicast group for each hierarchical level to each of the generated hierarchical data Setting, adding the group address set to each of the plurality of layer data to the generated plurality of layer data as destination information, and adding the layer data to which the destination information is added to the communication quality priority setting device A distribution device to transmit to,
A multicast communication network including a communication path of distribution data distributed by the distribution device and controlling communication quality based on a priority added to the data to be communicated;
A communication quality priority setting device for setting a priority for data transmitted from the distribution device to the multicast communication network,
Hierarchical data receiving means for receiving hierarchical data transmitted by the distribution device;
Group address reading means for reading a group address added as destination information to the hierarchical data received by the hierarchical data receiving means;
Hierarchy discriminating means for discriminating the hierarchy of the hierarchical data received by the hierarchical data receiving means based on the group address read by the group address reading means;
Priority setting means for setting the highest priority to the lowest hierarchy and setting the priority to the hierarchy determined by the hierarchy determination means so as to set a lower priority for the higher hierarchy;
Priority adding means for adding the priority set by the priority setting means to the hierarchy data received by the hierarchy data receiving means;
Priority addition layer data transmission means for transmitting the hierarchy data to which priority is added by the priority addition means to the multicast communication network;
It is characterized by providing.

A program according to the fourth aspect of the present invention is:
In order to distribute distribution data in a hierarchical manner and distribute it by multicast, the distribution data is divided into a lowermost hierarchy that is a basic hierarchy and one or more higher hierarchy that is one or more extended hierarchies integrated with the basic hierarchy. And generating hierarchical data corresponding to each of the plurality of hierarchical levels, and assigning a group address of a multicast group for each hierarchical level to each of the generated hierarchical data Setting, adding the group address set to each of the plurality of layer data to the generated plurality of layer data as destination information, and adding the layer data to which the destination information is added to the communication quality priority setting device A distribution device to transmit to,
A multicast communication network including a communication path of distribution data distributed by the distribution device and controlling communication quality based on a priority added to the data to be communicated;
A computer for setting a priority for data transmitted from the distribution device to the multicast communication network.
Hierarchical data receiving means for receiving hierarchical data transmitted by the distribution device;
Group address reading means for reading a group address added as destination information to the hierarchical data received by the hierarchical data receiving means;
Hierarchy discriminating means for discriminating the hierarchy of the hierarchical data received by the hierarchical data receiving means based on the group address read by the group address reading means;
Priority setting means for setting the priority to the hierarchy determined by the hierarchy determination means so as to set the highest priority to the lowest hierarchy and set the lower priority to the higher hierarchy,
Priority adding means for adding the priority set by the priority setting means to the hierarchy data received by the hierarchy data receiving means;
Priority addition layer data transmission means for transmitting the hierarchy data to which priority is added by the priority addition unit to the multicast communication network;
It is made to function as.

  According to the present invention, the priority for controlling the communication quality of data without adding a new mechanism for adding priority information to the data to the distribution device that distributes the distribution data in a hierarchical manner and distributes it by multicast. Can be set.

It is a block diagram which shows the system configuration example of the communication quality priority setting system which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the delivery server of FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating hierarchization of delivery data. It is a figure which shows the example of the hierarchy group address set to the hierarchy data for every hierarchy. It is a figure which shows the data structure example of an IP packet. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the SVC proxy of FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of a data structure of the table for priority setting. It is a block diagram which shows the hardware structural example of the SVC proxy of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the example of a procedure of the communication quality priority setting method. It is a block diagram which shows the system configuration example of the communication quality priority setting system which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the example of a partial system configuration for demonstrating the operation | movement in which the hierarchy group address set to hierarchy data with the delivery server is registered into a hierarchy group address management server. It is a figure which shows the example of a data structure of a hierarchy group address management table. It is a block diagram which shows the example of a partial system configuration for demonstrating the operation | movement by which the hierarchy of hierarchy data is discriminate | determined by an SVC proxy. It is a figure which shows an example of the bit string of the hierarchy group address in which hierarchy specific information is embedded. It is a figure which shows a mode that the hierarchy of the hierarchy data received by the hierarchy data receiving part is determined in a hierarchy discrimination | determination part based on the hierarchy group address read by the hierarchy group address reading part. It is a figure for demonstrating the specific example of the operation | movement in the communication quality priority setting system which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the example of a partial system configuration | structure for demonstrating the operation | movement by which the hierarchy of hierarchy data is discriminate | determined by the SVC proxy in the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the specific example of the operation | movement in the communication quality priority setting system which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same part in a figure, or an equivalent part, and in order to avoid the overlapping description, the description shall not be repeated.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system configuration example of a communication quality priority setting system 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 1, the communication quality priority setting system 1 according to the present embodiment includes a distribution server 11 and an SVC (Scalable Video Coding) proxy 12. The SVC proxy 12 is connected to an IP (Internet Protocol) multicast communication network 13.

  The IP multicast communication network 13 is also connected to a receiving terminal (not shown), and the receiving terminal and the SVC proxy 12 are connected via the IP multicast communication network 13.

  The distribution server 11 is a distribution device that distributes distribution data such as video data for distribution in a hierarchical manner.

The SVC proxy 12 is a relay device that relays transmission of distribution data distributed from the distribution server 11 to a receiving terminal connected to the IP multicast communication network 13.
The SVC proxy 12 is introduced at the network edge on the transmission side of the IP multicast communication network 13 and has a role as an edge router for connecting the distribution server 11 to the IP multicast communication network 13.

  The IP multicast communication network 13 is a TCP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol) network such as the Internet that includes a plurality of routers that can support multicast distribution using, for example, IGMP (Internet Group Management Protocol).

  The IP multicast communication network 13 includes a communication path for distribution data distributed by the distribution server 11, and a receiving terminal connected to the IP multicast communication network 13 distributes by the distribution server 11 via the IP multicast communication network 13. Receive distribution data.

  The IP multicast communication network 13 has a function of performing QoS (Quality of Service) control for ensuring communication quality. Specifically, the IP multicast communication network 13 uses a router in the IP multicast communication network 13 to control the communication quality based on the priority added to the data to be communicated.

  For example, the IP multicast communication network 13 refers to the priority added to the data, and preferentially transmits the data to which the higher priority is added than the data to which the lower priority is added.

  For this purpose, the SVC proxy 12 further sets a priority for data transmitted from the distribution server 11 toward the IP multicast communication network 13.

Next, each device constituting the communication quality priority setting system 1 will be specifically described.
First, the distribution server 11 will be described.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the distribution server 11.
As illustrated in FIG. 2, the distribution server 11 includes a hierarchical data generation unit 111, a hierarchical group address setting unit 112, and a hierarchical data transmission unit 113.

The hierarchical data generation unit 111 stratifies the distribution data into a plurality of hierarchies and generates hierarchical data corresponding to each of the plurality of hierarchies.
FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining distribution data hierarchization.
As shown in FIG. 3, the hierarchical data generation unit 111 specifically divides the distribution data into a plurality of hierarchies composed of a basic hierarchy and one or more extended hierarchies integrated with the basic hierarchy. To make it hierarchical.

  Here, the basic hierarchy is the lowest hierarchy, and the extended hierarchy is a hierarchy higher than the basic hierarchy. In addition, when there are a plurality of extended hierarchies, the lower one is closer to the basic hierarchy and the upper one is far from the basic hierarchy.

  In the present embodiment, a specific example will be described by taking as an example a case where distribution data is hierarchized into four hierarchies including one basic hierarchy and three extended hierarchies. In this case, the lowest hierarchy that is the basic hierarchy is referred to as the first hierarchy, the extended hierarchy that is one level higher than the first hierarchy is referred to as the second hierarchy, and the extended hierarchy that is one level higher than the second hierarchy is referred to as the third hierarchy. The extended hierarchy that is one level higher than the third hierarchy is called the fourth hierarchy.

  The first hierarchy data that is the hierarchy data of the first hierarchy can be restored to the distribution data independently. Distribution data restored from only the first layer data is referred to as integrated layer number 1 distribution data. The distribution data of the integrated hierarchy number 1 has a smaller data amount than the distribution data before being hierarchized. On the other hand, the information obtained from the distribution data having the integrated hierarchy number 1 is the minimum quality that is secured for the user to use the distribution data.

  The second hierarchy data that is the hierarchy data of the second hierarchy can be restored to the distribution data by being integrated with the first hierarchy data. The distribution data restored by integrating the first tier data and the second tier data is referred to as “integrated tier 2 distribution data”. The distribution data with the integrated hierarchy number 2 has a smaller data amount than the distribution data before being hierarchized, but the data amount becomes larger than the distribution data with the integration hierarchy number 1. On the other hand, the information obtained from the distribution data with the integrated hierarchy number 2 has a higher quality than the quality of the distribution data with the integration hierarchy number 1.

  The third hierarchy data that is the hierarchy data of the third hierarchy can be restored to the distribution data by being integrated with the first hierarchy data and the second hierarchy data. The distribution data restored by integrating the first layer data, the second layer data, and the third layer data is referred to as distribution data having three integrated layers. The distribution data with the integrated hierarchy number 3 has a smaller data amount than the distribution data before being hierarchized, but the data amount becomes larger than the distribution data with the integration hierarchy number 2. On the other hand, the information obtained from the distribution data with the integrated hierarchy number 3 has a higher quality than the quality of the distribution data with the integration hierarchy number 2.

  The fourth hierarchy data that is the hierarchy data of the fourth hierarchy can be restored to the distribution data by being integrated with the first hierarchy data, the second hierarchy data, and the third hierarchy data. The distribution data restored by integrating the first layer data, the second layer data, the third layer data, and the fourth layer data is referred to as distribution data having four integrated layers. The distribution data with the integrated hierarchy number 4 is equivalent to the distribution data before being hierarchized. Therefore, the distribution data with the integrated hierarchy number 4 has a larger data amount than the distribution data with the integration hierarchy number 3 and is the largest. On the other hand, the information obtained from the distribution data with the integrated hierarchy number 4 is the highest quality, which is higher than the quality of the distribution data with the integration hierarchy number 3.

  The hierarchical group address setting unit 112 sets a group address of a multicast group for each hierarchical level in each of a plurality of hierarchical data generated by the hierarchical data generation unit 111. Here, the group address set in the hierarchical data is referred to as a hierarchical group address.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the hierarchy group address set in the hierarchy data for each hierarchy.
As shown in FIG. 4, for example, when the distribution data is hierarchized into four hierarchies, the hierarchy group address setting unit 112 includes the first hierarchy data, the second hierarchy data, the third hierarchy data, and the fourth hierarchy data. A hierarchical group address is set for each of the above. Here, the hierarchical group address set in the first hierarchical data is referred to as the first hierarchical group address, the hierarchical group address set in the second hierarchical data is referred to as the second hierarchical group address, and is set in the third hierarchical data. The hierarchical group address is referred to as a third hierarchical group address, and the hierarchical group address set in the fourth hierarchical data is referred to as a fourth hierarchical group address.

  The hierarchical data transmission unit 113 transmits the plurality of hierarchical data generated by the hierarchical data generation unit 111 to the IP multicast communication network 13 via the SVC proxy 12. At that time, the hierarchical data transmission unit 113 adds the hierarchical group address set to each of the plurality of hierarchical data by the hierarchical group address setting unit 112 as destination information to the generated plurality of hierarchical data. The hierarchical data to which is added is transmitted to the SVC proxy 12.

  Specifically, the hierarchical data transmission unit 113 packetizes the hierarchical data and transmits it. In that case, the hierarchical data transmission unit 113 divides the hierarchical data into packets, generates a plurality of IP packets, and transmits the generated IP packets.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of the data structure of an IP packet.
As shown in FIG. 5, the IP packet is composed of a header part and a data part. The header part includes an area for storing a priority for QoS control such as a ToS (Type of Service) field, an area for storing a source IP address, and an area for storing a destination IP address. . The data portion stores divided data of hierarchical data divided by packetization.

  When generating the IP packet, the hierarchical data transmission unit 113 stores the divided data of the hierarchical data in the data part of the IP packet, and stores the hierarchical group address set in the hierarchical data as a destination in the header part. . Thereby, the hierarchical group address is added to the hierarchical data as destination information.

  Further, the hierarchical data transmission unit 113 stores the IP address of the distribution server 11 as a transmission source in the header part. The distribution server 11 does not store the priority in the header part. Therefore, an initial value of priority is stored in the header part of each IP packet.

  In this way, a plurality of hierarchical data divided from the distribution data are distributed by multicast via the SVC proxy 12. For example, when the distribution data is hierarchized into four layers, the first layer data is multicast-distributed with the first layer group address as the destination, the second layer data is distributed with the second layer group address as the destination, The third layer data is multicast distributed with the third layer group address as the destination, and the fourth layer data is multicast distributed with the fourth layer group address as the destination.

  A receiving terminal connected to the IP multicast communication network 13 participates in a multicast group, and receives data distributed by multicast with the group address of the group as a destination.

  A receiving terminal that participates in a group transmits to the IP multicast communication network 13 in advance a multicast participation report for notifying participation in the group. The multicast participation report is, for example, an IGMP membership report such as a Join message included in the IGMP message, and includes information on the group address of the group to participate in.

Next, the SVC proxy 12 will be described.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the SVC proxy 12.
As shown in FIG. 6, the SVC proxy 12 includes a hierarchical data receiving unit 121, a hierarchical group address reading unit 122, a hierarchical discrimination unit 123, a priority setting unit 124, a priority adding unit 125, and a priority adding unit. A hierarchical data transmission unit 126.

  The hierarchical data receiving unit 121 receives the hierarchical data transmitted by the hierarchical data transmitting unit 113 of the distribution server 11.

The hierarchical group address reading unit 122 reads a group address added as destination information to the hierarchical data received by the hierarchical data receiving unit 121.
Specifically, the hierarchical group address reading unit 122 reads the hierarchical group address from an area in which the destination IP address is stored with reference to the header portion of the packetized hierarchical data.

  The hierarchy determining unit 123 determines the hierarchy of the hierarchy data received by the hierarchy data receiving unit 121 based on the hierarchy group address read by the hierarchy group address reading unit 122.

  For this determination, for example, the SVC proxy 12 receives from the distribution server 11 information on each layer of layered distribution data and a layer group address for each layer, and the layer determination unit 123 refers to this information. This can be done by

  For example, the SVC proxy 12 receives information indicating the relationship between the hierarchy and the hierarchy group address as shown in FIG. 4 from the distribution server 11, and the hierarchy group address read by the hierarchy group address reading unit 122 is “ In the case of “224.1.4.6”, the hierarchy determination unit 123 determines that the hierarchy data received by the hierarchy data reception unit 121 is the third hierarchy.

  The priority setting unit 124 sets the priority to the hierarchy determined by the hierarchy determination unit 123 so that the highest priority is set to the lowest hierarchy and the lower priority is set to the higher hierarchy.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data structure of the priority setting table 127 used by the hierarchy determination unit 123 to set priorities for the hierarchies.
As illustrated in FIG. 7, the priority setting table stores a hierarchy and a priority set for the hierarchy in association with each other.

  In the present embodiment, the priority is indicated by a priority value that is a numerical value, and the priority value is higher as the numerical value is larger. In the present embodiment, for example, the priority setting unit 124 sets the priority value “3” to the first hierarchy that is the lowest hierarchy, and sets the priority value “2” to the second hierarchy that is one hierarchy higher. ”Is set, a priority value“ 1 ”is set for the third hierarchy that is one level higher, and a priority value“ 0 ”is set for the fourth highest hierarchy.

  Therefore, for example, when the hierarchy determination unit 123 determines that the hierarchy data received by the hierarchy data reception unit 121 is the third hierarchy, the priority setting unit 124 refers to the priority setting table 127. Thus, the priority value “1” is set in the hierarchy of the received hierarchy data.

The priority adding unit 125 adds the priority set by the priority setting unit 124 to the hierarchical data received by the hierarchical data receiving unit 121.
Specifically, the priority adding unit 125 sets the priority set by the priority setting unit 124 in an area in which the priority of the header portion shown in FIG. Store. Thereby, a priority is added to hierarchical data.

  For example, when the priority setting unit 124 sets the priority value “1” for the layer of the layer data received by the layer data receiving unit 121, the priority adding unit 125 sets the header portion of the packet of the layer data. Is stored with the priority value “1”.

The priority addition layer data transmission unit 126 transmits the layer data to which the priority is added by the priority addition unit 125 to the IP multicast communication network 13.
In this way, a priority is added to a plurality of hierarchical data divided from the distribution data, and the plurality of hierarchical data to which the priority is added is distributed to the IP multicast communication network 13 by multicast.

  As described above, the SVC proxy 12 has a communication quality priority setting function for setting priority to data transmitted from the distribution server 11 toward the IP multicast communication network 13. That is, the SVC proxy 12 also functions as a communication quality priority setting device.

The IP multicast communication network 13 refers to the priority added to the hierarchical data and preferentially transmits the hierarchical data to which the high priority is added.
Therefore, for example, when the first layer data to the fourth layer data are transmitted from the distribution server 11 to the receiving terminal connected to the IP multicast communication network 13, the communication capacity of the IP multicast communication network 13 has a margin. If there is, all the hierarchical data from the first hierarchical data to the fourth hierarchical data are transmitted to the receiving terminal. As a result, the receiving terminal receives and integrates the first layer data to the fourth layer data, and outputs the distribution data having the number of integrated layers 4.

  On the other hand, even when the first layer data to the fourth layer data are transmitted from the distribution server 11 to the receiving terminal, the IP multicast communication network 13 is requested to perform data communication exceeding the maximum communication capacity. The IP multicast communication network 13 preferentially transmits hierarchical data to which a high priority is added. As a result, for example, when the receiving terminal cannot receive the fourth layer data having the lowest priority, the receiving terminal receives and integrates the first layer data to the third layer data. The distribution data of the integrated hierarchy number 3 with low quality is output.

  As described above, in the communication quality priority setting system 1 according to the present embodiment, since high priority is added to the hierarchical data of the lower hierarchy necessary for integration, maximum communication to the IP multicast communication network 13 due to communication congestion or the like. Even when data communication exceeding capacity is required, the receiving side can preferentially receive lower-level hierarchical data necessary for integration, and it is possible to integrate hierarchical data while reducing quality. It becomes possible, and appropriate output can be performed.

Here, the hardware configuration of the SVC proxy 12 will be described.
FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of the SVC proxy 12.
As illustrated in FIG. 8, the SVC proxy 12 includes a communication unit 131, an input unit 132, an output unit 133, a storage unit 134, and a control unit 135 as hardware.

  The communication unit 131 includes a communication interface and is used for communication with other devices connected to the SVC proxy 12. Specifically, the SVC proxy 12 uses the communication unit 131 to transmit and receive data to and from the distribution server 11 and devices connected to the IP multicast communication network 13 such as a receiving terminal.

The input unit 132 includes input devices such as a keyboard and a mouse. Various information is input to the input unit 132 in accordance with an input operation by the operator.
The output unit 133 includes an output device such as a display and outputs various information.

  The storage unit 134 includes an auxiliary storage device such as a hard disk, and stores various information, programs, and the like. For example, the storage unit 134 stores a program for causing the SVC proxy 12 to realize the above-described communication quality priority setting function, a priority setting table 127, and the like.

  The control unit 135 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 136, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 137, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 138, and the like. The control unit 135 performs data arithmetic processing and controls the entire SVC proxy 12. Specifically, the calculation process and the control process in the control unit 135 are performed by the CPU 136 executing the control program stored in the ROM 137 while temporarily storing various data using the RAM 138 as a work area. Done.

  The control unit 135 controls the communication unit 131, the input unit 132, the output unit 133, and the storage unit 134 in accordance with the program stored in the ROM 137 or the storage unit 134, so that, for example, the communication quality priority level in the SVC proxy 12 The operation corresponding to the setting function is executed.

  Specifically, the SVC proxy 12 includes a hierarchical data reception unit 121, a hierarchical group address reading unit 122, a hierarchical determination unit 123, and a priority level illustrated in FIG. A setting unit 124, a priority adding unit 125, and a priority adding layer data transmitting unit 126 are provided.

In the above, the hardware configuration example of the SVC proxy 12 has been described with reference to FIG. 8, but the distribution server 11, and the hierarchical group address management server 14 and the receiving terminal 15 in the second embodiment to be described later are also illustrated in FIG. The hardware configuration similar to that shown in FIG.
In this case, each unit illustrated in FIG. 2 included in the distribution server 11 has a functional configuration realized by processing of the control unit of the distribution server 11.

Next, the procedure of the communication quality priority setting method performed using the communication quality priority setting system 1 will be described.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a procedure example of the communication quality priority setting method.
Note that this procedure is executed in each device of the distribution server 11 and the SVC proxy 12 included in the communication quality priority setting system 1 by controlling each device according to a program stored by each control unit.

  In this procedure, first, the distribution server 11 generates a plurality of hierarchical data from the distribution data (step S1). Specifically, the distribution server 11 stratifies the distribution data into a plurality of hierarchies, and generates hierarchical data corresponding to each of the plurality of hierarchies. At the time of this hierarchization, the distribution server 11 is composed of distribution data consisting of the lowest hierarchy, which is the basic hierarchy, and one or more higher hierarchy, which is one or more extended hierarchies integrated with the basic hierarchy. Hierarchy into multiple hierarchies.

Next, the distribution server 11 sets a hierarchy group address for each of the generated plurality of hierarchy data (step S2).
Subsequently, the distribution server 11 adds the hierarchy group address set to each of the plurality of hierarchy data in step S2 as the destination information to the plurality of hierarchy data generated in step S1, and the hierarchy to which the destination information is added Data is transmitted to the SVC proxy 12 (step S3).

  On the other hand, the SVC proxy 12 receives the hierarchical data transmitted from the distribution server 11 in step S3 (step S4), and reads the hierarchical group address added as destination information to the received hierarchical data (step S5).

  Next, the SVC proxy 12 determines the hierarchy of the hierarchy data received in step S4 based on the hierarchy group address read in step S5 (step S6).

  Subsequently, the SVC proxy 12 sets the priority to the hierarchy determined in step S6 so that the highest priority is set to the lowest hierarchy and the lower priority is set to the higher hierarchy (step S7). .

The SVC proxy 12 adds the priority set in step S7 to the hierarchical data received in step S4 (step S8).
Then, the SVC proxy 12 transmits the hierarchical data to which the priority is added in step S8 to the IP multicast communication network 13 (step S9), and this series of procedures ends.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the SVC proxy 13 sets the priority for controlling the communication quality in the hierarchical data.
Therefore, according to the communication quality priority setting system 1 according to the present embodiment, a new mechanism for adding priority information to data is added to the distribution server 11 that distributes the distribution data and distributes it by multicast. In addition, priority for controlling communication quality can be set for data.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a more detailed embodiment of the present invention will be described.
In the following embodiment, video data is taken as an example of the distribution data, and further, the three layers of the first layer to the third layer are provided so that the user can view the video data with three types of image quality. A specific example will be described with reference to an example of distribution in a hierarchical manner.

For convenience, the lowest image quality is referred to as the basic image quality, the image quality one step higher than the basic image quality is referred to as the medium image quality, and the image quality one step higher than the medium image quality is referred to as the high image quality.
Here, the first layer data is independently video data for basic image quality. The second tier data is integrated with the first tier data to be medium-quality video data. The third layer data is integrated with the first layer data and the second layer data to obtain video data for high image quality.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a system configuration example of the communication quality priority setting system 2 according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 10, the communication quality priority setting system 2 according to the second embodiment of the present invention has a hierarchical group address management server 14 in the configuration of the communication quality priority setting system 1 according to the first embodiment. And the receiving terminal 15 is added.
Note that, in the second embodiment, parts corresponding to the configurations described in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted to avoid duplication.

  The hierarchical group address management server 14 is connected to the SVC proxy 12 via the IP multicast communication network 13. The hierarchical group address management server 14 is connected to the distribution server 11 via the IP multicast communication network 13 and the SVC proxy 12.

The hierarchy group address management server 14 is an apparatus for storing and managing the hierarchy group address set in the hierarchy data for each hierarchy in the distribution server 11.
Specifically, the hierarchy group address management server 14 stores a hierarchy group address and a hierarchy identifier for identifying the hierarchy in association with each hierarchy. In the present embodiment, the layer names “first layer”, “second layer”, and “third layer” of each layer are directly used as layer identifiers.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating a partial system configuration example for explaining an operation of registering the hierarchical group address set in the hierarchical data in the distribution server 11 in the hierarchical group address management server 14.
As illustrated in FIG. 11, the distribution server 11 further includes a hierarchical group address setting information transmission unit 211 in addition to the configuration of the distribution server 11 illustrated in FIG. 2 of the first embodiment.

  The hierarchical group address setting information transmission unit 211 associates the hierarchical group address set for each of a plurality of hierarchical data with the hierarchical group address setting unit 112 and the hierarchical name of each of the hierarchical data, The address setting information is transmitted to the hierarchical group address management server 14.

The hierarchical group address management server 14 includes a hierarchical group address setting information receiving unit 241 and a hierarchical group address management table 242.
The hierarchical group address setting information receiving unit 241 receives the hierarchical group address setting information transmitted by the hierarchical group address setting information transmitting unit 211 of the distribution server 11.
The hierarchical group address management table 242 stores hierarchical group address setting information received by the hierarchical group address setting information receiving unit 241.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of the data structure of the hierarchical group address management table 242. As shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 12, the hierarchical group address management table 242 stores a hierarchical group address and a hierarchical name included in the hierarchical group address setting information in association with each hierarchical level.

  For example, when video data is hierarchized into three hierarchies from the first hierarchy to the third hierarchy in the distribution server 11, the hierarchy group address management table 242 includes the hierarchy group address set in the first hierarchy data. The hierarchy name “first hierarchy” is stored in association with each other. Similarly, the hierarchical group address management table 242 stores the hierarchical group address set in the second hierarchical data in association with the hierarchical name “second hierarchical level”, and sets the hierarchical level set in the third hierarchical data. The group address and the hierarchy name “third hierarchy” are stored in association with each other.

  When transmitting the multicast participation report to the IP multicast communication network 13, the receiving terminal 15 acquires the hierarchical group address specified by the multicast participation report from the hierarchical group address management table 242 of the hierarchical group address management server 14.

  For example, when the user wants to view high-quality video on the receiving terminal 15, the receiving terminal 15 accesses the hierarchical group address management server 14 and is associated with the first to third hierarchies from the hierarchical group address management table 242. Receive the current hierarchical group address. Then, the receiving terminal 15 generates three multicast participation reports that specify the respective hierarchical group addresses and transmits them to the IP multicast communication network 13.

  In addition, when the user views a medium-quality video with a smaller amount of data, the receiving terminal 15 receives the hierarchical group addresses associated with the first hierarchy and the second hierarchy from the hierarchical group address management table 242. Two multicast participation reports specifying the received hierarchical group address are transmitted. In addition, when the user views the video with the lowest image quality and the basic image quality, the hierarchical group address associated with the first hierarchy is received from the hierarchical group address management table 242 and the received hierarchical group address is designated. Send one multicast participation report.

  The IP multicast communication network 13 controls transmission of hierarchical data from the distribution server 11 to the receiving terminal 15 according to the multicast participation report transmitted from the receiving terminal 15. Specifically, the IP multicast communication network 13 refers to the destination of the hierarchical data passing through the IP multicast communication network 13, and the destination is the hierarchical group address specified by the multicast participation report transmitted from the receiving terminal 15. If so, the hierarchical data is transmitted to the receiving terminal 15.

  For this reason, the receiving terminal 15 receives only the hierarchical data destined for the hierarchical group address specified by the multicast participation report transmitted from the receiving terminal 15 among the plurality of hierarchical data transmitted from the distribution server 11. Receive via the multicast communication network 13.

  For example, when the first tier data to the third tier data are multicast delivered from the delivery server 11, only two multicast participation reports that specify the first and second tier group addresses respectively from the receiving terminal 15 are IP When transmitted to the multicast communication network 13, the receiving terminal 15 receives only the first layer data and the second layer data.

  The receiving terminal 15 restores the distribution data by integrating the received hierarchical data. For example, when receiving only the first layer data and the second layer data, the receiving terminal 15 integrates them and restores the distribution data of the integrated layer number 2.

  Next, in the communication quality priority setting system 2 according to the second embodiment, an operation in which the SVC proxy 12 determines the hierarchy of the hierarchy data received from the distribution server 11 will be specifically described.

  This operation is received by the hierarchical data receiving unit 121 based on the hierarchical group address read by the hierarchical group address reading unit 122 by the hierarchical determining unit 123 of the SVC proxy 12 shown in FIG. 6 of the first embodiment. This corresponds to the operation of determining the hierarchy of the hierarchy data.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing an example of a partial system configuration for explaining the operation of determining the hierarchy of hierarchical data by the SVC proxy 12.
In FIG. 13, for simplification of description, the configuration related to the operation of determining the hierarchy of the hierarchy data by the SVC proxy 12 is mainly shown.

First, the operation on the distribution server 11 side will be described.
As illustrated in FIG. 13, the hierarchical group address setting unit 112 of the distribution server 11 includes an embedded hierarchical group address generation unit 212 and an embedded hierarchical group address setting unit 213.

  The embedded layer group address generation unit 212 generates a layer group address in which layer specifying information for specifying a layer is embedded for each layer of the plurality of layer data generated by the layer data generation unit 111.

Here, an information embedding rule for embedding hierarchy specifying information in a hierarchy group address will be described.
FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of a bit string of a hierarchy group address in which hierarchy specifying information is embedded.
In the present embodiment, a case will be described in which the hierarchical group address is, for example, an IPv4 (Internet Protocol Version 4) 32-bit group address.

  The embedded hierarchy group address generation unit 212 generates, as hierarchy specification information, a hierarchy specification value that is a value for specifying a hierarchy and the total number of layers of a plurality of hierarchy data generated by the hierarchy data generation unit 111. Embed in the group address.

For this purpose, the embedded hierarchy group address generation unit 212 converts a part of the bit string indicating the hierarchy group address into a hierarchy specific value bit string area, which is an area in which the hierarchy specific value is set, as shown in FIG. It is assumed that the number of all hierarchies bit string area is an area where the number is set.
In the example of FIG. 14, a total of 8 bits from the 0th bit to the 7th bit of the hierarchical group address are set as the hierarchical specific value bit string area, and a total of 4 bits from the 8th bit to the 11th bit are set as the total hierarchy number bit string area.

  When generating the hierarchical group address for each hierarchy, the embedded hierarchical group address generation unit 212 sets the total number of hierarchies in the total hierarchical number bit string area of the hierarchical group address of each hierarchy.

  For example, when the video data is hierarchized into three hierarchies from the first hierarchy to the third hierarchy, since the total number of hierarchies is 3, the embedded hierarchy group address generation unit 212 uses the first hierarchy group address. , The 4-bit binary number “0011” of the decimal number “3” is set in each of the all-layer number bit string areas of the second layer group address and the third layer group address.

  The embedded hierarchy group address generation unit 212 has a remainder obtained by dividing by the total number of hierarchies set in the total hierarchy number bit string area in the hierarchy specific value bit string area of the hierarchy group address of the first hierarchy which is the lowest hierarchy. Set a value that is. That is, the embedded hierarchy group address generation unit 212 sets a value that is divisible by the total number of hierarchies in the hierarchy specific value bit string area of the lowest hierarchy first address.

  In the example of FIG. 14, the embedded hierarchy group address generation unit 212 sets the 8-bit binary number “00000011” of 3 that is a value divisible by the total hierarchy number 3 in the hierarchy specific value bit string area of the first hierarchy group address. ing.

  Also, the embedded layer group address generation unit 212 has a first bit in the layer specific value bit string region of the layer group address of the (1 + n) layer, which is a layer higher by n layers (n is a natural number) than the lowest layer. A value obtained by adding n to the value set in the hierarchy specific value bit string area of the hierarchy group address of the hierarchy is set.

For example, when 3 is set in the hierarchy specific value bit string area of the lowest first hierarchy group address, the embedded hierarchy group address generation unit 212 specifies the hierarchy of the second hierarchy group address one hierarchy higher than the lowest. A value 4 (8-bit binary number “00000100”) obtained by adding 1 to 3 is set in the value bit string area.
Also, the embedded layer group address generation unit 212 adds a value 5 (8-bit binary number “00000101”) obtained by adding 2 to 3 to the layer specific value bit string region of the third layer group address two layers higher than the lowest. Set.

The embedded hierarchy group address generation unit 212 sets a common value in the 12th to 31st bits of the hierarchy group address of each hierarchy.
According to such an information embedding rule, the embedded hierarchy group address generation unit 212 generates a hierarchy group address in which the hierarchy specifying information is embedded for each hierarchy.

  In the example of FIG. 14, when the group address is divided and expressed in bytes, the embedded layer group address generation unit 212 applies the information embedding rule to generate “224.1.3.3” as the first layer group address. Then, “224.1.3.4” is generated as the second layer group address, and “224.1.3.5” is generated as the third layer group address.

  The embedded hierarchy group address setting unit 213 adds a hierarchical group address generated by the embedded hierarchy group address generation unit 212 for each hierarchy of the plurality of hierarchy data to each of the plurality of hierarchy data generated by the hierarchy data generation unit 111. Set.

  For example, when the layer group address for each layer illustrated in FIG. 14 is generated, the embedded layer group address setting unit 213 sets the first layer group address “224.1.3.3” in the first layer data, The second layer group address “224.1.3.4” is set in the second layer data, and the third layer group address “224.1.3.5” is set in the third layer data.

  The hierarchical data transmission unit 113 adds the group address set to each of the plurality of hierarchical data by the embedded hierarchical group address setting unit 213 as destination information to the multiple hierarchical data generated by the hierarchical data generation unit 111. The hierarchical data to which the destination information is added is transmitted to the SVC proxy 12.

Next, the operation on the SVC proxy 12 side will be described.
The hierarchy determining unit 123 of the SVC proxy 12 includes a hierarchy specifying information extracting unit 221 and a hierarchy specifying information determining unit 222.

  The hierarchy specifying information extracting unit 221 extracts the hierarchy specifying information embedded in the hierarchy group address from the hierarchy group address read by the hierarchy group address reading unit 122.

  Specifically, the hierarchy specifying information extraction unit 221 extracts the hierarchy specifying value from the hierarchy specifying value bit string area of the hierarchy group address read by the hierarchy group address reading unit 122, and the total hierarchy number bit string area of the hierarchy group address Extract the total number of hierarchies from

  In this case, the hierarchy specifying information extraction unit 221 first determines the hierarchy specific value bit string region and all of the bit string of the hierarchy group address based on the information embedding rule used by the embedded hierarchy group address generation unit 212 of the distribution server 11. The number of hierarchy bit string area is specified.

  For example, when the information embedding rule conforms to the bit string of the hierarchical group address illustrated in FIG. 14, the hierarchical specification information extraction unit 221 specifies the 0th to 7th bits of the hierarchical group address as the hierarchical specific value bit string region. , 8th to 11th bits are specified as the total number of bit string areas.

  The information embedding rule information necessary for specifying the hierarchy specific value bit string area and the total hierarchy number bit string area of the hierarchy group address is stored in advance in the storage unit 134 of the SVC proxy 12, for example.

  The hierarchy specifying information extraction unit 221 refers to the specified hierarchy specific value bit string area and the total hierarchy number bit string area, and acquires the hierarchy specific value and the total hierarchy number embedded in the hierarchy group address.

  FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating how the hierarchy determination unit 123 determines the hierarchy of the hierarchy data received by the hierarchy data reception unit 121 based on the hierarchy group address read by the hierarchy group address reading unit 122.

  As shown in FIG. 15, for example, when the hierarchical group address “224.1.3.4” added as the destination information to the hierarchical data is read by the hierarchical group address reading unit 122, the hierarchical specific information extracting unit 221 Based on the information embedding rule according to the example of FIG. 14, the number of all layers X = 3 and the layer specific value Y = 4 are extracted from the layer group address.

  Next, the hierarchy specifying information determination unit 222 specifies the hierarchy from the hierarchy specifying information extracted by the hierarchy specifying information extraction unit 221. Then, the hierarchy specifying information determination unit 222 determines that the specified hierarchy is the hierarchy of the hierarchy data received by the hierarchy data reception unit 121.

Specifically, the hierarchy specifying information determining unit 222 determines the hierarchy of the hierarchy data based on the total number of hierarchies X extracted by the hierarchy specifying information extracting unit 221 and the hierarchy specifying value Y.
For this purpose, the hierarchy specifying information discriminating unit 222 first divides the hierarchy specifying value Y extracted by the hierarchy specifying information extracting unit 221 by the total number of hierarchies X extracted by the hierarchy specifying information extracting unit 221 as well. m is determined. Then, the hierarchy specifying information determination unit 222 determines from the value of the remainder m that the hierarchy of the hierarchy data received by the hierarchy data reception unit 121 is the (1 + m) th hierarchy.

  As a result, if m = 0, the hierarchy specifying information determination unit 222 determines the hierarchy of the hierarchy data as the lowest first hierarchy. Further, if m = 1, it is determined as a second layer that is one layer higher than the first layer, and if m = 2, it is determined as a third layer that is two layers higher than the first layer.

For example, when the hierarchy specific information extraction unit 221 extracts the total hierarchy number X = 3 and the hierarchy specific value Y = 4,
Remainder m = mod (Y, X) = mod (4,3) = 1
Therefore, the hierarchy specifying information determination unit 222 determines that the (1 + m) hierarchy = the second hierarchy is the hierarchy of the hierarchy data received by the hierarchy data reception unit 121.

  The priority setting unit 124 sets the priority to the hierarchy determined by the hierarchy specifying information extraction unit 221.

Here, a specific example of the operation in the communication quality priority setting system 2 will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 16, the distribution server 11 includes a video data DB (Data Base) 261, a hierarchical encoding function 262, and a group address setting function 263.

  The video data DB 261 is a database that stores video data for distribution. The video data DB 261 is stored, for example, in the storage unit of the distribution server 11.

  The hierarchical encoding function 262 is a function for reading video data from the video data DB 261 and hierarchically encoding the read video data. This hierarchical encoding function 262 is realized by, for example, the hierarchical data generation unit 111 described above.

  Here, for example, the hierarchical encoding function 262 allows the video data to be reproduced in the first layer data necessary for reproduction with the basic image quality, the second layer data necessary for reproduction in the medium image quality, and the reproduction with high image quality. The data is divided into the required third layer data and three layer data, and each layer data is encoded.

  The group address setting function 263 is a function for setting a group address in each hierarchical data generated by the hierarchical encoding of the hierarchical encoding function 262. The group address setting function 263 is realized by the above-described hierarchical group address setting unit 112, for example.

  Here, for example, the group address setting function 263 sets the group address “224.1.3.3” in the first layer data and the group address “224.1.3.4” in the second layer data based on the information embedding rule described above. The group address “224.1.3.5” is set in the third layer data.

(1) Hierarchical Group Address Registration The distribution server 11 registers the group address set in the hierarchical data by the group address setting function 263 as a hierarchical group address in the hierarchical group address management table 242 of the hierarchical group address management server 14.

  For example, the hierarchy group address management table 242 associates the first hierarchy group address “224.1.3.3” with the hierarchy name “first hierarchy”, and associates the second hierarchy group address “224.1.3.4” with the hierarchy name “second hierarchy”. The third layer group address “224.1.3.5” is stored in association with the layer name “third layer”.

(2) Hierarchical Data Transmission The distribution server 11 packetizes each hierarchical data generated by the hierarchical encoding function 262 and distributes it by multicast using the hierarchical group address set by the group address setting function 263.

For example, the distribution server 11 transmits hierarchically encoded data according to “H.264 / AVC (Advanced Video Coding) Annex G”.
In this case, assuming that the unicast IP address of the distribution server 11 is “192.168.1.1” and the data transmission path is expressed as (source, destination), the first layer data is (192.168.1.1, 224.1.3.3) The second layer data is transmitted at (192.168.1.1, 224.1.3.4), and the third layer data is transmitted at (192.168.1.1, 224.1.3.5).

(3) Hierarchy calculation The SVC proxy 12 includes a QoS setting function 271.
The QoS setting function 271 is a function for setting information for QoS control in each hierarchical data of video data distributed from the distribution server 11 to the receiving terminal 15 via the IP multicast communication network 13.
The QoS setting function 271 includes, for example, the hierarchical data receiving unit 121, the hierarchical group address reading unit 122, the hierarchical discrimination unit 123, the priority setting unit 124, the priority adding unit 125, and the priority adding layer. This is realized by the data transmission unit 126.

  With the QoS setting function 271, the SVC proxy 12 first calculates the hierarchy of the hierarchy data received from the distribution server 11.

  For example, when the SVC proxy 12 receives, from the distribution server 11, hierarchical data in which the hierarchical group address “224.1.3.3” is set as a destination, it uses the expression mod (Y, X) based on the information embedding rule described above. The hierarchy is calculated to determine that it is the first hierarchy. Further, by the same calculation, when receiving hierarchical data in which the hierarchical group address “224.1.3.4” is set as the destination from the distribution server 11, it is determined to be the second hierarchical level, and the hierarchical group address “224.1. When the hierarchical data set with “3.5” is received, it is determined that it is the third hierarchical level.

(4) QoS Setting When the hierarchy of the hierarchical data is determined, the SVC proxy 12 further sets QoS control information in the hierarchical data based on the determination result by the QoS setting function 271.
Specifically, the SVC proxy 12 adds a priority value such as a ToS value to the header part of the packet of the hierarchical data.

  For example, when the SVC proxy 12 determines that the hierarchy data is the first hierarchy, the priority value 3 is added to the hierarchy data. Further, when the hierarchical data is determined to be the second hierarchy, the priority value 2 is added to the hierarchical data, and when the hierarchical data is determined to be the third hierarchy, the priority value 1 is added to the hierarchical data. Here, the higher the numerical value, the higher the priority.

Then, the SVC proxy 12 transmits the hierarchical data to which the priority value is added to the IP multicast communication network 13.
Thus, the IP multicast communication network 13 performs QoS control based on the priority value added to the hierarchical data passing through the IP multicast communication network 13.

  According to the second embodiment of the present invention described above, the SVC proxy 12 discriminates the hierarchy of the hierarchy data transmitted from the distribution server 11 by calculation without referring to the hierarchy group address management table 252. be able to.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, even if the receiving terminal 15 requests hierarchical data of the first to third layers in order to output video with high image quality, the IP multicast communication network 13 By QoS control according to the amount of communication data, when the line is congested or the like, the hierarchical data of the lower hierarchy is preferentially transmitted, and the receiving terminal 15 can output the video with medium image quality or basic image quality.

[Third Embodiment]
In the second embodiment, an example of the operation of determining the hierarchy of the hierarchical data by the SVC proxy 12 has been described with reference to FIG. 13, but another example of the operation will be described as the third embodiment.

The system configuration example of the communication quality priority setting system 3 according to the third embodiment is the same as the system configuration example shown in FIG. 10 of the second embodiment.
The third embodiment differs from the second embodiment in the operation of the hierarchy group address setting unit 112 of the distribution server 11 and the operation of the hierarchy determination unit 123 of the SVC proxy 12. A part of the configuration is added to the address management server 14.

FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing a partial system configuration example for explaining an operation of determining the hierarchy of hierarchical data by the SVC proxy 12 in the third exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
In FIG. 17, for simplification of description, the configuration related to the operation of determining the hierarchy of the hierarchy data by the SVC proxy 12 is mainly shown.
In the third embodiment, parts corresponding to the configurations described in the first and second embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted to avoid duplication.

  First, the hierarchical group address setting unit 112 of the distribution server 11 in the third embodiment includes the embedded hierarchical group address generation unit 212, the embedded hierarchical group address setting unit 213, and the second exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. It does not have to be provided. That is, the distribution server 11 in the third embodiment does not have to generate a hierarchical group address according to the information embedding rule described in the second embodiment, and can set an arbitrary hierarchical group address in each hierarchical data. it can.

As illustrated in FIG. 17, the hierarchy determination unit 123 of the SVC proxy 12 includes a transmission request information transmission unit 321 and a request hierarchy determination unit 322.
The hierarchical group address management server 14 includes a transmission request information receiving unit 341 and a hierarchical identifier transmitting unit 342 in addition to the hierarchical group address setting information receiving unit 241 and the hierarchical group address management table 242.

  When the hierarchical group address is read by the hierarchical group address reading unit 122, the transmission request information transmitting unit 321 of the SVC proxy 12 obtains a hierarchical identifier of the read hierarchical group address from the hierarchical group address management server 14. Transmission request information is transmitted to the address management server 14.

  The transmission request information includes a hierarchical group address read by the hierarchical group address reading unit 122 and a transmission request for a hierarchical identifier associated with the hierarchical group address.

In the hierarchical group address management server 14, the transmission request information receiving unit 341 receives the transmission request information transmitted by the transmission request information transmitting unit 321 of the SVC proxy 12.
The hierarchy identifier transmission unit 342 reads a hierarchy identifier corresponding to the transmission request information received by the transmission request information reception unit 341 from the hierarchy group address management table 242 and transmits the read hierarchy identifier to the SVC proxy 13.

  Specifically, the hierarchy identifier transmission unit 342 reads a hierarchy identifier associated with the hierarchy group address included in the transmission request information from the hierarchy group address management table 242 in accordance with the transmission request information.

  For example, the hierarchical group address management server 14 stores the hierarchical group address management table 242 illustrated in FIG. 12 of the second embodiment, and the transmission request information includes the hierarchical group address “224.1.3.4”. Is read from the hierarchy group address management table 242 as the hierarchy identifier “second hierarchy”.

  The request hierarchy determination unit 322 of the SVC proxy 12 receives the hierarchy identifier transmitted by the hierarchy identifier transmission unit 342 of the hierarchy group address management server 14. Thereby, the request hierarchy determination unit 322 can receive the hierarchy identifier transmitted from the hierarchy group address management server 14 in accordance with the transmission request information transmitted by the transmission request information transmission unit 321.

  For example, in the SVC proxy 12, when the transmission request information transmission unit 321 transmits the transmission request information including the hierarchical group address “224.1.3.4”, the request hierarchy determination unit 322 responds to the transmission request information, The hierarchy name “second hierarchy” is received.

  Then, the requested hierarchy determination unit 322 determines that the hierarchy identified by the received hierarchy identifier is the hierarchy of the hierarchy data received by the hierarchy data reception unit 121, and uses the priority setting unit 124 for the information on the determined hierarchy. To supply.

Here, a specific example of the operation in the communication quality priority setting system 3 according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
In FIG. 18 of the third embodiment, the same parts as those of FIG. 16 of the second embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted to avoid duplication.

FIG. 18 is different from FIG. 16 in (3).
In the example illustrated in FIG. 18, it is assumed that an arbitrary hierarchical group address is set for each hierarchical data by the group address setting function 263 of the distribution server 11. As a result, the hierarchical group address “224.1.3.10” is set in the first hierarchical data, the hierarchical group address “224.1.3.20” is set in the second hierarchical data, and the hierarchical group address “224.1. 3.30 "shall be set.

(1) Hierarchical group address registration and (2) Hierarchical data transmission (1) and (2) in FIG. 18 are executed in the same manner as (1) and (2) in FIG. Send.

(3) Hierarchical Group Address Hierarchical Search Request The QoS setting function 271 causes the SVC proxy 12 to send a hierarchical group address hierarchical search request read from the destination information of the hierarchical data received from the distribution server 11 to the hierarchical group address management server 14. To do.

  Specifically, the hierarchical search request is transmitted by transmitting transmission request information including a hierarchical group address and a transmission request for a hierarchical name associated with the hierarchical group address to the hierarchical group address management server 14. Executed.

  The hierarchical group address management server 14 executes a search in response to a hierarchical search request from the SVC proxy 12 and reads the hierarchical name of the hierarchical group address read by the SVC proxy 12 from the hierarchical group address management table 242. Then, the read hierarchy name is transmitted to the SVC proxy 12 as a response to the hierarchy search request.

  The above-described operation of the hierarchical group address management server 14 is executed by the transmission request information receiving unit 341 and the hierarchical identifier transmitting unit 342 shown in FIG.

  The SVC proxy 12 receives a hierarchy name as a response to the hierarchy search request from the hierarchy group address management server 14.

  For example, when the SVC proxy 12 receives from the distribution server 11 hierarchy data in which the hierarchy group address “224.1.3.10” is set as the destination, the SVC proxy 12 receives the hierarchy name “first hierarchy” as a response to the hierarchy search request. It is determined that it is the first hierarchy. Further, when hierarchical data in which the hierarchical group address “224.1.3.20” is set as the destination is received from the distribution server 11 by the same hierarchical search request, it is determined that it is the second hierarchical level, and the hierarchical group address “ When the hierarchical data set with “224.1.3.30” is received, it is determined that it is the third hierarchical level.

(4) QoS Setting FIG. 18 (4) is executed in the same manner as (4) in FIG. 16, and the SVC proxy 12 uses the QoS setting function 271 to add QoS control information to hierarchical data based on the determination result. Set.

  According to the third embodiment of the present invention described above, the SVC proxy 12 refers to the hierarchical group address management table 242 even when the distribution server 11 sets an arbitrary hierarchical group address in the hierarchical data. Thus, the hierarchy of the hierarchy data transmitted from the distribution server 11 can be determined.

As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, in implementing this invention, a deformation | transformation and application by a various form are possible, and it is not restricted to the said 1st-3rd embodiment.
For example, in FIG. 10, the distribution server 11, the receiving terminal 15, and the SVC proxy 12 are shown one by one, but a plurality of SVC proxies 12 and receiving terminals 15 are connected to the IP multicast communication network 13. Alternatively, a plurality of distribution servers 11 may be connected to the SVC proxy 12. 1 and 10 show the IP multicast communication network 13, it may be a multicast communication network other than IP.

  Furthermore, the function of the SVC proxy 12 according to the above-described embodiment can be realized by dedicated hardware or by a normal computer system.

  For example, in the above embodiment, the program stored in the storage unit 134 of the SVC proxy 12 is a flexible disk, a CD-ROM (Compact Disk Read-Only Memory), a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk), or an MO (Magneto-Optical disk). By storing the program in a computer-readable recording medium such as the computer and distributing the program and installing the program in the computer, an apparatus that executes the above-described processing can be configured.

  Further, the program may be stored in a disk device or the like included in a predetermined server device on a communication network such as the Internet, and may be downloaded onto a computer by being superimposed on a carrier wave, for example.

The above-described processing can also be achieved by starting and executing a program while transferring it via a communication network.
Furthermore, the above-described processing can also be achieved by executing all or part of the program on the server device and executing the program while the computer transmits and receives information regarding the processing via the communication network.

  Note that when the above functions are realized by sharing an OS (Operating System) or when the functions are realized by cooperation between the OS and an application, only the part other than the OS may be stored in a medium and distributed. It may also be downloaded to a computer.

  As with the SVC proxy 12, the functions of the distribution server 11, the hierarchical group address management server 14, and the receiving terminal 15 according to the above-described embodiment are also realized by dedicated hardware or by a normal computer system. can do.

  It should be noted that the present invention can be variously modified and modified without departing from the broad spirit and scope of the present invention. Further, the above-described embodiment is for explaining the present invention, and does not limit the scope of the present invention. That is, the scope of the present invention is shown not by the embodiments but by the claims. Various modifications within the scope of the claims and within the scope of the equivalent invention are considered to be within the scope of the present invention.

1, 2, 3 Communication quality priority setting system 11 Distribution server 12 SVC proxy 13 IP multicast communication network 14 Hierarchical group address management server 15 Receiving terminal 111 Hierarchical data generation unit 112 Hierarchical group address setting unit 113 Hierarchical data transmission unit 121 Hierarchical data Receiving unit 122 Hierarchical group address reading unit 123 Hierarchy discriminating unit 124 Priority setting unit 125 Priority adding unit 126 Priority adding layer data transmitting unit 127 Priority setting table 131 Communication unit 132 Input unit 133 Output unit 134 Storage unit 135 Control Part 136 CPU
137 ROM
138 RAM
211 Hierarchical Group Address Setting Information Transmitting Unit 212 Embedded Hierarchical Group Address Generation Unit 213 Embedded Hierarchical Group Address Setting Unit 221 Hierarchy Specific Information Extracting Unit 222 Hierarchy Specific Information Discriminating Unit 241 Hierarchical Group Address Setting Information Receiving Unit 242 Hierarchical Group Address Management Table 261 Video data DB
262 Hierarchical encoding function 263 Group address setting function 271 QoS setting function 321 Transmission request information transmission unit 322 Request hierarchy determination unit 341 Transmission request information reception unit 342 Hierarchy identifier transmission unit

Claims (7)

A distribution device that hierarchically distributes distribution data and distributes it by multicast;
Connected to the distribution device and a multicast communication network including a communication path of distribution data distributed by the distribution device and controlling communication quality based on a priority added to the data to be communicated, from the distribution device A communication quality priority setting device for setting priority to data transmitted to the multicast communication network;
A communication quality priority setting system comprising:
The distribution device includes:
The distribution data is hierarchized into a plurality of hierarchies composed of a lowest hierarchy that is a basic hierarchy and one or more upper hierarchies that are one or more extended hierarchies integrated with the basic hierarchy, Hierarchical data generation means for generating hierarchical data corresponding to each of the plurality of hierarchies;
Group address setting means for setting a group address of a multicast group for each hierarchy in each of a plurality of hierarchy data generated by the hierarchy data generating means;
Hierarchical data in which the group address set to each of the plurality of hierarchical data by the group address setting unit is added as destination information to the plurality of hierarchical data generated by the hierarchical data generation unit, and the destination information is added And hierarchical data transmission means for transmitting to the communication quality priority setting device,
The communication quality priority setting device includes:
Hierarchical data receiving means for receiving hierarchical data transmitted by the hierarchical data transmitting means;
Group address reading means for reading a group address added as destination information to the hierarchical data received by the hierarchical data receiving means;
Hierarchy discriminating means for discriminating the hierarchy of the hierarchical data received by the hierarchical data receiving means based on the group address read by the group address reading means;
Priority setting means for setting the highest priority to the lowest hierarchy and setting the priority to the hierarchy determined by the hierarchy determination means so as to set a lower priority for the higher hierarchy;
Priority adding means for adding the priority set by the priority setting means to the hierarchy data received by the hierarchy data receiving means;
Priority added hierarchy data transmitting means for transmitting the hierarchy data to which priority is added by the priority adding means to the multicast communication network,
A communication quality priority setting system. The group address setting means of the distribution device includes:
Embedded group address generating means for generating a group address in which hierarchy specifying information for specifying a hierarchy is embedded for each hierarchy of a plurality of hierarchical data generated by the hierarchical data generating means;
Embedded group address setting means for setting a group address generated for each hierarchy of the plurality of hierarchical data by the embedded group address generating means for each of the plurality of hierarchical data generated by the hierarchical data generating means; Have
The hierarchy discrimination means of the communication quality priority setting device is:
Hierarchy specifying information extracting means for extracting, from the group address read by the group address reading means, hierarchy specifying information embedded in the group address;
Hierarchy specifying information determining means for determining that the hierarchy specified by the hierarchy specifying information extracted by the hierarchy specifying information extracting means is a hierarchy of the hierarchy data received by the hierarchy data receiving means,
The communication quality priority setting system according to claim 1. The embedded group address generating means included in the group address setting means of the distribution device includes:
In order to embed a hierarchy specific value, which is a value for specifying a hierarchy, and the total number of hierarchies of a plurality of hierarchical data generated by the hierarchical data generation means, in the group address as the hierarchy specifying information, A part of the bit string shown is a hierarchy specific value bit string area that is an area in which the hierarchy specific value is set and an all hierarchy bit string area that is an area in which the total number of hierarchies is set. In the hierarchy specific value bit string area of the group address of one hierarchy, a value in which the remainder obtained by dividing the total hierarchy number set in the total hierarchy bit string area is 0 is set to n hierarchy (n is a natural number) from the lowest hierarchy. ) Is set to the hierarchy specific value bit string area of the group address of the first hierarchy, in the hierarchy specific value bit string area of the group address of the (1 + n) hierarchy which is the upper hierarchy. By setting the value obtained by adding n to the value, it generates a group address hierarchy specified information is embedded,
The hierarchy specifying information extraction means included in the hierarchy determination means of the communication quality priority setting device includes:
Extracting the hierarchy specific value from the hierarchy specific value bit string area of the group address read by the group address reading means, extracting the total hierarchy number from the total hierarchy number bit string area of the group address;
The hierarchy specifying information determining means included in the hierarchy determining means of the communication quality priority setting device,
Based on the hierarchy specific value extracted by the hierarchy specific information extracting means and the total number of hierarchies, a remainder m obtained by dividing the hierarchy specific value by the total number of hierarchies is obtained, and the hierarchy data received by the hierarchical data receiving means is obtained. The hierarchy is determined to be the (1 + m) th hierarchy.
The communication quality priority setting system according to claim 2. A hierarchy group address storage device connected to the distribution device and the communication quality priority setting device, and storing a group address and a hierarchy identifier for identifying the hierarchy in association with each hierarchy;
The distribution device further includes:
Setting information transmission means for associating the group address set for each of the plurality of hierarchical data by the group address setting means and the hierarchical identifier of each hierarchy of the plurality of hierarchical data to the hierarchical group address storage device Have
The hierarchical group address storage device includes:
Setting information receiving means for receiving a group address and a hierarchy identifier transmitted by the setting information transmitting means of the distribution device;
Setting information storage means for storing the group address and the hierarchy identifier received by the setting information receiving means in association with each hierarchy;
The hierarchy discrimination means of the communication quality priority setting device is:
Transmission request information transmitting means for transmitting transmission request information including a group address read by the group address reading means and a transmission request for a hierarchical identifier associated with the group address to the hierarchical group address storage device;
A hierarchy identifier transmitted from the hierarchy group address storage device in response to transmission request information transmitted by the transmission request information transmission means, and a hierarchy identified by the received hierarchy identifier is the hierarchy data reception means Request layer determining means for determining that it is a layer of the layer data received by
The hierarchical group address storage device further includes:
Transmission request information receiving means for receiving transmission request information transmitted by the transmission request information transmitting means included in the hierarchy determination means of the communication quality priority setting device;
In response to the transmission request information received by the transmission request information receiving means, the hierarchical identifier associated with the group address included in the transmission request information is read from the setting information storage means, and the read hierarchical identifier And a hierarchy identifier transmitting means for transmitting the communication quality priority setting device to
The communication quality priority setting system according to claim 1. A distribution device that hierarchically distributes distribution data and distributes it by multicast;
Connected to the distribution device and a multicast communication network including a communication path of distribution data distributed by the distribution device and controlling communication quality based on a priority added to the data to be communicated, from the distribution device A communication quality priority setting device for setting priority to data transmitted to the multicast communication network;
A communication quality priority setting method using a system comprising:
A plurality of hierarchies in which the distribution device comprises distribution data including a lowest hierarchy that is a basic hierarchy and one or more upper hierarchies that are one or more extended hierarchies integrated with the basic hierarchy A hierarchical data generation step for generating hierarchical data corresponding to each of the plurality of hierarchies;
A group address setting step in which the distribution device sets a group address of a multicast group for each layer in each of a plurality of layer data generated by the layer data generation step;
The distribution apparatus adds the group address set to each of the plurality of hierarchical data by the group address setting step to the plurality of hierarchical data generated by the hierarchical data generation step as destination information, and the destination information A hierarchical data transmission step of transmitting the added hierarchical data to the communication quality priority setting device;
A hierarchical data receiving step in which the communication quality priority setting device receives the hierarchical data transmitted by the hierarchical data transmitting step;
A group address reading step in which the communication quality priority setting device reads a group address added as destination information to the hierarchical data received by the hierarchical data receiving step;
A hierarchy determination step in which the communication quality priority setting device determines a hierarchy of hierarchy data received by the hierarchy data reception step based on the group address read by the group address reading step;
The communication quality priority setting device sets the priority to the hierarchy determined by the hierarchy determination step so that the highest priority is set to the lowest hierarchy and the lower priority is set to the higher hierarchy. A priority setting step;
A priority adding step in which the communication quality priority setting device adds the priority set by the priority setting step to the hierarchical data received by the hierarchical data reception step;
The communication quality priority setting device, the priority addition layer data transmission step of transmitting the layer data to which the priority is added in the priority addition step to the multicast communication network;
Including a communication quality priority setting method. In order to distribute distribution data in a hierarchical manner and distribute it by multicast, the distribution data is divided into a lowermost hierarchy that is a basic hierarchy and one or more higher hierarchy that is one or more extended hierarchies integrated with the basic hierarchy. And generating hierarchical data corresponding to each of the plurality of hierarchical levels, and assigning a group address of a multicast group for each hierarchical level to each of the generated hierarchical data Setting, adding the group address set to each of the plurality of layer data to the generated plurality of layer data as destination information, and adding the layer data to which the destination information is added to the communication quality priority setting device A distribution device to transmit to,
A multicast communication network including a communication path of distribution data distributed by the distribution device and controlling communication quality based on a priority added to the data to be communicated;
A communication quality priority setting device for setting a priority for data transmitted from the distribution device to the multicast communication network,
Hierarchical data receiving means for receiving hierarchical data transmitted by the distribution device;
Group address reading means for reading a group address added as destination information to the hierarchical data received by the hierarchical data receiving means;
Hierarchy discriminating means for discriminating the hierarchy of the hierarchical data received by the hierarchical data receiving means based on the group address read by the group address reading means;
Priority setting means for setting the highest priority to the lowest hierarchy and setting the priority to the hierarchy determined by the hierarchy determination means so as to set a lower priority for the higher hierarchy;
Priority adding means for adding the priority set by the priority setting means to the hierarchy data received by the hierarchy data receiving means;
Priority addition layer data transmission means for transmitting the hierarchy data to which priority is added by the priority addition means to the multicast communication network;
A communication quality priority setting device comprising: In order to distribute distribution data in a hierarchical manner and distribute it by multicast, the distribution data is divided into a lowermost hierarchy that is a basic hierarchy and one or more higher hierarchy that is one or more extended hierarchies integrated with the basic hierarchy. And generating hierarchical data corresponding to each of the plurality of hierarchical levels, and assigning a group address of a multicast group for each hierarchical level to each of the generated hierarchical data Setting, adding the group address set to each of the plurality of layer data to the generated plurality of layer data as destination information, and adding the layer data to which the destination information is added to the communication quality priority setting device A distribution device to transmit to,
A multicast communication network including a communication path of distribution data distributed by the distribution device and controlling communication quality based on a priority added to the data to be communicated;
A computer for setting a priority for data transmitted from the distribution device to the multicast communication network.
Hierarchical data receiving means for receiving hierarchical data transmitted by the distribution device;
Group address reading means for reading a group address added as destination information to the hierarchical data received by the hierarchical data receiving means;
Hierarchy discriminating means for discriminating the hierarchy of the hierarchical data received by the hierarchical data receiving means based on the group address read by the group address reading means;
Priority setting means for setting the priority to the hierarchy determined by the hierarchy determination means so as to set the highest priority to the lowest hierarchy and set the lower priority to the higher hierarchy,
Priority adding means for adding the priority set by the priority setting means to the hierarchy data received by the hierarchy data receiving means;
Priority addition layer data transmission means for transmitting the hierarchy data to which priority is added by the priority addition unit to the multicast communication network;
A program characterized by functioning as

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