JP5412656B2 - Communication system and communication control method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an information communication system, and more particularly, to a communication control technique for providing a communication path suitable for the priority in consideration of the required communication quality between the terminal and the server and the communication priority of the terminal and the application. .

  Conventionally, mobile phones have been used for voice calls and emails. However, with recent broadbandization of wireless communication, various services on the Internet can be used with mobile phones. Services provided on the Internet are those that communicate in bursts, such as the Web, those that continue to send broadband information over a long period of time, such as video distribution, and small data size that is reliably transferred with low delay Services having various requirements and characteristics that have been provided in wired networks, such as what is necessary (for example, earthquake early warning) and transfer of large-capacity data files, have been realized. Also, in the future, wireless telemedicine services, remote robot control, and other fields that require higher reliability, and interruptions and suspensions due to the occurrence of obstacles such as finance, government, and traffic that are currently built on wired networks The wireless access network is also expected to be used in so-called “mission critical” systems such as social infrastructure systems that greatly affect society.

  On the other hand, resources for wireless communication are more limited than those for wired communication, and there are problems specific to wireless communication. In wireless communication, the reception intensity fluctuates greatly due to multipath generated by reflection, refraction, scattering, etc. of radio waves due to buildings and terrain, and depending on the location of the terminal, it may be difficult to receive radio waves, It is difficult to guarantee high reliability in wireless communication. In addition, services with a variety of priorities, communication requirements, and characteristics ranging from services with mission-criticality to best-effort communication such as web are allocated efficiently and appropriately. Technology is required.

  As a conventional technique for solving such a problem, there is a technique for providing a communication path that can be used by switching a plurality of radios (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Patent Document 1 discloses an invention for monitoring a radio wave condition and dynamically switching to a wireless communication system having a better radio wave condition.

JP 2005-109722 A

  In the above-described conventional technology, since the occupied state of the band of the switching destination wireless communication system is not considered, the request cannot be satisfied when the wireless communication system is already occupied by another user. In addition, although a wireless communication system that satisfies the user's request is set by setting priority in the wireless communication system, the wireless communication system is not switched in consideration of the priority of the user or application. There is also the possibility of providing excessive resources.

  Further, in the above-described conventional technology, when the wireless communication environment deteriorates, it is possible to switch to a wireless communication system with good communication quality. However, if a communication system with good communication quality has already been used by another user, it is impossible to switch to a communication system with good communication quality, or communication is performed using a band that is not used. The user cannot satisfy the required communication quality.

  This is shown in FIG. FIG. 12 shows a band that can be provided by the communication system 1 and the communication system 2 and a band used by a connected user.

  In FIG. 12A, a user 1, a user 2, a user 3, and a QoS-guaranteed user with a high priority that communicate at the best effort are connected to the communication system 1. In this situation, when the wireless communication quality of the communication system 1 deteriorates, a QoS guaranteed user with a high priority tries to switch to the communication system 2 with good communication quality. However, since the bandwidth provided by the communication system 2 is already occupied by another QoS guaranteed user, it is not possible to switch to the communication system 2 or communication requested by the user even when switched to the communication system 2 Quality (bandwidth used) cannot be satisfied (FIG. 12 (b)).

  As an example of switching desired after communication quality degradation, as shown in FIG. 13, a user with a high priority drives out a user with a low priority and switches to a communication system 2 that satisfies the request. In addition, a user with a lower priority than a newly connected user is switched to the communication system 1, and the best effort users (users 1 to 3) who are originally connected to the communication system 1 and whose communication quality is not guaranteed are remaining. It is desirable to communicate using the specified bandwidth.

  As described above, even when the wireless communication quality is deteriorated, the required communication quality cannot be obtained even for users and applications with high priority, and excessive resources are provided to users and applications with low priority. It is a first problem to solve such a state and allocate an appropriate radio resource according to the priority.

  Furthermore, when a QoS-guaranteed user with a high priority newly connects, the same problem as when communication quality deteriorates occurs. The problem that occurs in this case will be described with reference to FIG.

  If communication system 2 is the only communication system that can satisfy the communication quality required by a newly connected user with high priority, for example, the requested delay time, the new user tries to connect to communication system 2, but already communicates. Since the bandwidth provided by the system 2 is occupied by other QoS guaranteed users, the new user cannot connect to the communication system 2 or even if the new user can connect to the communication system 2, the communication quality required by the user ( Use band) cannot be satisfied.

  A desirable example at the time of new connection is that a newly connected user with high priority (high) connects to the communication system 1 in order to satisfy the request, and other communication that satisfies the request of the user with priority (medium) already connected. To switch to the system. As described above, even when a user newly connects, communication quality required by a user or application with a high priority cannot be obtained, and excessive resources are provided to a user or application with a low priority. It is a second problem to solve such a state and allocate an appropriate radio resource according to the priority.

  An object of the present invention is to allocate appropriate radio resources according to priority.

A typical example of the invention disclosed in the present application is as follows. That is, a communication system including a wireless communication section having a plurality of routes, a wired communication section having one or more routes, and a communication control device that controls the network, the wireless communication section Is connected to a communication terminal, a server is connected to the wired communication section, and the communication control device is configured to communicate with a plurality of routes in the wireless communication section and one or more routes in the wired communication section. The communication status of the application, the information on the priority of the application used by the user is retained, and a data communication request is made between the communication terminal connected to the wireless communication section and the server connected to the wired communication section. If there is, the communication quality in the wireless communication section and the wired communication section satisfies the communication quality required in the communication between the communication terminal and the server. And selecting each of the plurality of wireless communication sections and the one or more wired communication sections, notifying the selected terminal to the communication terminal and the server, When it is detected that the communication quality has deteriorated, a delay time that can be provided between the endpoints of the route of the selected wireless communication section and the route of the wired communication section is required due to the detected deterioration of the communication quality. Users or applications that cannot achieve the delay time are extracted, and among the users or applications that connect to the wireless communication section, the users or applications other than the extracted user or application are included in the wireless communication section in descending order of priority. Allocation, allocated to the wireless communication section to exceed the bandwidth provided in the wireless communication section Excluded from the radio communication section of the user or application can not.

  According to a typical embodiment of the present invention, radio resources are preferentially allocated to high priority applications or users who always require high quality communication, and to low priority users and applications. In contrast, appropriate radio resources can be allocated according to the priority.

1 is an overall configuration diagram of an example network system according to an embodiment. FIG. It is a block diagram which shows an example of a structure of the mobile application infrastructure server of this embodiment. It is a figure explaining an example of the wireless NW communication status table of this embodiment. It is a figure explaining an example of a wired NW communication status table. It is an example of the application management table of this embodiment. It is an example of an application requirement quality table of this embodiment. It is a figure explaining the outline | summary of the network allocation method at the time of radio | wireless communication quality degradation which considered the priority. It is a flowchart of the network allocation process of this embodiment. It is a flowchart of exclusion application connection processing of this embodiment. It is a figure explaining the outline | summary of the network allocation method of the application newly connected. It is a flowchart of the network allocation process of this embodiment. It is a flowchart of the network allocation process of this embodiment. It is a figure explaining the example of the conventional switching when radio | wireless communication quality deteriorates. It is a figure explaining the example of switching desired when radio | wireless communication quality deteriorates. It is a figure explaining the example of the conventional connection at the time of new connection.

  First, the outline | summary of embodiment of this invention is demonstrated.

  In order to solve the first problem described above, in an embodiment of the present invention, a network including a wireless communication section having a plurality of paths and a wired communication section having one or more paths, and the network are controlled. A communication terminal, a communication terminal is connected to the wireless communication section, a server is connected to the wired communication section, and the communication control apparatus is connected to the wireless communication section. A communication state of a plurality of routes in a section, a means for acquiring a communication state of one or more routes in the wired communication section, a communication terminal connected to the wireless communication section, and a server connected to the wired communication section If there is a data communication request between the communication terminal and the server, the communication quality in the wireless communication section and the wired communication section satisfies the communication quality required in the communication between the communication terminal and the server. (For example, the route of the plurality of wireless communication sections and the one or more wires are set so that the total communication time is equal to or less than the specified end-to-end delay time and the communication band is equal to or higher than the specified data rate). Means for selecting each route from the routes in the communication section, and means for notifying the selected route to the communication terminal and the server.

  In addition, the communication control device holds information on the priority of the application used by the user, and detects that the communication quality of the wireless communication section has deteriorated. A means for extracting a user or application that cannot achieve the required delay time, and a user connected to the wireless communication section, or a delay time that can be provided between the endpoints of the route of the wireless communication section and the route of the wired communication section Among applications, means for sorting users or applications excluding the extracted users or applications in descending order of priority, means for assigning the sorted users or applications to the wireless communication section in descending order of priority, In order to exceed the bandwidth provided in the wireless communication section, The user or application can not be allocated to the communication section having a way to exclude from the wireless communication section.

  Further, the communication control device determines whether or not there is a user or application that cannot satisfy the required delay time or is excluded from the wireless communication period, and priority of the excluded user or application. Means for sorting in descending order; means for selecting a new route satisfying the communication quality requirement from the route of the plurality of wireless communication sections and the route of the one or more wired communication sections in order of the priority; And a procedure of notifying the communication terminal and the server of the selected route.

  In order to solve the second problem described above, in the embodiment of the present invention, the communication control device holds information on the priority of an application used by a user, and newly requests a connection from the user or the application. If there is, a new route is selected from the routes of the plurality of wireless communication sections and the one or more wired communication sections so that the connection satisfies the requested communication quality, and the selected wireless communication section A means for determining whether the delay time that can be provided between the end point (End-to-End) by the route of the route and the route of the wired communication section satisfies the request, and the new user or application Means for comparing a requested bandwidth with a free bandwidth of the wireless communication section, the new user or application, and the wireless communication section A means for sorting connected users or applications in descending order of priority, a means for assigning the sorted users or applications in descending order of priority to the wireless communication section, and a wireless communication section. And means for excluding users or applications that have not been included in the wireless communication section.

  In addition, the procedure for comparing the bandwidth required by the new user or application with the free bandwidth of the wired communication section, and the new user or application and the user or application connected to the wired communication section are sorted in descending order of priority. Means for assigning the sorted users or applications to the wireless communication section in descending order of priority, and means for excluding users or applications that could not be assigned to the wired communication section from the wired communication section. Have.

  And means for determining whether or not there is a user or application that cannot satisfy the required delay time or is excluded from the wireless communication section and the wired communication section, and priority of the excluded user or application. Means for sorting in ascending order, and means for assigning the sorted users or applications to the new wireless communication section and the new wired communication section in descending order of priority.

  Hereinafter, representative embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an example network system according to the present embodiment.

  The network system shown in FIG. 1 includes a radio access network (RAN) that is a radio side access network and a virtual network (VN) that is expected as a new generation network that is a wired backbone network. : Virtualized network).

  In this embodiment, a virtual network that allows a network design with a high degree of freedom by virtualizing network nodes is used, but any wired network may be used as the backbone network.

  In the network system according to the first embodiment, the mobile application infrastructure server 100 aggregates information on the RAN side and the VN side, and links the RAN and the VN to each other, and satisfies the communication quality required by the application. -To-End (From the terminal 1 (103) and the terminal 2 (104) to the application server 1 (108) and the application server 2 (109)) is established.

  The terminal 1 (103), the terminal 2 (104), the application server 1 (108), and the application server 2 (109) are connected to a processor that executes a program, a memory that stores a program executed by the processor, and a network. A computer having a network interface.

  The application server 1 (108) and the application server 2 (109) provide the application to the terminal 1 (103) and the terminal 2 (104) by executing the application program. A part of the application program may be executed by the terminal 1 (103) or the terminal 2 (104).

  As the RAN, two networks, RAN1 and RAN2, can be used, and the terminal 1 (103) and the terminal 2 (104) have a function of switching two RANs or using them simultaneously. Each RAN is terminated by GWs 105 and 106, each GW is connected to a mobile network gateway (MN-GW) 107, and the RAN can be switched by the MN-GW 107.

  The RAN arbitration server 101 aggregates information in the RAN 110 from the GWs 105 and 106.

  On the VN side, the virtual network arbitration server 102 has a function of switching the connection of the virtual network compatible router 112 in the virtual network 111, and secures and manages a plurality of virtual network links as needed. In this embodiment, two networks, VN1 and VN2, can be used. The RAN arbitration server 101 and the VN arbitration server 102 transmit the collected information to the mobile application infrastructure server 100, and the mobile application infrastructure server 100 performs arbitration in cooperation between the RAN and the VN by using the information. Can do.

  When the mobile application platform server 100 receives a connection request from the terminal 1 (103) and the terminal 2 (104) to the application server 1 (108) and the application server 2 (109), the mobile application infrastructure server 100 stores the RAN and VN information held therein. Based on this, a combination that satisfies the request is determined. If there is a combination that satisfies the requirements, connect with that combination.

  On the other hand, if there is a RAN or VN that does not have a combination that satisfies the request and satisfies the required delay but the bandwidth is already occupied by another user, a user with a lower priority than a newly connected user is assigned to another RAN. By switching to VN or lowering the required communication quality, the connection of a newly connected user with high priority is secured. If there is no combination that satisfies the required delay, a newly connected user yields the required communication quality, thereby ensuring a minimum connection.

  Further, when the quality of the RAN used is deteriorated, the priority is changed by switching the user to another RAN or VN in the order of lower priority, or concessing the required communication quality (that is, lowering the communication quality). Maintain connections that meet the demands of higher users and applications.

  Hereinafter, the system configuration of the present embodiment will be described more specifically. In addition, although demonstrated so far per user, below, it demonstrates per application received by a user from an application server.

  Each user can execute a plurality of applications. Further, the same user can start a plurality of the same applications (for example, user A starts a plurality of applications A), and different users use the same application (user A and user B start application A). be able to. The priority may be determined for each user or for each application used by the user. Hereinafter, an example in which the priority is determined for each application will be described. In the case where the provider or carrier providing the network service determines the priority for each user according to the contract or the charge plan, the present embodiment is not set to the priority set for each user, not the priority for each application. Can be applied.

  First, the configuration of the mobile application infrastructure server 100, which is the main communication control device in this embodiment, will be described.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the mobile application infrastructure server 100 according to the present embodiment.

  The mobile application infrastructure server 100 includes, as hardware, a central processing unit (CPU) 120, a read only memory (ROM) 121, a random access memory (RAM) 122, and a hard disk drive (HDD). The network interface (NIF) is a commercially available general server. In addition, the software program and data are held in the RAM 122 or the HDD 123, and a desired process is executed while referring to the data as appropriate by executing the software program. The RAM 122 holds at least a wireless network communication status table 130, a wired network communication status table 131, an application management table 132, and an application required quality table 133.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the wireless NW communication status table 130 according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the wired NW communication status table 131.

  The mobile application infrastructure server 100 holds and manages the communication state of the network (RAN, VN) to be managed. The wireless NW communication status table 130 and the wired NW communication status table 131 of the present embodiment include the provided bandwidth and the provided delay time of each RAN and VN as examples of information indicating the communication status, but for grasping the communication status. Information that is information and necessary for assigning RAN and VN may be added to each table.

  Both tables include a user identifier as information for identifying a resource user, but may be information indicating which user or application is currently connected to the network. Information included in these tables is updated based on information acquired by the mobile application infrastructure server 100 by inquiring of the RAN arbitration server 101 and the VN arbitration server 102 periodically or whenever necessary.

  FIG. 5 illustrates an example of the application management table 132 according to this embodiment.

  The application management table 132 of this embodiment is a table that holds the connection status of applications managed by the mobile application infrastructure server 100. The user ID is a value assigned to the sequence for the user application connected via the mobile application infrastructure server. The application ID specifies the type of application connected. The terminal and server are the IP addresses and port numbers of the communicating terminal and server, and may be any information as long as it is information for specifying the terminal and server. This indicates that the application is communicating by requesting the communication characteristics specified in the request bandwidth column and the request delay time column using the connection of the combination of networks indicated in the wireless NW column and the wired NW column.

  FIG. 6 illustrates an example of the application required quality table 133 according to this embodiment.

  The application required quality table 133 is a table that holds required communication quality and user and application priorities required when connecting via the mobile application infrastructure server 100. The combination to be connected depends on the required communication quality included in the application required quality table 133 and the communication status of the RAN and VN included in the wireless NW communication status table 130 (FIG. 3) and the wired NW communication status table 131 (FIG. 4). Mediated. Moreover, it is determined whether the user or application can use the combination to be connected using the priority of the application.

  Next, details of a method for assigning a network to a connected user at the time of degradation of wireless communication quality in consideration of priority for solving the first problem will be described. First, an outline of a network allocation method at the time of radio communication quality deterioration considering priority will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 7A shows a state in which a plurality of applications are connected within the RAN1 available band and the network band is used. In this state, consider the assignment when the wireless communication quality of RAN1 deteriorates and the provided bandwidth decreases as shown in FIG.

  First, the connected applications are sorted in order of priority (FIG. 7C), and low priority applications overflowing from the band after the communication quality deterioration are excluded from RAN1 (FIG. 7D). The excluded application moves to the RAN that satisfies the required communication quality of the application, or conjoins the required communication quality and connects to the RAN. By this processing, it is possible to preferentially assign a lease to an application with a high priority, and to secure a minimum connection to an application with a low priority.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the network allocation process of this embodiment. The network application processing shown in FIG. 8 is executed by the mobile application infrastructure server 100 when the wireless communication quality deteriorates.

  First, when wireless communication quality degradation is detected, this network allocation process is started (step 1101), and it is determined whether or not there is an application whose requested communication quality does not meet the requirement due to the degradation of the wireless communication quality. (Step 1102). As a result, if there is no application whose communication quality does not meet the requirement, this processing is terminated without reassigning the network (step 1103). On the other hand, if there is an application whose communication quality does not meet the requirement, a RAN with degraded quality is selected, and loop processing is performed for each RAN (steps 1104 to 1112).

  In the loop, first, an application that cannot achieve the request delay in the selected RAN is extracted (step 1105). Excluding applications that cannot achieve the extracted request delay (can extract the extracted request delay), the applications connected to the RAN are sorted in descending order of priority (step 1106). At this time, applications having the same priority may be sorted according to a policy determined by the network operator, such as a new connection order or a priority order of users using the application.

  Next, an application that uses the RAN is determined in descending order of priority (steps 1107 to 1111). Specifically, applications are selected in descending order of priority so that the total bandwidth of the selected applications does not exceed the bandwidth provided by the RAN (steps 1108 to 1110). Then, the selected application uses the current RAN, and other applications are excluded from the RAN (step 1111). Then, the network that is determined to be used or excluded is notified to the terminal and server that are the end points of the communication.

  If the RAN arbitration server 101 has a QoS control function, the mobile application infrastructure server 100 may notify the RAN arbitration server 101 of a network that is determined to be used or excluded.

  After the loop processing for each RAN (step 1104 to step 1112) is completed, it is determined whether there is an application that cannot achieve the request delay or an application excluded from the current RAN (step 1113). If neither of the applications that cannot achieve the request delay and the applications that are excluded from the current RAN exist, the reallocation is not executed and the process is terminated (step 1114). On the other hand, if there is an application for which the request delay cannot be achieved or an application excluded from the current RAN, an excluded application connection process (step 1115) is executed, and this process ends (step 1116).

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart of the excluded application connection process of this embodiment.

  This excluded application connection process starts when called from step 1115 of the network allocation process (step 1201).

  First, applications that cannot achieve the request delay and applications excluded from the RAN are sorted in descending order of priority (step 1202), and RAN / VN network allocation is determined in descending order of priority (steps 1203 to 1207). . Specifically, it is determined whether there is a combination of networks (RAN, VN) satisfying the application request, with m = 1 as an initial value (step 1205). As a result, if there is a combination that satisfies the request, the network combination is assigned to the user using the application (step 1206), and the process proceeds to the next application (step 1207). In step 1204, it is determined whether or not this process has been executed for all sorted applications, and this process is executed for all sorted applications.

  Note that the network assigned in step 1206 is notified to the terminal and server that are the end points of the communication. If the RAN arbitration server 101 and the VN arbitration server 102 have a QoS control function, the mobile application infrastructure server 100 may notify the RAN arbitration server 101 and the VN arbitration server 102 of the assigned network.

  As a result, when all the sorted applications have been successfully allocated (No in 1208), this processing is terminated (step 1211). On the other hand, if allocation of at least a part of the applications has failed (Yes in 1208), the network combination candidate used by the concession user is selected (Step 1209), and the concession is made to the communication quality that can be provided by the selected combination candidate. The terminal and server that are the end points of the communication are notified so that the connection is made with the communication quality that is lowered as a result (step 1210). If the RAN arbitration server 101 and the VN arbitration server 102 have a QoS control function, the mobile application infrastructure server 100 may notify the RAN arbitration server 101 and the VN arbitration server 102 of the assigned network.

  Selection of the network to be used by the concession user is specified by the network operator such as a combination that minimizes the delay time provided by End-to-End, a combination that optimizes the delay time, and a combination that minimizes the bandwidth usage rate. This method should be selected in consideration of the method to be used and user preferences.

  Next, details of a method for assigning a network to a newly connected application in consideration of the priority for solving the second problem will be described. First, an outline of a network allocation method for a newly connected application considering priority will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 10A shows a state in which a plurality of applications are connected within the RAN1 available band and the network band is used. In this state, as shown in FIG. 10 (b), an allocation is considered when a connection request is received from a medium priority application that requires a bandwidth equal to or greater than the surplus bandwidth of RAN1.

  First, the applications that are currently connected and applications that are requested to be connected are sorted in order of priority (FIG. 10C), and the applications with low priority that overflow from the provided bandwidth are excluded from RAN1 (FIG. 10D). . The excluded application moves to the RAN that satisfies the required communication quality of the application, or conjoins the required communication quality and connects to the RAN. By this processing, it is possible to preferentially assign a lease to an application with a high priority, and to secure a minimum connection to an application with a low priority.

  FIG. 11A and FIG. 11B are flowcharts of the network allocation processing of this embodiment. The network allocation process shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B is executed when a new application tries to connect.

  First, a network combination candidate that a new application first tries to connect to is selected. The selection of combination candidates can employ the same method as described above in step 1209 (step 1401).

  Next, it is determined whether or not the delay provided by the initial combination satisfies the delay required by the application (step 1402). As a result, if the requested delay is not satisfied, the process proceeds to step 1419.

  On the other hand, if the requested delay is satisfied, the RAN exclusion application selection process (step 1430) and the VN exclusion application selection process (step 1440) for selecting an application to be excluded from the selected combination of RAN and VN are executed. Details of the RAN exclusion application selection process (step 1430) and the VN exclusion application selection process (step 1440) will be described later. In the present embodiment, either the RAN exclusion application selection process (step 1430) or the VN exclusion application selection process (step 1440) may be processed first.

  Next, it is determined whether or not the delay requested by the new application cannot be achieved in step 1402 or there is an application excluded in the RAN exclusion application selection process (step 1430) and the VN exclusion application selection process (step 1440). (Step 1419), and if the delay required by the new application cannot be achieved and no application is excluded from the current RAN or VN (No in step 1419), the newly connected application is selected from the selected RAN / The connection is made to the combination of VNs, and this process is terminated (step 1420).

  On the other hand, if the delay required by the new application cannot be achieved or is at least one of the applications excluded from the current RAN or VN (Yes in Step 1419), an excluded application connection process (Step 1420) is executed and this process is performed. Is finished (step 1422).

  The excluded application connection process (step 1421) is the same as the excluded application connection process (FIG. 9) when the wireless communication quality deteriorates. However, if the delay required by the newly connected user cannot be achieved, only the new user is selected, so the processing from step 1202 to step 1208 is omitted and the combination candidate is selected directly (step 1209). And the process of application concession (step 1210) may be executed. In this way, the processing time can be shortened.

  Next, the RAN exclusion application selection process (step 1430) will be described.

  In the RAN excluded application selection process (step 1430), first, the bandwidth required by the newly connected application is compared with the free bandwidth of the selected RAN (step 1403). As a result, if the free bandwidth is equal to or greater than the requested bandwidth, the new application can use the RAN (step 1410). On the other hand, if the available bandwidth is smaller than the requested bandwidth, first, the new user application and the application connected to the RAN are sorted in descending order of priority (step 1404). At this time, the applications having the same priority may be sorted according to the policy determined by the network operator, such as the newest connection order or the priority order of the users using the applications, as in step 1106 described above.

  Next, an application that uses the RAN is determined in descending order of priority (steps 1405 to 1408). Specifically, applications are selected in descending order of priority so that the total bandwidth of the selected applications does not exceed the bandwidth provided by the RAN (steps 1406 to 1408). Then, the selected application uses the current RAN, and other applications are excluded from the RAN (step 1409).

  Through the processing so far, a user (application) excluded from the RAN by adding a newly connected application is determined. At this time, if the priority of the newly connected application is lower than that of the currently connected application, the newly connected application uses another RAN.

  The VN exclusion application selection process (step 1440) is a process in which the RAN in the above-described RAN exclusion application selection process (step 1430) is replaced with VN, and thus detailed description thereof is omitted.

  By the processing so far, the users to be excluded from the VN selected by the newly connected application are determined. At this time, if the priority of the newly connected application is lower than that of the currently connected application, the newly connected application uses another VN.

  Conventionally, switching a connected application to another network deteriorates the communication quality of the switched application, and deteriorates the feeling of the response of the user who uses the application, which is inefficient and impractical. Met. However, advances in cognitive radio technology and the like have made it possible to switch radio systems in about 100 milliseconds. In addition, if faster system switching is possible in the future, it is expected that various applications will be less affected by instantaneous interruption and efficient control according to priority will be possible. In addition, even in the present situation, it can be sufficiently applied to an application in which a momentary interruption of about 100 msec does not greatly affect the user.

  For example, even if there is a momentary interruption of 100 milliseconds in a file download or streaming application, switching to a network that can complete data transmission and reception earlier can meet the application or user request. Increase the priority of mission-critical applications such as in-vehicle sensors, where network interruptions have a significant impact, and switch to a network with higher communication quality even if the application is interrupted (ie, high-speed communication is important), or The other application is switched so as not to be interrupted as much as possible, and the “switching determination parameter” indicating whether or not it continues to use the current network (that is, reliability of connection is important) is the application required quality table of FIG. It is considered that it is an effective means for eliminating the influence of instantaneous interruption that the mobile application infrastructure server executes processing according to the switching determination parameter.

  As described above, in the embodiment of the present invention, even when communication quality deteriorates or when a new connection is made, the allocation of the wireless communication section is changed according to the priority of the user or application, or the network is changed. Since switching is performed, radio resources can be preferentially allocated to applications with high mission priority and high-priority communication and users who always require high-quality communication. Also, appropriate radio resources can be assigned to users and applications with low priorities according to the priorities, and the radio resources can be used efficiently.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention is useful as a communication control technique corresponding to a change in required communication quality between a terminal and a server and a communication characteristic of a route in a communication system.

Claims (12)

A network including a wireless communication section having a plurality of routes and a wired communication section having one or more routes;
A communication control device for controlling the network, comprising:
A communication terminal is connected to the wireless communication section, and a server is connected to the wired communication section,
The communication control device includes:
Obtaining communication states of a plurality of routes in the wireless communication section and communication states of one or more routes in the wired communication section;
Holds information about the priority of the application used by the user,
When there is a data communication request between the communication terminal connected to the wireless communication section and the server connected to the wired communication section, the communication quality of the wireless communication section and the wired communication section is the same as that of the communication terminal. In order to satisfy the communication quality required in communication with the server, the respective routes are selected from the routes of the plurality of wireless communication sections and the one or more wired communication sections,
Notifying the selected route to the communication terminal and the server ,
When it is detected that the communication quality of the wireless communication section has deteriorated, a delay time that can be provided between the endpoints of the route of the selected wireless communication section and the route of the wired communication section due to the deterioration of the detected communication quality Extract users or applications that cannot achieve the required delay time,
Among users or applications connected to the wireless communication section, users or applications other than the extracted user or application are assigned to the wireless communication section in descending order of priority,
A communication system , wherein a user or an application that could not be allocated to the wireless communication section in order to exceed a band provided in the wireless communication section is excluded from the wireless communication section .   The communication control device includes:
  Determining whether there is a user or application that cannot achieve the required delay time or is excluded from the wireless communication section;
  In order of decreasing priority of the excluded user or application, select a new route that satisfies the communication quality requirement from the route of the plurality of wireless communication sections and the route of the one or more wired communication sections,
  The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the selected route is notified to the communication terminal and the server.   The communication control device includes:
  When there is a user or application that cannot select at least one of the route of the wireless communication section and the route of the wired communication section that satisfies the communication quality requirement, the route of the plurality of wireless communication sections and the one or more wired communication sections From the route, select a new route candidate that satisfies the concessioned communication quality requirement,
  3. The communication system according to claim 2, wherein the communication terminal and the server are notified so as to be connected with communication quality concessioned to communication quality that can be provided by the selected new route candidate.   The communication control device includes:
  Holds information about the priority of the application used by the user,
  When there is a new connection request from the user or the application, a new route is selected from the routes of the plurality of wireless communication sections and the one or more wired communication sections so that the connection satisfies the requested communication quality. Selected,
  Determining whether the delay time that can be provided between the endpoints of the route of the selected wireless communication section and the route of the wired communication section satisfies the request of the new user or application;
  Compare the bandwidth required by the new user or application with the free bandwidth of the wireless communication section,
  Assign the new user or application and the user or application connected to the wireless communication section in order of priority,
  Exclude users or applications that could not be assigned to the wireless communication section from the wireless communication section,
  Compare the bandwidth required by the new user or application with the free bandwidth of the wired communication section,
  Assign the new user or application and the user or application connected to the wired communication section in descending order of priority,
  The communication system according to claim 1, wherein a user or an application that could not be assigned to the wired communication section is excluded from the wired communication section.   The communication control device includes:
  Determining whether there is a user or application that cannot achieve the required delay time or is excluded from the wireless communication section and the wired communication section;
  In order of decreasing priority of the excluded user or application, select a new route that satisfies the communication quality requirement from the route of the plurality of wireless communication sections and the route of the one or more wired communication sections,
  The communication system according to claim 4, wherein the selected route is notified to the communication terminal and the server.   The communication control device includes:
  When there is a user or application that cannot select at least one of the route of the wireless communication section and the route of the wired communication section that satisfies the communication quality requirement, the route of the plurality of wireless communication sections and the one or more wired communication sections From the route, select a new route candidate that satisfies the concessioned communication quality requirement,
  The communication system according to claim 5, wherein the communication terminal and the server are notified so that connection is established with communication quality concessioned to communication quality that can be provided by the selected new route candidate.   A communication control method performed by a communication control apparatus in a network including a wireless communication section having a plurality of routes and a wired communication section having one or more routes,
  A communication terminal is connected to the wireless communication section, and a server is connected to the wired communication section,
  The communication control device holds information on the priority of the application used by the user,
  The method
  The communication control device acquires communication states of a plurality of routes in the wireless communication section and communication states of one or more routes in the wired communication section,
  When the communication control device has a data communication request between a communication terminal connected to the wireless communication section and a server connected to the wired communication section, the communication quality of the wireless communication section and the wired communication section However, each route is selected from the routes of the plurality of wireless communication sections and the one or more wired communication sections so as to satisfy the communication quality required in the communication between the communication terminal and the server. ,
  The communication control device notifies the selected route to the communication terminal and the server,
  When the communication control device detects that the communication quality of the wireless communication section has deteriorated, due to the detected deterioration of the communication quality, between the endpoints of the route of the selected wireless communication section and the route of the wired communication section Extract users or applications that can not provide the required delay time,
  Among the users or applications connected to the wireless communication section, the communication control device assigns users or applications other than the extracted user or application to the wireless communication section in descending order of priority,
  A communication control method, wherein the communication control device excludes a user or an application that could not be assigned to the wireless communication section because it exceeds a band provided in the wireless communication section, from the wireless communication section. .   The method
  The communication control device determines whether there is a user or application that cannot achieve the required delay time or is excluded from the wireless communication section,
  The communication control device selects a new route satisfying the communication quality requirement from the route of the plurality of wireless communication sections and the route of the one or more wired communication sections in descending order of priority of the excluded user or application. ,
  The communication control method according to claim 7, wherein the communication control device notifies the selected route to the communication terminal and the server.   The method
  When there is a user or application in which the communication control apparatus cannot select at least one of the route of the wireless communication section and the route of the wired communication section that satisfies the communication quality requirement, the plurality of wireless communication section routes and the 1 Select a candidate for a new route that satisfies the conferred communication quality requirement from the routes of the wired communication section described above,
  The said communication control apparatus notifies to the said communication terminal and the said server so that it may connect with the communication quality concessioned to the communication quality which the candidate of the selected new path | route can provide. Communication control method.   The communication control device holds information on the priority of the application used by the user,
  The method
  When the communication control apparatus newly receives a connection request from the user or the application, the route of the plurality of wireless communication sections and the one or more wired communication so as to satisfy the communication quality request for which the connection is requested Select a new route from the route of the section,
  Determining whether the delay time that can be provided between the endpoints of the route of the selected wireless communication section and the route of the wired communication section satisfies the request of the new user or application;
  The communication control device compares the bandwidth required by the new user or application with the free bandwidth of the wireless communication section,
  The communication control device assigns the new user or application and the user or application connected to the wireless communication section in descending order of priority,
  The communication control device excludes the user or application that could not be assigned to the wireless communication section from the wireless communication section,
  The communication control device compares the bandwidth required by the new user or application with the free bandwidth of the wired communication section,
  The communication control device assigns the new user or application and the user or application connected to the wired communication section in descending order of priority,
  The communication control method according to claim 7, wherein the communication control device excludes a user or application that could not be assigned to the wired communication section from the wired communication section.   The method
  The communication control device determines whether or not there is a user or application that cannot achieve the required delay time or is excluded from the wireless communication section and the wired communication section,
  The communication control device selects a new route satisfying the communication quality requirement from the route of the plurality of wireless communication sections and the route of the one or more wired communication sections in descending order of priority of the excluded user or application. ,
  The communication control method according to claim 10, wherein the communication control device notifies the selected route to the communication terminal and the server.   The method
  When there is a user or application in which the communication control apparatus cannot select at least one of the route of the wireless communication section and the route of the wired communication section that satisfies the communication quality requirement, the plurality of wireless communication section routes and the 1 Select a candidate for a new route that satisfies the conferred communication quality requirement from the routes of the wired communication section described above,
  The said communication control apparatus notifies to the said communication terminal and the said server so that it may connect with the communication quality concessioned to the communication quality which the said candidate of the selected new path | route can provide. Communication control method.

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