JP2003018180A - Internet connection method nd system equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an internet connection method and a system device, capable of standardizing each operation rate, in a plurality of access servers and smoothing the internet connection. SOLUTION: This system device is provided with an access number storing means 7a for storing the telephone numbers of two or more access servers 5a, 5b, and so on, included in a plurality of access servers with the priority orders of access to those access servers 5a, 5b, and so on; a connection request acquiring means 7b for acquiring connection requests from a plurality of sever housing switchboards 4a-4c; a load state examining means 7c for examining the load states of the two or more access servers 5a, 5b, and so on, based on the stored telephone numbers each time the connection requests are acquired; and a connection request transferring means 7d for, when the access server 5a in the first priority order is put into a high load state as a result of the examination, transferring the previously acquired connection request to the access servers 5b and so on, in the subsequent to second priority orders which are put in low load states.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an internet connection method and system device, and more particularly, to an internet network when a user terminal connected to the subscriber telephone network issues a connection request to the internet network. The present invention relates to an internet connection method for establishing a dial-up connection according to load states of a plurality of connected access servers, and an internet connection system device used directly for implementing the method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, ISDN (ISDN: Integrat)
When a user terminal connected to a subscriber telephone network such as ed Services Digital Network) tries to connect to the Internet network, a dial-up connection method is generally used. A conventional method of connecting to the Internet in this kind of subscriber telephone network will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a network configuration diagram for explaining a conventional Internet connection method. As shown in the figure, first, for example, a user (not shown) of the first user terminal 1a selects a first terminal accommodating exchange 3a and a first server accommodating exchange in a subscriber telephone network 2 such as an ISDN network. A dial-up connection is made to a first access server 5a installed by a single Internet service provider (not shown; hereinafter abbreviated as "ISP") via 4a (both composed of ISDN exchanges).

After the connection, the Internet network (hereinafter,
When an attempt is made to connect to an "IP network (IP: Internet Protocol)" 6, the first server accommodation exchange 4a
After confirming (authenticating) that the connection request at that time is from a valid user of the corresponding IP connection service, the required IP data relating to the connection request is located in the gateway area of the IP network 6. The first access server 5
a, and thus an internet connection to the IP network 6 is established.

In the figure, second and third user terminals 1b and 1c, corresponding second and third terminal accommodating exchanges 3b and 3c, second and third server accommodating exchanges 4b and 4c, respectively. 4c and the second to fourth access servers 5b to 5d are also shown, but the functional configuration and the like of these are the same as the above-mentioned respective elements.

Here, if the load state of the first access server 5a at the time of a connection request from the first user terminal 1a exceeds a predetermined level and becomes a high load state, and the connection capability is lost, the line is disconnected. Becomes busy, the connection request is rejected by the first access server 5a, or the first access server 5a prompts the first user terminal 1a to reissue the connection request.

At this time, the user of the first user terminal 1a waits for the line and then attempts to make a redial call to the first access server 5a via the same first server accommodation switch 4a, or It is possible to establish a required Internet connection by making a dial-up connection to the second access server 5b via a second server accommodating exchange 4b different from this (via another access point).

[0008]

However, the second access server 5 is routed through the second server accommodating exchange 4b.
Even when a dial-up connection is made to b, if the load state of the second access server 5b is still a high load state, the process of connection refusal or redial as described above is repeated, and The user of the first user terminal 1a must try a dial-up connection via another access point or keep a standby state.

That is, in the conventional Internet connection method, the load state of the access servers (5a to 5d) selected by the user as the dial-up connection destination is high and the line is busy. However, there is a problem that the required Internet connection to the IP network 6 is practically impossible.

Here, the main objects to be solved by the present invention are as follows. That is, a first object of the present invention is to provide an internet connection method and system device capable of equalizing the operating rates of a plurality of access servers.

A second object of the present invention is to provide an internet connection method and system device capable of facilitating internet connection.

A third object of the present invention is to provide an internet connection method and a system device capable of centrally managing traffic control for a plurality of access servers for each provider.

Other objects of the present invention will be apparent from the description, drawings, and particularly the description of each claim.

[0014]

In the method of the present invention,
In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the telephone numbers of two or more access servers included in a plurality of access servers are assigned to a single base installed in an arbitrary area in the subscriber telephone network, and the access priority to the access servers is set. And the connection request is acquired from a plurality of server accommodating exchanges at the single base, and each time the connection request is acquired, the load of two or more access servers is based on the stored telephone number. The state is investigated, and as a result of this investigation, when the access server with the first priority is in the high load state, the connection request acquired earlier is given the second or lower priority. A characteristic configuration method of transferring to an access server under load is taken.

On the other hand, in the system device of the present invention, in order to solve the same problem, it is included in a plurality of access servers.
The access number storage means for storing the above-mentioned telephone number of the access server together with the priority of access to the access server, the connection request acquisition means for acquiring connection requests from a plurality of server accommodation exchanges, and the connection request are acquired. For each, the load status check means for checking the load status of two or more access servers based on the stored telephone number, and as a result of the check, the access server with the first priority has a high load status. In this case, the connection request transfer means for transferring the previously acquired connection request to the access server in the low load state having the second or higher priority is provided.

[0016] More specifically, in order to solve the problem, the present invention achieves the above-mentioned object by adopting the novel characteristic construction method and means listed below.

That is, the first feature of the method of the present invention is that when a user terminal connected to a subscriber telephone network issues a connection request to the Internet network, a plurality of access servers connected to the Internet network. Internet connection method for establishing a dial-up connection according to the load state of the user terminal, which is preselected by a user of the user terminal at a single site installed in an arbitrary area in the subscriber telephone network. , The telephone numbers of two or more access servers included in the plurality of access servers are stored together with the priority of access to the access servers, and the plurality of access servers in the subscriber telephone network at the single base. Each time the connection request is acquired, the connection request is acquired from a plurality of server accommodation exchanges that respectively accommodate The telephone number stored for the corresponding user terminal that issued the connection request is read, and the load state of the two or more access servers identified by the telephone number is investigated. When the access server in the priority order of 1 is in the high load state, the connection request acquired earlier is transferred to the access servers in the low load state in the second and subsequent priority levels. The configuration is adopted.

A second feature of the method of the present invention is that when the access server in the first priority is in a low load state, the connection request in the first feature of the method of the present invention is performed. This is a configuration adoption of the Internet connection method in which the data is transferred to the access server having the first priority without being transferred to the access server having the second or higher priority.

A third feature of the method of the present invention is that the connection request in the first or second feature of the method of the present invention is transferred to a corresponding access server based on the priority stored in advance. Instead, there is adopted the configuration of the Internet connection method in which the transfer is performed to the access server having the lowest load state among the two or more access servers.

A fourth feature of the method of the present invention is that the transfer of the connection request to the access server in the first, second or third feature of the method of the present invention is performed via the corresponding server accommodation switch. This is done by adopting a configuration of an internet connection method in which the required dial-up connection is established in the server accommodation exchange.

A fifth feature of the method of the present invention is that the connection request is obtained from the load states of the two or more access servers in the first, second, third or fourth feature of the method of the present invention. Instead of conducting a survey every time, the configuration of the Internet connection method is adopted in which the survey is conducted regularly regardless of the timing of the occurrence of the connection request.

A sixth feature of the method of the present invention is that the load status of the two or more access servers in the first, second, third, fourth or fifth feature of the above-mentioned method of the present invention is stored in a corresponding server. This is the adoption of the configuration of the Internet connection method that is investigated based on the exchange information in the exchange.

On the other hand, the first feature of the system device of the present invention is that, when a user terminal connected to a subscriber telephone network issues a connection request to the internet network, a plurality of accesses connected to the internet network are accessed. An internet connection system device for establishing a dial-up connection according to a load state of the server, wherein the telephone numbers of two or more access servers included in the plurality of access servers are selected in advance by the user of the user terminal. Connection number acquisition means for acquiring the connection request from an access number storage unit for storing the access request with respect to the access server and a plurality of server accommodation switches respectively accommodating the plurality of access servers in the subscriber telephone network. Means and each time the connection request is acquired by this connection request acquisition means , A load for reading the telephone number stored for the corresponding user terminal that issued the connection request from the access number storage means and investigating the load state of the two or more access servers specified by the telephone number As a result of the investigation by the status investigation means and the load status investigation means, when the access server having the first priority is in the high load status, the connection request acquired by the connection request acquisition means is In the configuration adoption of the Internet connection system apparatus, which comprises a connection request transfer means for transferring to an access server in a low load state having a priority order from the rank above.

A second feature of the system device of the present invention is that the connection request transfer means in the first feature of the system device of the present invention is such that the access server having the first priority is in a low load state. In this case, an internet connection comprising functional means for directly transferring the connection request to the access servers having the first priority without transferring the connection request to the access servers having the second or higher priority. The system configuration is adopted.

A third feature of the system device of the present invention is that the connection request transfer means in the first or second feature of the system device of the present invention sends the connection request based on the priority stored in advance. Then, instead of transferring to the corresponding access server, the configuration of an internet connection system device is provided, which comprises functional means for transferring to the access server with the lowest load state among the two or more access servers. .

A fourth feature of the system device of the present invention is that the connection request transfer means in the first, second or third feature of the system device of the present invention transfers the connection request to the corresponding access server. Is carried out via the corresponding server accommodating exchange, and the server accommodating exchange is equipped with a functional unit for establishing a required dial-up connection.

The fifth feature of the system device of the present invention is that the load condition examining means in the first, second, third or fourth feature of the system device of the present invention is the load condition of the two or more access servers. Instead of investigating each time the connection request is acquired, the configuration of the Internet connection system device is equipped with a function means for periodically investing regardless of the timing of the occurrence of the connection request. .

The sixth feature of the system device of the present invention is the first, second, third, fourth or fifth of the above system device of the present invention.
In the adoption of the configuration of the Internet connection system device, the load state examining means according to the above feature is provided with a function means for examining the load states of the two or more access servers based on exchange information in the corresponding server accommodation exchanges. is there.

A seventh feature of the system device of the present invention is that the connection request acquisition means and the access number storage in the first, second, third, fourth, fifth or sixth feature of the system device of the present invention. A traffic management center installed in an arbitrary area in the subscriber telephone network, in which the means, the load status examining means, and the connection request transfer means can collectively control all of the plurality of server accommodation exchanges. It is the adoption of the configuration of the Internet connection system device that is centrally installed.

An eighth feature of the system device of the present invention is that the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and third aspects of the system device of the present invention are provided.
According to the sixth or seventh aspect, the plurality of access servers are installed by a single Internet service provider, and the configuration of an Internet connection system apparatus is adopted.

A ninth feature of the system device of the present invention is the subscriber telephone network according to the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh or eighth feature of the device of the present invention. But ISD
In the N network, the plurality of server accommodating exchanges are respectively ISDN exchanges, and the configuration of the Internet connection system device is adopted.

[0032]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings by citing a system apparatus example and a method example thereof. It should be noted that each constituent element shown in the drawings used for the description of the present embodiment has the same functional configuration as each constituent element already shown in the prior art, and the common reference numerals are given to the constituent elements, and detailed description thereof will be given. Will be omitted.

(Example of System Device) FIG. 1 is a network configuration diagram of an Internet connection system device α according to an example of the system device of the present invention.

As shown in the figure, the Internet connection system apparatus α according to this system apparatus example includes first to third user terminals 1a to 1c connected to a subscriber telephone network 2 such as an ISDN network and an IP network. Dial-up connection according to the load status of the first to fourth access servers 5a to 5d installed in the IP network 6 by a single ISP (not shown) when a connection request is issued to the IP network 6. In addition to the conventional network configuration shown in FIG. 2, a traffic management center 7 is newly installed in an arbitrary area in the subscriber telephone network 2 in order to establish the above.

Here, inside the traffic management center 7, an access number storage means 7a and a connection request acquisition means 7 are provided.
b, load status check means 7c, and connection request transfer means 7d
And the existing first to third server accommodation exchanges 4a to 4
c (constituted by ISDN exchange) are installed collectively so that they can be controlled collectively.

Of these, the access number storage means 7a is
Two or more access servers (5 included in the first to fourth access servers 5a to 5d, which are preselected by the users (not shown) of the first to third user terminals 1a to 1c.
a), 5b, ...) as the telephone number of the access server (5
a, 5b, ...) And the priority of access is stored.

Further, the connection request acquisition means 7b is used by the first to fourth access servers 5a to 5d in the subscriber telephone network 2.
First to third server accommodation exchanges 4a for accommodating respectively
4c (which does not have to correspond one-to-one) to obtain a required connection request.

Further, the load state examining means 7c, from the access number storing means 7a, each time the connection request is obtained by the connection request obtaining means 7b, the corresponding user terminal (1a-1c) that has issued the connection request. ), The stored telephone number is read out and two or more access servers (5a, 5b,
...) of the load condition is investigated.

However, depending on the case, the load condition investigation means 7c may include two or more access servers (5a, 5b, ...).
Instead of investigating the load state of (1) each time a required connection request is acquired, a function means for periodically investigating regardless of the timing of generation of the connection request may be provided. The same load state examining means 7c functions to investigate the load states of two or more access servers (5a, 5b, ...) Based on the exchange information in the corresponding server accommodation exchanges (4a, 4b, ...). .

Then, the connection request transfer means 7d determines the connection request acquisition means when the access server (5a) having the first priority is in the high load state as a result of the investigation by the load status investigation means 7c. The connection request acquired by 7b is transferred to the access servers (5b, ...) In the low load state having the second or higher priority.

However, the connection request transfer means 7d is basically the access server (5a) having the first priority.
Is in a low load state, the required connection request is not transferred to the access servers (5b, ...) Having the second or higher priority, and the access server (5a) having the first priority is transferred. ) Is provided as it is, and the functional means for directly transferring the data is provided.

In some cases, the connection request transfer means 7d may transfer the connection request to the corresponding access server based on the priority order stored in advance, instead of two or more access servers ( 5a, 5b, ...) Of which, a functional unit for transferring to the access server having the lowest load state may be provided.

The connection request transfer means 7d transfers the connection request to the corresponding access server (the access server in the low load state including the case where the load state is the lowest), and the corresponding server accommodation switch (4a-4c). ), And functions to establish a required dial-up connection in the server accommodation exchanges (4a to 4c).

(Example of Method) Next, an example of a method executed by the Internet connection system apparatus α configured as described above will be described.

First, for example, a user of the first user terminal 1a is set up by a single ISP through the first terminal accommodating exchange 3a and the first server accommodating exchange 4a in the subscriber telephone network 2. First access server 5a
When a connection to the IP network 6 is attempted by dial-up connection to, the connection request acquisition means 7b in the traffic management center 7 receives the connection request from the first user terminal 1a.
It is detected and acquired from the corresponding first server accommodation exchange 4a.

Next, when a connection request is acquired from the first server accommodation switch 4a, the load state examining means 7c in the traffic management center 7 determines the timing of the generation (acquisition) of the connection request or the timing. Irrelevant (regular)
The telephone number of the first access server 5a set to the first priority stored for the first user terminal 1a which issued the connection request is stored in the traffic management center 7 of the same. It is read from the means 7a.

Then, first, the load state of the first access server 5a specified by the telephone number is investigated based on the exchange information in the corresponding server accommodation exchange 4a.

Here, as a result of the above investigation, when the load state of the first access server 5a is low, the connection request transfer means 7d in the traffic management center 7
Forwards the connection request from the first user terminal 1a to the first access server 5a via the corresponding first server accommodating exchange 4a as it is, and makes a required Internet connection with the IP network 6. Establish.

However, when the load condition of the access server 5a is the high load condition, the load condition examining means 7c in the traffic management center 7 stores the second condition stored in the first user terminal 1a. Telephone numbers of other access servers 5b, ...
Access number storage means 7 in the traffic management center 7
The data is read from a and the load state of the remaining one or more access servers 5b, ... Specified by the telephone number is investigated based on the exchange information in the corresponding one or more server accommodation exchanges 4b ,.

As a result of this investigation, for example, when the load state of the second access server 5b set to the second priority is just low, the traffic management center 7 The connection request transfer means 7d is the above first
This time, the connection request from the user terminal 1a is transferred to the second access server 5b via the corresponding second server accommodating exchange 4b.

As a result, a required Internet connection is established with the IP network 6 (hereinafter, the load state of the second access server 5b is tentatively high, and the third and subsequent priority levels are set. The same applies when the load state of the access servers 5c, ... Is in the low load state).

As described in the system device example, when the connection request transfer means 7d is provided with the function means for transferring to the access server with the lowest load state among the two or more access servers 5a, 5b, ... In addition, the transfer of the required connection request will be performed according to the functional means. As a result, the frequency of connection refusal or redialing, which has been a problem in the past, is significantly reduced.
Along with this, the frequency of line waiting imposed on each user of the first to third user terminals 1a to 1c is greatly reduced.

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described with reference to the example of the system device and the example of the method corresponding thereto, the present invention is not necessarily limited to the above means and method. Modifications can be appropriately implemented within a range in which the object of the present invention is achieved and the effects described below are obtained.

[0054]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, the load states of a plurality of access servers are constantly grasped, and the connection request is issued each time the user terminal issues a connection request. Is transferred to a predetermined access server in a low load state, the operation rates of the plurality of access servers are leveled, and the frequency of line waits is greatly reduced. As a result, the required Internet connection will be facilitated.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a network configuration diagram of an internet connection system device according to an example of a system device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a network configuration diagram for explaining a conventional Internet connection method.

[Explanation of symbols]

α: Internet connection system device 1a to 1c ... User terminal 2 ... Subscriber telephone network 3a to 3c ... Terminal accommodation switch 4a-4c ... Server accommodation switch 5a-5d ... Access server 6 ... IP network (Internet network) 7 ... Traffic management center 7a ... Access number storage means 7b ... Connection request acquisition means 7c ... Load state investigation means 7d ... Connection request transfer means

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Yu Yaguchi             2-3-1, Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo             Inside Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (72) Inventor Yasuyuki Ichikawa             3-15 Babacho, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka             Inside Telegraph and Telephone Corporation F term (reference) 5K030 GA03 GA13 HB21 HC02 HC04                       HD05 JA11 JL07 KA04 KA06                       KX23 LB02 LB08 LC06 LC09                       LD17 LE03 MA07 MB02 MB09                       MB16 MC07                 5K051 AA01 AA03 BB02 CC01 CC02                       FF01 FF03 FF11

Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. When a user terminal connected to a subscriber telephone network issues a connection request to the Internet network, dial-up connection is performed according to the load status of a plurality of access servers connected to the Internet network. An internet connection method for establishing, which is included in a plurality of access servers preselected by a user of the user terminal at a single site installed in an arbitrary area in the subscriber telephone network. The telephone numbers of the above access servers are stored together with the priority order of access to the access servers, and from the plurality of server accommodation switches that accommodate the plurality of access servers in the subscriber telephone network at the single location. The connection request is acquired, and each time the connection request is acquired, the corresponding user who issued the connection request The telephone number stored for the user terminal is read and the load state of the two or more access servers specified by the telephone number is investigated, and as a result of this investigation, the access server having the first priority Is in a high load state, the connection request acquired earlier is transferred to an access server in a low load state having a second or higher priority, and the Internet connection method. 2. When the access server having the first priority is in a low load state, the connection request is transmitted to the access servers having the second and subsequent priorities without being transferred. The method of connecting to the Internet according to claim 1, wherein the access server is directly transferred to the access server having the highest priority. 3. The connection request is transferred to the corresponding access server based on the priority stored in advance, instead of the access server having the lowest load state among the two or more access servers. The Internet connection method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the Internet connection method is performed. 4. The transfer of the connection request to the access server is performed via the corresponding server accommodating exchange, and the required dial-up connection is established in the server accommodating exchange. The Internet connection method according to Item 1, 2 or 3. 5. The load status of the two or more access servers is checked every time the connection request is acquired,
The Internet connection method according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein the investigation is carried out periodically regardless of the timing of generation of the connection request. 6. The Internet according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, wherein the load states of the two or more access servers are investigated based on exchange information in a corresponding server accommodation exchange. How to connect. 7. When a user terminal connected to a subscriber telephone network issues a connection request to the Internet network, dial-up connection is performed according to the load status of a plurality of access servers connected to the Internet network. An internet connection system device for establishing, wherein telephone numbers of two or more access servers included in the plurality of access servers, which are preselected by a user of the user terminal, are listed together with a priority order of access to the access servers. Access number storage means for storing; connection request acquisition means for acquiring the connection request from a plurality of server accommodation switches respectively accommodating the plurality of access servers in the subscriber telephone network; Each time a request is obtained, the access number storage means A load state inspection means for reading out the telephone number stored for the corresponding user terminal that has issued the connection request and inspecting the load state of the two or more access servers specified by the telephone number, and the load state inspection. As a result of the investigation by means, when the access server with the highest priority is in a high load state,
An Internet connection system, comprising: a connection request transfer unit that transfers the connection request acquired by the connection request acquisition unit to an access server in a low load state having a second or higher priority. apparatus. 8. The connection request transfer means, when the access server having the first priority is in a low load state, sends the connection request to the access servers having the second and subsequent priorities. The internet connection system device according to claim 7, further comprising a functional unit that directly transfers the data to the access server having the first priority without transferring the data. 9. The connection request transfer means transfers the connection request to a corresponding access server on the basis of the priority stored in advance, instead of the two or more access servers. 9. The internet connection system device according to claim 7, further comprising a functional unit that transfers to an access server having the lowest load state. 10. The connection request transfer means transfers the connection request to the corresponding access server via the corresponding server accommodation switch,
The internet connection system device according to claim 7, 8 or 9, wherein the server accommodation exchange comprises a functional unit for establishing a required dial-up connection. 11. The load status checking means, instead of checking the load status of the two or more access servers each time the connection request is acquired,
The Internet connection system device according to claim 7, 8, 9 or 10, further comprising a functional unit that periodically investigates regardless of the timing of generation of the connection request. 12. The load state examining means comprises functional means for examining the load states of the two or more access servers based on exchange information in a corresponding server accommodation exchange. , 8, 9, 10 or 11 internet connection system device. 13. The subscriber, wherein the connection request acquisition means, the access number storage means, the load status investigation means, and the connection request transfer means can collectively control all of the plurality of server accommodation exchanges. The traffic management center installed in an arbitrary area in the telephone network is collectively installed, and the traffic management center is installed.
2. Internet connection system device according to 2. 14. The plurality of access servers are installed by a single Internet service provider, wherein the access servers are 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12.
Or the internet connection system device according to item 13. 15. The subscriber telephone network is an ISDN network, and the plurality of server-accommodating exchanges are ISDN exchanges, respectively.
The internet connection system device according to 2, 13, or 14.