JP2003092588A - Multimedia information providing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce an incidence rate of system down, etc., by performing multimedia stream communication while suppressing the construction cost of the whole system and activating a communication system for backup even when a single communication system is broken. SOLUTION: An operation system gateway device 9 having a function for mutually converting a protocol for multimedia data stream communication and that for general inter-LAN communication, a standby system gateway device 10 and a line switching device 6 for selecting one of these operation system gateway device 9 and standby system gateway device 10 and connecting it to an ISDN line 5. Respective LANs 3a and 3b provided at an information center 2 are connected to the ISDN line 5 connected to a portable traffic network 8 through these operation system gateway device 9 and standby system gateway device 10 and the line switching device 6.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a multimedia information providing system for providing information to mobile phones and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a system shown in FIG. 6 is known as a multimedia information providing system for providing information to mobile phones and the like.

A multimedia information providing system 101 shown in this figure includes a plurality of LANs 103 installed in an information center 102, a hub device 104 for exchanging packets by connecting these LANs 103 to each other, and each LAN.
The mobile switching network 106 connected to any of the mobile telephones 103, operating the service button of each mobile telephone 105, and receiving the wireless communication from each mobile telephone 105 generates call information corresponding to the requested service. Then, when this is received via a plurality of ISDN lines (or dedicated line networks) 107 and sent to each LAN 103, and when a packet for each mobile phone 105 is sent to each LAN 103, this is sent. It is connected to any of the LAN devices 103 and a plurality of router devices 108 that capture and send out to the ISDN line (or dedicated line network) 107 and supply to each mobile phone 105 connected to the mobile switching network 106. The mobile phone 105 is provided with an authentication server device 109 that performs user authentication when a service request is issued.

Further, the multimedia information providing system 101 is connected to any of the LANs 103, and when the service request from each mobile phone 105 for which the user authentication is performed by the authentication server device 109 is a mail service, A mail server device 110 that fetches service request contents via the router device 108, the hub device 104, etc., and executes the requested mail service, and each L
The authentication server device 10 is connected to any of the ANs 103.
When the service request from each mobile phone 105 authenticated by the user is a content (information content) browsing request by 9, the request content is captured and analyzed via each router device 103, hub device 104, and the like. The information providing server device 111 that provides the requested content and each L
The authentication server device 10 is connected to any of the ANs 103.
9, the customer management server device 112 that manages the connection time of each user-authenticated mobile phone 105, the service request, and the like, and the router device 103 to the customer management server device 112 that are connected to any of the LANs 103 and configure the system. And a monitoring device 113 that monitors operations such as.

Then, the service button of each mobile phone 105 is operated, and the mobile switching network 106 receiving wireless communication from each mobile phone 105 generates call information corresponding to the requested service. ISDN
When the information is supplied to the information center 102 via the line 107, it is taken in by each router device 108, and the authentication server device 109 authenticates the user, and the call information is from a user registered in advance. ,
If the service corresponding to the type of the requested service, for example, the requested service is a mail service, the mail server device 110 is operated to perform the requested mail service (send mail, receive mail, etc.), If the requested service is information provision, the information provision server device 111 is operated to provide the requested content.

In parallel with each of these operations, the monitoring device 113 monitors the operation contents of the entire system,
The customer management server device 112 manages the connection time of each mobile phone 105, the service request, and the like while smoothly performing the service requested by each mobile phone 105.

[0007]

By the way, in such a conventional multimedia information providing system 101, each router device 108 and the ISDN line 107 are duplicated, and any one of the router devices 108 fails. However, since it is possible to respond to the service request from each mobile phone 105, there are the following problems.

[0008] First, in the conventional multimedia information providing system 101, each L device has only a plurality of router devices 108.
AN103 and each ISD connected to the mobile switching network 106
It has an advantage that an interface with the N line 107 can be constructed and the configuration in the information center 102 can be simplified.

However, in a general router device used as each router device 108, the ISDN line 10
Since it does not have a function of detecting an abnormality on the 7 side, notifying the abnormality content to the monitoring device 113, and causing another router device 108 to act as a substitute for the abnormal system, a plurality of ISDN lines 107 and a plurality of routers are provided. Even if a plurality of communication systems are constructed by the device 108, there is a problem that the communication capacity corresponding to the number of communication systems cannot be secured.

In addition, although multimedia data stream communication is an essential requirement in the next-generation mobile communication, a general router device used as each router device 108 is used for such multimedia data communication. When the multimedia information providing system 101 is made to support multimedia data stream communication, each router device 1
As 08, a router device compatible with the protocol for multimedia data communication must be used.

However, since a router device compatible with such a protocol for multimedia data communication is very expensive, as in the conventional multimedia information providing system 101, a plurality of ISDN lines 10 are required.
However, if a plurality of communication systems are constructed by 7 and a plurality of router devices 108 to cope with the failure of the communication systems, there is a problem that the construction cost of the entire system becomes high.

In view of the above circumstances, the present invention keeps the construction cost of the entire system low and activates the backup communication system even if one communication system fails.
Providing a multimedia information providing system that can reduce the occurrence rate of system down, etc. and can perform multimedia stream communication without changing the existing server device group provided in the information center The purpose is to do.

[0013]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a multimedia information providing system for providing a multimedia-related service to a plurality of portable terminal devices according to claim 1 in an internal network. A plurality of server devices that are connected to each other and provide various services requested by the mobile terminal devices, and are arranged between the internal network and the mobile switching network on the mobile terminal device side, and the mobile terminal devices. And an operating system gateway device that supports multimedia data exchange between the server device and each of the server devices, and the operating system gateway device is disposed between the internal network and the mobile switching network on the side of each mobile terminal device. When down, it supports multimedia data exchange between each mobile terminal device and each server device. Is characterized in that a standby gateway device for.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the multimedia information providing system according to the first aspect, one standby gateway device is provided for N operating gateway devices.

According to a third aspect, in the multimedia information providing system according to the first aspect, N operational gateway devices are divided into m groups, and each group is divided into m groups.
The feature is that one standby gateway device is provided.

In the above configuration, in claim 1, even if one communication system fails, the backup communication system is activated and the occurrence rate of system down occurs while keeping the construction cost of the entire system low. In addition, the multimedia stream communication can be performed without changing the existing server device group provided in the information center.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, by arranging one standby gateway device with respect to N operating gateway devices, one of a plurality of communication systems can be used while keeping the construction cost of the entire system low. Even if a failure occurs, the backup communication system is activated to reduce the occurrence rate of system down, etc., and multimedia stream communication can be performed without changing the existing server devices in the information center. Let it be done.

In claim 3, N operational gateway devices are divided into m groups, and each group has 1 group.
By arranging a stand-by gateway device,
Even if some of the multiple communication systems break down, the backup communication systems are activated to keep the system construction cost low and reduce the occurrence rate of system down, etc. The multimedia stream communication is performed without changing the existing server device group.

[0019]

1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a multimedia information providing system according to the present invention.

The multimedia information providing system 1 shown in this figure comprises a plurality of LANs 3 installed in an information center 2.
a, 3b, a hub device 4 for exchanging packets by connecting these LANs 3a, 3b to each other, a designated system side of an active system or a standby system, and an ISDN line (or dedicated line network) 5 Each mobile phone 7 has a line switching device 6 for connecting to and from, and an ISDN board that supports a protocol for multimedia data / storm communication and performs protocol conversion for each ISDN line unit (for example, PRI).
Is operated, and the mobile switching network 8 receiving wireless communication from each mobile phone 7 generates call information corresponding to the requested service.
When it is supplied to the information center 2 via the line (or dedicated line network) 5 and the line switching device 6, this is taken in and, if necessary, a protocol for multimedia data / stroom communication is applied between general LANs. When converted to a communication protocol, a packet is sent out on the LAN 3a, and when a packet destined for each mobile phone 7 is sent out on the LAN 3a, the packet is taken in and, if necessary, a general LAN An operation system gateway device 9 for converting the inter-communication protocol into a multimedia data / stroom communication protocol and supplying the protocol to the line switching device 6 is provided.

Further, the multimedia information providing system 1
Has an ISDN board that corresponds to the protocol for multimedia data / storm communication and performs protocol conversion for each ISDN line unit (for example, PRI), and is activated when the operational gateway device 9 goes down, and each mobile phone The service button 7 is operated, and the mobile switching network 8 receiving wireless communication from each mobile phone 7
When call information corresponding to the requested service is generated and supplied to the information center 2 through the ISDN line (or dedicated line network) 5 and the line switching device 6, the call information is fetched and, if necessary, , A protocol for multimedia data / stroom communication is converted into a general protocol for inter-LAN communication, a packet is sent out on the LAN 3b, and a packet destined for each mobile phone 7 is sent on the LAN 3b. At this time, this is taken in, and if necessary, a protocol for general LAN communication is converted into a protocol for multimedia data / storm communication and is supplied to the line switching device 6, and the standby system gateway device 10 and the LAN 3a. Connected to the mobile phone 7, a service request is issued from each mobile phone 7, and the service request is responded to on the LAN 3a. When packets are transmitted, and a authentication server 11 performs user authentication.

Further, the multimedia information providing system 1 is connected to the LAN 3b, and when the service request from each mobile phone 7 which is user-authenticated by the authentication server device 11 is the mail service, the packet transmitted to the LAN 3b is sent. When the service request is a content browsing request from a mail server device 12 that executes the requested mail service and each mobile phone 7 that is connected to the LAN 3b and is authenticated by the authentication server device 11, the data is sent to the LAN 3b. The information providing server device 13 that takes in the received packet and provides the requested content (information content) and each mobile phone 7 that is connected to the LAN 3a and is authenticated by the authentication server device 11 as a user.
Of the customer management server device 14 that manages the connection time, service request, and the like, and the operations of the line switching device device 6 to the customer management server device 14 that are connected to the LAN 3b and that constitute the system, and monitor the operation system and the standby system. And a monitoring device 15 that performs switching processing and the like.

Next, the operation of the multimedia information providing system 1 will be described with reference to the block diagram shown in FIG. 1, the flowchart shown in FIG. 2 and the functional block diagram shown in FIG.

First, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 2, the operating system gateway device 9, the standby system gateway device 10, the monitoring device 15, the line switching device 6, the authentication server device 11, the mail server device 12, the information providing server device 1
3. Power is turned on to the customer management server device 14, etc.,
When the service provision to each mobile phone 7 is started, the line switching device 6 performs initial setting, selects the operational gateway device 6, and connects the operational gateway device 9 and the ISDN line 5. It

In parallel with this operation, the operating system gateway device 9 generates survival data indicating that the system has been operated, and this is used as the operating system gateway device 9 → LAN 3
a → hub device 4 → LAN 3b → standby system gateway device 10 is supplied to the standby system gateway device 10 to notify the start of operation of the active system gateway device 9, and has been operated by the standby gateway device 10. Data is generated, and this is standby system gateway device 10 → LAN 3b → hub device 4 → LAN
It is supplied to the operation system gateway device 9 through the route 3a → operation system gateway device 9 to notify the start of operation of the standby system gateway device 10.

Next, as shown in the functional block diagram of FIG. 3, the system management function 1 generated by the program installed in the standby gateway device 10.
6. Among the monitoring monitor function 17 and the service function 18, the monitoring monitor function 17 determines whether the hard disk or the like is operating normally, and the ISD
Built-in ISDN using N driver 19
When it is determined whether the board operates normally and it is determined that the hard disk, ISDN board, etc. are not operating normally, the system management function 16
An abnormal signal is generated, and this is the standby system gateway device 1
0 → LAN3b → monitoring device 15
It is supplied to the line switching control unit 20 of 5 to the maintenance personnel,
A failure repair request for the standby gateway device 10 is issued.

The system management function 16 and the monitoring monitor function 17 generated by the program installed in the standby gateway device 10 check whether or not the hard disk, ISDN board, etc. are operating normally. When it is determined that the ISDN board or the like is operating normally, until it is activated by the operational gateway device 9,
The system management function 16 continues the standby state.

Further, in parallel with the above-mentioned operation, the system management function 2 of the system management function 21, the monitoring monitor function 22, and the service function 24 which are generated by the program installed in the operation-system gateway device 9 is used.
1 activates the service function 22 and
An operation signal is generated, and this is the operation-side gateway device 9
→ LAN 3a → hub device 4 → LAN 3b → monitoring device 15
Is supplied to the monitoring device 15 through the
The line switching control unit 20 is notified of the start of service of the active gateway device 9.

Thereafter, the service button of each mobile phone 7 is operated, and the mobile switching network 8 receiving the wireless communication from each mobile phone 7 generates call information corresponding to the requested service, and this call information is carried. When it is supplied to the operational gateway device 9 through the route of the switching network 8 → ISDN line 5 → line switching device 6 → active gateway device 9,
The operational gateway device 9 checks whether the format of the call information is compatible with the multimedia data / storm communication protocol, and if the call information format is compatible with the multimedia data / storm communication protocol, The format of the call information is converted into the format of a general inter-LAN communication protocol, and the packet obtained by this conversion processing is routed through the operation gateway device 9 → LAN 3a → authentication server device 11 and customer management server device 14. Are supplied to the authentication server device 11 and the customer management server device 14 to perform user authentication, customer management, and the like, and the operation system gateway device 9 → LAN 3a → hub device 4 → L
The data is supplied to the mail server device 12 and the information providing server device 13 via the route of AN3b → mail server device 12 and information providing server device 13.

Then, the mail server device 12 and the information providing server device 13 generate a packet including mail data, content data, etc. corresponding to the service request, and the mail server device 12 and the information providing server device 1
3 → LAN 3b → hub device 4 → LAN 3a → operation system gateway device 9
Is supplied to the operation gateway device 9
Is converted into multimedia data / stroem data in a format compatible with the multimedia data / stroom communication protocol, and this is used as an operation gateway device 9 → line switching device 6 → ISDN line 5 → mobile switching network 8 → request for service The result of the requested service, which is supplied to the mobile phone 7, is displayed on the route of the mobile phone 7.

Further, in parallel with the above-mentioned operation, the monitoring monitor function 22 generated by the program installed in the operational gateway device 9 checks whether the hard disk is operating normally, and the ISDN driver. 23 is used to determine whether the built-in ISDN board or the like is operating normally, and when it is determined that the hard disk, ISDN board, or the like is operating normally, the system management function 21 uses the operation signal. Is generated, and this is the active gateway device 9 → LAN 3a → hub device 4 → LAN 3
It is supplied to the line switching control unit 20 of the monitoring device 15 through the route of b → monitoring device 15 to inform that the active gateway device 9 is continuing the service.

Further, the monitor monitor function 22 generated by the program installed in the operational gateway device 9 checks whether the hard disk, ISDN board, etc. are operating normally,
When it is determined that the hard disk, the ISDN board, etc. are not operating normally, an abnormal signal is generated by the system management function 21, which is an operation system gateway device 9 → LAN 3a → hub device 4 → LAN 3b → standby system gateway device 10. Is supplied to the standby gateway device 10.

After that, the system management function 21 of the operation system gateway device 9 brings the service function 24 into a stopped state, and the system management function 16 of the standby system gateway device 10 activates the service function 18 so that The service performed by the operational gateway device 9 is inherited.

Next, an operation signal is generated by the system management function 16 of the standby gateway device 10, and this is a path of the standby gateway device 10 → LAN 3b → monitoring device 15, and the line switching control unit 20 of the monitoring device 15 is generated.
In addition, the line switching control unit 20 determines that the operating system gateway device 9 has stopped the service and the standby system gateway device 10 has started the service, and a line switching request is supplied to the line switching device 6. To be done.

As a result, the line switching device 6 switches the line, and the operating system gateway device 9 and the ISD are switched.
The N line 5 is disconnected, the standby system gateway device 10 and the ISDN line 5 are connected, and the service using the standby system gateway device 10 is started.

As described above, in this embodiment, in the information center 2, the operation-system gateway device 9 having a function of mutually converting the protocol for multimedia data / storm communication and the general protocol for communication between LANs. When,
Standby system gateway device 10 having a function of mutually converting a protocol for multimedia data / strooke communication and a general protocol for communication between LANs, and these operating system gateway device 9 and standby system gateway device 10
One of the two is selected, and the line switching device 6 connected to the ISDN line 5 is arranged, and the operation system gateway device 9, the standby system gateway device 10, and the line switching device 6 are arranged.
The LANs 3a and 3 provided in the information center 2
Since b is connected to the ISDN line 5 connected to the mobile switching network 8, even if one communication system fails while keeping the construction cost of the entire system low.
The backup communication system can be activated to reduce the occurrence rate of system down and the like, and multimedia stream communication can be performed without changing the existing server device group provided in the information center 2. Can be made.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, one standby system gateway device 10 is arranged for one active system gateway device 9, and when the active system gateway device 9 fails, the standby system gateway device 10 However, as shown in FIG. 4, by using the line switching device 25 having N lines, N ISDN lines 5a to 5n and N units are operated. System gateway devices 9a to 9n, respectively, and each operating system gateway device 9a to 9n performs communication processing,
When any of the active gateway devices 9a to 9n fails, the line switching device 25 is operated to disconnect the failed active gateway device and connect the standby gateway device 10 to the failed active gateway. The service provided by the device may be delegated.

Thus, while keeping the construction cost of the entire system low, even if one of the plurality of communication systems fails, the backup communication system is activated to reduce the occurrence rate of system down. In addition, the multimedia stream communication can be performed without changing the existing server device group provided in the information center 2.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5, N operating gateway devices 9a-9n are connected to i groups 26a-2.
6i, one standby system gateway device 10a to 10i is arranged for each group 26a to 26i, and N ISDs are used by using the line switching device 27 having N lines.
N lines 5a to 5n and N operational gateway devices 9
a-9n, respectively, to cause each operational gateway device 9a-9n to perform communication processing, and when any of the operational gateway devices 9a-9n fails, the failed operational gateway device is included. It is also possible to activate the stand-by gateway device of the group in which the service is provided so that the service is delegated.

As a result, even if some of a plurality of communication systems fail, the backup communication systems are activated to reduce the occurrence rate of system down, etc., while keeping the construction cost of the entire system low. In addition, it is possible to perform multimedia stream communication without changing the existing server device group provided in the information center 2.

[0041]

As described above, according to the present invention, in the multimedia information providing system according to claim 1, even if one communication system fails, the backup information can be backed up while keeping the construction cost of the entire system low. It is possible to activate the communication system of the system to reduce the occurrence rate of system down and to perform multimedia stream communication without changing the existing server device group provided in the information center. it can.

According to another aspect of the multimedia information providing system of the present invention, even if one of a plurality of communication systems fails, the backup communication system is activated to bring down the system while keeping the construction cost of the entire system low. It is possible to reduce the occurrence rate of, and to perform multimedia stream communication without changing the existing server device group provided in the information center.

In the multimedia information providing system according to claim 3, even if some of a plurality of communication systems fail, each backup backup communication system is activated to keep the system construction cost low. The occurrence rate of downtime can be reduced, and multimedia stream communication can be performed without changing the existing server device group provided in the information center.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a multimedia information providing system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation example of the multimedia information providing system shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing an operation example of the multimedia information providing system shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of a multimedia information providing system according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of a multimedia information providing system according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an example of a conventionally known multimedia information providing system.

[Explanation of symbols]

1: Multimedia information providing system 2: Information center 3a, 3b: LAN (internal network) 4: Hub device 5, 5a to 5n: ISDN line (or leased line network) 6, 25: Line switching device 7: Mobile phone (mobile terminal device) 8: Mobile switching network 9, 9a to 9n: Operation system gateway device 10, 10a to 10i: Standby gateway device 11: Authentication server device (server device) 12: Mail server device (server device) 13: Information providing server device (server device) 14: Customer management server device (server device) 15: Monitoring device 16, 21: System management function 17, 22: Monitoring monitor function 18, 24: Service function 19, 23: ISDN driver 20: Line switching control unit 26a-26i: Group

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    F-term (reference) 5K030 HB21 HC01 HD03 HD06 KA01                       KA07 MD02                 5K033 AA06 BA13 BA15 CB02 DA06                       DB14 DB16 DB18 EA04 EB03                       EB06                 5K067 AA21 BB04 BB21 DD51 EE02                       EE10 EE16 FF02 HH21 KK11                 5K101 LL00 LL12 MM07 VV00 VV05

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. In a multimedia information providing system for providing multimedia-related services to a plurality of mobile terminal devices, a plurality of servers connected to an internal network and providing various services requested by the mobile terminal devices. A device, and an operation system gateway device that is arranged between the internal network and the mobile switching network on the side of each mobile terminal device and supports multimedia data exchange between each mobile terminal device and each server device. When the operating system gateway device is down, it is arranged between the internal network and the mobile switching network on the side of each mobile terminal device, and when the operation system gateway device is down, a multi connection between each mobile terminal device and each server device is performed. A standby gateway device that supports media data exchange, and Deer information providing system. 2. The multimedia information providing system according to claim 1, wherein one standby gateway device is provided for each of the N operating gateway devices. 3. The multimedia information providing system according to claim 1, wherein N operating gateway devices are divided into m groups, and one standby gateway device is provided for each group. Characteristic multimedia information providing system.