JP2003224588A - Method for controlling communication quality - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To automatically perform control to maximize the satisfaction level of users regardless of the classification of communication resources, a difference in communication configuration, and the usage situation of the communication resources in controlling the quality of end-to-end communication. <P>SOLUTION: Service providing conditions and service selecting methods which differ by the kind of the communication resources and the kinds of providers are used for general purpose through the use of a parameter for communication quality and the parameter for a communication cost. Satisfaction level indexes in the respective continuous values of the parameters indicating communication quality, the satisfaction degree indexes in the respective continuous values of the parameters indicating the communication cost, and the satisfaction degree indexes of the quality and the cost are synthesized as the request condition of the communication service users. Then a function for calculating an overall satisfaction degree index is used. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to quality of service control in services involving communication.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the diversification of demands for communication service quality, a user selects a menu from a service menu defined by a plurality of different service qualities, so that a service satisfying the requirements of the user (communication service user) The method of providing has appeared. For example, in an IP network service, a label indicating a priority order is attached to an IP packet like DiffServ, and a router performs a packet transfer process based on the priority order of the label given to the packet so that a high priority packet can be obtained. As a method of improving the quality of service to be used, a method of providing multi-service by a plurality of different SLAs has been proposed for ATM and HSD leased line service.

[0003]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in each system, "service provision conditions" such as what kind of service to provide at what price
Since the "service selection method" such as the method of selecting the service is different, the user needs to perform the service selection process corresponding to the network to be used.

A communication service is established by utilizing a plurality of resources. For example, ASP (Application Service Pr) that uses an application on a server in a remote location.
resources such as a server application program, a server, an ASP side LAN, a carrier network, a user side LAN, a terminal, and a client application program. these,
Various resources used in the communication service will be referred to as “communication resources” in the present application. Further, the communication service quality provided to the user as a result of using all the communication resources used in the communication service will be referred to as “end-end service quality” in the present application.

Here, for example, when the end-end service quality is degraded due to congestion on the user-side LAN, no matter how high-quality service is selected in the carrier network resource, End service quality does not improve. In order to determine the end-to-end service quality, the user needs to acquire the service provision conditions of all communication resources used in the communication service and select the optimum service for each communication resource. However, since service providing conditions and service selection methods differ depending on the type of communication resource, the user has to individually perform service selection processing in accordance with the combination of communication resources to be used.

The utilization rate of communication resources changes from moment to moment.
Along with this, service provision conditions may change.
For example, in DiffSev, even if services with the same priority are selected, the available bandwidth will change depending on the congestion status of the network. The user had to select the service each time the service providing conditions changed even during communication.

[0007] The requirements for the end-to-end service quality of the user, such as "bandwidth XX or more" and "charge XX or less" are acquired, and the program automatically optimizes all communication resources used in the communication service. The method of selecting a service reduces the burden on the user. However, since the service provision conditions and service selection methods differ depending on the type of communication resources, and the service provision conditions and service selection methods differ depending on the provider (communication resource provider) even for the same communication resource type such as a carrier network, a general-purpose method Could not be realized.

[0008] As simple requirements such as "bandwidth XX or more" and "charge XX or less" as requirements for end-to-end service quality of users, it is necessary to meet a wide range of service provision conditions that change depending on the usage rate of communication resources. I can't. For example, when the usage rate of communication resources is low, a high quality service is preferred even at a low price, and when the usage rate is high, a high price may be paid to use the high quality service. This shows that the criterion for preferentially satisfying the quality requirement or the cost (fee) requirement varies depending on the communication resource utilization rate. , Or “(always) prioritize cost conditions” cannot be used.

The present invention solves the above problems and conceals differences in service provision conditions of communication resources and service selection methods depending on communication resource types and providers, and uses a general-purpose algorithm (program), that is, a wide range. The purpose is to automatically control end-to-end service quality according to general user requirements corresponding to service provision conditions.

[0010]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a communication for selecting an optimum communication quality from a plurality of communication qualities provided by a communication resource provider according to a request condition from a communication service user. In the quality control method, as the requirement, a first user requirement that represents a satisfaction index at each successive value of a parameter that represents communication quality and a satisfaction index at each successive value of a parameter that represents a communication cost are represented. A second user requirement and a satisfaction degree combining function for calculating a comprehensive satisfaction degree index from these user requirements are acquired, and a parameter value indicating communication quality and a communication cost are displayed from the communication resource provider. The service providing condition indicating the relationship with the parameter value is acquired, and the parameter representing the communication cost in the second user requirement condition is acquired by the service providing condition. It is converted to a parameter representing the communication quality, a parameter value representing the communication quality that maximizes the overall satisfaction index is obtained from the satisfaction combining function, and this parameter value is used as a parameter for controlling the communication quality. A featured communication quality control method is provided.

A band available for the communication service can be used as the parameter indicating the communication quality, and a charge per unit time can be used as the parameter indicating the communication cost. It is also possible to use the time until the completion of the communication service as the parameter indicating the communication quality, and use the charge for the entire communication as the parameter indicating the communication cost.

It is preferable that the sum or product of the first user requirement and the second user requirement is used as the satisfaction combination function.

When a plurality of communication resource providers are involved in one communication service and the plurality of communication resource providers respectively provide one or a plurality of communication qualities, each communication resource provider specifies service provision conditions. It is preferable to collect and add the parameters representing the communication costs of those service provision conditions for each same communication quality.

When it is possible to select one of a plurality of communication resource providers for at least a part of communication resources of one communication service, service provision conditions are collected from each communication resource provider and the service provision is provided. From the conditions, it is preferable to select the communication service as a whole, that is, the one having the minimum parameter value representing the communication cost between the end-to-end.

When there are a plurality of options for at least a part of communication resources of one communication service and a plurality of communication resource providers are involved in at least a part of the options, each communication resource is provided for each option. The parameters representing the communication costs of the service provision conditions collected from each person are added for each same communication quality, and from among them,
It is preferable to select the one having the smallest parameter representing the communication cost of the entire communication service.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in a communication quality control device for selecting an optimum communication quality from a plurality of communication qualities provided by a communication resource provider according to a requirement from a communication service user, As requirement conditions, a first user requirement condition indicating a satisfaction index at each successive value of the parameter indicating communication quality, and a second user requirement condition indicating a satisfaction index at each successive value of a parameter indicating communication cost. And a scenario module that acquires a satisfaction degree combining function that calculates a comprehensive satisfaction degree index from these user requirements, a parameter value that represents the communication quality from the communication resource provider, and a parameter value that represents the communication cost. And a service driver module for acquiring service provision conditions indicating the relationship between the communication resource providers and the communication quality control for the communication resource provider, and According to the service providing condition acquired by the service driver module, the parameter representing the communication cost in the second user requirement is converted into the parameter representing the communication quality, and the total satisfaction index is maximized from the satisfaction combination function. Provided is a communication quality control device, comprising: a parameter value representing communication quality; and a total service selecting unit that instructs the service driver module to perform communication quality control using the parameter value as a parameter for controlling communication quality. To be done.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, a parameter representing communication quality is provided to a computer of a communication service user who uses a service provided by a communication resource provider, in accordance with a request condition from the communication service user. A first user requirement representing a satisfaction index at each successive value of
A first user requirement that represents a satisfaction index at each successive value of a parameter that represents a communication cost, and a satisfaction combination function that calculates a comprehensive satisfaction index from these user requirements are obtained. A function, a second function of acquiring a service providing condition indicating a relationship between a parameter value indicating communication quality and a parameter value indicating communication cost from the communication resource provider, and the second function using the service providing condition A third function of converting a parameter representing the communication cost in the user request condition into a parameter representing the communication quality, and obtaining a parameter value representing the communication quality that maximizes the overall satisfaction index from the satisfaction combination function, Using the parameter value obtained by the fourth function as a parameter for controlling the communication quality, a third function for realizing the communication quality control is implemented. Lamb is provided.

It is desirable that the program for realizing the first function be modularized, selected and downloaded according to the user's preference. Further, it is desirable that a program for realizing the second function and the fourth function is modularized and provided by each communication resource provider in correspondence with various communication resources.

The program for realizing the first function or the program for realizing the second function and the fourth function can be distributed by itself.

[0020]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 1. Assumptions In the present invention, as an application of a communication service,
It targets both stream communication and bulk communication. It does not cover competitive games that require a small amount of data but low communication delay.

Here, "stream communication" refers to communication that requires a specific band at all times, such as voice and image calls, conferences, and broadcasts. In stream communication, it is possible to make the transmission band variable by changing the frame rate, resolution, color depth, etc. at the transmitting AP, and control so as to transmit in the actually usable band. The communication quality for the user is determined by the value such as the frame rate, so that the higher the bandwidth used, the better the communication quality.

"Bulk communication" refers to communication for transferring data files such as texts, programs, videos, music, books and newspaper articles. The communication quality for the user is the time until the transfer is completed.

2. Basic Configuration for Service Selection FIG. 1 shows a basic embodiment of the present invention. A communication service user (hereinafter, simply referred to as “user”) receives from the terminal 1 a user side LAN 2, a carrier network 3 and a server side L.
An application on the ASP server 5 can be used via the AN 4. In the following, as resources used in this communication service, the terminal 1 and the user side LAN
User resources provided by the carrier network 3, carrier resources provided by the carrier network 3, the LAN 4 side and the ASP server 5
Will be explained by classifying them into ASP resources provided by.

A program called a module execution unit 6 is installed in the terminal 1 in order to select an optimum communication quality from a plurality of communication qualities provided by a communication resource provider in response to a request from a user. The module execution unit 6 is a program independent of the communication AP (application program) and provides an execution environment for the scenario module 7 and the service driver module 8. Scenario module 7 and service driver module 8
Is the module execution unit 6 through the network.
Downloaded and executed. Module execution unit 6
In addition, the integrated service selection unit 9 is built in.

The scenario module 7 obtains a request regarding communication quality and communication charge that changes depending on the type of application and user preference, and converts the request into a unified format. That is, from the user, in the first user requirement condition (hereinafter referred to as “communication quality requirement condition”) indicating the satisfaction index at each successive value of the parameter indicating the communication quality, and in each successive value of the parameter indicating the communication cost. A second user requirement condition (hereinafter referred to as "communication cost requirement condition") representing a satisfaction index and a satisfaction composition function for calculating a comprehensive satisfaction index from these user requirements are acquired. The scenario module 7 is modularized, and is downloaded to the module execution unit 6 and executed according to the user's preference.

The service driver module 8 is a program for concealing a service menu and communication service resource types and providing a general-purpose interface, and includes a parameter value indicating communication quality from a communication resource provider and a parameter value indicating communication cost. Acquire service provision conditions that represent relationships and select services for communication resource providers. The service driver module 8 is modularized, and is downloaded to the module execution unit 6 and executed according to the environment. The service driver module 8 is provided corresponding to various communication service resources such as user resources, carrier resources, and APS resources. Various providers develop service driver modules for the services they provide and provide them to users.

The integrated service selecting section 9 is a general-purpose algorithm (program) for selecting an optimum combination of service selections from user request conditions and service providing conditions,
The parameter representing the communication cost in the communication cost request condition is converted into the parameter representing the communication quality according to the service providing condition acquired by the service driver module 8, and the communication quality that maximizes the overall satisfaction index from the satisfaction combining function is expressed. The parameter value is obtained, and the service driver module 8 is instructed to control the communication quality using this parameter value as a parameter for controlling the communication quality.

In order to present the user request condition from the scenario module 7 to the comprehensive service selecting section 9, a unified user request designation interface is defined for each application type (stream communication, bulk communication). In addition, since the service driver module 8 and the comprehensive service selection unit 9 acquire service selection conditions and select services, a unified service condition presentation / selection interface is provided regardless of the provider, service menu, and communication service resource type. Stipulated.

3. Outline of Service Selection FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the outline of service selection, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the flow of the processing. The service selection by the module execution unit 6 will be briefly described with reference to these drawings.

The scenario module 7 acquires the requirements for the user's communication service, converts them into user requirements in a general-purpose standard format regarding communication quality and communication cost, and passes them to the integrated service selecting section 9. The service driver module 8 obtains information (service provision conditions) about how much resources can be provided at what cost among corresponding communication service resources, converts the information into a general-purpose standard condition, and performs integrated service. It is passed to the selection unit 9. This processing is performed for each communication resource used, that is, for each service driver module 8. Integrated service selection unit 9
Determines which service should be selected from the user requirements and the communication resource service provision conditions,
This is instructed to each service driver module 8. Each service driver module 8 performs service selection of the corresponding communication service resource based on the instructed content.

The optimum service selection algorithm and interface of the integrated service selection unit 9 are unchanged.

4. The procedure execution module 6 is started up on the processing procedure terminal 1, the scenario module 7 is downloaded to the module execution section 6 and executed, and the service driver module 8 according to the communication environment is executed.
Is downloaded to the module execution unit 6 and executed.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the flow of the user request condition acquisition conversion process by the scenario module 7.

The scenario module 7 first acquires the requirements for the user's communication service. This requirement may be unique to the scenario module 7 and can be acquired by a unique method. However, it should be possible to convert to the standard format requirements described below. For example, GU
By using I (Graphical User Interface) or the like, by inputting a graph in which quality / cost is plotted on the horizontal axis and satisfaction index is plotted on the vertical axis, standard format conditions can be obtained from the beginning. Alternatively, a simple method such as "quality requirement is XX or more" may be used. Also, how to associate the requirement regarding quality and the requirement regarding communication cost in order to obtain the satisfaction composite function is acquired. This may be given by the user or may be predetermined.

Next, the scenario module 7 sets the acquired user requirement as a standard requirement, that is, a satisfaction index value at each value of each parameter representing quality and cost, and each parameter as a variable. Satisfaction composite function of two variable functions to

Then, the scenario module 7 passes the generated user request condition to the integrated service selecting unit 9. As a data transfer method, a function call format, a storage method in a shared memory (with the integrated service selection unit 9), communication with the integrated service selection unit 9 (message communication), and the like can be considered.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the flow of the service providing condition acquisition / conversion processing by the service driver module 8.

The service driver module 8 first
Obtain the service provision conditions of the corresponding communication resource. As for this condition, a unique condition is acquired by a method unique to the driver module. However, it can be converted into the standard format condition described below. For example, in the case of the ASP service, the service condition can be acquired to the server via communication, or
ffServ In case of carrier network service, Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-356362
The method of acquiring traffic information by the method shown in 1 and the method of acquiring the charge information provided by the carrier can be considered.

Next, the service driver module 8 converts the acquired condition into a standard format condition. The standard format requirement is represented by the cost parameter value at each value of the quality parameter.

Subsequently, the service driver module 8
The converted standard format condition is passed to the integrated service selecting unit 9. As the data transfer method, similar to the data transfer between the scenario module 7 and the integrated service selection unit 9, a function call format, a shared memory storage method, message communication, and the like can be considered.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing the flow of processing by the integrated service selection unit 9.

The integrated service selecting unit 9 first acquires the user requirements (communication quality requirement, communication cost requirement, and satisfaction composition function) in the standard format acquired and converted by the scenario module 7, and the service driver module 8
Acquire and convert the standard format service provision conditions acquired in. When there are a plurality of service driver modules 8, the service providing conditions are acquired for each module and they are integrated and combined into one condition. This is called an integrated service provision condition.

Subsequently, the integrated service selecting section 9 uses the integrated service providing condition to normalize and convert the communication cost requirement from the scenario module 7. The normalized data is represented as the user's cost satisfaction index value at each value of the quality parameter.

Subsequently, the integrated service selecting unit 9 uses the communication quality request condition, the normalized communication cost request condition, and the satisfaction synthesizing function acquired from the scenario module 7 to generate the total user condition. This total user condition is represented as a total satisfaction index value at each value of the quality parameter.

Further, the total service selecting unit 9 obtains a quality parameter value that maximizes the total user satisfaction index value from the obtained total user conditions, and passes it to each service driver module 8. As a data transfer method, a function call format, a storage method in a shared memory, message communication, etc. can be considered.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing the flow of service selection processing by the service driver module 8.

When the service driver module 8 acquires the standard-format service selection condition represented by the value of the quality parameter from the integrated service selection unit 9, the condition is set as follows.
Convert to the service selection condition of the corresponding communication resource. For example, in the case of a video streaming service in ASP, it is converted into parameter values such as resolution and frame rate. Further, in the case of DiffSerc carrier network service, a priority class that satisfies the quality is set.

Subsequently, the service driver module 8
Service control is performed for communication resources based on the converted conditions. For example, in the case of the video streaming service in ASP, the application is set to use the parameter values such as the obtained resolution and frame rate. In the case of DiffSerc carrier network service, application settings and router settings are performed so that communication is performed using the obtained priority class. However, it is not necessary to do anything for the best effort type communication resources such as the user LAN.

The above processing is carried out in accordance with the traffic fluctuation situation and
It is repeated at the timing when the provider changes service conditions such as charges.

5. Data and Processing Thereof FIG. 8 shows the relationship between the amount of data transfer (bandwidth used) per unit time and the degree of satisfaction, as an example of user requirements regarding communication quality in the case of stream communication. 0 satisfaction
If it means, it means not to communicate.

FIG. 9 shows the relationship between the usage charge per unit time and the degree of satisfaction, as an example of user requirements regarding the communication cost in the case of stream communication. When the degree of satisfaction is 0, it means that communication is not performed.

FIG. 10 shows the relationship between the transfer completion time and the degree of satisfaction as an example of user requirements relating to communication quality in the case of bulk communication. When the degree of satisfaction is 0, it means that communication is not performed.

FIG. 11 shows the relationship between the charge (total charge) required for communication time and the degree of satisfaction, as an example of the user request condition regarding the communication cost in the case of bulk communication. When the degree of satisfaction is 0, it means that communication is not performed.

FIG. 12 shows, as an example of service providing conditions, the relationship between the amount of data transfer (bandwidth used) per unit time and the charge. Bandwidth that cannot be provided is infinite.

FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining the integration of service provision conditions. To integrate the service provision conditions, add the respective charges for each band. If any of the charges goes to infinity, the total goes to infinity. This is because if the charge is infinite for a certain communication resource, that band cannot be used, and in the end-to-end quality of service that resource becomes a bottle net, and that band cannot be used. Based on the integrated service provision condition data, the total usage charge for using the services of each communication service resource from end to end can be known.

FIG. 14 is a flow chart showing an example of the flow of the user request condition normalization process, and FIG. 15 shows an example of the process. Here, processing in the case of stream communication will be described. In this process, the integrated service provision condition is used to convert the communication cost requirement condition into the relationship of satisfaction with respect to the usage band from the relationship of satisfaction with respect to the charge per unit time. If you know the charge for a certain band,
You can see how satisfied you are with the price. Therefore, the relationship of fee satisfaction with bandwidth can be known.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing another example of the flow of the user request condition normalization process, and FIG. 17 shows an example of the process. Here, processing in the case of bulk communication will be described. In this process, first, the communication quality request condition is converted from the relationship of satisfaction with the transfer completion time to the relationship of satisfaction with the utilization band. Transfer completion time when a certain bandwidth is used is "file size / bandwidth"
Can be derived with. As a result, the relationship of the quality satisfaction with the band is known. Next, using the integrated service provision conditions,
The communication cost requirement is converted from the relationship of satisfaction with the total charge to the relationship of satisfaction with the used bandwidth.
When a certain band is used, the communication time is known, and the product of the communication time and the charge per unit time is the total charge. Therefore, the relationship of fee satisfaction with bandwidth can be known.

FIG. 18 is a flow chart showing an example of the flow of user satisfaction degree synthesis processing and optimum solution derivation processing.
FIG. 19 shows an example of the processing in which a sum is used as the satisfaction combination function. In this process, data of the user's satisfaction with respect to the used band and the satisfaction with respect to the quality are combined to create total satisfaction data of the user with respect to the used band. Satisfaction composition uses a satisfaction composition function instructed by the scenario module.
However, when the satisfaction level of either the communication quality requirement or the communication cost requirement is 0, the user's requirement is not satisfied, so the total satisfaction is set to 0. The bandwidth having the maximum value of the obtained total satisfaction data is the service bandwidth that maximizes the total satisfaction of the user.

6. Specific examples of user request conditions and service provision conditions 6.1 Stream communication In the case of stream communication, the actual user request regarding communication quality differs depending on the application. For example, in the case of video, the resolution, frame rate, compression algorithm, etc., and in the case of audio, the sampling frequency, dynamic range, compression algorithm, etc. By expressing this by the relationship between the amount of data transfer (bandwidth used) per unit time and the degree of satisfaction, any application can be replaced with common requirements.

Regarding the communication cost condition, when the communication continuation time is predetermined such as in a movie or a conference, the total charge for communication is generally set as the required condition. However, when the communication continuation time is not fixed as in an ordinary telephone, the area per unit time is a required condition. In the former case, the input conditions from the user are the communication time and the total charge, and the total charge is divided by the communication time for easy conversion.

FIG. 20 shows a GUI example of user request input in stream communication. The scenario module acquires requirements in a format that is as user-friendly as possible.

21 to 25 show examples of user requirement conditions. 21 shows 6 Mbps or more within 10 minutes.
Is as good as possible within 10 minutes, Fig. 23 is 6Mbp
A user requirement of s or more and being as cheap as possible is shown.
Further, FIG. 24 shows an example in which a user inputs a plurality of points on a graph and the points are connected by a straight line. Figure 25
Shows an example of a curve in which a plurality of points are approximated by Bezier, spline, or the like. What kind of user requirement is obtained depends on the scenario module.

The service providing condition is represented by the relationship between the amount of data transfer (unit bandwidth) per unit time and the charge.

FIG. 26 shows an example of service provision conditions of the user side LAN. Communication service resources managed by the user such as the user side LAN are not charged. For example, when 6 Mbps is available, the bandwidth used below that is free, and the bandwidth beyond that is not available, so the charge becomes infinite.

Available bandwidth is policy-based
If it is a managed network such as a network, obtain it from the management system. In the case of a network where nothing is managed like the current general LAN, the available bandwidth is obtained by external observation such as pathcher. Since the specific method to be used is hidden by the service driver, it is not specified here.

FIG. 27 shows an example of service provision conditions for the multi-SLA service. In a service having a plurality of bandwidth guarantee grades and the fee is increased depending on the guaranteed bandwidth, the service providing condition is as shown in FIG.

FIG. 28 shows an example of service providing conditions for the DiffSer service. Strict priority queuing
In the case of a DiffServ service that performs queuing), the higher the priority, the higher the price per data will be. By using the method shown in Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-356362, the available bandwidth for each priority class will be increased. And the charge for each band can be calculated from the charge information for each priority. In the band that cannot be issued even at the highest priority, the price will be infinite.

FIG. 29 shows an example of service provision conditions of the stream server. For example, in the video stream communication application of ASP, when the communication quality is controlled by changing the frame rate, the usable band has a discrete value. When the fee is increased according to the frame rate to be provided, the service providing condition is as shown in FIG.

In the case of stream communication, the required conditions do not change during communication. However, in the middle of communication, the user may change the request condition by determining that "the current cost condition cannot satisfy the communication". In that case, the scenario module performs processing with the new requirement as the requirement of the user is changed. In that case, the timing for selecting the service is specified by the user according to the track variation, or is automatically determined by the scenario module. When the processing is repeated, it is not necessary to acquire the service provision condition each time. For example, for services with fixed bandwidth and charges available for each service grade,
Do it once at the beginning and reuse the data thereafter.

6.2 Bulk Communication FIG. 30 shows a GUI example of user request input in bulk communication, and FIGS. 31 to 33 show examples of user request conditions. In the case of bulk communication, communication completion time and total charge are important. 31 is a user requirement that a 10 Mbyte file be transferred within 10 seconds at a charge of 10 yen, FIG. 32 is a user requirement that the transfer is as fast as possible at a charge of 10 yen, and FIG. 33 is within 10 seconds. Indicates the user requirement to transfer as cheaply as possible.
As in the case of stream communication, various specification methods are possible depending on the scenario module.

7. Integration of service provision conditions The integration of service provision conditions will be described in more detail.

FIG. 34 shows an example of communication resource allocation. In the above description, the case where there is one communication path has been described as an example, but there may be multiple communication paths depending on the service. In the example of FIG. 34, there are a plurality of routes through which the user receives a service, and a plurality of communication resources (carrier resources and APS resources) are used on each route. In such a case, the integrated service selecting unit 9 converts the total charges when the communication resources are arranged in series, into data having the lowest charge as the value when the communication resources are arranged in parallel, Integrate service provision conditions.

FIG. 35 is a flowchart showing the flow of the process of integrating the service providing conditions when the communication resources are arranged in series, and FIG. 36 shows a concrete example of integration. In this case, with respect to the service providing conditions respectively acquired by the plurality of service driver modules 8, a parameter representing the communication cost (charge in the example of FIG. 36) is added for each same communication quality (bandwidth in the example of FIG. 36). .

FIG. 37 is a flow chart showing the flow of service provision condition integration processing when communication resources are arranged in parallel, and FIG. 38 shows a specific integration example. In this case, of the service providing conditions respectively acquired by the plurality of service driver modules 8, the one having the smallest parameter value (the charge in the example of FIG. 38) representing the communication cost of the entire communication service is selected.

39 to 42 are diagrams for explaining the integration of service providing conditions with respect to the communication resource allocation shown in FIG. In the resource allocation shown in FIG. 34, the resource allocation shown in FIG. 39 can be converted by serially combining the first carrier resource and the first ASP resource, and the second carrier resource and the second ASP resource can be converted. 40 by synthesizing in series
The resource allocation shown in FIG. 41 can be converted, and the resource allocation shown in FIG. 41 can be converted by synthesizing two selection branches in parallel. Finally,
The integrated service providing condition shown in FIG. 42 can be derived by serially combining with the user resource.

[0076]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The requirements of users (communication service users) and the parameters related to quality and the parameters related to costs in the service provision conditions provided by various providers (communication resource providers) are unified, and the parameters for service selection relate to quality. Unify with parameters. As a result, it becomes possible to use the service selection algorithm that most suits the user's requirements in a general-purpose manner.

The provider (communication resource provider) creates a module that generalizes the method of presenting the service providing conditions and the method of selecting the service of the service provided by itself according to the parameters defined in the present invention, and downloads it through the network. By providing the service to the user, the user (communication service user) can easily use the service provided by the provider. This promotes the effective provision of unique services by various providers.

A function module that acquires a requirement in a format that is easy for a communication service user to understand and converts it into a requirement defined by the system
Alternatively, the module having an effective user interface function is promoted by being created by an unspecified third party and widely provided to others in a download format through a network.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a basic embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an outline of service selection. FIG. 1 shows a basic embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the flow of service selection processing.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of user request condition acquisition conversion processing.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of service provision condition acquisition conversion processing.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of processing by an integrated service selection unit.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of service selection processing.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of user requirements relating to communication quality.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of user requirements relating to communication costs.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing another example of user requirements relating to communication quality.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing another example of user request conditions relating to communication costs.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of service provision conditions.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating integration of service provision conditions.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart of user request condition normalization processing.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of a user request condition normalization process.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing another example of the normalization process of the user request condition.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an example of a process of normalizing user requirements.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart of user satisfaction degree synthesis processing and optimum solution derivation processing.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing an example of user satisfaction degree synthesis processing and optimum solution derivation processing.

FIG. 20: G of user request input in stream communication
The figure which shows an example of UI.

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing an example of user requirements.

FIG. 22 is a diagram showing an example of user requirements.

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing an example of user requirements.

FIG. 24 is a diagram showing an example of user requirements.

FIG. 25 is a diagram showing an example of user requirements.

FIG. 26 is a diagram showing an example of service provision conditions of a user side LAN.

FIG. 27 is a diagram showing an example of service provision conditions of a multi-SLA service.

FIG. 28 is a diagram showing an example of service providing conditions of a DiffSer service.

FIG. 29 is a diagram showing an example of service provision conditions of a stream server.

FIG. 30 is a GUI for inputting a user request in bulk communication.
The figure which shows an example.

FIG. 31 is a diagram showing an example of user requirements.

FIG. 32 is a diagram showing an example of user requirements.

FIG. 33 is a diagram showing an example of user requirements.

FIG. 34 is a diagram showing an example of communication resource allocation.

FIG. 35 is a flowchart showing an example of service provision condition integration processing.

FIG. 36 is a diagram showing a specific example of integration.

FIG. 37 is a flowchart showing another example of service provision condition integration processing.

FIG. 38 is a diagram showing a specific example of integration.

FIG. 39 is a diagram for explaining integration of service provision conditions with respect to the communication resource allocation shown in FIG. 34.

FIG. 40 is a diagram for explaining integration of service provision conditions with respect to the communication resource allocation shown in FIG. 34.

FIG. 41 is a diagram for explaining the integration of service provision conditions for the communication resource allocation shown in FIG. 34.

42 is a diagram for explaining integration of service provision conditions with respect to the communication resource allocation shown in FIG. 34.

[Explanation of symbols] 1 terminal 2 User side LAN 3 carrier networks 4 server side LAN 5 ASP server 6 Module execution unit 7 Scenario module 8 Service driver module 9 Integrated service selection section

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Akihiro Tsutsui             2-3-1, Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo             Inside Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (72) Inventor Hiroyuki Ohmichi             2-3-1, Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo             Inside Telegraph and Telephone Corporation F-term (reference) 5K030 GA19 HC01 LB05 LC09

Claims (17)

[Claims] 1. A communication quality control method for selecting an optimum communication quality from a plurality of communication qualities provided by a communication resource provider in accordance with a requirement from a communication service user, wherein the requirement represents a communication quality. From these user requirements, the first user requirement that represents the satisfaction index at each continuous value of the parameter, the second user requirement that represents the satisfaction index at each continuous value of the parameter that represents the communication cost, and these user requirements Obtaining a satisfaction combination function for calculating a comprehensive satisfaction index, from the communication resource provider, to obtain a service providing condition representing the relationship between the parameter value representing the communication quality and the parameter value representing the communication cost, According to this service providing condition, the parameter representing the communication cost in the second user requirement is converted into the parameter representing the communication quality, and the A communication quality control method characterized in that a parameter value representing a communication quality that maximizes a total satisfaction index is obtained from a frequency composite function, and this parameter value is used as a parameter for controlling the communication quality. 2. The communication quality control method according to claim 1, wherein a band available for the communication service is used as a parameter representing the communication quality, and a charge per unit time is used as a parameter representing the communication cost. 3. The communication quality control method according to claim 1, wherein a time until completion of the communication service is used as a parameter representing the communication quality, and a charge for the entire communication is used as a parameter representing the communication cost. 4. The communication quality control method according to claim 1, wherein a sum of the first user requirement and the second user requirement is used as the satisfaction combination function. 5. The communication quality control method according to claim 1, wherein a product of the first user requirement and the second user requirement is used as the satisfaction combination function. 6. When a plurality of communication resource providers are involved in one communication service and the plurality of communication resource providers respectively provide one or a plurality of communication qualities, each communication resource provider provides the service. The communication quality control method according to claim 1, wherein conditions are collected and parameters representing communication costs of those service provision conditions are added for each same communication quality. 7. When it is possible to select any of a plurality of communication resource providers for at least a part of communication resources of one communication service, the service providing conditions are collected from each communication resource provider, and the service providing conditions are collected. The communication quality control method according to claim 1, wherein a condition that a parameter value representing the communication cost of the entire communication service is minimized is selected from the service providing conditions. 8. When there are a plurality of options for at least a part of communication resources of one communication service, and a plurality of communication resource providers are involved in at least a part of the options, each communication is performed for each option. 2. The parameter representing the communication cost of the service providing condition collected from the resource provider is added for each same communication quality, and the one having the smallest parameter representing the communication cost of the entire communication service is selected from them. Communication quality control method. 9. A communication quality control device for selecting an optimum communication quality from a plurality of communication qualities provided by a communication resource provider in accordance with a requirement from a communication service user, wherein the requirement represents a communication quality. From these user requirements, the first user requirement that represents the satisfaction index at each continuous value of the parameter, the second user requirement that represents the satisfaction index at each continuous value of the parameter that represents the communication cost, and these user requirements A scenario module that obtains a satisfaction composition function that calculates a comprehensive satisfaction index, and a service provision condition that represents a relationship between a parameter value that represents the communication quality from the communication resource provider and a parameter value that represents the communication cost. A service driver module for obtaining and controlling communication quality for the communication resource provider, and this service driver module By converting the parameter representing the communication cost in the second user requirement condition into the parameter representing the communication quality according to the service providing condition acquired by the user, and the total satisfaction index becomes the maximum from the satisfaction combining function. A communication quality control device, comprising: a general service selection unit that obtains a parameter value that represents the communication quality and uses the parameter value as a parameter for controlling the communication quality to instruct the service driver module to perform communication quality control. 10. A computer of a communication service user who uses a service provided by a communication resource provider, in accordance with a requirement from the communication service user, a satisfaction degree at each successive value of a parameter representing communication quality. A first user requirement representing an index, a second user requirement representing a satisfaction index at each successive value of a parameter representing a communication cost, and a comprehensive satisfaction index are calculated from these user requirements. A first function of acquiring a satisfaction degree composition function, and a second function of acquiring a service providing condition indicating a relationship between a parameter value indicating communication quality and a parameter value indicating communication cost from the communication resource provider. , Using this service provision condition, converting the parameter representing the communication cost in the second user requirement condition into the parameter representing the communication quality, The third function for obtaining the parameter value that represents the communication quality that maximizes the overall satisfaction index from the satisfaction combination function, and the parameter value obtained by this third function is used as a parameter for controlling the communication quality. A program for realizing the fourth function of quality control. 11. The program according to claim 10, wherein the program that realizes the first function is modularized, and is selected and downloaded according to user preference. 12. The program according to claim 10, wherein a program for realizing the second function and the fourth function is modularized and provided by each communication resource provider in correspondence with various communication resources. 13. The program according to claim 10, for realizing the first function. 14. A program for realizing the second function and the fourth function in the program according to claim 10. 15. A recording medium on which the program according to claim 10 is recorded. 16. A recording medium on which the program according to claim 13 is recorded. 17. A recording medium on which the program according to claim 14 is recorded.