JP2003273913A - Method for setting optimal path of internet - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for setting the optimal path of the Internet to enable a user to easily obtain proper information regarding a connection base point. <P>SOLUTION: A service provider measures line quality, for example, transfer delay time, packet loss rate, of each line to be constructed between the service provider and a plurality of Internet providers 41 to 4n by a line quality measurement means 22 of terminal equipment 2, discloses line quality information based on this measurement as an evaluation table 24 by path and the user selects the optimal Internet provider among the Internet providers 41 to 4n by referring to the evaluation table 24 by path. Thus, the user can select the optimal Internet provider 41 to 4n and can perform connection processing. <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 an optimal route setting method for the Internet, and more particularly, to an optimal route setting method for the Internet that allows a user to select a connection base point for efficiently exchanging information. Regarding

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the rapid spread of the Internet,
By improving the transmission speed and transmission quality on the Internet,
The Internet, which has been the mainstream of data communication in the past, is increasingly used as a means for transmitting voice calls or voice / moving pictures. In case of such usage,
Unlike conventional data communication, in order to realize a real-time voice call, it is necessary to transmit voice data bidirectionally with low packet loss and low delay, as well as practical voice / video broadcasting. In order to do so, transmission of audio / video data with low packet loss in the required transmission band is required.

On the other hand, the Internet is formed by a network-like connection by a plurality of network operators, and a connection base point selected by a user as a connection destination, that is, an Internet connection operator generally referred to as a provider or an ISP connects the network. In many cases, the line quality is different, and even if the connection route is once set and the connection state is secured, the line quality of the network may fluctuate due to communication failure or a large amount of information communication occurring on the Internet.

Therefore, conventionally, there has been proposed a method in which the user side determines the line quality and selects the connection route before using the voice call and the voice / moving picture service. For example, when there is a call request to connect the originating terminal to the terminating terminal via the Internet network, the voice quality in the route from the originating exchange apparatus to the terminating exchange apparatus via the Internet network is judged, and the voice quality is good. If so, the calling terminal and the called terminal are connected via the route, and if the voice quality is not good, another route, such as another route within the Internet network or the Internet network, is determined according to the caller's instruction or at the system's discretion. Other than STM network and ATM network to control the telephone connection to enable telephone communication with good voice quality and to select a route with low delay, it is possible to select from a switching device on the originating side before the channel probability. A test packet is sent to the called side switching device via the Internet network, and the called side switching device switches from the called side switching device in response to the reception of the test packet. ACK from transmits an ACK packet to the location, and the originating switch apparatus transmits a test packet
It measures the time until a packet is received, compares the set time with the time, and saves the packet loss rate during a call after the call using the Internet is saved as line quality information. There is a method that refers to the loss rate at the next use, saves the trouble of measuring the line quality at each use, and shortens the time until the call starts.

Conventionally, as this type, for example, one described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-144854 can be mentioned.

[0006]

By the way, in the conventional system, the test packet is transmitted by the operation of the user who uses the service, and after the quality of the network is measured, the connection is made in consideration of this quality result. However, there is a problem that the user needs time and effort to select and connect the connection base point.

[0007] Further, the line quality information of the network is stored in the terminal and reused. However, since the line quality changes with time, there is a problem that the optimum route cannot always be selected. It was

Furthermore, the above-mentioned Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-1448
Since the one described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 54 is compatible with a voice call service, it is suitable for measuring the line quality of a network in which the user side is the calling side.
In the case where the flow of information is reversed and the user side is the receiving side such as broadcasting services such as images, the route on the Internet is not always the same for both round trips,
A quality measurement method that is more compatible with broadcasting services is desired.

The present invention has been made in view of the actual situation in the prior art as described above, and an object thereof is to provide an optimum route setting method for the Internet so that a user can easily obtain appropriate information regarding a connection base point. To do.

[0010]

In order to achieve this object, the invention according to claim 1 of the present invention resides in that information is transferred between a service provider and a user via the Internet that can be constructed. In the optimum route setting method of the Internet, in which the user selects one from at least two connection base points on the Internet to exchange information, the service provider is configured to connect the service provider with a plurality of the connections. The line quality of each line constructed between the base points is measured and disclosed as line quality information, and the user selects the connection base point with reference to the line quality information.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the line item of each line constructed between the service provider and a plurality of connection base points is measured by the service provider and is disclosed as line quality information. The user selects the connection base point by referring to the publicly available line quality information. In this way, the user selects the connection base point by referring to the line quality information published by the service provider, so that the user does not need to measure the network quality as in the past, and the connection base point is not required. Can be selected. Further, since the service provider measures the line quality related to the connection base point, the user can make a selection based on the latest line quality information by updating this information as needed.
Furthermore, since the service provider side measures the line quality related to the connection base point, the user side can supply the line quality information corresponding to the broadcasting service such as voice / image which is the called side.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the line quality information is created based on at least one of the packet loss rate and the transmission delay time, and the packet loss rate and the transmission band. .

According to the second aspect of the present invention, a voice call service via the Internet is usually required to have an environment of low delay and low packet loss. Therefore, the service provider has a packet loss rate and a transmission delay. By creating the line quality information based on time, the line quality information suitable for the user who uses the voice call service can be disclosed. On the other hand, audio / video broadcasting services via the Internet usually require an environment with low packet loss in the required transmission band, so service providers create line quality information based on the packet loss rate and transmission band. By
It is possible to publish line quality information suitable for users who use broadcasting services.

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of an optimum route setting method for the Internet according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of an optimal route setting method for the Internet according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a detailed view of a main part of a connection base point shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is an optimal route shown in FIG. It is a flow chart which shows a processing procedure of a setting method.

First, an optimum route setting method for a voice call service via the Internet will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, on the service provider side that provides a voice call service, a call terminal 1 including a telephone or a personal computer having a communication function with a microphone and a speaker, and a voice from the call terminal 1 are provided. Signal and voice data mutual conversion means 21 for mutually converting digital signalized voice data transmitted via the Internet 3, a plurality of connection base points selected by the Internet 3 and the service provider side, that is, an Internet connection provider A line quality measuring unit 22 for measuring the quality of a line constructed between 41 to 4n, and a route-based evaluation table storage unit 23 for evaluating and storing the line quality measured for each of the Internet connection providers 41 to 4n. The terminal device 2 provided is provided. Here, the route-based evaluation table 24 stored in the route-based evaluation table storage unit 23 is updated and measured by the service provider at predetermined time intervals, and at any time via the Internet 3, It is open to anyone to read.

On the side of the user who uses the voice call service, the route switching means 51 capable of switching the route to the connection destination selected from the Internet connection providers 41 to 4n and the route instructing the route switching. Switching instruction means 5
2. A voice data mutual conversion means 53 for mutually converting the voice signal from the call terminal 6 and the internet 3 and the digital signalized voice data transmitted via the internet connection providers 41 to 4n described later. A terminal device 5 and a call terminal 6 which is connected to the voice data mutual conversion means 53 and includes a telephone, a personal computer having a communication function with a microphone and a speaker, a mobile terminal, and the like are provided.

Next, the Internet connection provider 41
Details of the devices installed on the side of 4n will be described with reference to FIG.

[0021] For example, an Internet connection provider 41
As shown in FIG. 2, a connection means 411 for connecting to the Internet 3, a router 412 arranged between the Internet 3 and a network 413 installed in the Internet connection provider 41, and a network 413 are provided on the side. Access point device group 4 having a plurality of access points AP1 to APn, which are connected and are accessed by the terminal device 5 on the user side, and which include a router and the like.
14 and a communication means group 415 such as a telephone line and a dedicated line for connecting the Internet connection provider 41 and the user's terminal device 5 while being respectively connected to the access point device group 414. There is. Here, the default gateway, that is, the router 412 is specified by an IP address, and this IP address is open to the user, and all IP packets transmitted from the user's terminal device 5 to the Internet 3 side are the router 412.
Is set to send to the IP address of. That is, the user needs to set all the IP packets transmitted to the Internet 3 side to the IP address of the router 412. Further, between the router 412 and the terminal device 5, since there is no mesh network including many routers for constructing the Internet 3, it is natural that the communication delay is small.

In the first embodiment, the terminal device 2 installed at the service provider has the names of the Internet connection providers 41 to 4n stored in advance in a storage device (not shown) as step S1, and An ISP that records the IP address of the router, which is the default gateway corresponding to the Internet connection providers 41 to 4n
Get a list. Next, the line quality measuring unit 22 determines, for example, the internet connection provider 41 to be measured from the ISP list in step S2, and the internet connection provider 41 in step S3.
The IP address of the router 412 is acquired, and in step S4, the IP address is accessed to confirm whether or not the router 412 of the Internet connection provider 41 can be connected. If it is possible to connect here, P as step S5
In addition to measuring the packet transmission delay time D (ms) using a network status measuring means such as ing or TraceRoute, and measuring the number of unresponsive packets during the transmission delay measurement in step S6, the packet loss rate L
(%), And the transmission delay time D (m
s) and the packet loss rate L (%), an evaluation value is calculated by performing an operation of packet loss rate L (%) × 100 / transmission delay time D (ms), and these transmission delay times D (m
s), the packet loss rate L (%) and the evaluation value are reflected in the path-specific evaluation table 24 of the path-specific evaluation table recording means 23. Since the voice call requires an environment of low delay and low packet loss, the transmission delay time D (m
s), the line quality is measured based on the packet loss rate L (%).

Thereafter, in step S8, it is determined whether or not the line quality has been measured for all the Internet connection providers 41 to 4n, and here it is determined to all the Internet connection providers 41 to 4n. If it is determined that the line quality has not been measured, the process proceeds to step S2, and the line quality is sequentially measured for all Internet connection providers 41 to 4n. On the other hand, the procedure S
When it is determined in 8 that the line quality has been measured for all Internet connection providers 41 to 4n,
All Internet connection providers 4 as step S9
The route-based evaluation table 24 corresponding to 1 to 4n is completed,
This is recorded in the route-based evaluation table recording means 23, and is disclosed so that a user who uses the voice call service can read it out via the Internet 3. In addition, the above-mentioned procedure S
4 router 412 of internet connection provider 41
If the connection with is not possible, the process proceeds to step S8.

Next, a user who uses the voice service is
The terminal device 5 is operated in a predetermined manner, and the route switching instructing means 52 causes the route switching means 51 to output a command to connect to the terminal device 2 on the service provider side via the Internet 3, and the terminal devices 5 and 5 2 is connected via the Internet 3, the route-specific evaluation table 2 disclosed in the route-specific evaluation table recording means 23 in step S10.
4 is read and it is confirmed in step S11 whether the voice call service is being used. If it is determined that the voice call service is not used, the user can make a contract and connect to the terminal device 5 by referring to the route-based evaluation table 24 in step S12, considering the delay, loss rate, and evaluation. Of the Internet connection providers 41 to 4n having the best line quality, for example, the Internet connection provider 41 is selected, and the terminal device 5 is operated in a predetermined manner to switch the route switching means 52 and the route switching means 5.
1 establishes a connection between the terminal device 5 and the router 412 of the Internet connection provider 41, and
A connection is established between the Internet connection provider 41 and the terminal device 2 on the service provider side via the Internet 3. In this state, the user uses the voice call service provided by the service provider via the terminal device 2.

If it is determined in step S11 that the voice call service is being used, if the connection switching of the Internet connection providers 41 to 4n is performed during the use, a delay in voice due to the connection switching will occur. Since a failure such as a break occurs, the route switching means 51 is performed as step S13.
To change the route between the terminal device 5 and the terminal device 2 by changing the table that specifies the route, that is, the routing table, or adding the source route option that specifies the passing route to the packet to be transmitted, and the next voice call. Make adjustments so that you can use high quality when using the service.

In the first embodiment, the user selects the Internet connection providers 41 to 4n by referring to the line quality information published by the service provider, that is, the route-based evaluation table 24. As described above, the user can select the Internet connection providers 41 to 4n without having to measure the quality of the network. Therefore, the user can optimize the Internet connection provider in a short time. Connection processing can be performed by selecting 41 to 4n. Further, since the service provider updates the line quality information from time to time, the user needs to connect to the Internet connection providers 41 to 41 based on the latest line quality information.
4n selections can be made.

Next, an optimum route setting method for a broadcasting service via the Internet will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of the optimum route setting method for the Internet of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the optimum route setting method of FIG. The same components as those shown in FIG. 1 described above are designated by the same reference numerals. That is, 3 is the Internet, and 41 to 4n are Internet connection providers. The details of the Internet connection providers 41 to 4n are the same as those shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 4, a TV camera, a microphone, and a VT are provided on the service provider side for providing the broadcasting service.
Broadcast equipment 7 consisting of R, and audio / video data conversion means 81 for digitally converting audio signals and video signals from the broadcasting equipment 7 into audio data and video data and transmitting the data via the Internet 3, Internet 3 And a line quality measuring means 82 for measuring the quality of a line constructed between a plurality of Internet connection providers 41 to 4n selected by the service provider, and a line quality measured for each Internet connection provider 41 to 4n. And an encoder 8 provided with a route-based evaluation table storage means 83 for evaluating and storing the respective. Here, the route-based evaluation table 84 stored in the route-based evaluation table storage unit 83 is updated and measured by the service provider at predetermined time intervals, and at any time via the Internet 3, It is open to anyone to read.

On the side of the user who uses the voice call service, the route switching means 91 capable of switching the route to the connection destination selected from the Internet connection providers 41 to 4n and the route instructing the route switching. Switching instruction means 9
2. A decoder 9 including audio / video converting means 93 for converting the digitized audio data and video data transmitted via the Internet 3 and Internet connection providers 41-4n into audio signals and video signals.
A broadcast viewing terminal 10 having a TV monitor and a speaker is provided which is connected to the audio-video converting means 93.

In the second embodiment, the encoder 8 installed in the service provider uses the names of the Internet connection providers 41 to 4n stored in advance in a storage device (not shown) as step SA1 and the Internet. I that records the IP address of the router, which is the default gateway corresponding to the connection providers 41 to 4n
Get the SP list. Next, the line quality measuring means 82
Becomes the measurement target from the ISP list as procedure SA2,
For example, while determining the Internet connection provider 41, the IP address of the router 412 of the Internet connection provider 41 is acquired as step SA3, and step S3 is performed.
As A4, access is made with this IP address and it is confirmed whether connection with the router 412 of the Internet connection provider 41 is possible. If connection is possible here, step SA
Router 4 of Internet connection provider 41 as 5
RSVP for routes up to 12, ie Resou
The transmission bandwidth B (kbps) is secured by using a bandwidth reservation procedure such as the Rrc Reservation Protocol, and Ping or TraceRut is performed as procedure SA6.
The packet loss rate L (%) is obtained by measuring the number of unresponsive packets while outputting e, and the transmission band B (kbps) and the packet loss rate L (%) are determined as step SA7.
Based on the transmission band B (kbps) × packet loss rate L
(%) × 100 is performed to calculate the evaluation value, and these transmission band B (kbps) and packet loss rate L (%) are calculated.
And the evaluation value are reflected in the route-based evaluation table 84 of the route-based evaluation table recording means 83. Since the environment of low packet loss in a required transmission band is required for audio / video broadcasting, the transmission band B (kbps),
The line quality is measured based on the packet loss rate L (%).

After this, as step SA8, it is judged whether or not the line quality has been measured for all the Internet connection providers 41 to 4n, and here it is judged to all the Internet providers 41 to 4n. If it is determined that the line quality has not been measured, the process proceeds to step SA2, and all Internet connection providers 41 to 4
The line quality is sequentially measured for n. On the other hand, in step S8, all Internet connection providers 41-4
When it is determined that the line quality has been measured for n, the route-based evaluation table 84 corresponding to all the Internet connection providers 41 to 4n is completed as step SA9, and the route-based evaluation table is recorded. The user who records in the means 83 and uses the broadcasting service is the Internet 3
Make it available for reading via. If connection to the router 412 of the Internet connection provider 41 is impossible in step SA4 described above, the process proceeds to step SA8.

Next, the users who use the broadcasting service are
The decoder 9 is operated in a predetermined manner, and the route switching instructing means 92 causes the route switching means 91 to output a command to connect to the encoder 8 on the service provider side via the Internet 3, and the decoder 9 and the encoder 8 are connected to the Internet 3. When the connection is established via step S10, the route-specific evaluation table 84 disclosed by the route-specific evaluation table recording means 83 is read as step SA10, and the band, loss rate and evaluation are performed by referring to the path-specific evaluation table 84 as step SA11. In consideration of this, the user makes a contract and selects the Internet connection provider 41 having the best line quality, for example, the Internet connection provider 41 from among the Internet connection providers 41 to 4n that can connect to the decoder 9 and operate the decoder 9 in a predetermined manner. The route switching instruction means 92 and the route switching means 91 are used to interface with the decoder 9. It establishes a connection with the router 412 of the Internet connection provider 41, to establish a connection with the encoder 8 of the service provider side via the Internet connection provider 41 and the Internet 3. In this state, the user views the audio signal and the moving image signal from the broadcasting equipment 7 provided by the service provider via the encoder 8 on the broadcast viewing terminal 10. Note that while the broadcast service is being received here, one-way communication from the encoder 8 to the decoder 9 is set, so the route cannot be changed.

In the second embodiment, the user selects the Internet connection providers 41 to 4n by referring to the line quality information published by the service provider, that is, the route-based evaluation table 84, so that the conventional As described above, the user can select the Internet connection providers 41 to 4n without having to measure the quality of the network. Therefore, the user can optimize the Internet connection provider in a short time. Connection processing can be performed by selecting 41 to 4n. Further, since the service provider updates the line quality information from time to time, the user needs to connect to the Internet connection providers 41 to 41 based on the latest line quality information.
4n selections can be made. Furthermore, since the service provider side measures the line quality of the Internet connection providers 41 to 4n, the user side can supply the line quality information corresponding to the voice / image broadcasting service of the called side. Therefore, the user can select the Internet connection providers 41 to 4n based on the more accurate line quality information.

[0034]

According to the present invention, since the user selects the connection base point by referring to the line quality information published by the service provider, the user side can measure the quality of the network as in the conventional case. The connection base point can be selected without need, and therefore, the user can select the optimum connection base point and perform the connection process in a short time. Also,
Since the service provider measures the line quality regarding the connection base point, the user can make a selection based on the latest line quality information by updating this information as needed. Further, since the service provider side measures the line quality related to the connection base point, the user side can supply the line quality information corresponding to the voice / image broadcasting service as the receiving side, and thus the broadcasting service can be provided. The user who uses it can select the connection base point based on more accurate line quality information.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of an optimal route setting method for the Internet of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a detailed view of a main part of a connection base point shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the optimum route setting method of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of the optimum route setting method for the Internet of the present invention.

5 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the optimum route setting method of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 6 call terminals 2, 5 terminal device 3 Internet 21 Mutual voice data conversion means 22 Line quality measuring means 23 Route-based evaluation table recording means 24 Evaluation Table by Route 51 Route switching means 52 Route switching instruction means 53 Audio data mutual conversion means 41-4n Internet connection provider 7 Broadcasting equipment 8 encoder 9 decoder 10 Broadcast viewing terminal 81 Audio / video data conversion means 82 Line quality measuring means 83 Route-based evaluation table recording means 84 Evaluation Table by Route 91 Route switching means 92 Route switching instruction means 93 Audio-Video Converter 412 router 414 Access point equipment group

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A system for exchanging information between a service provider and a user via the Internet, wherein the user has at least 2 units on the Internet.
In the optimal route setting method of the Internet for selecting and transmitting information by selecting one from one connection base point, the service provider may set the line quality of each line constructed between this service provider and a plurality of the connection base points. Is measured and disclosed as line quality information, and the user selects the connection base point by referring to the line quality information. 2. The optimum route setting method for the Internet according to claim 1, wherein the line quality information is created based on at least one of a packet loss rate and a transmission delay time, and a packet loss rate and a transmission band. . 3. The optimum route setting method for the Internet according to claim 1, wherein the measurement is performed up to a default gateway installed at the connection base point and reflected in the line quality information.