JP2003283544A - Path setting method based on available band notice - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To select a path suitable for each class of contents desired to distribute by a user. <P>SOLUTION: The communication terminal of the user to access an information provider server or a communication device is informed of network topology information and idle band information for each link from a router. Based on available network band information reported like this, the user sets network routing suitable for the class of the desired contents. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to communication in an IP network in which various contents are packet-transferred between a communication terminal and an information providing server or a communication device via a plurality of routers linked to a plurality of networks. The present invention relates to a routing path selection technique by a router arranged between a terminal and the information providing server or communication device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when a user accesses a server or a communication device for providing information from a communication terminal, IP packets are transferred between the communication terminal and the server or communication device for providing information. There was no choice but to forcefully use a path according to a so-called routing protocol that performs routing table search processing by the implemented routing protocol function and transfers packets to the other party one after another. Therefore, in the above-mentioned IP packet transfer, even if the bandwidth available on the link by the user's communication terminal is small, a path with a small number of hops that indicates the number of times the router has been passed is usually selected for operational path control. Therefore, when viewing a video or the like, selecting a path having a large available bandwidth has not been realized until now, although it is better that the available bandwidth is larger than the transfer delay.

[0003]

When a user accesses a server for providing information or a communication device from a communication terminal, if the user can select a path suitable for each type of content desired to be distributed, the user can obtain high-quality content. It is possible to obtain it, and it is also possible to avoid congestion by using free band information. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide available bandwidth information from a router, such as path selection guidance information or router transfer guidance information, to a communication terminal of a user who attempts to access an information providing server or a communication device, and these. This is to enable the user to set his / her favorite path on the basis of the above information and to make an optimum path from a plurality of paths that can be used for desired distribution contents.

[0004]

In order to achieve the above object, in the first path setting method of the present invention, packet transfer is performed between a communication terminal and a server via a plurality of routers linked to a plurality of networks. In the IP network, the router has a function of collecting network topology information and free bandwidth information for each link and notifying such information as usable network bandwidth information. When accessing the providing server and the communication device, the communication terminal is notified of the network topology information held by the router and the free band information for each link via the authentication / billing server connected to the communication terminal. The user can set the source routing of the desired path on the communication terminal based on the available network bandwidth information notified in this way,
Network routing settings such as policy setting in the policy setting table that allows path selection according to the purpose of use can be set for the router.

In the second path setting method of the present invention, when the user accesses the information providing server and the communication device from the communication terminal, the authentication / billing server connected to the communication terminal causes the network topology from the router. Based on the information and the free band information for each link, link free band information of some plural routes from the communication terminal to the information providing server and the communication device is generated and presented to the communication terminal. The user selects a desired link from the link free band information of some of the plurality of routes on the communication terminal so that the communication terminal can directly select the desired path on the router via the authentication / billing server. Can be set to

In the third path setting method of the present invention, when the user accesses the information providing server and the communication device from the communication terminal, the authentication / billing server connected to the communication terminal causes the network topology from the router. Based on the information and free band information for each link, some path candidates for each band are generated and presented to the communication terminal. By selecting a desired path candidate from the several band-specific path candidates on the communication terminal, the user can directly set the path to be used on the router via the authentication / billing server. it can.

In the second method of the present invention, when the user accesses the information providing server and the communication device from the communication terminal, the search screen is displayed on the display unit of the terminal, and the user connects to the connection destination on the search screen. If you enter the IP address and domain name of the information providing server or communication device as the address,
An authentication / billing server connected to the communication terminal generates link free band information of several routes based on network topology information from routers in the network up to the connection destination and free band information for each link, It is preferable to display the information as a path selection guide screen on the display unit of the terminal so that the user can set a desired path by designating an empty link to be used on the path selection guide screen.

In the third method of the present invention, when the user accesses the information providing server and the communication device from the communication terminal, the search screen is displayed on the display unit of the terminal, and the user connects to the connection destination on the search screen. If you enter the IP address and domain name of the information providing server or communication device as the address,
The authentication / billing server connected to the communication terminal generates some path candidates for each band based on the network topology information from the router in the network up to the connection destination and the free band information for each link, and the path It is preferable that the candidates are displayed on the display unit of the terminal as a path selection guide screen, and the user can set a desired path by designating a path candidate to be used on the path selection guide screen.

The network topology information, the free band information for each link, the link free band information for some routes, and some path candidates for each band are updated at preset constant time intervals.

As described above, when the user accesses the information providing server or the communication device from the communication terminal, it is possible to select a link for an empty band that the user wants to use and a path that is suitable for the content distribution used by the user himself. Becomes

[0011]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION In the present invention, in an IP network in which content distribution between a user's communication terminal (for example, a personal computer) and a content server is packet-transferred via a plurality of routers linked to a plurality of networks. The router has a notification function of collecting network topology information and free band information for each link and notifying the information as usable network band information, and a user uses an information providing server and communication from a communication terminal. IS connected to the communication terminal when accessing the device
The network topology information and free band information for each link are notified to the communication terminal via the P (Internet Service Provider) authentication / billing server. The user can set desired network routing on each of the routers via the ISP authentication / billing server based on the available network bandwidth information notified as described above. Can obtain various contents such as voice, data, and images (hereinafter referred to as contents) from the information providing server or the communication device through a desired route.

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing an outline of an IP network system for implementing a path setting method based on the available bandwidth notification service of the present invention. In the IP network system shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of networks 4, a network 5, etc. and a plurality of links 51 to 60.
A plurality of routers 11 to 18 and IS connected by
A communication terminal 1 such as a user's personal computer (hereinafter referred to as P
Content is distributed between the content server 3 and the content server 3 by packet transfer, and the PCl and the ISP server 2 are PPP (Point to Point Protocol) connected to transfer the IP packet. Router 11 to router 17
Is an Open Shortest Path First (OSPF) or BGP
A network that can use such information by collecting network topology information based on the routing table between routers and free bandwidth information of each link such as link 51 to link 60 by using a routing information protocol such as (Broader Gateway Protocol) It has a notification function to notify as bandwidth information. The user can use the link 5
It is possible to set a path policy for path selection for each link such as 1 to link 60 in consideration of available bandwidth and delay.

The network topology information and free band information of each link are updated at preset constant time intervals. The ISP server 2 also has an authentication function for authenticating a user of PCl and a charging function for paying a usage fee for each path and link when the user accesses the content server 3 by a predetermined fee.

In FIG. 1, the PCl is connected to the router 12 and the router 13 via the ISP server 2, but IS
Replace with P server 2 and install a separate router,
It is also possible to connect directly with.

Next, referring to FIG. 2, the user selects the PC 1
A method for setting policy and setting route for each router based on the available bandwidth information notified to the router will be described. In FIG. 2, the policy setting 7 is IS rather than PCl.
Network 4 via P server 2 as shown by the solid line arrow
This can be done by making settings based on the user's policy, which will be described later with reference to FIG. 7, for all the above routers 11 to 18 and generating a policy setting table. The route setting 6 is, for example, PCl → router 13 → router 17
→ A description of the route for the route such as the contents server 3 is added to the IP header of the packet thrown by the user with the IP address of each of the routers passing through midway and sent from the PCl to the ISP server 2 as indicated by the dotted arrow. Then, since each router transfers the packet to the router of the route described in the IP header as the routing table, the user can rewrite the IP header and send it. Also, source routing is
This can be done by adding the address of the router passing through to the IP header of the packet to be thrown by itself and sending it.

Next, referring to FIG.
A second method of the present invention will be described, in which a link that can be used when accessing the content server 3 is appropriately designated to set a path that the user likes. In this method, as shown in FIG. 3, when the user accesses the content server 3 from the PCl, the authentication / billing server 2 connected to the PC 1 sends the network topology information from the router 11-18 and the available bandwidth for each link. PC1 based on information
To the content server 3, some link free band information of a plurality of routes, that is, empty link networks of some bands are generated and presented to the PC 1. The user designates an empty link he / she wants to use from the presented empty link network, thereby selecting his / her favorite path suitable for the content type to be obtained, for example, PCl → ISP server 2 → link 51 → router 11 →
The route of link 55 → router 16 → link 56 → router 17 → contents server 3 can be selected.

Next, referring to FIG.
A third method of the present invention for setting a favorite path by selecting a desired path candidate when accessing the content server 3 will be described. In this method, as shown in FIG. 4, when the user accesses the content server 3 from the PCl, the authentication / billing server 2 connected to the PC 1 sends the network topology information from the router 11-18 and the available bandwidth for each link. Based on the information
Several path candidates for each band from the PC 1 to the content server 3 are generated and presented to the PC 1. In FIG.
For example, PCl → ISP server 2 → link 54 →
The path candidate of the router 13 → router 17 → contents server 3 has a bandwidth of about 1 Mbit / sec, and it is possible to deliver contents with a small rough image but little delay. PCl → ISP server 2 → link 51 → router shown in 11
→ Router 16 → Router 17 → The path candidates of the content server 3 have a bandwidth of around 5 Mbit / sec, and the content can be distributed in the bandwidth between the above route and the path candidates described later. → ISP server 2
→ link 52 → router 12 → router 14 → router 15 →
The path candidate from the router 17 to the content server 3 has a bandwidth of about 10 Mbit / sec, and it is possible to deliver content with a large screen, high definition, and large delay. By selecting a desired path candidate from these path candidates, the user can set his / her favorite path that matches the content type to be acquired.

As described above, according to the second and third methods of the present invention, the ISP server divides the empty link networks of several bands based on the network topology information from the router and the empty band information of each link, and separates some bands. Tells the user the path candidates of. Further, the empty link networks of some bands and some path candidates for each band are updated at preset constant time intervals.

[0019]

EXAMPLE A first method of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 5 shows the network 4 from the PCL via the ISP server 2.
It is an example of a policy setting table in which a policy is set for all the above routers so that a path can be selected according to the purpose of use of the user. Source IP Ad of the policy setting table
In the dress column, the source IP address 71 is Destination I
The connection destination IP address 72 is set in the P Address field, and the P
In the olicy field, a new setting address 73 “Next Hop Route
r performs policy setting such as "192.168.1.1" for all routers.

In the other information column, for example, UDP
It is set for routers that require control information, such as (User Datagram Protocol). The policy setting table is set at the start of system operation. With such a policy routing setting, the routing protocol function that selects a path with a small number of router hops has been impossible in the past, even though the available bandwidth should be larger than the transfer delay. The choice becomes possible.

Next, a preferred embodiment of the second method of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. FIG. 6 shows a path selection guide screen for the user to set a path by selecting a desired link from the empty link networks of several bands, and FIG. 7 shows an empty link network search screen. This pass selection guide screen is
When the user accesses the content server 3 from PCl, the available link network is searched on the search screen shown in FIG.
It is displayed on the screen of the PC 1 from the ISP server 2 connected to Cl. Specifically, the user clicks the search identification button 61 on the search screen for the address input search, and the address input field 62 displays the We corresponding to the content server 3.
The domain name that specifies the connection destination of b, for example, "http: // ww
w.?????.co.jp/ "and click the search start button 88 to search for a path, the server 2 causes the routers 11 to 18 shown in FIG. The empty link networks of several bands are generated on the basis of the network topology information and the empty band information for each link, and displayed on the PCl screen as path selection guide information. The user clicks an empty link between the routers he / she wants to use on the screen to select a path, and then clicks the path determination button 64 to set the selected path, and the PCl goes through the set path and the content server 3 Connected to. Here, the search identification button 89 is not used when the available link network is not searched.

Next, a preferred embodiment of the third method of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9. FIG. 8 is a view showing a path selection guide screen for the user to set a path by selecting a path candidate to be used from some band-based path candidates, and FIG. 9 is a band-based path candidate search screen. In this path selection guide screen, when the user accesses the content server 3 from the PCl, the search screen shown in FIG.
It is displayed on the screen of the PC 1 from the ISP server 2 connected to the PCl. Specifically, the user clicks the search identification button 86 on the search screen for the address input search, and the domain name which is the connection destination designation of the Web corresponding to the content server 3 is displayed in the address input field 84, for example, " Enter "http://www.?????.co.jp/" and click the search start button 85 to search for a path, and the server 2 displays the path shown in FIG. 3 as described with reference to FIG. Router 11-
Generate some path candidates for each band based on the network topology information from 18 and free band information for each link,
It is displayed on the PCl screen as the path selection guide information. The user clicks the select button 81 on the screen to select a path candidate that he / she wants to use, and then selects the path setting button 82
Clicking sets the selected path, and PCl is connected to the content server 3 via the set path. On the screen, the number of routers, the bandwidth between routers (medium / large, etc.) and the delay of paths (small / medium) are displayed, a plurality of path options are displayed, and each option has a selection field. Also, when a plurality of search results are clicked on the screen scroll button 83, page breaks for the search can be displayed, and at the end, the display returns to the top page of the search results. Here, if the address is designated in the address input field 84 without clicking the search identification button 86, the path is not searched.

As described above, according to the present invention, when the user accesses the content server 3 from the PCl, the link selection of the free band desired by the user and the path selection suitable for the content distribution used by the user are performed. It will be possible.

Although the embodiments of the path selection method of the present invention have been described above, these embodiments are realized by the computer included in the personal computer communication terminal of the user, the authentication / billing server and the router, and the present invention is these methods. A computer program for realizing the above and a recording medium recording the computer program are also included in the scope of the present invention.

[0025]

According to the present invention, when a user accesses a server for providing information and a communication device using a communication terminal and obtains various contents distributed by the server for providing information and the communication device, there is a delay. The user can select a route with a small number of routes or a route that can use a large capacity even if the delay is large, and the user can select the link he / she likes and set the path. It is possible to use bandwidth and set paths suitable for distribution and avoid link congestion.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing an outline of an IP network system that implements a path setting method based on an available bandwidth notification service of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a first method of the present invention for performing policy setting and route setting based on bandwidth information available to a user.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a third method of the present invention in which a user sets a favorite path by designating an available link by a user.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a third method of the present invention in which a user sets his / her favorite path by selecting a path candidate.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a policy setting table set by the user for all routers on the network in the first method of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a guide screen for setting a path by designating an available link in the second method of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a screen for searching available links in the second method of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a guide screen for setting a path according to a path candidate of a user in the third method of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a screen for searching a path candidate in the third method of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 communication terminal 2 ISP authentication / billing server 3 Content server 4,5 network 6 route setting 7 Policy settings 11-18 Router 51-60 links

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ───

[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] March 13, 2003 (2003.3.1)
3)

[Procedure Amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be amended] Claims

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[Claims]

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Naoaki Yamanaka             2-3-1, Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo             Inside Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (72) Inventor Masanori Uga             2-3-1, Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo             Inside Telegraph and Telephone Corporation F-term (reference) 5K030 GA02 GA03 GA13 HA08 JT03                       KA05 LB02 LB07 LC08 LD17                       MD07

Claims (26)

[Claims] 1. In an IP network that transfers packets between a communication terminal and a server via a plurality of routers that are link-connected to a plurality of networks, the router stores network topology information and free band information for each link. An authentication / billing function that is connected to the communication terminal when the user accesses the information providing server and the communication device from the communication terminal by holding a notification function of collecting and notifying the information as usable network band information It is possible to notify the communication terminal of the network topology information and free band information for each link via a server, and to directly set the desired network routing from the communication terminal to the router via the authentication / billing server. A path setting method based on available bandwidth notification. 2. The desired network routing setting is characterized in that the user sets the source routing according to the purpose of use, based on the available network bandwidth information notified to the communication terminal. The path setting method described in 1. 3. The available network bandwidth information based on the network topology information and the free bandwidth information for each link is displayed on a display device included in the communication terminal and is input to a user input device included in the communication terminal. 2. The path setting method according to claim 1, wherein the source routing of the path is set on the basis of the input. 4. The desired network routing setting is based on available network bandwidth information notified to a communication terminal, and the desired network routing setting is a policy setting table according to a purpose of use by a user himself / herself. The path setting method according to claim 1, wherein the path setting method is performed by setting a policy. 5. The available network bandwidth information based on the network topology information and the free bandwidth information for each link is displayed on a display device included in the communication terminal, and is displayed on a user input device included in the communication terminal. 2. The path setting method according to claim 1, wherein a policy is set in a policy setting table in which the path can be selected based on the input of. 6. The network topology information collected and held by the router and the free band information for each link are updated at preset constant time intervals.
5. The path setting method according to any one of 5 to 5. 7. In an IP network that transfers packets between a communication terminal and a server via a plurality of routers that are linked to a plurality of networks, the router stores network topology information and free bandwidth information for each link. An authentication / billing server connected to the communication terminal, which has a notification function of collecting and notifying the information as usable network bandwidth information, when the user accesses the information providing server and the communication device from the communication terminal From this, link free band information of some plural routes based on the network band information from the router collected and held by the authentication / billing server is sent to the communication terminal, and the user can select some of them on the communication terminal. By selecting the desired link from the link available bandwidth information of multiple routes, you can select your favorite path from the communication terminal. A path setting method based on available bandwidth notification, which can be set directly on the router via the authentication / billing server. 8. In an IP network that transfers packets between a communication terminal and a server via a plurality of routers that are link-connected to a plurality of networks, the router stores network topology information and free band information for each link. An authentication / billing server connected to the communication terminal, which has a notification function of collecting and notifying the information as usable network bandwidth information, when the user accesses the information providing server and the communication device from the communication terminal From the router, the path candidates for each band based on the network band information collected and held by the authentication / billing server are sent to the communication terminal, and the user selects the band for each band on the communication terminal. By selecting a desired path candidate from among the path candidates, the path desired by the user can be directly accessed through the authentication / billing server. A path setting method based on notification of available bandwidth, which can be set on a router. 9. When a user accesses the information providing server and the communication device from a communication terminal, a search screen is displayed on the display unit of the terminal, and the user provides an information providing server or a connection destination address on the search screen. When the IP address and the domain name of the communication device are input, the authentication / billing server connected to the communication terminal makes several connections based on the network topology information from the router in the network up to the connection destination and the empty band information for each link. When the link free band information of a plurality of routes is generated, the information is displayed on the display unit of the terminal as a path selection guide screen, and the empty link the user wants to use is specified on the path selection guide screen, the authentication / billing The path setting method according to claim 7, wherein the server sets a desired path in a router to a connection destination. 10. When a user accesses the information providing server and the communication device from a communication terminal, a search screen is displayed on the display unit of the terminal, and the user provides an information providing server or a connection destination address on the search screen. When the IP address and the domain name of the communication device are input, the authentication / billing server connected to the communication terminal makes several connections based on the network topology information from the router in the network up to the connection destination and the empty band information for each link. When the path candidate for each band is generated, the path candidate is displayed on the display unit of the terminal as a path selection guide screen, and the path candidate desired by the user is specified on the path selection guide screen, the authentication / billing server is displayed. 9. The path setting method according to claim 8, wherein the desired path is set in the router to the connection destination. 11. In an IP network that transfers packets between a communication terminal and a server via a plurality of routers that are link-connected to a plurality of networks, the router stores network topology information and free band information for each link. An authentication / billing server connected to the communication terminal, which has a notification function of collecting and notifying the information as usable network bandwidth information, when the user accesses the information providing server and the communication device from the communication terminal Than,
Link free band information of some plural routes based on the network band information from the router collected and held by the authentication / billing server is sent to the communication terminal and displayed on a display device included in the communication terminal. A specific link is selected from the link free band information of the plurality of routes based on an input to the user input device provided in the communication terminal,
A path setting method based on available bandwidth notification, wherein a path based on the selected specific link can be set directly on the router from the communication terminal via the authentication / billing server. 12. In an IP network that transfers packets between a communication terminal and a server via a plurality of routers that are link-connected to a plurality of networks, the router stores network topology information and free bandwidth information for each link. An authentication / billing server connected to the communication terminal, which has a notification function of collecting and notifying the information as usable network bandwidth information, when the user accesses the information providing server and the communication device from the communication terminal Than,
Several path candidates for each band based on the network band information from the router collected and held by the authentication / billing server are sent to the communication terminal and displayed on the display device included in the communication terminal. A specific path candidate is selected from the several path candidates for each band based on an input to a user input device included in the device, and a path based on the selected specific path candidate is passed through the authentication / billing server. A path setting method based on available bandwidth notification, which can be directly set on the router. 13. When a user accesses the information providing server and the communication device from the communication terminal, a search screen for the connection destination address is displayed on the display unit of the terminal, and information is input from the user input device provided in the communication terminal. When the IP address and domain name of the providing server or the communication device are input, the authentication / billing server connected to the communication terminal determines the network topology information from the router in the network up to the connection destination and the empty band for each link. Based on the information, some link free band information of a plurality of routes is generated, the information is displayed as a path selection guide screen on the display unit of the terminal, and the path selection guide is displayed based on the input to the user input device. When a specific empty link is specified from the empty links shown on the screen, the authentication / billing server uses the empty link specified to the router up to the connection destination. The path setting method according to claim 11, wherein a path is set. 14. When the user accesses the information providing server and the communication device from the communication terminal, a search screen for the address of the connection destination is displayed on the display unit of the terminal, and the user input device provided in the communication terminal is used. When the IP address and domain name of the information providing server or communication device are entered,
The authentication / billing server connected to the communication terminal generates some path candidates for each band based on the network topology information from the router in the network up to the connection destination and the free band information for each link, and the path When the candidates are displayed on the display unit of the terminal as a path selection guide screen and a specific path candidate is designated from the path candidates displayed on the path selection guide screen based on the input to the user input device, the authentication is performed. / The billing server sets a path by using the path candidate designated by the router up to the connection destination.
The path setting method described. 15. The network topology information, free band information for each link, link free band information for some routes, and some path candidates for each band are updated at preset constant time intervals. 7. The method according to claim 7,
13. The path setting method according to any one of 1 to 13. 16. A user set path usage fee when a user accesses and accesses an information providing server or a communication device from a communication terminal is settled by a usage fee for each path or link defined in advance by the authentication / billing server. The path setting method according to claim 1, further comprising: 17. A router used for implementing the method according to claim 7, collecting network topology information and free bandwidth information for each link, and collecting the information. A router having a notification function of notifying as available network bandwidth information. 18. An authentication / billing server used for implementing the method according to claim 7 or 11, wherein a plurality of servers are provided based on network topology information from a router and free bandwidth information for each link. An authentication / billing server having a function of generating link free band information of a route and sending it to a communication terminal. 19. An authentication / billing server used for implementing the method according to claim 8 or 12, wherein several bandwidths are based on network topology information from a router and free bandwidth information for each link. An authentication / billing server having a function of generating another path candidate and sending it to a communication terminal. 20. A communication terminal used for performing the method according to claim 7 or 11, wherein the communication terminal is used when a user accesses the information providing server and the communication device from the communication terminal. A communication terminal having a function of displaying link free band information of some plural routes sent from a connected authentication / billing server. 21. A communication terminal used for carrying out the method according to claim 8 or 12, wherein when the user accesses the information providing server and the communication device from the communication terminal, the communication terminal and A communication terminal having a function of displaying a number of band-specific path candidates sent from a connected authentication / billing server. 22. A terminal device for performing the method according to claim 9 or 13, wherein a search screen is displayed on a display unit of the terminal when the user accesses the information providing server and the communication device from the communication terminal. Function, and when the user inputs the IP address and domain name of the information providing server or the communication device as the connection destination address, the authentication / billing server connected to the communication terminal sends the information within the network up to the connection destination. A function of displaying link free band information of several routes based on the network topology information from the router and free band information for each link as a path selection guide screen on the display unit of the terminal, and the user on the path selection guide screen. A communication terminal having a function of setting a desired path by designating an empty link to be used. 23. A terminal device for performing the method according to claim 10 or 14, wherein a search screen is displayed on a display unit of the terminal when a user accesses the information providing server and the communication device from the communication terminal. Function, and when the user inputs the IP address and domain name of the information providing server or the communication device as the connection destination address, the authentication / billing server connected to the communication terminal sends the information within the network up to the connection destination. A function to display some path candidates for each band based on the network topology information from the router and free band information for each link as a path selection guide screen on the display unit of the terminal, and the user wants to use it on the path selection guide screen A communication terminal having a function of setting a desired path by designating a path candidate. 24. The path setting method according to claim 9 or 13, wherein when the user accesses the information providing server and the communication device from the communication terminal, the communication terminal displays a search screen on its display unit. When the function is realized and the user inputs the IP address and domain name of the information providing server or the communication device as the connection destination address on the search screen, the authentication / billing server connected to the communication terminal is connected to the connection destination. Link free bandwidth information of several routes based on the network topology information from the router in the network and free bandwidth information for each link, and the information is displayed on the display unit of the terminal as a path selection guide screen. When the function is realized and the user designates an empty link to be used on the path selection guide screen, the authentication / billing server is set to a route to the connection destination. A computer program for path setting, which realizes a function of causing a computer to set a desired path. 25. The path setting method according to claim 10 or 14, wherein when a user accesses the information providing server and the communication device from the communication terminal, a search screen is displayed on the display unit of the communication terminal. When the user inputs the IP address and domain name of the information providing server or the communication device as the connection destination address on the search screen, the authentication / billing server connected to the communication terminal is connected to the connection destination. Up to several path candidates for each band are generated based on the network topology information from the routers in the network and the empty band information for each link, and the path candidates are displayed on the display unit of the terminal as a path selection guide screen. When the user realizes the function and designates the path candidate that the user wants to use on the path selection guide screen, the authentication / billing server, the router to the connection destination Path setting computer program, characterized in that to realize the function of setting the Nozomu path. 26. A computer-readable recording medium in which the computer program according to claim 23 or 24 is recorded.