JP2004236060A - System and method of selling resource, and program thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To ease the dissatisfaction of a service user which is caused by depriving a chance of reception from the user due to resource shortage, and to attain an increase in a chance of using service for the user. <P>SOLUTION: A resource consolidating section 30 for adjusting a content distribution state to each of the user terminals 10 and reducing the resources, a resource selling section 31 for selling the resources to each of the user terminals 10, and a resource determining section 32 for determining idle resources in a NW, are connected to the user terminals 10 via a network 20. The section 30 determines whether or not the resources may be put together, and controls traffics in the NW on the basis of a result of determination whether or not the resources may be put together. The section 31 stores the data of user information in a database, accepts an NW resource request, and replies to the resource request from the user terminals 10. The section 32 monitors the use state of the NW including the resources to determine idle resources. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a resource distribution system and a distribution method for determining a NW resource based on NW (network) status information and notifying a user of a free resource in a content distribution service, and more particularly, based on user information and NW status information. If the resources in the NW can be reduced by adjusting the traffic state in the NW, efficient resource sales can be achieved by changing the traffic transfer state to the corresponding user and generating an available resource in the NW. The present invention relates to a resource sales system and a sales method to be promoted, and a program therefor.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, when a user uses a service via an IP-NW, resources cannot be secured from the user, and the resource allocation amount to each user fluctuates greatly depending on the NW resource usage status of another user. Was. Therefore, when transferring content that requires real-time properties, such as streaming content, to the allocated resource, stream playback may stop on the user terminal screen in the middle of There is a problem that the service quality is deteriorated such that the service is disturbed.
[0003]
On the other hand, in recent years, in order to maintain a constant service quality, a band securing technology based on a request from a user, such as a Resource Reservation Protocol (RSVP) (refer to URL http: /www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc2205), has been developed. Solutions are being established and quality assurance services using them are being proposed. In this method, each user can make an arbitrary resource request to the NW.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in these methods, a resource request is made without grasping the user's NW resource usage, and there are cases where the amount of resources that can be provided by the NW exceeds the amount of resources that can be provided by the NW. To decrease. As a result, the quality degradation problem described above occurs for services requiring transmission quality.
As a solution to the above problem, a method is considered in which the resources on the NW are centrally managed, and when the available NW resource capacity is exceeded, resource reception control is performed. When the above solution is used, the user may be required to wait for service use until the resource capacity desired by the user can be secured. It is desirable to be as short as possible.
[0005]
As a method of reducing the standby time, there is a method in which an administrator intentionally adjusts the NW resource to generate a free resource. As a content distribution method and system related thereto, for example, “Content distribution method and content using the same” described in Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-240111 and drawings proposed by the present applicant (inventor, etc.) before filing the present application. Distribution system ”. In order to reduce the amount of traffic on the relay network, a plurality of unicast traffic of the same content is transmitted using the content distribution information of each user terminal and the viewed / unviewed information of the stream content obtained by each user terminal. It provides a method and system for converting to appropriate multicast traffic.
[0006]
(Purpose)
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems and adjust a traffic state in an NW based on user information and NW state information to generate a free resource and quickly provide a service that maintains a certain quality. And a resource sales system and a sales method capable of providing resources to more users, and a program therefor.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
A resource sales system according to the present invention adjusts a content distribution state to each user terminal and performs resource aggregation determination for determining resource aggregation for reducing resources, and traffic in the network based on the resource aggregation determination. A resource aggregating unit composed of NW control means for performing control; a database of user information for performing resource sales to each user terminal; a receiving means for receiving NW resource requests from users; A resource sales unit comprising answer means for making an answer to the request, a database of NW state information for determining a free resource in the NW, a NW monitoring means for monitoring a use state of the NW including the resource, and a free resource determination A resource determination unit composed of resource determination means for performing Characterized in that it is connected to each other via the workpiece.
[0008]
The resource sales unit in the resource sales system of the present invention includes a program for managing user information, and receives a resource request immediately from a user terminal.
In this case, it is also characterized in that the user information of the resource sales department is updated when resources are secured.
Further, the resource determining unit of the resource determining unit includes a program for performing an operation based on the user information managed by the resource selling unit and the NW state information managed by the resource determining unit, and determines a free resource. Also features.
[0009]
In addition, the aggregation determination unit of the resource aggregation unit in the resource sales system of the present invention includes a program that performs an operation based on user information managed by the resource sales unit and NW state information managed by the resource determination unit, If it is determined that the resources in the NW can be reduced by adjusting the traffic state in the NW, the NW control function changes the traffic transfer state to the corresponding user to realize the generation of free resources in the NW. It is characterized by doing.
[0010]
Further, the resource sales system of the present invention is characterized in that when a free resource is generated, the user information of the resource sales unit and the NW state information of the resource determination unit are updated.
Further, in the resource sales system of the present invention, when the resource reservation for the time designation and the resource determination means of the resource determination unit determine that the resource request from the user terminal cannot be completely satisfied, the resource determination notification to the user terminal And a response unit of the resource sales unit notifies a free resource to the user terminal as soon as a free resource is generated by the operation of the resource aggregating unit and the resource determination unit makes a free resource determination. .
[0011]
Further, when the resource determination unit of the resource determination unit in the resource sales system of the present invention determines that the resource request from the user terminal cannot be completely satisfied, the reception unit permits re-input of the resource information from the user terminal. And when the resource aggregating unit operates (corresponding to claim 7) to generate a free resource equal to or more than the resource amount requested by the user terminal before the resource determining unit determines the resource based on the re-input information from the user terminal. Is characterized by performing resource notification.
[0012]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
(Constitution)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a network configuration to which resource sales according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied, and configurations of a user terminal, a resource aggregation unit, a resource sales unit, and a resource determination unit.
As shown in FIG. 1, the network configuration of the present embodiment includes a plurality of user terminals 10, a resource aggregation unit 30, a resource sales unit 31, and a resource determination unit 32 connected to each other by a network 20.
The user terminal 10, the resource aggregation unit 30, the resource sales unit 31, and the resource determination unit 32 can transmit and receive data via the network 20.
[0013]
The resource aggregation unit 30 includes a resource aggregation determination function 301 for determining whether or not resource aggregation is possible, and an NW control function 302 for performing traffic control in the network based on the determination by the resource aggregation determination function 301. Further, the resource sales unit 31 includes a database 310 of information on the user, a reception function 311 for receiving a resource request from the user terminal 10, and an answer function 312 for giving a specific answer to the resource request. . The resource determination unit 32 includes a database 320 that stores NW state information, an NW monitoring function 321 that monitors the NW usage state including resources, and a resource determination function 322 that determines free resources.
[0014]
(Operation procedure)
FIG. 2 is an operation flowchart of the resource selling method according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The aggregation determination function 301 of the resource aggregation unit 30 manages user information (user terminal ID, user terminal IP address, used resource amount, etc.) managed by the database 320 of the resource determination unit 32, and the database 320 of the resource determination unit 32. Based on NW information (topology information, user location information, distribution rate information for each flow, route information, etc.), extract the sortable traffic from the traffic of each service transmitted in the NW and sort the traffic. When it is determined that the resource can be reduced during the NW, the fact is transmitted to the NW control function 302.
The NW control function 302 generates a free resource in the NW by changing the traffic transfer state of the user terminal.
[0015]
As for the traffic adjustment method, a plurality of proposals have already been proposed (that is, refer to the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-240111 and the drawings). According to this, one of the methods of aggregating a plurality of unicast traffics into one multicast track is as follows: content information, distribution start time information, distribution speed information, unicast / multicast distribution information, stream contents viewed / viewed. By collecting the unviewed information at predetermined intervals, the unconverted information is collected at an appropriate conversion time based on part or all of the information. The conversion time for aggregating a plurality of unicast traffics into one multicast traffic is determined when a common time exists between unviewed contents of a plurality of user terminals viewing a plurality of unicast distribution contents. As another method, the conversion time to be aggregated is determined when a common time exists after a lapse of a certain time between unviewed contents of a plurality of user terminals viewing a plurality of unicast distribution contents.
There are a plurality of proposals for traffic adjustment triggers, and there is a mode in which traffic adjustment is performed in response to a user's resource request, and a method in which traffic adjustment is performed based on a predetermined time interval.
[0016]
In FIG. 2, a broken line indicates a resource aggregation influence range in the resource aggregation unit 30. In a state where the traffic adjustment by the resource aggregation unit 30 is performed, the user terminal 10 requests the reception function 311 of the resource sales unit 31 via the network 20 for a resource request including user information (amount of used resources, a user terminal ID, Terminal IP address information, etc.) (step 100).
In the case of the immediate request type (input of the resource amount) (step 101), the resource accepting function 311 passes the user information (the amount of used resources, the user terminal ID, the user terminal IP address) through the resource determining function 322 of the resource determining unit 32. Etc.).
[0017]
The resource determination function 322 includes NW status information (topology information, user location information, flow, etc.) managed by the database 320, in addition to the user information (amount of used resources, user terminal ID, user terminal IP address) from the resource reception function 311. Resource determination is performed comprehensively, including distribution rate information, route information, etc. for each (step 102).
If it is possible to secure the resource amount requested by the user terminal 10 by the resource determination and the resource amount requested by the user terminal 10 by the resource determination, A resource securing notification is made to the user terminal 10 (step 103).
[0018]
As a result of the resource determination, if a resource cannot be secured in response to the resource request requested by the user terminal 10 (step 104), as a response to the user terminal 10, 1) re-input of the user terminal, 2) the user terminal waits , There are two methods. In the case of 1), the accepting function 311 accepts a resource request (resource amount) again from the user terminal 10 and accepts it (step 105). Until the resource determination function 322 makes a resource determination based on the resource request information re-input from the user terminal 10, the resource aggregating unit 30 performs the traffic adjustment during the NW, and as a result, a free resource for the re-resource request is generated. In this case, the resource determination function 322 makes a free resource determination for the re-resource request of the user terminal 10 (step 106), and the reply function 312 notifies the user terminal 10 of the free resource via the network 20. (Step 110). Thereafter, the resource sales system secures resources of the user terminal 10 and updates information in the databases 310 and 320 (Step 112).
[0019]
In the case of 2), the user terminal 10 is on standby (step 107). The answer function 312 suspends the resource determination notification to the user terminal 10, and before the user terminal 10 ends the standby by the timer, the resource aggregating unit 30 performs the traffic adjustment during the NW (step 109). If no free resources corresponding to the amount of NW resources requested by 10 have not been generated, it is determined whether or not time has elapsed (step 108). If time has expired, communication between the system and the user terminal is terminated. (Step 111). On the other hand, when a free resource occurs, the resource determination function 322 performs a free resource determination (step 109). Then, the answer function 312 notifies the user terminal 10 of available resources via the network 20 (step 110), and the resource sales system secures resources of the user terminal 10 and updates information in the databases 310 and 320. (Step 112).
[0020]
As described above, the present invention has the effect that a) a certain quality assurance service can be provided. The reason is that the resource sales unit 31 and the resource determination unit 32 collect the NW state information intensively, and the resource determination function 322 determines the free resources based on the information, so that the resource usage on the NW is appropriately controlled. This is because it is possible.
Also, b) there is an effect that resources can be provided to a larger number of users with a shorter waiting time than in the conventional embodiment. The reason is that the aggregation determination function 301 collects user information and NW state information in a concentrated manner, determines whether or not resource aggregation is possible based on the information, and if resource aggregation is possible, the NW control function 302 corresponds. By adjusting the traffic transfer state for the user terminal 10, it is possible to generate free resources at an early stage.
[0021]
According to the above effects, it is possible to reduce the dissatisfaction of the service user caused by the deprivation of the user viewing opportunity due to the resource shortage, and to realize the content distribution service that makes the most of the resources. Therefore, by adjusting the resource provision state to each user, a margin is generated in the NW resource, and the NW resource is also provided to the new user, so that it is possible to realize an increase in service utilization opportunities for the user.
[0022]
If each step of the flow of FIG. 2 is coded and stored as a program in a recording medium such as a CD-ROM, it is convenient for sale in a market or the like, and a server for selling resources. The present invention can be easily realized by attaching a recording medium to the computer and installing and executing the program.
[0023]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, when performing a content distribution service that secures a bandwidth in a network, a certain quality assurance service can be provided.
In addition, there is an effect that resources can be provided to a larger number of users with a shorter waiting time than in the conventional embodiment.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a resource sales system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an operation flowchart of a resource selling method according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 user terminal, 20 network, 30 resource aggregation unit,
301: aggregation determination function, 302: NW control function, 31: resource sales department,
310 ... database (user information), 311 ... reception function,
312: Answer function, 32: Resource judgment unit,
320 ... database (NW status information), 321 ... NW monitoring function
322: Resource determination function.

Claims (16)

In a resource sales system connected via a network with a plurality of user terminals,
It comprises resource aggregation determining means for determining whether resource aggregation is possible for adjusting the content distribution state to each user terminal and reducing resources, and network control means for performing traffic control in the network based on the resource aggregation availability determination. Resource aggregator to be
A resource sales unit including a user information database and a receiving unit for receiving a network resource request from a user, and a response unit for responding to the resource request, for performing resource sales to each user terminal; ,
A database of network status information for determining a free resource in the network, a network monitoring unit for monitoring a network usage state including resources, and a resource determination unit including a resource determination unit for determining a free resource A resource sales system characterized by: In the resource sales system according to claim 1,
The resource sales system includes a program for managing user information, and receives a resource request immediately from a user terminal. In the resource sales system according to claim 2,
The resource sales system according to claim 1, wherein the user information updates information in a database when a free resource is secured. In the resource sales system according to claim 1,
The resource selling system includes a program for managing network status information, and updates information in a database at a predetermined time. In the resource sales system according to claim 4,
The network status information updates a database information when a free resource is secured. In the resource sales system according to claim 1,
The resource determination unit of the resource determination unit includes a program that performs an operation based on user information managed by the resource sales unit and network state information managed by the resource determination unit, and determines a free resource. A resource sales system characterized by the following. In the resource sales system according to claim 1,
The aggregation determining unit of the resource aggregating unit includes a program that performs an operation based on user information managed by the resource selling unit and network state information managed by the resource determining unit, and determines a traffic state in the network. When it is determined that the resources in the network can be reduced by the adjustment, the network control means changes the traffic transfer state to the corresponding user to secure the generation of free resources in the network. Resource sales system. The resource sales system according to claim 7,
The resource sales system according to claim 1, wherein the user information of the resource sales unit and the network status information of the resource determination unit are updated when the free resources occur. The resource sales system according to claim 1, 6 or 7,
In the resource determination unit, when a resource reservation for a specified time and a resource determination unit in the resource determination unit determines that the resource request from the user terminal cannot be completely satisfied, the resource determination notification to the user terminal is suspended. A free resource is generated by the operation of the resource aggregating unit, and as soon as the resource determining unit makes a free resource determination, the answering unit of the resource selling unit notifies the user terminal of the free resource. Resource sales system. The resource sales system according to claim 1, 6 or 7,
When the resource determination unit of the resource determination unit determines that the resource request from the user terminal cannot be completely satisfied, the reception unit permits re-input of resource information from the user terminal, and the resource determination unit When the resource aggregating unit according to claim 7 generates a free resource equal to or more than the resource amount requested by the user terminal before the resource determination based on the re-input information from the user terminal, the user terminal A resource sales system characterized in that a resource notification is made to the resource. A resource distribution method for performing network resource determination based on network state information and notifying free resources to user terminals together with the content distribution service,
When a resource request including user information is received from the user terminal, comprehensive resource determination is performed based on the user information and the network information.
According to the resource determination, if a resource can be reserved for the resource amount requested by the user terminal, a resource reservation notification is issued to the user terminal.
According to the resource determination, if a resource cannot be secured for the resource request requested by the user terminal, two types of methods are available for responding to the user terminal: re-inputting the user terminal or waiting for the user terminal. Resource selling method characterized by doing. The resource selling method according to claim 11,
In the case of re-input of the user terminal, traffic adjustment in the network is performed until a resource request from the user terminal is permitted again and accepted, and resource determination is performed based on the re-input resource request information. As a result, when a free resource for the re-resource request occurs, the free resource is determined for the re-resource request of the user terminal, the free resource is notified to the user terminal via the network, and the A resource sales method characterized by securing resources and updating information in a database. The resource selling method according to claim 11,
In the case of the standby of the user terminal, the resource determination notification to the user terminal is suspended, and before the user terminal ends the standby by the timer, the traffic adjustment in the network is performed, and the network requested by the user terminal is requested. If no free resources corresponding to the resource amount are generated, the communication between the system and the user terminal is terminated due to time-out. If a free resource is generated, a resource size free resource determination is performed. A resource notification method for notifying the user terminal of a free resource via the Internet. A program for realizing a resource sales system according to any one of claims 1 to 10 by computer control,
The computer of the resource sales system adjusts the content distribution state to each user terminal, and performs resource reduction for resource reduction, resource aggregation determination means for performing resource aggregation determination, and performs traffic control in the network based on the resource aggregation determination. Network control means for performing, resource receiving for receiving a network resource request from a user database and a user information for selling resources to each user terminal, answering means for answering the resource request, Resource monitoring program for functioning as a network monitoring means for monitoring a network usage state including resources for determining a free resource, and a resource determining means for determining a free resource. A program for realizing the resource selling method according to any one of claims 11 to 13 by computer control,
When a resource request including user information is received from a user terminal to the computer of the resource sales system, the user terminal makes a request through a comprehensive resource determination procedure based on the user information and network information in the database, and the resource determination. If the resource can be secured for the resource amount to be performed, the procedure for notifying the user terminal of the resource reservation is performed.If the resource cannot be reserved for the resource request requested by the user terminal due to the resource determination, And a resource sales program for executing a procedure corresponding to the user terminal by two methods, that is, re-input of the user terminal or standby of the user terminal. A computer-readable recording medium on which the program for selling resources according to claim 14 or 15 is recorded.

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