JP2005102035A - Band setting system and band setting method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a band setting system and a band setting method which enable a user to secure a necessary band, without requiring the user to have special knowledge concerning the bands of communication networks, and moreover when necessary. <P>SOLUTION: When a user terminal 101 sets a circuit route 105 between itself and a data server 103 for example, using a predetermined application program, band request change data 114 for performing setting to a desired band are sent to a service provider 102 along with a start of the program. When authentication succeeds, the service provider 102 directs a communication network 104 to change bands by a band change direction section 112, and makes the band of the circuit route 105 a necessary width. When the application program finishes, the band is returned to its original band. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a band setting system and a band setting method for setting a band of a network such as the Internet, and more particularly to a band setting system and a band setting method that allow a band to be changed as necessary.

  Data communication in various communication forms is performed using a network such as the Internet. Some of these are communicable in a relatively narrow band, such as e-mail consisting only of text information, but some cannot ensure sufficient quality unless they are communicated in a relatively wide band, such as video content and videophones. is there. However, if communication that requires a relatively wide band is performed in a short time of the entire communication of the user, it is only a cost burden to always secure a relatively wide band. In addition, there is a problem in terms of effective use of bandwidth.

  In view of this, a first proposal has been made in which a band can be individually set according to the lifestyle and usage time zone of each user (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In the first proposal, a combination of services desired by a user and a use band and a use time period for each network service are arbitrarily selected from a plurality of network services. Then, the control means sets a fee according to the selected use band and use time, and allocates the band to the user.

  In this first proposal, when changing the bandwidth allocation, a conventional written procedure is performed online. Accordingly, there is no problem of delay in changing the bandwidth due to mailing of documents.

  In addition, a second proposal for dynamically increasing or decreasing the band to be used for each user has been made (see, for example, Patent Document 2). With this second proposal, when high-speed communication is temporarily required, the user can use a band change service that increases the use band only during that time period. In this proposal, it is not necessary to always secure a large use band in order to satisfy only the temporary need, and the communication cost can be reduced.

Furthermore, a third proposal has been made to secure a necessary bandwidth by sending a message to that effect from the user side on the network when the necessity of securing the bandwidth occurs (see, for example, Patent Document 3). ).
JP 2002-305543 A (paragraph 0016, FIG. 1) Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-008638 (paragraph 0037, FIG. 8) Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-16618 (paragraph 0017, FIG. 1)

  Of these, in the first proposal, when a user decides a band and a combination of time in accordance with the lifestyle and usage time zone in advance, the service providing site accepts this and changes the bandwidth or the like. . However, many users do not have sufficient knowledge about bandwidth. Therefore, there are cases where a wide band is unnecessarily designated, and there are cases where a narrow band is designated and the quality of an image to be transmitted and received cannot be set satisfactorily. Therefore, it is difficult to combine the bandwidth and the time when the user does not have specialized knowledge about the bandwidth. In addition, if the bandwidth is carelessly widened, there is a problem that economical communication cannot be performed after all.

  In the second proposal, only two types of lines, a high speed line and a low speed line, are prepared. Then, it is determined whether or not the packet is input at a speed exceeding the setting, and the line is selected according to the determination result. Therefore, the width of the bandwidth allocated to the user is rough, and there is a possibility that considerable waste is generated in the allocated bandwidth itself. In the second proposal, when a low-speed line is first assigned to the user, the partner communication terminal recognizes that the user is a communication terminal permanently connected to the low-speed line. Therefore, even if it is preferable to communicate on a high-speed line, data communication may continue at a communication speed matched to this low-speed line. In this case, communication can be performed with a desired quality. The problem of not occurring.

  On the other hand, in the third proposal, it is necessary to secure the bandwidth, and when the user presses the bandwidth securing button, the end user terminal specifies the flow of the application for which the bandwidth is to be secured. As a result, a signaling message is sent out on the network, and a bidirectional band is secured between the end user terminal and the server. Therefore, it is assumed that the user presses the band securing button, and if there is no such action, the band for performing high-quality video and audio communication is not secured. For this reason, as with the first proposal, it is necessary to request specialized knowledge from the user side, and the user must always monitor the bandwidth.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to obtain a bandwidth setting system and a bandwidth setting method that do not require users to have specialized knowledge regarding the bandwidth of a communication network and can secure a necessary bandwidth when necessary.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, (a) a necessary bandwidth discriminating means for discriminating a bandwidth required for execution of an application program that requires communication with an external network every time the corresponding application program is activated. The band setting system includes a communication terminal provided and (b) a band allocation unit that allocates the band determined by the necessary band determination unit to a line path used when executing the application program.

  That is, according to the first aspect of the present invention, each time the application program is started for an application program that requires communication with an external network, the communication terminal determines the required bandwidth by the required bandwidth determination means. Yes. Based on the determination result, the bandwidth allocating means allocates to the line route used when the application program is executed. Therefore, the user can allocate and secure the necessary bandwidth at the time of execution of the application program without securing any specialized knowledge about the bandwidth of the communication network.

  In the invention described in claim 2, (a) a bandwidth required for each process of execution of an application program that requires communication with an external network is determined when each process of the corresponding application program is executed. (B) a bandwidth allocated to a line route used at the time of execution of each process of the application program when the respective steps of the application program are executed. An allocation unit is provided in the bandwidth setting system.

  That is, in the invention described in claim 2, the communication terminal individually determines the required bandwidth in each process of execution by the application program that requires communication with the external network by the required bandwidth individual determining means. Yes. Based on the determination result, the bandwidth allocating means allocates to the line route used when the application program is executed. Therefore, the user needs to assign the determined bandwidth to the circuit path used at the time of execution of each process of the application program without requiring any specialized knowledge about the bandwidth of the communication network. A sufficient bandwidth can be secured.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the bandwidth setting system according to the first or second aspect, when the application program is terminated, the bandwidth allocation return is made so that the communication terminal is restored to the bandwidth allocated immediately before the application program is started. It is characterized by having a means.

  That is, according to the third aspect of the present invention, not only is a bandwidth required for the application program executed when the application program is executed, but the bandwidth is returned to the original state when the application program ends. For this reason, even if an application program that requires a wide band is started and a wide band is secured, the wide band is not left after the end of the program.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the band setting system according to the first or second aspect, the communication terminal includes a necessary band reading unit that reads the necessary band previously incorporated in the activated application program. It is characterized by that.

  That is, in the invention described in claim 4, data relating to a necessary band is incorporated in the application program in advance, and the necessary band is discriminated by reading the data with the necessary band reading means. Therefore, it is possible to specifically determine the bandwidth required when executing each application program.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the bandwidth setting system according to the first or second aspect, the communication terminal performs type determination means for determining the type of the activated application program, and when executing the application program according to the type of the application program. A type-specific necessary bandwidth storage means associated with a required bandwidth, and a bandwidth determination means for determining a bandwidth required when executing the activated application program with reference to the type-specific required bandwidth storage means It is said.

  That is, in the invention described in claim 5, the generally required bandwidth is discriminated from the general type of program such that the application program is a videophone program or an e-mail program. . If the storage means that defines the specific contents until the contents of the type-specific necessary band storage means can be defined by the name, version, etc. of the application program, the necessary bandwidth can be determined accurately. In addition, in the case of the invention described in claim 5, since it is not necessary to incorporate data indicating the necessary bandwidth in the application program itself, the necessary bandwidth can be determined by a program other than a special application program incorporating such data. Benefits arise.

  In the invention described in claim 6, (a) a necessary bandwidth determining step for determining a bandwidth required for execution of an application program that requires communication with an external network every time the application program is started; (B) a bandwidth allocation step for allocating the bandwidth determined in the necessary bandwidth determination step to a circuit path used when executing the application program; (c) a charging step for charging according to the bandwidth allocated in the bandwidth allocation step; Are provided in the band setting method.

  That is, in the invention described in claim 6, the necessary bandwidth is determined every time the application program is started in the necessary bandwidth determining step, and is allocated to the line path used when the application program is executed in the bandwidth allocation step. Can be secured. Since the charging is performed in the charging step according to the reserved bandwidth, the user's economical burden can be reduced by the amount that the bandwidth can be set frequently.

  As described above, according to the present invention, since the communication terminal determines and assigns the bandwidth necessary for communication for each application program to be used, the user does not need special knowledge about the bandwidth. A bandwidth suitable for use of each application program can be set. In addition, since the bandwidth to be secured can be changed frequently as needed, it is possible not only to construct an economical system compared to the case where the maximum bandwidth is always secured, but also to effectively utilize the resources of the communication network. Can do. Furthermore, since the bandwidth is set according to the application program, there is no waste in bandwidth setting.

  FIG. 1 shows an outline of a band setting system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The bandwidth setting system 100 includes a user terminal 101, a service provider 102 used when the user terminal 101 connects to the Internet, and a data server 103 that performs a predetermined service as an example of a connection destination of the user terminal 101. I have. The data server 103 is a server that stores various data to be accessed by the user terminal 101. The data server 103 performs data communication by setting a line path 105 in a communication network 104 such as the Internet existing between the data server 103 and the user terminal 101 under the mediation of the service provider 102. Instead of the data server 103, an event server (not shown) may be the connection destination, or another connection destination such as a content server (not shown) may be used.

  The service provider 102 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) (not shown) and a storage medium that stores a control program and fixed data, and implements various functions by executing the control program. ing. When there is an access from a user terminal 101 that is a member after making a predetermined contract, the service provider 102 authenticates this, and when there is a request for changing the bandwidth, the bandwidth of the circuit path 105 is requested. A band change instruction unit 112 for instructing the change is provided.

  FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the user terminal. The user terminal 101 is an information terminal having a communication function, such as a personal computer or a game terminal, and includes a CPU that is the center of various controls. The CPU 121 is connected to the control program storage unit 123 and the work memory 124 through a bus 122 such as a data bus. The CPU 121 performs various controls as a predetermined user terminal by executing a control program stored in the control program storage unit 123. The bus 122 includes an application storage unit 128 in addition to a communication control unit 125 for performing communication via the communication network 104, a display unit 126 such as a display (not shown), and an operation input unit 127 such as a keyboard and a mouse (not shown). A bandwidth discrimination request unit 129 is connected.

  Here, the application storage unit 128 is a part that stores various application programs. Among the application programs stored in the application storage unit 128, at least a part of the programs that use the communication network 104 (hereinafter referred to as an application with bandwidth data) is necessary when executing the program. The requested bandwidth data representing the bandwidth to be processed is incorporated. When the application with bandwidth data is activated, the bandwidth determination request unit 129 determines the bandwidth required at each time point associated with the activation and progress of the application using the requested bandwidth data, and the bandwidth request / change data 114 (FIG. As 1), a request is made to the service provider 102 shown in FIG.

  On the service provider 102 side, when the bandwidth request / change data 114 is sent, the authentication unit 111 authenticates that the data is sent from the user terminal 101 as the contracting party. If the authentication is successful, the bandwidth change instruction unit 112 instructs the user to change the bandwidth of the line route 105 based on the requested bandwidth.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a requested bandwidth data table incorporated in an application with bandwidth data. Of these, FIG. 5A shows the case of an application with band data for videophones used for videophones. The video phone table 141 includes a startup request bandwidth B ₁₁ requested when starting an application with video phone bandwidth data, a high image quality request bandwidth B ₁₂ requested when a user designates a high image quality, and a user. The standard image quality required bandwidth B ₁₃ required when the user designates the standard image quality, and the low image quality required bandwidth B ₁₄ requested when the user designates the low image quality.

FIG. 2B shows a case of an application with WWW band data used for browsing the WWW (World Wide Web). The WWW table 142 includes a startup request bandwidth B ₂₁ that is requested when the application with WWW bandwidth data is started, and a movie playback designation that is requested when a user designates playback of a movie on a homepage accessed for browsing. time of the request and the band B _22, as well as a large amount transfer is specified requested bandwidth B ₂₃ to request when you specify the download or upload of large amounts of music and application programs on the website that you access, usually of still images and text information or the like other than these The normal data designation required bandwidth B ₂₄ required when the download or upload is designated.

Further, FIG. 5C shows a case of an application with game band data used when a user participates in an online game. In the game table 143, only the startup request band B ₃₁ required when starting the application with game band data is described. In the case of a game, rapid transfer of programs and data is required, so in this example, there is no control to change the band from the start to the end of the application with game band data. As shown, a request bandwidth B ₃₁ at startup is set. In the case of an application that has different characteristics of the game or that accommodates several types of different games together, several bands are selective as shown in FIG. It may be configured as required.

  FIG. 4 shows a flow of processing for bandwidth control on the application side with bandwidth data when one of the applications with bandwidth data stored in the user terminal is activated. The application storage unit 128 shown in FIG. 2 stores, for example, an application with bandwidth data that incorporates one of the three required bandwidth data tables shown in FIGS. It is free that other applications are stored in the application storage unit 128 according to the user's selection.

  Each time these applications with bandwidth data are activated, they request that the data in the table be stored in a predetermined area of the user terminal 101 (step S201). For the time being, a bandwidth required at the time of activation is requested (step S202).

  Thereafter, every time the application with bandwidth data newly generates a bandwidth request (step S203: Y), the bandwidth request is notified to the CPU of the user terminal 101 (step S204). When the application with band data is terminated by a user operation or the like (step S205: Y), the CPU of the user terminal is notified of the return to the band immediately before the application with band data is activated (step S205). S206).

  On the other hand, FIG. 5 shows a flow of bandwidth request performed on the user terminal side. It is assumed that the user operates the operation input unit 127 illustrated in FIG. 2 and instructs activation of a predetermined application with band data. When the corresponding application with band data is started (step S221: Y), the CPU 121 (FIG. 2) stores the band value currently set by the communication control unit 125 (FIG. 2) in the work memory 124 (FIG. 2). (Step S222). In the present embodiment, when the activated application with band data is terminated, the setting is restored to the original band again, so that the value is stored.

  When the application with bandwidth data is activated, a request to store data in the table is sent in step S201 in FIG. When receiving this (step S223: Y), the user terminal 101 similarly stores the transmitted table of the application with band data in the work memory 124 (step S224). The CPU 121 shown in FIG. 2 waits for reception of the bandwidth request notification in step S204 or step S206 of FIG. 4 from the activated application with bandwidth data, and the bandwidth request is received at a later time. Each time (step S225: Y), the corresponding band is read from the table or the like in the work memory 124 (step S226). If this is different from the currently set bandwidth value (step S227: Y), the bandwidth is requested to the service provider 102 shown in FIG. 1 (step S228). If it is the same as the currently set band (step S227: N), the band changing process is not performed (return).

  FIG. 6 shows bandwidth setting and change processing on the service provider side. Similar to the user terminal 101, the service provider 102 shown in FIG. 1 also includes a CPU (not shown), stores a control program in a storage medium (not shown), and performs processing such as bandwidth setting and change processing. ing. Similarly, the communication network 104 described in the next figure controls the bandwidth by the CPU.

  When the service provider 102 receives a request for setting or changing a band from the user terminal 101 using the band request / change data 114 (step S251: Y), the service provider 102 executes a user authentication process (step S252). If the authentication is not successful because the user terminal 101 has not signed a contract with the service provider 102 (step S253: N), a notification to that effect is sent to the user terminal 101 (step S254). .

  When the authentication is successful (step S253: Y), the service provider 102 uses the communication network 104 to secure the requested bandwidth between the user terminal 101 and the data server 103 as an example of the communication destination. And instructing to set or change the bandwidth for the corresponding line route 105 (FIG. 1) (step S255). If the communication network 104 succeeds in setting or changing the bandwidth in response to this instruction (step S256: Y), the service provider 102 starts charging from the time of setting or changing the bandwidth or responds to the change of bandwidth. The billing content is changed (step S257). That is, if the bandwidth is changed in a direction in which the bandwidth is increased, the charging rate is increased accordingly, and if the bandwidth is changed in a direction in which the bandwidth is decreased, the charging rate is decreased accordingly. If the setting of a new band fails or the change to the requested band fails in step S256 (N), a notification to that effect is sent to the user terminal 101 (step S254), and the process ends. (End)

  FIG. 7 shows processing for setting or changing the bandwidth on the communication network side. If there is a bandwidth setting or change request from the service provider 102 in step S255 of FIG. 6 (step S271: Y in FIG. 7), the communication network 104 executes processing for securing or releasing the bandwidth in accordance with this (step S271: Y). Step S272). Then, the success / failure result is notified to the service provider 102 (step S273).

  Next, how the bandwidth is changed will be described with a specific example. Now, it is assumed that the user starts the application with WWW band data shown in FIG. The bandwidth value set immediately before this time is stored in the work memory 124 (step S222 in FIG. 5). Then, a request for securing the bandwidth for the requested bandwidth at startup that is initially required in the application with bandwidth data for WWW is made (step S202 in FIG. 4, step S225 in FIG. 5: Y). At this time, if the requested bandwidth value at the time of activation is the same as the bandwidth value that was set immediately before in the service provider 102 (step S227: N), the bandwidth change request at this point is the service -It is not sent to the provider 102.

It is assumed that the user accesses the homepage of a newspaper company, for example, and performs an operation of reproducing a news video. Then, the application with WWW band data detects an operation for reproducing a moving image by the user and generates a band request for reproducing the moving image (step S203 in FIG. 4). Then, this is notified to the CPU 121 of the user terminal (step S204). The CPU 121 searches the WWW table 142 stored in the work memory 124 to read out the requested bandwidth B ₂₂ at the time of moving image reproduction designation and makes a request to the service provider 102 (step S228 in FIG. 5, step S251 in FIG. 6). ).

The service provider 102 authenticates the user terminal 101 (step S252 in FIG. 6). If this is successful, the service provider 102 instructs the communication network 104 to change to the requested bandwidth B ₂₂ at the time of moving image reproduction designation (step S255 in FIG. 6). Then, from the time when the communication network 104 secures the requested bandwidth B ₂₂ at the time of video reproduction designation and the report is made (steps S272 and S273 in FIG. 7), the billing process corresponding to the increased bandwidth is performed (step S257 in FIG. 6). ).

  When the reproduction of the news video is completed and the user changes the browsing content to the normal browsing of the home page, the WWW band data application application generates a bandwidth change request for that purpose (step S203 in FIG. 4). Similarly, the bandwidth is reduced to the currently required area, and thereafter, the charge rate is reduced and the integration process is performed. When the user terminates the application with WWW band data (step S205 in FIG. 4), return processing to the band immediately before the application is activated is performed (step S206 in FIG. 4, step S228 in FIG. 5).

Note that the bandwidth request / change data 114 representing the request bandwidth B ₂₃ at the time of mass transfer designation in FIG. 3B is transmitted from the user terminal 101 to the service provider 102 in accordance with the bandwidth for WWW. Various settings can be made according to the contents of the application with data. For example, when the total amount of programs or data to be downloaded or uploaded is determined, this is compared with a predetermined threshold value, and when the transfer amount is larger than this, the application side requests this requested bandwidth B _{23 for} mass transfer. May be requested. Alternatively, the requested bandwidth B ₂₃ for mass transfer designation may be immediately requested on condition that a site for distributing specific music or movies is accessed.

Also, when the application with the videophone band data using the videophone table 141 shown in FIG. 3A is activated, the image quality is improved from the time of activation, for example, by the initial setting on the user side or the default setting. One specific type of band for video transmission / reception such as the hourly required band B ₁₂ may be selected. In this case, the control is not substantially different from the bandwidth control in the application with game bandwidth data shown in FIG. Of course, the user selects the image quality while looking at the image that is actually sent or considering the type of image information to be transmitted to the other party, and requests the bandwidth accordingly. May be. In the latter case, the user selects the image quality and causes the videophone band data application to determine the bandwidth required for the image quality, that is, the amount of data transferred per hour. Therefore, unlike the conventional case where the user selects a band, there is no problem of designating an unnecessarily wide band that does not match the image quality.

  In the embodiment described above, the software for requesting the provider side to set or change the bandwidth installed in advance in the user terminal 101 and the bandwidth data application cooperate to set or change the bandwidth. However, it may be configured such that the application side with bandwidth data requests the communication network side or the provider side to set or change the bandwidth independently. That is, the program configuration may be such that the application side with band data also serves as software that requests the provider side to set or change the band. When a large amount of data is downloaded, the bandwidth is not requested as a specific value, and the maximum bandwidth that the communication network 104 can allocate at that time or within the range that can be accepted by the user terminal 101 itself. A bandwidth request for requesting the maximum bandwidth may be made. As a result, compared to the case where communication is performed in the current band when the requested band cannot be ensured, communication with a little wider band is performed.

  Further, in the embodiment, the table shown in FIG. 3 is prepared on the application side with band data and passed to the user terminal side, but it is not always necessary to prepare such table format data. In particular, as shown in FIG. 5C, when a predetermined bandwidth is requested at the time of startup, the user terminal side determines the type of application, and in accordance with the type, the bandwidth within the startup bandwidth determined in advance according to the type is determined. It is also possible to select one from the above and request the setting from the network side. At this time, the user terminal or the communication terminal determines the type of the activated application program (a browser, an application for online games, a file transfer application, etc.) and an application program for each type of application program. Required bandwidth storage means associated with the bandwidth required at the time of execution and bandwidth determination means for determining the bandwidth required at the time of executing the activated application program with reference to the required bandwidth storage means by type You may do it. As a result, even application programs that have been used in the past can secure a bandwidth adapted to them without depending on the user.

1 is a system configuration diagram showing an overview of a bandwidth setting system in an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram showing the structure of the user terminal of this Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which showed some examples of the request | requirement bandwidth data table incorporated in the application with a bandwidth data of this Embodiment. It is a flowchart showing the flow of processing for bandwidth control on the application side with bandwidth data in the present embodiment. It is a flowchart showing the flow of the bandwidth request | requirement which the user terminal side performs in this Embodiment. 5 is a flowchart showing bandwidth setting and change processing on the service provider side in the present embodiment. It is a flowchart showing the setting or changing process of the band by the side of a communication network in this Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Bandwidth setting system 101 User terminal 102 Service provider 103 Data server 104 Communication network 105 Line path 111 Authentication part 112 Band change instruction part 114 Band request / change data 121 CPU
123 Control Program Storage Unit 124 Work Memory 125 Communication Control Unit 128 Application Storage Unit 129 Bandwidth Determination Request Unit 141 Videophone Table 142 WWW Table 143 Game Table

Claims (6)

A communication terminal provided with a necessary bandwidth discriminating means for discriminating a bandwidth required for execution of an application program that requires communication with an external network every time the corresponding application program is activated;
A bandwidth setting system comprising: bandwidth allocation means for allocating the bandwidth determined by the required bandwidth determination means to a line path used when executing the application program. A communication terminal equipped with a necessary bandwidth individual determining means for determining a bandwidth required for each process of execution of an application program that requires communication with an external network when each process of the corresponding application program is executed; ,
A band setting system comprising: a band allocation unit that allocates a band determined by the necessary band individual determination unit to a line path used at the time of execution of each process of the application program.   3. The bandwidth setting system according to claim 1, further comprising bandwidth allocation return means for returning to the bandwidth allocated to the communication terminal immediately before the application program is started when the application program ends. .   3. The band setting system according to claim 1, wherein the communication terminal includes a necessary band reading unit that reads the necessary band that is incorporated in advance in the activated application program.   The communication terminal includes: a type discriminating unit that discriminates the type of the activated application program; a type-specific necessary bandwidth storage unit that associates a band required for executing the application program according to the type of the application program; 3. The band setting system according to claim 1, further comprising a band discriminating unit that discriminates a band required at the time of execution with reference to a type-specific necessary band storing unit. A necessary bandwidth determination step for determining a bandwidth required for execution of an application program that requires communication with an external network every time the application program is started, and
A bandwidth allocation step for allocating the bandwidth determined by the necessary bandwidth determination step to a circuit path used when executing the application program;
A bandwidth setting method comprising: a billing step of billing according to the bandwidth allocated in the bandwidth allocation step.

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