JP2007158573A - Transmission control apparatus and method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a transmission control apparatus and a method therefor which transmit data between a game server and a player by effectively utilizing a transmission bandwidth depending on a type of the player so that the apparatus and the method are appropriated to obtaining a network game. <P>SOLUTION: A transmission control server 4 captures operation data transmitted from a game terminal 2 to the game server 3, and summates the data for each of attributes such as an attribute for conversation of the game and a function of the game. When a certain player desires communication with another player according to a result of the summation, QoS control is carried out so that data for the communication can be transmitted with high quality. Conversely, when the certain player does not desire communication with the other player, QoS control such as lowering of the priority of data for communication is executed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a transmission control apparatus and method for controlling transmission quality.

Non-patent documents 1 to 4 disclose online games.
In an online game, generally, a player operates a game server connected via a network from a terminal (player PC) such as a personal computer, and the game server performs a game in accordance with the operation of the player. This is realized by performing processing necessary for execution of
Function data having an attribute for realizing the function prepared for the game is sequentially transmitted from the player PC to the game server.
Further, conversation data having an attribute for exchanging conversations between players is transmitted between the player PCs via the game server.
In addition, moving image data created according to the function data is transmitted from the game server to the player PC.

There are types of players who prefer to advance the game quickly by using functions prepared for the game, and types that mainly enjoy conversations with other players.
Between the former type player's PC and the game server, the transmission amount of the functional data is relatively increased, and the transmission amount of the conversation data is reduced.
For the latter type of player, this relationship is reversed.
Further, even in the same player, the relationship of the transmission amount between these data can be changed according to the terminal device used and the connection time zone.
On the other hand, the transmission band between the network and the player PC usually has a certain limitation. Therefore, for the former type, the transmission band for transmitting functional data is widened and conversation data is transmitted. If the transmission quality is controlled so as to narrow the transmission band, the transmission band can be used effectively.
On the other hand, for the latter type of player, it is preferable to control the transmission quality so as to widen the conversation data transmission band and narrow the function data transmission band.
http://www.gamecity.ne.jp/nol/ http://www.ragnarokonline.jp/ http://www1.lineageonline.jp/top/index.shtml http://www.playonline.com/ff11us/index.shtml

The present invention has been made from the background described above, and provides an improved transmission control apparatus and method for performing appropriate transmission control according to the attribute of data to be transmitted. For the purpose.
The present invention is particularly suitable for realizing a network game, and transmits data between the game server and the player by effectively using the transmission band according to the type of the player. It is an object of the present invention to provide a transmission control apparatus and method improved so as to be able to do so.

  In order to achieve the above object, a transmission control apparatus according to the present invention is a transmission control apparatus that performs transmission control on transmission data to be transmitted, and each of the transmission data has one of a plurality of attributes, Aggregating means for aggregating the transmission data based on the attribute, and transmission control means for performing transmission control on the transmission data for each attribute based on the aggregation result.

  Preferably, the transmission control means controls transmission quality according to the attribute for the transmission data.

  Preferably, the transmission data is transmitted between a plurality of nodes, the aggregation means totals the transmission data for each of the plurality of nodes, and the transmission control means includes, for each of the plurality of nodes, The transmission quality for the transmission data is controlled.

  The data processing system according to the present invention is a data processing system having a first node, a second node, and a third node, wherein the second node is connected to the first node. , A data receiving means for receiving first data each having one of a plurality of attributes, and performing predetermined processing based on the received first data, and the result of this processing is obtained for each of the plurality of attributes. Processing means for returning to the first node as the second data having either, the third node, the first data and the second data or any one of them, Aggregating means for counting based on attributes, and transmission control means for performing transmission control on the first data and / or the second data for each attribute based on the result of the counting A.

  Preferably, in the third node, the transmission control means controls transmission quality according to the attribute for the transmission data.

  Preferably, in the third node, the counting unit totals the first data and / or the second data for each of the first nodes, and the transmission control unit includes: For each of the plurality of first nodes, transmission quality is controlled for the first node and / or the second data.

  Preferably, in the second node, the processing means processes the first data and / or the second data for each group of one or more of the first nodes, The third node further includes processing control means for controlling processing performed for each group of the one or more first nodes.

  Preferably, in the second node, the processing means sets a virtual space for each group of one or more of the first nodes, and the first data and the second data or these Any one of them, and in the third node, the processing control means sets the virtual space, transmits the first data and the second data between the set virtual spaces, and Control the merge of a plurality of the virtual spaces or any one of them.

  Preferably, the first node and the second node are game data for progressing a network game including a plurality of functions, and each of the attributes corresponds to a plurality of functions of the network game.

  Preferably, the game data includes communication data for communication between the nodes in the network game, and any of the attributes corresponds to the communication data.

  The transmission control method according to the present invention is a transmission control method for performing transmission control on transmission data to be transmitted. Each of the transmission data has one of a plurality of attributes, and the transmission data is There is a totaling step of totaling based on attributes, and a transmission control step of performing transmission control on the transmission data for each attribute based on the result of the totalization.

  The control server program according to the present invention is a control server program for performing transmission control on transmission data to be transmitted, wherein each of the transmission data has any of a plurality of attributes, and the transmission data is The computer is caused to execute a counting step for counting based on the attribute and a transmission control step for performing transmission control on the transmission data for each attribute based on the result of the counting.

According to the transmission control apparatus and method according to the present invention, appropriate transmission control can be performed according to the attribute of data to be transmitted.
In particular, the transmission control device and method according to the present invention are suitable for realizing a network game, and the transmission bandwidth between the game server and the player is determined according to the player type. Can be used effectively to transmit data.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below.

[Online game system 1]
First, the online game system 1 will be described.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an online game system 1 to which a moving image display method according to the present invention is applied.
As shown in FIG. 1, the online game system 1 includes n network systems 102-1 to 102-n that are communicably connected to each other.
However, n is an integer greater than or equal to 1, and all are not always the same number.
Hereinafter, when any of a plurality of possible components such as the network systems 102-1 to 102-n is indicated without being specified, it may be simply abbreviated as the network system 102 or the like.
Hereinafter, in the online game system 1, components that can be the subject of information processing and communication may be collectively referred to as nodes.
Moreover, unless otherwise specified, in each figure, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the substantially same component.

Each network system 102 is configured by connecting one or more nodes via a network 100 such as a LAN or a WAN.
The nodes constituting the network system 102 include the transmission control server 4 and the game server 3 connected to the network 100 via the transmission control server 4. An operator terminal (OP terminal) 106, a QoS management server 108, and a game are appropriately selected. Terminal 2.
The game terminal 2 includes a personal computer connected to the network 100 via a wired line and mobile terminals such as a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) and a mobile phone connected to the network 100 via a wireless line.
The online game system 1 provides an online game to the user (game player) of the game terminal 2 by these components, and further, according to the type of the player, transmission control based on the QoS control rule, and the game One or more servers 3 each perform load suppression using the existing virtual space.

[Virtual space 14]
Here, the virtual space 14 will be described.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a virtual space 14 used in the online game system 1 shown in FIG.
In online games, consistent data must be provided to all players.
However, online game players such as which region they live in, whether they are students or adults, what occupations they belong to, what age group they belong to, and who they are friends with Depending on the attribute, it may be divided into multiple groups.
There may be frequent communication between players belonging to different groups, or there may be little communication.

If an attempt is made to support all players in an online game without grouping, communication by players belonging to a certain group must be displayed to all players regardless of the frequency of communication.
On the other hand, online game players are divided into groups so that communication by players belonging to a group is reflected only on players belonging to groups that frequently communicate with the group, and the group does not have communication with the group. If it is not reflected in the player to which it belongs, the processing load can be reduced.
As described above, in the online game system 1, online game players are divided into groups each including one or more players, a virtual space is set for each group, and the game is normally closed and closed in the virtual space. By doing so, it is possible to reduce the processing load on the game server 4 due to communication or the like occurring between a plurality of virtual spaces.

Further, by using the virtual space 14, it is possible to distribute the load as the entire online game system 1 as described below.
(1) The number of game servers 3 that process a virtual space 14 when the processing of one virtual space 14 is executed by a plurality of game servers 3 and the processing load of the virtual space 14 increases. Increase.
(2) When processing of a plurality of virtual spaces 14 is executed on one game server 3 and a processing load on a part of the plurality of virtual spaces 14 increases, The game server 3 is moved to another game server 3 having a relatively large processing capacity.
(3) When a process in one virtual space 14 is executed by one game server 3 having a relatively low processing capability, when the processing load of a part of the virtual space 14 increases, the virtual space 14 The processing of the space 14 is transferred to another game server 3 having another high processing capability.

For example, when a very large number of players (for example, 100,000 units) belong to the virtual space 14, it is supported by a plurality of game servers 3 as shown as a virtual space 14-1 in FIG.
Alternatively, when a moderate number of players (for example, the number of thousands) belong to the virtual space 14, it can be supported by one game server 3 as shown as a virtual space 14-2 in FIG.
Alternatively, when only a small number of players (for example, the number of people of hundreds or less) belong to the virtual space 14, as shown in FIG. 2 as virtual spaces 14- (n-1) and 14-n, a plurality of virtual spaces 14 can be supported by one game server 3.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the virtual space 14 shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 3A is a diagram illustrating a virtual space 14 (virtual space # 1) set for one player and a plurality of players. Virtual space 14 (virtual space # 2), (B) shows the interference generated between virtual spaces # 1 and # 2, and (C) shows the junction of virtual spaces # 1 and # 2. , (D) shows the merger of the virtual spaces # 1 and # 2.
The virtual space 14 in the network game realized by the online game system 1 can be easily grasped as individual instances of the network game.
As shown in FIG. 1, one or more virtual spaces 14 can exist in each game server 3, and as shown in FIG. 3A, the virtual space 14 is set exclusively for one player. Or may be set for each group of a plurality of players.
The plurality of virtual spaces 14 are basically separated from each other, there is little interaction between them, and the virtual space 14 is independent, but there can be a small amount of interaction, so there are a plurality of virtual spaces 14. The space is not completely independent.

Note that, in the field of multiplayer network games, even if the game world is divided into a plurality of virtual spaces 14, the game player usually receives the world of himself or his / her friends. And many other worlds are made independent of each other and do not appear to exist in parallel.
That is, such a network game usually has to make it appear to any player that all players participating in the game share a single giant game world.
Therefore, for example, when an act of exchanging an item or the like in the network game world or an act of competing for an item or the like is performed, the item to be exchanged or contested from any virtual space 14 Must be synchronized among all virtual spaces 14 so that their owners are the same.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the virtual space 14 of the network game may be placed one by one on each of a plurality of game servers, or a plurality of virtual spaces 14 may be placed on each of the plurality of game servers. This movement does not necessarily mean movement of the player among the plurality of game servers 3.
However, as described above, since there are few interactions between a plurality of virtual spaces, it is easy to realize each of the plurality of virtual spaces by separate game servers. Server allocation and game server movement for each virtual space The load balancing by can also be easily realized.
For example, when a message classified as communication occurs only within a certain group of players, the world on the network game played by this group can be cut out as one virtual space.
In this way, by making communication performed in a certain group closed in one virtual space, data transmission between a plurality of virtual spaces is reduced, the load on the game server is reduced, and further, Effects such as alleviation of competition for resources can be obtained.

As shown in FIG. 3B, for example, virtual spaces # 1 and # 2 are assigned to each group of players who frequently talk with each other, and a limited mutual space is provided between these virtual spaces # 1 and # 2. Only the action (interference) may be performed.
As the interference of the plurality of virtual spaces 14, for example, a conversation exchanged between the players in the virtual space # 2 while preventing the players in the virtual space # 1 from showing the player in the virtual space # 2. As an example, it is possible to get a chance to get acquainted with a player in the virtual space # 2 so that a part of the user can be known.

As shown in FIGS. 3C and 3D, when a player in one virtual space # 1 transmits data for conversation to a player in another virtual space # 2, these virtual spaces # 1 are transmitted. The spaces can be joined and further merged via joining.
That is, the joining of a plurality of virtual spaces and the merging of a plurality of virtual spaces have substantially the same meaning.
There are various methods for joining (merging) a plurality of virtual spaces # 1 and # 2. For example, in the 3DMMORPG method, the player characters cannot see each other and do not affect each other. Sometimes, a method may be adopted in which the characters of these players are moved to the same virtual space.
Alternatively, when the field is switched as the player character moves, a method of joining a plurality of virtual spaces in accordance with the field switching can be employed.

[Hardware]
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating hardware of the OP terminal 106, QoS (Quality of Service) management server 108, game terminal 2, game server 3, and transmission control server 4 shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 4, these nodes include a main body 120 including a CPU 122 and a memory 124, an input / output device 126 including a display device and a keyboard, and a network interface (network) used for communication with the network 100. IF) 128 and a recording device 130 such as an HDD, a CD, or a nonvolatile memory.
When the game terminal 2 is a mobile terminal, a wireless IF 134 used for communication with the network 100 is added to the game terminal 2.
That is, each node of the online game system 1 has a component as a computer capable of information processing and communication with other nodes.

[Functions of OP terminal 106 and QoS management server 108]
Here, functions of the QoS management server 108 and the OP terminal 106 (FIG. 1) will be described.
The OP terminal 106 is added to the network system 102 as necessary, manages the game provided by the game server 3 in accordance with the operation of the game operator and the like, and actively advances the game (progress). ) Is performed.
The OP terminal 106 displays the status / operation content of each player, information for managing the game, presence / absence of unauthorized access, content of unauthorized access that has occurred, and the like.

When the transmission control server 4 does not have the QoS control function and the relay destination game server 3 change function, the QoS management server 108 is added to the network system 102 to supplement these.
The QoS management server 108 performs communication quality control according to the attribute of transmission data transmitted between the game terminal 2 and the game server 3, for example, for each game terminal 2 according to the control of the transmission control server 4.
Actually, a network device (not shown) such as a router included in the online game system 1 performs bandwidth limitation for QoS control according to the control of the transmission control server 4 or the QoS management server 108.

[Software]
Hereinafter, the software of each node of the online game system 1 will be described.

[Game program 20]
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration of the game program 20 that operates on the game terminal 2 shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, the game program 20 includes a communication processing unit 200, a reception processing unit 210, an image creation unit 212, a player (user) interface (UI unit) 220, a game control unit 230, an operation analysis unit 232, transmission data. A creation unit 234 and a setting management unit 240 are included.
For example, the game program 20 is supplied to the game terminal 2 via the recording medium 132 (FIG. 4), loaded into the memory 124, and installed on the game terminal 2 on the OS (not shown). It is executed by specifically using hardware resources (the same applies to the software shown below).

With these components, the game program 20 accepts an operation on the input / output device 126 of the game terminal 2 (FIG. 1) by the online game player and transmits it to the game server 3.
The game program 20 creates a game image from the received data received from the game server 3 and displays it on the input / output device 126.
In addition, the game program 20 transmits player data required for transmission control, such as player preferences, to the transmission control server 4.

The communication processing unit 200 transmits data to and from other nodes via the network 100.
That is, in the game program 20, the communication processing unit 200 transmits player data and operation data indicating an operation performed by the player to the game terminal 2 to the game server 3.
In addition, the communication processing unit 200 outputs the moving image data received from the game server 3 to the reception processing unit 210.

6A and 6B are diagrams showing operation data transmitted from the game terminal 2 shown in FIG. 1 to the game server 3. FIG. 6A shows operation data not including a game ID, and FIG. 6B shows a game ID. Operation data including is shown.
As shown in FIG. 6A, the operation data includes a header portion and a data portion indicating the operation content of the player with respect to the game terminal 2.
The header portion includes the IP header of the game terminal 2 and the game server 3 (when the operation data takes the form of an IP packet), the class ID indicating the class (attribute) of the operation data, and other header information.
However, when the operation data takes the form of a TCP packet, the IP header shown in FIG. 6A is replaced with the TCP header and the IP header. When the operation data takes the form of a UDP packet, the IP header becomes , UDP header and IP header are replaced.

For example, when the value of the class ID is 0, it indicates that data for conversation (communication) exchanged between players is included in the data portion.
Further, for example, when the value of the class ID is i (i = 1 to n), the class ID is defined in the game provided by the game server 3 and includes the i-th data used for the progression. Show.
As long as the class ID can be distinguished from the communication (0), any ID may be assigned.
How much fine control is performed using the class ID depends on the game.

At least some of the values of the class ID can be defined by individual games, but besides communication between players, a somewhat standard class ID is defined on the game network system provider side along with QoS control for it, Provided to game providers.
More specifically, it is assumed that some typical class IDs are provided in advance as middleware.
According to a large classification according to whether or not there is an interaction between players, the class ID in which an interaction between players exists is “item exchange or trading between players”, “combat between players (PvP)” The class ID for which no interaction exists can be exemplified by “player position update”, “player motion update (sit, greet, etc.)”, and the like.
These class IDs completely depend on the game, but when there are a plurality of players, it is expected that the interaction provided by the game provider as a system has some degree of commonality.

When at least a part of the class ID can be individually defined for each game, the game provider defines what QoS control is performed in correspondence with each class ID, and this definition is defined by the QoS control. A process of registering with the class ID management table in the subject (transmission control server 4, QoS control device 108) is further required.
Furthermore, it is necessary to set the transmission control server 4 and the QoS control device 108 to determine whether or not the message actually changes the QoS and whether or not the message should be lowered with priority.

In addition, since the definition of the class ID may be different for each game, the packet seen by the subject of QoS control includes not only the class ID but also information (game ID) indicating which game the packet is related to. Must be.
In such a case, a unique IP address (or a port number when a TCP packet or UDP packet is used) is assigned for each game, or the game ID is used as operation data as shown in FIG. In addition, it must be possible to identify which game operation data the operation data is.
This game ID is an ID indicating which game the packet is related to, and is assigned to each game. However, in the case where the game type can be uniquely specified from the IP header, it is not necessary to be described explicitly.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing data transmitted from the game server 3 to the game terminal 2 shown in FIG. 1, and (A) shows moving image data transmitted from the game server 3 to the game terminal 2, (B) shows the 3D moving image data shown in (A), and (C) shows moving image data including a game ID.
As illustrated in FIG. 7A, the moving image data transmitted from the game server 3 to the game terminal 2 includes the IP header, the class ID, and the 3D moving image data illustrated in FIG. 7B. It is.
Control data required for the progress of the game is further added to the moving image data as necessary.

Each of the 3D moving image data included in the moving image data illustrated in FIG. 7A indicates, for example, each character to be displayed on the game terminal 2.
As shown in FIG. 7B, the 3D moving image data shown in FIG. 7A includes a 3D character ID, a motion ID, and attribute data.
The attribute data indicates position information, speed information, and whether or not the 3D moving image data is 3D moving image data of a character used by a specific player, and is necessary for creating a moving image on the game terminal 2. Information to be included.
Further, as shown in FIG. 7C, a game ID may be added to the moving image data.
QoS control according to the class ID is required more for moving image data transmitted by a downstream packet than for operation data transmitted by an upstream packet.
However, the class ID is also added to the upstream packet so that an upstream packet that may trigger a change in the flow rate of the downstream packet is not overlooked.
However, since the amount of data in the upward direction is smaller than the amount of data in the downward direction, the burden on the online game system 1 is light.

An example of communication is when a player talks to another player in the hope that a response from the other party will surely come back.
In such communication, if the player who talks does not receive a response from the opponent, the fun of the game (gameability) is impaired.
Therefore, when such communication is performed, transmission of messages from the other party must be given priority.
Of course, it is assumed that the QoS control of “Messages that identify yourself” is different from “Messages when you do not identify yourself”, such as “When you call someone first met” (OpenChat) Since “specify me” does not apply, in such a case, it becomes inconvenient to treat it as a normal message “not identify me”, so some kind of treatment is required.

Here, every time an image of a character or the like is sent from the game server 3 to the client (game terminal 2), the polygon data of that character (indicating the polygons constituting each character such as a person used by an online game player), If texture data (indicating the character's surface pattern, pattern, etc.) and motion data itself are sent to the client, a wide transmission bandwidth is required for the communication path between these nodes.
For this reason, in the method actually taken for the realization of the online game, when these data are sent in advance from the game server to the game terminal 2 and the character is displayed on the game terminal 2, Only identifiers (IDs) of these data that have already been sent are sent.
Furthermore, “3D character ID” is specified for the shape and surface state of the character, and “motion ID” is specified for deformation of the shape of the character specified by the 3D character ID (so-called posture change). .

The assignment of the “motion ID” and the usage method thereof are as shown in the following (1) or (2), for example.
(1) For example, when a character stands up, a motion ID is individually assigned to each stage in each of a plurality of stages included in a series of movements, and a series of movements is expressed by sequentially sending these motion IDs. .
(2) One motion ID is assigned to the entire series of movements, and the character moving image generation side (game terminal 2) that has received this one motion ID realizes a change in character posture according to the clock held by the generation side. To do.

The above-mentioned “motion” means that the position of the character is fixed at an arbitrary position in the space, and the character itself is deformed at that position. However, when generating a moving image plane, the movement of the character in the space is performed. (Position information, speed information) is further required.
Such position information and speed information are included in the “attribute data” in FIG.

The reception processing unit 210 (FIG. 5) separates 3D moving image data and the like from the moving image data (FIGS. 7A and 7B) input from the communication processing unit 200, and sends it to the image creation unit 212. Output.
The image creating unit 212 generates a moving image of each character from the 3D moving image data input from the reception processing unit 210.
Further, the image generation unit 210 synthesizes the generated moving image of the character and game character information input from the game control unit 230 to create a game image as shown in FIG. Output.

8, the image generation unit 212 of the game program 20 shown in FIG. 5 creates the moving image data shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, and the input / output device 126 of the game terminal 2 (FIG. 1). It is a figure which illustrates the game image displayed on (FIG. 4).
As shown in FIG. 8, the game image 7 includes a 3D moving image display area 70 and a character information display area 74.
In the 3D moving image display area 70, moving images of the background 710 and the characters 700-1 to 700-n of the specific player are displayed.
In the character information display area 74, information to the player (supplementary information such as “execution of Kikakano” when the player performs some operation), and other information such as the player using the game terminal 2 and other information are displayed. Game character information indicating the content of communication such as chat (conversation) with the player is displayed.

The moving image of the character 700 moves according to the operation of the player using the game terminal 2 and the player using another node, and the contents of chat and the like are displayed in the character information display area 74 as needed.
A player using the game terminal 2 operates the input / output device 126 of the game terminal 2 as needed while watching the game image 7 to move his / her character or advance the game (for example, other players). And information for causing the player to purchase items on the game from the characters of other players).

The UI unit 220 (FIG. 5) outputs the game image 7 and its sound input from the image generation unit 212 and the game control unit 230 from the input / output device 126 (FIG. 4) of the game terminal 2 and shows them to the player. .
In addition, the UI unit 220 accepts a player's operation corresponding to the displayed game image 7 and outputs it to the operation analysis unit 232.

The game control unit 230 controls each component of the game program 20 according to the attribute data (FIG. 7B) input from the image generation unit 212, and performs processing required for the game progress.
The operation analysis unit 232 analyzes the operation of the player with respect to the input / output device 126 (FIG. 4), and outputs information indicating the operation content of the player to the transmission data creation unit 234.
The transmission data creation unit 234 creates operation data (FIGS. 6A and 6B) using information input from the operation analysis unit 232, and transmits the operation data to the game server 3 via the communication processing unit 200 or the like. Send.

When the player accesses the game server 3 from the game terminal 2 and starts the game, the setting management unit 240 sends player data indicating the player's preference, game play style, play environment, and the like to the transmission control server. 4 is transmitted.
Examples of the “player preference” indicated by the player data include whether the player prefers fast game progress or prefers conversation with other players over the fast game progress.
Further, the play style indicated by the player data can be exemplified by whether the game is advanced hostilely with other players or the game is advanced friendly.
Further, examples of the play environment indicated by the player data include what devices and software are added to the game terminal 2 for the game provided by the game server 3.

[Game server program 30]
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a configuration of the game server program 30 executed in the game server 3 shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 9, the game server program 30 includes a communication processing unit 200, a game unit 32, and a game database (game DB) unit 38.

The game unit 32 includes a UI unit 320, an operation analysis unit 322, a game processing unit 330, a virtual space processing unit 332, a 3D character ID acquisition unit 340, a motion ID acquisition unit 342, a position / speed acquisition unit 344, and 3D moving image data creation. Part 350.
The game DB unit 38 includes a player data management unit 380, a player DB 382, a moving image data management unit 384, a moving image DB 386, a game data management unit 388, and a game DB 390.
The game server program 30 performs processing required for realizing the online game by these components.

In the game server program 30, the communication processing unit 200 receives operation data (FIGS. 6A and 6B) sent from each game terminal 2 and outputs the operation data to the UI unit 320.
In addition, the communication processing unit 200 transmits the moving image data (FIG. 7A) input from the 3D moving image data creation unit 350 to each game terminal 2.
The UI unit 320 performs processing necessary for accepting operation data of each game terminal 2 (for example, provision of a GUI environment), and outputs the accepted operation data to the operation analysis unit 322.
The operation analysis unit 322 analyzes the operation data input from the UI unit 320, and outputs operation data required for the progress of the game to the game processing unit 330.

Data stored and managed in the game DB unit 38 is appropriately input by an operation on the game terminal 2 or the game server 3.
The player data management unit 380 includes information required for data transmission to and from the game terminal 2 (for example, the IP address of each game terminal 2) and information required for player authentication (for example, the player ID and password) and information indicating whether the player is accessing the online game system 1 (online, offline) are stored in the player DB 382 and managed.
Further, the player data management unit 380 outputs the player data stored in the player DB 382 to other components of the game server program 30 as necessary.

The game processing unit 330 controls other components of the game server program 30 according to the operation data input from the operation analysis unit 322, and performs processing for advancing the game.
In addition, the game processing unit 330 outputs data necessary for progressing the game to other components of the game server program 30.

The virtual space processing unit 332 performs grouping of data stored and managed in the game DB 38 in accordance with control from the transmission control server 4, and FIG. 2 and FIG. Processing related to the virtual space 14 described with reference to (D) is performed.
That is, the virtual space processing unit 332 allows the online game to be divided into a plurality of virtual spaces 14 by separating the data stored and managed in the game DB 38 into a plurality of pieces.
Further, the virtual space processing unit 332 causes interference between the plurality of virtual spaces 14 by sharing a part of the data among the plurality of virtual spaces 14.
Further, the virtual space processing unit 332 joins (merges) the plurality of virtual spaces 14 by collecting the data of the plurality of virtual spaces 14 into one.
Further, as described above with reference to FIG. 2, the virtual space processing unit 332 performs processing for load distribution using the virtual space 14.

The moving image data management unit 384 includes polygon data, texture data, motion data, and moving image data indicating characters used by each player (3D character ID and motion ID indicating polygon data, texture data, and motion data (FIG. 7B). )) Is stored in the moving image DB 386 and managed.
In addition, the moving image data management unit 384 sends the stored moving image data to the 3D character ID acquisition unit 340, the motion ID acquisition unit 342, and the position / speed acquisition unit 344 via the game processing unit 330 as necessary. Output.

The game data management unit 388 (FIG. 9) stores and manages game data in the game DB 390.
The game data management unit 388 outputs the game data stored in the game DB 390 to the game processing unit 330 as necessary.
The game data includes the ID of each player (player ID # 1 to #n), the operation history (operation data # 1 to #n input from each game terminal 2 (FIGS. 6A and 6B)) Time (operation times # 1 to #n)) and a game log indicating the progress of the game are included in association with each player # 1 to #n.

The 3D character ID acquisition unit 340 acquires 3D character IDs of all the characters to be displayed in the game image 7 (FIG. 8) of each game terminal 2 and outputs the acquired 3D character ID to the 3D moving image data creation unit 350.
The motion ID acquisition unit 342 acquires the motion IDs of all characters to be displayed in the game image 7 of each game terminal 2 and outputs the motion IDs to the 3D moving image data creation unit 350.

The position / speed acquisition unit 344 creates position data indicating the display positions of all the characters to be displayed in the game image 7 of each game terminal 2 and speed data indicating their moving speed, and creates a 3D moving image. Output to the data creation unit 350.
As described above, the 3D character ID acquisition unit 340, the motion ID acquisition unit 342, and the position / velocity acquisition unit 344 do not generate the 3D character ID and the motion ID (FIG. 7B), but generate polygon data or the like. These IDs, which are allocated in advance and stored / managed in the moving image DB 386, the above-described position data, velocity data, and the like are acquired via the game processing unit 330 or the like.
The 3D moving image data creation unit 350 includes moving image data including the 3D character ID, motion ID, position data, velocity data, and the like acquired by the 3D character ID acquisition unit 340, the motion ID acquisition unit 342, and the position / speed acquisition unit 344. Create
Further, the 3D moving image data creation unit 350 transmits the created moving image data to the game terminal 2.

[Control server program 40]
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a configuration of the control server program 40 executed in the transmission control server 4 shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 10, the control server program 40 includes a communication processing unit 200, a relay control unit 202, a clock unit 400, a totaling unit 410, a setting management unit 416, an optimization unit 418, a setting change unit 420, and a totaling result determination unit. 422, QoS control unit 430, and virtual space control unit 432.
The control server program 40 uses these components to operate data (FIGS. 6A and 6B) transmitted from the game terminal 2 to the game server 3, and from the game server 3 to the game terminal 2. The transmission amount of the moving image data (FIGS. 7A to 7C) transmitted is summed up, and QoS control is performed for each game terminal 2 (player) according to the summation result.

The transmission amount of data collected by the control server program 40 may be obtained, for example, as a value obtained by simply accumulating the number of data or as the number of data per fixed time. It can be defined as various values depending on the contents of QoS control.
Further, the transmission control server 4 (control server program 40) can perform QoS control of various contents based on the determination result of various items for each player from the counting result. For the sake of clarification and clarification, the transmission control server 4 determines whether or not each player wants to communicate with other players, and QoS control is performed according to the determination result. Take an example.

In the control server program 40, the relay control unit 202 controls the communication processing unit 200 to send the operation data (FIGS. 6A and 6B) sent from the game terminal 2 to the game server 3. Relay is also performed, and moving image data (FIGS. 7A to 7C) sent from the game server 3 is relayed to the game terminal 2.
Further, the relay control unit 202 changes the game server 3 serving as a relay destination under the control of the virtual space processing unit 332 and relays operation data and moving image data to and from the game terminal 2.
As an example of the change of the relay destination, a case where processing of a certain virtual space is transferred from the game server 3-1 to the game server 3-2 can be given.
Further, the relay control unit 202 outputs the operation data relayed to the game server 3 to the totaling unit 410.
The clock unit 400 notifies the time to each component of the control server program 40.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a total value by the totaling unit 410 illustrated in FIG.
When a certain player #i logs on the game server 3 and starts a game, the counting unit 410, as shown in FIG. 10, includes (1) game environment information, (2) log information, and (3) Aggregate communication information.
(1) It is transmitted from the game terminal 2-i used by the player #i, and the type of the game terminal 2-i and which method the game terminal 2-i is connected to the network 100 (for example, wired) Game environment information indicating any one of LAN, mobile phone line and wireless LAN)
(2) Log information indicating the type, title, player #i logged on to the game server 3 and connection time until logoff, etc.
(3) Of the data transmitted and received by player #i, the transmission amount of data to which a class ID (0; FIG. 6 (A)) indicating communication is attached, and the class ID (0; FIG. 6 (A)) Communication information indicating whether the data attached with () is addressed to another specific player or broadcasted.

The logon and connection time of the player #i is obtained from the time stamp attached to the data from the game terminal 2 or the time notified from the clock unit 400.
For example, when the player #i is a member of society, since it is not easy to access the server 3 from a desktop computer during the day, it is expected that the player #i is often accessed from a mobile communication capable game terminal. The
On the other hand, it is expected that the player #i who is a member of society often accesses the game server 3 from the desktop type via a high-speed line such as ADSL at night.
The characteristics of the player #i can be known from the log information, and can be used in QoS control.
Note that data for communication that is transmitted between players without going through the transmission control server 4 such as voice chat, for example, the network stack of the game terminal 2 has a function of summing up such data, If the totaling result is sent to the transmission control server 4, it can be set as a target of totalization.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a determination result by the total result determination unit 422 illustrated in FIG. 10.
The tabulation result determination unit 422 processes the tabulation value (FIG. 11) obtained by the tabulation unit 410, and as shown in FIG. 12, for each player, desires communication with a number of other unspecified players. A numerical value X (anyone) indicating the degree of communication, a numerical value X (some_group) indicating the degree of communication with another player in a specific group, and the opponent are obtained.
Therefore, the determination result includes zero or more numerical values X (some_group) and one numerical value X (anyone) corresponding to each player ID and corresponding to each player ID.
Hereinafter, the numerical values X (anyone), X (some_group), and the like may be collectively referred to as numerical values X.
The type of the numerical value X calculated by the tabulation result determination unit 422 can be increased or decreased according to the computing capacity and storage capacity of the transmission control server 4.
Except in the case of (4) below, tabulation result determination unit 422 wants player #i to communicate with the opponent corresponding to numerical value X when each numerical value X of player #i is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value. Otherwise, it is determined that communication with the other party is not desired.
The aggregation result determination unit 422 outputs this determination result to the setting change unit 420.

The counting result determination unit 422 calculates, for example, a numerical value X as shown below, or determines whether each player desires communication.
(1) The initial value of the numerical value X is calculated based on the situation when the player #i has logged on to the game server 3 in the past.
(2) Each time a predetermined time elapses without sending or receiving data for communication by player #i, the numerical value X is decreased, and the numerical value X is gradually increased. A value indicating that it is not desired.

(3) Each time player #i transmits or receives data for communication, the numerical value X is increased, and the numerical value X is gradually set to a value indicating that player #i desires communication. .
When data is sent or received for communication with a large number of other unspecified players, such as general chat, the numerical value X (anyone) is incremented, and other players in a specific group are countered. When transmission or reception of data for communication occurs, the numerical value X (some_group) is increased.
For a certain player u to decrease the numerical value X (u, v) indicating the degree of desire to communicate with a certain group u, or to increase the numerical value X (anyone, u) to the extent that communication with an unspecified player is desired When X (anyone, u) ≧ X (u, v), the memory area of the variable used by the numerical value X (u, v) is released, and the numerical value X that does not actually exist in the memory The value of (u, v) is considered to be X (anyone, u).
In addition, when the numerical value X (u, v) is increased in this state, a new variable area for X (u, v) is secured, and the numerical value X (anyone, u) at that time becomes the numerical value X (u , v) is treated as the value of the numerical value X (u, v) immediately before it increases.

(4) When player #i receives data for communication with player #i as the recipient, player #i is determined to desire communication regardless of the value of value X.
However, when it is determined that the player #i does not want to communicate, even if data for communication from an unspecified majority is received, this is not the case, and the player #i wants to communicate. Is not determined.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a default state of the setting table stored in the setting management unit 416 illustrated in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 13, the setting management unit 416 determines whether each player desires communication with another player in a specific group (desired (some_group), undesired (some_group)) in the default state. )) And the setting contents of QoS control according to whether or not communication with other unspecified number of players is desired (anyone, anyone).
The setting contents of QoS control of each player stored in the setting management unit 416 are appropriately targeted for optimization, and the number of setting contents for a specific group is the group to which the communication partner belongs (numerical value X (some_group); FIG. ) Will change as appropriate according to increases, decreases and changes.
The setting contents stored by the setting management unit 416 are used for processing by the setting change unit 420.

The setting contents stored by the setting management unit 416 are as follows.
(1) When it is determined that the player #i does not want communication, the priority of data for communication transmitted to the player #i is lowered.
(2) When the player #i changes from the state where it is determined that communication is desired to the state where it is determined that communication is not desired, the communication which the player #i transmits and receives is set. The QoS setting content is changed from a setting that is guaranteed to reach the other party to a setting that is not necessarily guaranteed to reach the other party.
(3) When it is determined that the player #i does not want to communicate with any other player, a virtual space is set only for the player #i (FIG. 3A).
(4) When it is determined that a group of specific players does not want to communicate with players other than the group, a virtual space is set for this group (FIG. 3A).
(5) When transmission of data for communication occurs between a plurality of virtual spaces, these virtual spaces are interfered (FIG. 3B), and these virtual spaces are joined (merged). (FIGS. 3C and 3D).

The optimization unit 418 optimizes the QoS setting contents stored in the setting management unit 416 in accordance with the aggregation result obtained by the aggregation unit 410.
The setting change unit 420 sets the QoS control setting content of the QoS control unit 430 and the virtual content according to the determination result (FIG. 12) of the tabulation result determination unit 422 and the setting content of the setting management unit 416 (FIG. 13). The setting content of the virtual space control of the space control unit 432 is changed.
The QoS control unit 430 performs QoS control on data transmitted between the game terminal 2 and the game server 3 in accordance with the setting content from the setting change unit 420.

The virtual space control unit 432 analyzes data transmitted between the game terminal 2 and the execution control unit 3, and separates, interferes and joins the virtual space 14 (FIGS. 2 and 3A to 3D). It is determined whether or not to perform.
When the virtual space control unit 432 determines that the interference and joining (merging) should be performed, the virtual space control unit 432 controls the game server 3 according to the determination result and the setting content from the setting change unit 420 to perform virtual The setting of the space 14 and the interference and joining (merging) of the plurality of virtual spaces 14 are performed.
In addition, when a determination result indicating that the separation should be performed is obtained, the game server 3 is controlled according to the determination result and the setting content from the setting change unit 420 to change one virtual space 14 into a plurality of virtual spaces 14. To separate.

[Overall Operation of Online Game System 1]
Hereinafter, the overall operation of the online game system 1 will be described focusing on the operation of the transmission control server 4.
14 to 16 are first to third diagrams showing processing of the control server program 40 shown in FIG.
As shown by a dotted line in FIG. 14, the communication processing unit 200 and the relay control unit 202 of the control server program 40 operating on the transmission control server 4 operate on the operation data received from the game terminal 2 (FIGS. 6A and 6B). )) Is relayed to the game server 3, and the moving image data received from the game server 3 (FIGS. 7A to 7C) is relayed to the game terminal 2.
The communication processing unit 200 outputs these relayed data to the counting unit 410.
The totaling unit 410 captures and totals data input from the communication processing unit 200 and stores the totaling result (FIG. 11).

As indicated by a dotted line in FIG. 15, the aggregation result is output from the aggregation unit 410 to the aggregation result determination unit 422.
Aggregation result determination unit 422 determines the aggregation result and outputs the determination result (FIG. 12) to setting change unit 420.
The setting management unit 416 outputs the setting table (FIG. 13) to the setting change unit 420.
As indicated by a dotted line in FIG. 16, the setting change unit 420 changes settings for the QoS control unit 430 and the virtual space control unit 432 according to the determination result (FIG. 12) and the setting table (FIG. 13).
The QoS control unit 430 performs QoS control on data transmitted between the game terminal 2 and the game server 3 in accordance with the setting from the setting change unit 420.
The virtual space control unit 432 controls the game server 3 in accordance with the setting from the setting change unit 420 and performs processing such as setting of the virtual space (FIGS. 3A to 3C).

  The present invention can be used for data transmission control.

It is a figure which illustrates the structure of the online game system to which the moving image display method concerning this invention is applied. It is a figure which illustrates the virtual space used in the online game system shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the virtual space shown in FIG. 1, and (A) shows a virtual space # 1 set for one player and a virtual space # 2 set for a plurality of players; B) shows the interference generated between the virtual spaces # 1 and # 2, (C) shows the junction of the virtual spaces # 1 and # 2, and (D) shows the merge of the virtual spaces # 1 and # 2. Indicates. It is a figure which illustrates the hardware of OP terminal shown in FIG. 1, a QoS management server, a game terminal, a game server, and a transmission control server. It is a figure which shows the structure of the game program which operate | moves on the game terminal shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the operation data transmitted to the game server from the game terminal shown in FIG. 1, Comprising: (A) shows the operation data which does not contain game ID, (B) shows the operation data containing game ID. . It is a figure which shows the data transmitted to the game terminal from the game server shown in FIG. 1, Comprising: (A) shows the moving image data transmitted to a game terminal from a game server, (B) shows (A). (C) shows moving image data including a game ID. The image generation unit of the game program shown in FIG. 5 creates the moving image data shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B and displays it on the input / output device (FIG. 3) of the game terminal 2 (FIG. 1). It is a figure which illustrates a game image. It is a figure which shows the structure of the game server program run in the game server shown in FIG. It is a figure which illustrates the default state of the setting table which the setting management part shown in FIG. 10 memorize | stores. It is a figure which illustrates the total value by the total part shown in FIG. It is a figure which illustrates the determination result by the total result determination part shown in FIG. It is a figure which illustrates the setting table which the setting management part shown in FIG. 10 memorize | stores. It is a 1st figure which shows the process of the control server program shown in FIG. It is a 2nd figure which shows the process of the control server program shown in FIG. It is the 3rd figure which shows the process of the control server program shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1 ... Online game system,
102... Network system,
100 ... Network,
106 ... OP terminal,
108 ... QoS management server,
120 ... main body,
122... CPU
124 ... memory,
126 ... I / O device,
128: Network IF,
130... Recording device,
132... Recording medium,
134 ... Wireless IF,
2 ... Game terminal,
20 ... Game program,
200: Communication processing unit,
210... Reception processing unit,
212 ... Image creation unit,
220... UI part,
230: Game control unit,
232 ... Operation analysis unit,
234 ... transmission data creation unit,
240 ... setting management unit,
3 ... Game server,
30 ... Game server program,
32 ... Game part,
320 ... UI unit,
322: Operation analysis unit,
340 ... 3D character ID acquisition unit,
342 ... Motion ID acquisition unit,
344: Position / speed acquisition unit,
350 ... 3D moving image data creation unit,
38 ... Game DB part,
380: Player data management unit,
382 ... Player DB,
384 ... moving image data management unit,
386 ... moving image DB,
388 ... Game data management unit,
390 ... Game DB,
4 ... transmission control server,
40 ... control server program,
202... Relay control unit,
400 ... clock part,
410 ... Totaling unit,
416 ... Setting management unit,
420... Setting change unit,
422 ... Total result determination unit,
430 ... QoS control unit,
432 ... Virtual space control unit,

Claims (12)

A transmission control device that performs transmission control on transmission data to be transmitted, wherein each of the transmission data has one of a plurality of attributes,
Aggregating means for aggregating the transmission data based on the attribute;
A transmission control device comprising: transmission control means for performing transmission control on the transmission data for each of the attributes based on the result of the aggregation. The transmission control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transmission control unit controls transmission quality according to the attribute for the transmission data. The transmission data is transmitted between a plurality of nodes,
The counting means totals the transmission data for each of the plurality of nodes,
The transmission control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transmission control unit controls transmission quality for the transmission data for each of the plurality of nodes. A data processing system having a first node, a second node, and a third node,
The second node is
Data receiving means for receiving, from the first node, first data each having any of a plurality of attributes;
Processing means for performing predetermined processing based on the received first data and returning the result of the processing to the first node as second data each having one of a plurality of attributes. And
The third node is
Aggregating means for aggregating the first data and the second data or any one of them based on the attribute;
A data processing system comprising: transmission control means for performing transmission control on the first data and / or the second data for each attribute based on the result of the aggregation. In the third node,
The data processing system according to claim 4, wherein the transmission control unit controls transmission quality according to the attribute for the transmission data. In the third node,
The tabulation unit tabulates the first data and the second data or any one of them for each of the first nodes,
6. The data processing system according to claim 4, wherein the transmission control unit controls transmission quality for the first data and / or the second data for each of the plurality of first nodes. 7. In the second node,
The processing means processes the first data and / or the second data for each group of one or more of the first nodes,
The third node is
The data processing system according to claim 6, further comprising processing control means for controlling processing performed for each group of the one or more first nodes. In the second node,
The processing means sets a virtual space for each group of one or more of the first nodes, and processes the first data and the second data or any one of them,
In the third node,
The processing control means includes
Setting the virtual space;
Transmission of the first data and the second data between the set virtual spaces; and
The data processing system according to any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein a plurality of the virtual spaces are merged or any one of them is controlled. The first node and the second node are game data for progressing a network game including a plurality of functions,
The data processing system according to claim 4, wherein each of the attributes corresponds to each of a plurality of functions of the network game. The game data is
Communication data for communication between the nodes in the network game,
The data processing system according to claim 9, wherein any of the attributes corresponds to the communication data. A transmission control method for performing transmission control on transmission data to be transmitted, wherein each of the transmission data has one of a plurality of attributes,
An aggregation step of aggregating the transmission data based on the attributes;
A transmission control method comprising: a transmission control step for performing transmission control on the transmission data for each of the attributes based on the result of the aggregation. A control server program for performing transmission control on transmission data to be transmitted, wherein each of the transmission data has one of a plurality of attributes,
An aggregation step of aggregating the transmission data based on the attributes;
A control server program for causing a computer to execute a transmission control step for performing transmission control on the transmission data for each attribute based on the result of the aggregation.

Images