JP2009267525A - Transmission device, management apparatus, method, and communicating system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To configure various communication links having different necessary qualities easily and flexibly. <P>SOLUTION: A communication system includes a plurality of transmission devices for transmitting and receiving the communication signals of a user, and a management apparatus for managing those resources. At least one of the plurality of transmission devices is connected with a user terminal and communicates with a communication partner in stead of the user terminal. According to a quality request message from the user terminal, the management apparatus determines a communication path and the amount of resources which are used in each of the plurality of transmission devices included in the communication path, and then transmits a resource allocation message indicating that amount to each of the plurality of transmission devices. Each of the plurality of transmission devices has a software execution section which can be divided logically to a plurality of virtual transmission devices, and the virtual transmission devices having resources according to an amount indicated by the resource allocation message are prepared in the software execution section. A software specified by a user is installed in the virtual transmission devices prepared in the software execution section. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a transmission apparatus, a control method, and a communication system using virtualization technology.

  In recent years, an online game in which a plurality of game terminals are connected via a network so that users in various places can share the same game progress has attracted attention. There are various requirements for online games depending on genres, titles, and the like. For example, in a racing game, image display at a high frame rate, accurate hit determination between vehicle bodies, and the like are required, and the demand for delay time is very severe. In the action game, an accurate hit determination is necessary, but since the movement in the game is not as intense as in the race game, the frame rate can be lowered to some extent. Therefore, the demand for delay is not as high as the race game. In table games such as shogi and chess, the game basically proceeds in a turn-based manner, so the demand for delay is not so strong, but efficient use of the network is required. In addition, when a user uses a mobile terminal (mobile terminal), it is not always easy to perform advanced signal processing (for example, 3D image processing). Insufficient capacity and battery consumption may occur.

Conventionally, QoS control has been studied to guarantee network communication quality such as delay time. For example, in a method called DiffServ (see Non-Patent Document 1 for this), a plurality of traffic flows are classified into classes, and priority is given to each class instead of each flow to ensure communication quality QoS. And In order to cope with a shortage of processing capacity and a problem of battery consumption, for example, a method called remote play is considered. In remote play, a mobile game machine accesses a stationary game machine having a high calculation processing capacity via the Internet, and an image processed by the stationary game machine is transmitted to the mobile game machine. As a result, even if the mobile game machine itself does not have high processing capability, a game that requires it can be enjoyed on the mobile game machine.
K. Nichols, S. Blake, F. Baker, D. Black, "Definition of the Differentiated Services Field (DS Field) in the IPv4 and IPv6 Headers", RFC2474

  However, since DiffServ is premised on the use of an IP network, there is a bottleneck that the performance of the network is dragged by the performance of the IP network. Therefore, it is not always possible to construct a very low delay network. A topological configuration is also conceivable in which a dedicated protocol is newly designed and the game machines are connected to a full mesh without assuming an IP network. It may be possible to create a network specialized for online games and meet the required quality (delay time, etc.), but on the other hand, the versatility is reduced and the cost of the network increases. Resulting in. Further, in remote play, since it is connected to another user's game machine via its own stationary game machine, there is a concern that the path length increases and the delay time increases. Moreover, since it is streaming transmission from its own stationary game machine to its own mobile game machine, there is a problem that a large band is consumed.

  An object of the present invention is to enable various communication links having different required qualities to be easily and flexibly constructed.

  In one form of this invention, it has the some transmission apparatus which transmits / receives a user's communication signal, and the management apparatus which manages the resource of these transmission apparatuses, At least one of these transmission apparatuses is a user. A communication system connected to a terminal and communicating with a communication partner instead of the user terminal is used.

The management device
In accordance with the quality request message from the user terminal, a determination unit that determines a communication path and the amount of resources used in each of the plurality of transmission apparatuses included in the communication path;
A communication unit for transmitting a resource allocation message indicating the determined amount of resources to each of the plurality of transmission devices;
Have

  Each of the plurality of transmission devices prepares a virtual transmission device having a resource corresponding to the amount indicated by the resource allocation message in a software execution unit that can be logically divided into a plurality of virtual transmission devices.

  The virtual transmission device prepared in the software execution unit is installed with software designated by the user.

  The present invention can contribute to easily and flexibly constructing various communication links having different required qualities.

  According to the embodiments of the present invention described below, computer resources of the entire network are adaptively distributed to a plurality of transmission apparatuses along the communication path so as to satisfy the required quality. As a result, a communication link that satisfies the required quality can be efficiently constructed without a special topology configuration that realizes a full mesh using a dedicated protocol. The communication path may be appropriately changed according to the situation. Accordingly, the amount of computer resources allocated to each transmission apparatus may be changed as appropriate as long as the required quality can be maintained. As a result, it is possible to reduce the possibility of excessive delay due to an increase in path length. In addition, there has been a concern in the past that a large band is consumed due to streaming transmission from its own stationary game machine to its own mobile game machine. According to one aspect of the present invention, various communication links can be easily and flexibly constructed. For example, if a stationary game machine is installed near a mobile game machine, a communication link can be set using the same. . Thereby, the streaming transmission section can be shortened as much as possible, and the problem of bandwidth consumption can be reduced.

  A communication system according to an aspect of the present invention includes a transmission device and a management device. The transmission apparatus constitutes a plurality of virtual transmission apparatuses that operate in response to allocation of processing resources, storage resources, and transmission resources. The virtual transmission device includes a game processing unit that performs game processing and a network control unit that performs network control. By adaptively controlling the amount of resources (computer resources) allocated to each virtual transmission device, the capabilities of the game processing unit and the network control unit are dynamically changed.

  The management device holds resource management information indicating the amount of processing resources, storage resources, and transmission resources held by all transmission devices in the network. The management apparatus also holds topology information including information indicating whether or not the transmission apparatuses are adjacent to each other and information indicating the delay time of the link between the transmission apparatuses when adjacent to each other. The management device calculates resources necessary for satisfying the quality indicated by the quality request message received from the user using the resource management information and the topology information.

  The user transmits a quality request message to the management device. The management device calculates resources necessary to satisfy the request indicated by the quality request message. Based on the calculation result, the management device transmits a resource allocation message to each transmission device, and instructs each transmission device to secure resources. The transmission apparatus logically constructs a virtual transmission apparatus in accordance with the resource indicated in the resource allocation message, and configures a virtual network in which the virtual transmission apparatuses constructed as described above communicate with each other.

  The game processing unit of the virtual transmission device performs game processing instead of the mobile game machine. The game processing unit transmits the game screen as streaming data to the mobile game machine. The game processing unit communicates with a game processing unit of a virtual transmission device that is processing a game on behalf of another mobile game machine. Thereby, each user can enjoy the same online game with the same progress.

  According to this invention, there is an effect that a virtual network that satisfies the quality required by the online game can be realized with a minimum amount of resources.

  Furthermore, the management apparatus of the communication system according to the present invention uses the first and second steps when calculating resources necessary to satisfy the quality indicated by the quality request message. In the first step, the shortest path between mobile game machines that play online games is calculated using topology information. In the second step, resources are allocated so that the game processing unit is constructed in the transmission device (its virtual transmission device) closest to the mobile game machine among the transmission devices belonging to the shortest path.

  According to this invention, there is an effect that necessary resources can be calculated with a small amount of calculation even in a large-scale network.

  Furthermore, the management apparatus of the communication system according to the present invention uses the first and second steps when calculating resources necessary to satisfy the quality indicated by the quality request message. In the first step, resources necessary for game processing are secured, and a transmission device closest to the mobile game machine that plays an online game is found. In the second step, necessary resources are calculated by calculating the shortest path on condition that the transmission device is passed.

  According to this invention, there is an effect that necessary resources can be calculated with a small amount of calculation even in a large-scale network.

  Furthermore, when one or more virtual networks are already configured, the management apparatus for the communication system according to the present invention is necessary for satisfying the quality indicated by the new quality request message when a new quality request message is received. It is determined whether or not the resources can be secured only by the remaining unused resources. If it is not possible to secure with unused resources alone, the utilization status of resources constituting the existing virtual network is changed so that both the old and new quality request message resource securing requests are met.

  According to this invention, even when resources for configuring a virtual network for a mobile game machine to newly play an online game are insufficient, the required quality can be changed by changing the resources configuring the currently existing virtual network. There is an effect that a new virtual network satisfying the above can be configured.

  Furthermore, the management apparatus of the communication system according to the present invention uses the first and second steps when calculating resources necessary to satisfy the quality indicated by the quality request message for the new virtual network. In the first step, the newly created virtual network and the existing virtual network are arranged in the order in which the demands on delays indicated by the new and old quality request messages are strict (in order of short delay time). In the second step, resources are allocated in order from the one with the most demanding delay.

  According to this invention, there is an effect that necessary resources can be calculated with a small amount of calculation even when the number of virtual networks to be configured is large or in a large-scale network.

  According to the present invention, a virtual network that satisfies the quality required by an online game can be realized with a minimum amount of resources. Further, by changing the quality request message, a virtual network that satisfies various requirements can be configured, and high versatility can be realized. For example, many resources can be allocated to online games that require high quality, but a small amount of resources can be allocated to online games that do not require very high quality, and network costs can be reduced. In addition, game processing can be placed on an arbitrary transmission device, and resource consumption can be reduced and delay time can be reduced, for example, by shortening the transmission section of streaming data.

  For convenience of explanation, the present invention is described in several embodiments, but the division of each embodiment is not essential to the present invention, and two or more embodiments may be used as necessary. Although specific numerical examples will be described to facilitate understanding of the invention, these numerical values are merely examples and any appropriate values may be used unless otherwise specified.

(First embodiment)
This embodiment constitutes a virtual network for playing an online game by a mobile game machine. The virtual network includes a plurality of virtual transmission devices, and the virtual transmission device includes a network control unit that guarantees communication quality and a game processing unit that performs game processing in place of the mobile game machine.

<Communication system>
The configuration of the communication system according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 1, a communication system 100 according to this embodiment includes a network 101 and a plurality of mobile game machines 102. The network 101 includes a plurality of transmission devices 103 and one management device 104. The terminal 102 is connected to the network 101 by wire such as FTTH (Fiber To The Home) or wirelessly such as a mobile phone, and can communicate with each other. Any number of transmission devices and management devices may be prepared as necessary. The transmission device connected to the mobile game machine performs signal processing for the game instead of the mobile game machine (for example, creation of the next control signal, creation of the game screen by 3D graphics, etc.), and the calculation result The game screen is transmitted as streaming data to the mobile game machine.

<Transmission equipment>
A functional block configuration of the transmission apparatus 103 according to the present embodiment is shown with reference to FIG. 2 (the hardware configuration may be that shown in FIG. 3). The transmission apparatus 103 includes a virtualization control unit 201, a game processing unit 203, and a network control unit 204. The game processing unit 203 and the network control unit 204 are logically divided into a plurality of pieces by a virtualization technique, and constitute a plurality of virtual transmission apparatuses 202. In the virtualization technology, an operating system (OS) is separately prepared for each logically divided virtual transmission apparatus and operates independently. For example, in FIG. 2, the game processing unit 203 is divided into three game processing units 203a to 203c. The network control unit 204 is divided into three network control units 204a to 204c. The virtual transmission device 202a is configured by the game processing unit 203a and the network control unit 204a. The game processing unit 203a and the network control unit 204b constitute a virtual transmission device 202b. Similarly, a virtual transmission device 202c is configured by the game processing unit 203c and the network control unit 204c. In FIG. 2, three virtual transmission devices are configured. However, depending on the resources of the game processing unit 203 and the resources of the network control unit 204, that is, any number of virtual transmission devices may be prepared as long as the capability permits. Further, the amount of resources allocated to each virtual transmission apparatus may be uniform or non-uniform. For example, if the total amount of resources is 100, ten virtual transmission devices with resource amount 10 may be prepared, or one virtual transmission device with resource amount 60 and one virtual transmission device with resource 40 are prepared. Also good. Further, the virtual transmission device may include only the network control unit without including the game processing unit.

  The virtualization control unit 201 functions to configure the virtual transmission device 202 by allocating resources of the game processing unit 203 and the network control unit 204. The virtualization control unit 201 also functions to change the amount of resources allocated to each virtual transmission device.

  The virtual transmission devices 202a to 202c may be configured by allocating resources of both the game processing unit and the network control unit, or may be configured by allocating only the resources of the network control unit. Operates independently of other virtual transmission devices. In the game processing units 203a to 203c, game software is installed as necessary, and functions to perform processing for executing the game. Typically, some game software is installed in response to an instruction from the user. The network control units 204a to 204c hold network control software such as a routing protocol, and function to communicate with virtual transmission devices of other transmission devices and control devices.

<Management device>
The function of the management apparatus 104 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The management apparatus 104 includes a management control unit 401, a management information storage unit 402, and a network control unit 403.

  When receiving a quality request message from the mobile game machine, the management control unit 401 functions to calculate resources necessary to satisfy the quality indicated by the quality request message with reference to the resource information stored in the management information unit To do. In addition, the management control unit 401 functions to secure resources necessary to satisfy the quality indicated by the quality request message by transmitting a resource allocation message to the transmission apparatus.

  The management information storage unit 402 holds a resource management table as shown in FIG. 5, and manages the amount of processing resources, storage resources, and transmission resources held by the transmission apparatus. The numbers indicating the amount of resources are conceptual for descriptive purposes, and any suitable unit may be used. For example, the processing resource may be expressed by an arithmetic processing speed. The storage resource may be expressed by the number of information bits that can be stored. Transmission resources may be expressed in bandwidth. Further, the management information storage unit 402 holds a topology management table as shown in FIG. 6, and indicates information indicating whether or not the transmission apparatuses are adjacent to each other, and the link delay time between the transmission apparatuses if adjacent to each other. It functions to manage the information shown. In the illustrated example, two transmission apparatuses related to “-” are not adjacent to each other, and the other transmission apparatuses are adjacent to each other. In the illustrated example, the delay times between adjacent transmission apparatuses are all “1”, but other numerical values may be used depending on the application. Also, the delay time from one to the other and the reverse delay time from the other to the one may be the same or different. In the illustrated example, both are “1” in both directions.

  The network control unit 403 holds network control software such as a routing protocol and functions to communicate with the control virtual transmission device of the transmission device.

  Although the transmission device and the management device are greatly different in function, they may be the same from the viewpoint of hardware configuration (of course, they may be different). For example, they may have a hardware configuration as shown in FIG. This hardware configuration includes a processing resource 301 such as a CPU, a product resource 302 such as a storage memory, and a transmission resource 303.

  Although not necessarily unique, as an example, the virtualization control unit 201 of the transmission apparatus 103 may be realized by the processing resource 301 and the storage resource 302. The game processing units 203a to 203c of the transmission device 103 may be realized by the processing resource 301 and the storage resource 302. The network control units 204a to 204c of the transmission apparatus 103 may be realized by the processing resource 301, the storage resource 302, and the transmission resource 303. Further, the management control unit 401 of the management device 104 may be realized by the processing resource 301 and the storage resource 302. The management information storage unit 402 of the management device 104 may be realized by the storage resource 302. The network control unit 403 of the management apparatus 104 may be realized by the processing resource 301 and the storage resource 302.

<Description of operation>
Subsequently, operations of the transmission apparatus and the management apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described. In the present embodiment, the transmission device 103 is divided into a plurality of virtual transmission devices by a virtualization technique. In an initial state (a state in which nothing is used), one virtual transmission device 702a is prepared as shown in FIG. Resources are allocated to the virtual transmission device 702a indicated by the wavy frame so as to function as the network control unit 704a. The network control unit 704a communicates with a control virtual transmission apparatus and a management apparatus in another transmission apparatus. The network control unit 704a holds the same network control software as the virtual transmission device and the management device for controlling other transmission devices.

  FIG. 8 shows an operation example according to this embodiment. This operation example shows how a virtual network is constructed in order for the mobile game machine 102a to play an online game with the mobile game machine 102b. The network topology shown in FIG. 1 is assumed.

  First, the mobile game machine 102a that starts the game transmits a quality request message to the management device 104 (S703). The quality request message is used to notify the management device 104 of the performance (condition, required quality, etc.) required for the online game.

  FIG. 9 shows an example of information items included in the quality request message. In the example shown in the figure, the own request ID, the communication partner ID, the upper limit of the delay time, the required bandwidth, the processing capability required for the game processing, and the storage capacity are specified in the quality request message. The information included in the quality request message is not limited to the illustrated one, and any appropriate information may be included.

  In S704 of FIG. 8, the management control unit 401 of the management apparatus 104 that has received the quality request message uses the resource information stored in the management information storage unit 402 as resources necessary to satisfy the quality indicated by the quality request message. Calculate with reference. Assuming that the quality request message has the contents as shown in FIG. 9, it is calculated so that the transmission resources of the transmission device 103e and the transmission device 103c are secured by 5 (bandwidth) in preparation for online game data transmission. It may be. Further, in preparation for the game processing of the mobile game machine 102a, it may be calculated so that the processing resource of the transmission device 103e is 10 (processing capacity) and the storage resource is 10 (storage capacity). Further, in preparation for the game processing of the mobile game machine 102b, it may be calculated so that the processing resource of the transmission device 103c is 10 (processing capacity) and the storage resource is 10 (storage capacity).

Transmission device 103e
Transmission resources: 5
Processing resources for 102a: 10
Storage resources for 102a: 10
Transmission device 103c
Transmission resources: 5
Processing resources for 102b: 10
Storage resources for 102b: 10.

  Next, it is verified with reference to FIG. 6 whether these resource allocations satisfy the delay condition specified by the quality request message. However, since the delay time is taken into consideration in the network 101, the delay time between the mobile game machine and the transmission device in contact with the mobile game machine is not taken into consideration. That is, delay times between the mobile game machine 102a and the transmission device 103e and between the mobile game machine 102b and the transmission device 103c are not considered. Then, only the delay between the transmission device 103e and the transmission device 103c needs to be considered, and the delay time is 1. This meets the requirement that it must be 5 or less (Fig. 9), so it meets the required quality.

  In S705a and S705b in FIG. 8, the management apparatus transmits a resource allocation message to the transmission apparatus 103e and the transmission apparatus 103c that must secure resources. The resource allocation message specifies the type and amount of resources that must be secured in the transmission apparatus at the transmission destination. In addition, the management device reduces the reserved resources from the resource management table. At this time, the resource management table of FIG. 5 is as shown in FIG.

  Upon receiving the resource allocation message, the virtualization control unit 201 of the transmission apparatus secures the resource specified by the resource allocation message and configures the virtual transmission apparatus 1101a according to the resource as shown in FIG. (S707a-S707b). Thereby, the game processing unit is realized by the secured processing resources and accumulated resources. In addition, a network control unit is realized by the secured processing resources, storage resources, and transmission resources. The virtual transmission device 1101a including the game processing unit and the network control unit prepared in this way can communicate with the virtual transmission device of another transmission device created by the resource allocation message, and constitutes a virtual network. In the case of the current example, a virtual network is configured by the virtual transmission devices of the transmission device 103e and the transmission device 103c.

  In S708, the management device 104 transmits an OK message (or confirmation message) to the mobile game machine 102a. This means that the virtual network having the quality requested by the mobile game machine 102a has been constructed. The OK message may simply represent whether or not the virtual network has been established, or may include additional information. For example, the configuration information of the virtual network, that is, information regarding the resources of the transmission device 103e and the transmission device 103c may be included.

  In S709, the mobile game machine 102a transmits network control software and game software to the transmission device 103e and the transmission device 103c. These softwares are necessary for operating the virtual network. The software may be provided directly from the mobile game machine, or the mobile game machine may simply notify the transmission device of the software download source. In the latter case, the transmission device (its virtual transmission device) that has received the notification downloads necessary software based on the notified information (for example, URL). In any case, the transmission device 103e and the transmission device 103c that have received the software install the game software in the game processing unit of the virtual transmission device 1101a that constitutes the virtual network, and the network control software in the network control unit. Install.

  As shown in S710, the virtual network by the virtual transmission device can be used by the above operation, and a game is played. When the game ends, the mobile game machine 102a transmits a virtual network release message (release message) to the management apparatus 104 (S711). The game can be stopped from any mobile game machine or forced from another node. The virtualization control unit of the management apparatus 104 that has received the virtual network release message transmits a resource release message to the transmission apparatus 103e and the transmission apparatus 103c (S712a, S712b). As a result, the resources that have been used are released and reflected in the resource management table. Specifically, the management table managed as shown in FIG. 10 is returned to the value shown in FIG. The transmission device 103e and the transmission device 103c that have received the resource release message release the secured resources, and the virtual transmission device 1101a disappears.

  FIG. 12 shows a state during the mobile online game in the present embodiment. This corresponds to the details of S710 in FIG. The game processing unit 1401 is a functional block that performs game processing for the mobile game machine 102a, and may be configured in an appropriate transmission device 103 in the network 101. Similarly, the game processing unit 1402 is a functional block that performs processing for the mobile game machine 102b, and may be configured in an appropriate transmission device 103 in the network 101. In the above example, it may be considered that the game processing unit 1401 is prepared in 103e and the game processing unit 1402 is prepared in 103c (or vice versa).

  First, the game processing unit 1401 and the game processing unit 1402 generate an initial frame (screen) of the game (S1401a to S1401b). At this time, both frames are synchronized (that is, the same screen).

  In S1402a, the game processing unit 1401 transmits the initial frame as streaming data to the mobile game machine 102a. Similarly, the game processing unit 1402 transmits the initial frame as streaming data to the mobile game machine 102b (S1402b).

  In S1403a, the mobile game machine 102a displays the received streaming data on the screen, and the user views the screen. The user operates the game using a controller or the like provided in the mobile game machine 102b. Input information such as a controller is transmitted to the game processing unit 1401 as control information. Similarly, control information of the mobile game machine 102a is transmitted to the game processing unit 1402 (S1403b).

  In S1404a, our game processing unit 1401 transfers the control information received from our mobile game machine 102a to the opponent game processing unit 1402. Similarly, the opponent game processing unit 1402 transfers the control information received from the opponent mobile game machine 102b to our game processing unit 1401 (S1404b).

  In S1405a, the game processing unit 1401 generates the next frame using the control information from the mobile game machine 102a and the control information from the mobile game machine 102b. Similarly, the game processing unit 1402 generates the next frame using the control information from the mobile game machine 102a and the control information from the mobile game machine 102b (S1405b). Since the game processing units 1401 and 1402 respectively obtain control information derived from the same frame, the frame generated in S1405a and the frame generated in S1405b are also synchronized. By repeating such an operation, frames are sequentially generated and the game progresses.

  If the S1404b control information (control information from the other party to us or vice versa) does not arrive before the next frame is generated in S1405a, the resulting frame is not synchronized and meaningful. You will not be able to continue the game. That is, the time interval for generating frames is a limitation on the delay time in the online game. Therefore, the transmission time from the game processing unit to the game machine (S1402a), the transmission time from the game machine to the game processing unit (S1403a), and the transmission time from one of the game processing units to the other (S1404a) Must be shorter than the frame interval. According to the present embodiment, communication paths and resource allocation can be determined easily and quickly so as to satisfy such a condition.

  By performing the operation as described above, there is an effect that a virtual network satisfying the quality required by the online game can be realized with a minimum amount of resources. Further, by changing the quality request message, a virtual network that satisfies various requirements can be configured, and high versatility can be realized. For example, many resources can be allocated to online games that require high quality, but a small amount of resources can be allocated to online games that do not require very high quality, and network costs can be reduced. In addition, game processing can be placed on an arbitrary transmission device, and resource consumption can be reduced and delay time can be reduced, for example, by shortening the transmission section of streaming data.

<Resource calculation method>
Next, a method for calculating resources necessary to satisfy the quality indicated by the quality request message in S704 of FIG. 8 will be described. In S704, it is desirable to calculate a combination that minimizes resource consumption among candidates that satisfy the required quality. This may be achieved by searching all combinations of each resource with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6 and selecting the optimum one. Such a brute force method may be easily calculated in a very simple small network such as this operation example. However, even if it is applied to a large-scale network such as the Internet, the amount of calculation becomes enormous, so this is not a realistic solution. Therefore, a device may be devised to obtain an approximate optimum solution using the following method.

  In the first method, first, the shortest path between mobile game machines is specified using FIG. For example, there is a Dijkstra's Algorithm for obtaining the shortest path. Next, resources are secured so that a game processing unit is prepared by the transmission device closest to each mobile game machine on the shortest path. In the present embodiment, the transmission device 103e and the transmission device 103c exist on the shortest path between the users 102a and 102b. The transmission device closest to the mobile game machine 102a is 103e, and the transmission device closest to the mobile game machine 102b is 103c. Therefore, the resource for the mobile game machine 102a is secured in the transmission device 103e, and the resource for the mobile game machine 102b is secured in the transmission device 103c.

  In the second method, first, resources necessary for game processing can be secured, and the transmission device closest to each mobile game machine is specified (in this case, the route is not yet specified). Then, the shortest path is found on the condition that it passes through the specified transmission device. Therefore, this shortest path is a conditional shortest path that includes the above-identified transmission apparatus. In the present embodiment, the transmission device closest to the mobile game machine 102a is 103e, and the transmission device closest to the mobile game machine 102b is 103c. The shortest path that passes through the transmission apparatus 103e and the transmission apparatus 103c is a path that includes only the transmission apparatus 103e and the transmission apparatus 103c. Therefore, the resource for the mobile game machine 102a is secured in the transmission device 103e, and the resource for the mobile game machine 102b is secured in the transmission device 103c. In the above example, the shortest path with conditions and the shortest path without conditions happen to be the same.

  By using such a method, it is possible to calculate necessary resources with a small amount of calculation even in a large-scale network. The resource calculation method is not limited to these, and any appropriate method may be used.

(Second embodiment)
In the second embodiment of the present invention, a virtual network for another set of mobile game machines to play an online game while the set of mobile game machines is playing an online game in the first embodiment. Is built.

  FIG. 13 shows a communication system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 13, the communication system 1500 includes two mobile game machines 1501a and 1501b in addition to the two mobile game machines 102a and 102b that have already played a game.

  The processing procedure itself of each mobile online game is the same as that described in FIG. The configuration of the transmission apparatus 103 according to this embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment.

  The management device is almost the same as that already described, and has the same function, but the management device according to the present embodiment has a function of the management control unit 401 compared to the management device according to the first embodiment. Slightly different. In other words, the management control unit 401 of the management apparatus according to the present embodiment is a case where one or more virtual networks have already been constructed, and when a new quality request message is further received, the new quality request It is confirmed whether resources necessary to satisfy the quality indicated by the message can be secured only with unused resources. If necessary resources cannot be secured with only unused resources, the management device secures resources required for a new quality request message by changing the resource allocation of the already constructed virtual network. It works as follows. At this time, the already constructed virtual network is considered so as to satisfy the required quality even after the allocated resources are changed.

  Subsequently, operations of the transmission apparatus and the management apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described. In the present embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the transmission device 103 is divided into a plurality of virtual transmission devices by a virtualization technique. In an initial state (a state in which nothing is used), one virtual transmission device 702a is prepared as shown in FIG. The virtual transmission device 702a has been assigned resources so as to construct the network control unit 704a. The network control unit 704a communicates with a virtual transmission device for controlling other transmission devices and a management device. The network control unit 704a holds the same network control software as the virtual transmission device and the management device for controlling other transmission devices.

  FIG. 14 shows an operation example in the second embodiment. In this operation example, the mobile game machine 102a and the mobile game machine 102b are connected to an online game using a virtual network (first virtual network) configured by the management device 103e and the management device 103c as in the first embodiment. It is carried out. In this state, a new virtual network (second virtual network) is constructed in order for the mobile game machine 1501a and the mobile game machine 1501b to newly start an online game.

  When the first virtual network is configured, the transmission device 103e and the transmission device 103c constitute a virtual transmission device as shown in FIG. Further, the resource management table held by the management information storage unit 402 of the management apparatus 104 is in a state as shown in FIG. The mobile game machine 102a and the mobile game machine 102b are playing an online game using the first virtual network (S1601).

  In S1602, since the mobile game machine 1501a newly plays an online game with the mobile game machine 1501b, the mobile game machine 1501a transmits a quality request message to the management apparatus 104.

  FIG. 15 shows an example of the quality request message transmitted by the new mobile game machine 1501a. In general, as with the quality request message transmitted by the mobile game machine 102a (FIG. 9), its own ID, communication partner ID, upper limit of delay time, required bandwidth, processing capacity required for game processing, and storage The capacity is included. However, the quality request message in FIG. 15 has a stricter requirement for delay than the quality request message (FIG. 9) when the first virtual network is configured. The numerical unit shown in FIGS. 9 and 15 may be any appropriate unit, but in this description, “delay” means that the smaller the number, the shorter the delay time. “Bandwidth” means a wider band as the number increases. “Processing capacity” means higher processing stress as the number increases. The “storage capacity” also means that the larger the number, the larger the storage capacity.

  In S1603 of FIG. 14, the resource management table in which the management control unit 401 of the management apparatus 104 that has received the new quality request message stores resources necessary for satisfying the quality indicated by the quality request message in the management information unit. Calculate with reference to FIG.

  If the content is as shown in FIG. 15, in preparation for data transmission of the online game, the link between the transmission device 103e and the transmission device 103a, the link between the transmission device 103a and the transmission device 103d, the transmission device 103d and the transmission device The link between 103c is used and the transmission resources of the transmission apparatuses 103e and 103c are calculated by 5 (bandwidth), and the transmission resources of the transmission apparatuses 103a and 103d are calculated by 10 (bandwidth). It may be. Then, for the game processing of the mobile game machine 1501a, it may be calculated so that the processing resource of the transmission device 103a is 10 (processing capacity) and the storage resource is 10 (storage capacity). Similarly, for the game processing of the mobile game machine 1501b, it may be calculated so that the processing resource of the transmission device 103d is 10 (processing capability) and the storage resource is 10 (storage capacity).

Transmission device 103e
Transmission resources: 5
Transmission device 103a
Transmission resources: 10
Processing resources for 1501a: 10
Storage resources for 1501a: 10
Transmission device 103d
Transmission resources: 10
Processing resources for 1501b: 10
Storage resources for 1501b: 10
Transmission device 103c
Transmission resource: 5.

  It is verified with reference to FIG. 6 whether these resource allocations satisfy the delay condition (FIG. 15) specified by the new quality request message. However, since the delay time is taken into consideration in the network 101, the delay time between the mobile game machine and the transmission device in contact with the mobile game machine is not taken into consideration. In addition, since a game processing unit for performing game processing of the mobile game machine 1501a is prepared in the transmission device 103a (virtual transmission device), it is necessary to consider the delay in streaming transmission between the transmission device 103a and the transmission device 103e. is there. Similarly, since a game processing unit that performs game processing of the mobile game machine 1501b is prepared in the transmission device 103d, it is necessary to consider a delay in streaming transmission between the transmission device 103d and the transmission device 103c. Therefore, the delay that must be considered (the sum of S1402a, S1403a, and S1404a in FIG. 12) is 1 + 1 + 1 = 3. This does not satisfy the delay condition (the condition that the delay must be 1 or less) specified by the quality request message, and the second virtual network cannot be constructed as it is.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, it is verified whether the second virtual network (e-a-d-c) can be configured by changing the resource allocation of the first virtual network (e-c). That is, in the above example, an attempt was made to construct the second virtual network on the premise of the resource management table shown in FIG. 10, but the first and first are not based on the resource management table shown in FIG. An attempt is made to construct a second virtual network. In other words, the resource calculation table shown in FIG. 5 is used to try to calculate resources so that the first and second virtual networks are simultaneously constructed.

  For the first virtual network (c-e), 5 (bandwidth) of transmission resources of the transmission device 103e and the transmission device 103c are secured in preparation for online game data transmission. In preparation for game processing of the mobile game machine 1501a, 10 (processing capacity) processing resources and 10 (storage capacity) storage resources are secured for the transmission device 103e. In preparation for game processing of the mobile game machine 1501b, 10 (processing capacity) processing resources and 10 (storage capacity) storage resources are secured for the transmission device 103c. In this case, the delay is “1”, which satisfies the request for the new quality request message shown in FIG.

Transmission device 103e
Transmission resources: 5
Processing resources for 1501a: 10
Storage resources for 1501a: 10
Transmission device 103c
Transmission resources: 5
Processing resources for 1501b: 10
Storage resources for 1501b: 10.

  For the second virtual network (eadc), in preparation for online game data transmission, the link between the transmission device 103e and the transmission device 103a, the link between the transmission device 103a and the transmission device 103d, the transmission device 103d and the transmission device A link between 103c is used. The transmission resources of the transmission device 103e and the transmission device 103c are secured by 5 (bandwidth), and the transmission resource of the transmission device 103a and the transmission device 103d is secured by 10 (bandwidth). In preparation for game processing of the mobile game machine 102a, 10 (processing capacity) processing resources and 10 (storage capacity) storage resources are secured for the transmission device 103a. Similarly, in preparation for game processing of the mobile game machine 102b, 10 (processing capacity) processing resources and 10 (storage capacity) storage resources are secured for the transmission device 103d. In this case, the delay is “3” and satisfies the quality request message request (delay is 5 or less) in FIG.

Transmission device 103e
Transmission resources: 5
Transmission device 103a
Transmission resources: 10
Processing resources for 102a: 10
Storage resources for 102a: 10
Transmission device 103d
Transmission resources: 10
Processing resources for 102b: 10
Storage resources for 1021b: 10
Transmission device 103c
Transmission resource: 5.
In this way, the resources constituting both the first virtual network and the second virtual network are appropriately calculated (S1603 in FIG. 14).

  Next, for the first virtual network whose resource configuration is to be changed, the newly calculated resource is compared with the resource reserved in the current first virtual network so that the newly calculated resource is secured. To. Specifically, the management apparatus 104 transmits new resource allocation messages to the transmission apparatuses 103a and 103d (s1604a and s1604b).

  Upon receiving the resource allocation message, the virtualization control unit 201 of the transmission apparatuses 103a and 103d secures the resource specified by the resource allocation message and configures the virtual transmission apparatus (S1605a, S1605b). The game processing unit is realized by the reserved processing resources and accumulated resources. The network control unit is realized by reserved processing resources, storage resources, and transmission resources.

  In S1606, the management device 104 transmits an OK message to the mobile game machine 102a. This means that a virtual network of the quality requested by the mobile game machine 102a has been prepared separately, and the OK message may include virtual network configuration information.

  The mobile game machine 102a operates network control software and game software for the transmission devices (transmission device 103e, transmission device 103a, transmission device 103d, transmission device 103c) included in the communication path in order to operate a new virtual network. Send the wear. Upon receiving the software, the transmission device 103a and the transmission device 103d install the game software on the game processing unit of the virtual transmission device 1101a configuring the virtual network, and install the network control software on the network control unit. Since the transmission apparatus 103e and the transmission apparatus 103c have already installed the software, the redundant installation operation is not performed (however, the transmission apparatuses 103e and 103c may be installed again).

  In S1607a and S1607b, the management device 104 transmits a resource release message to the transmission devices 103e and 103c. The resource release message includes information on the resource to be released. Receiving the resource release message, the transmission devices 103e and 103c release the resources constituting the game processing unit. In the current example, the processing resources and storage resources of the transmission devices 103c, 103e are no longer used for the mobile game machines 102a, 102b, so the resources reserved for that purpose are released. Note that it is possible to continue the online game while changing the resources constituting the first virtual network in S1604a to S1607b.

  In S1608a and S1608b, a new second virtual network resource is secured. The management device transmits a resource allocation message to the transmission device 103e and the transmission device 103c. The resource allocation message includes the type and amount of resources to be secured in the transmission apparatus at the transmission destination. Further, the secured resources are decreased from the resource management table (S1609).

  In S1610a and S1610b, the virtualization control unit 201 of the transmission apparatuses 103e and 103c that have received the resource allocation message secures the resource specified by the resource allocation message and configures the virtual transmission apparatus. The game processing unit is realized by the secured processing resources and accumulated resources. The network control unit is realized by the secured processing resources, storage resources, and transmission resources. The virtual transmission device can communicate with virtual transmission devices of other transmission devices created by the resource allocation message, and constitutes a virtual network. In other words, the second virtual network is newly constituted by the virtual transmission devices of the transmission device 103e and the transmission device 103c.

  Next, the management apparatus 104 transmits an OK message to the mobile game machine 1501a (S1611). This means that a virtual network of the quality requested by the mobile game machine 1501a has been prepared. The OK message may include virtual network configuration information, that is, information configured by the transmission device 103e and the transmission device 103c.

  In S1612, the mobile game machine 1501a transmits network control software and game software to the transmission device 103e and the transmission device 103c in order to operate the virtual network. Upon receiving the software, the transmission device 103e and the transmission device 103c install the game software in the game processing unit of the virtual transmission device configuring the virtual network, and install the network control software in the network control unit.

  Through the above operation, the second virtual network configured by the virtual transmission device can be used, and an online game by the mobile game machine 1501a and the mobile game machine 1501b can be appropriately executed.

  In this way, when a mobile game machine newly plays an online game, even if there are not enough unused resources in the virtual network, it is possible to change the usage of the resources in use to meet the requirements of both old and new It becomes possible to prepare a new network.

<Resource calculation method>
In S1603 of FIG. 14, a method for calculating resources necessary to satisfy all the requirements of a plurality of quality request messages will be described. As in the case of the first embodiment, it is desirable to calculate the candidate that satisfies the required quality in S1603 so that the resource consumption is minimized. This can be realized by referring to the resource management table and the topology management table, searching all combinations of resources, and selecting the optimum one. Such a brute force method may be easily calculated in a very simple small network such as this operation example. However, even if it is applied to a large-scale network such as the Internet, the amount of calculation becomes enormous, so this is not a realistic solution. Therefore, a device may be devised to obtain an approximate optimum solution using the following method.

  First, the newly created virtual network and the existing virtual network are arranged in the order of strict requirements for delay (requiring a short delay time). Then, the allocation is performed in order from the resources for the virtual network where the demand for delay is severe.

  In the present embodiment, there is a strong request for the delay of the second virtual network (delay is 1 or less) with respect to FIG. 15, and the request for the delay of the first virtual network (delay is 5 or less) with respect to FIG. . Therefore, first, resources for the second virtual network related to FIG. 15 are calculated. That is, the second virtual network is configured by a path including the transmission devices 103e and 103c, and 5 (bandwidth) of transmission resources of the transmission device 103e and the transmission device 103c are secured in preparation for online game data transmission. . In preparation for the game processing of the mobile game machines 1501a and 1501b, 10 (processing capacity) processing resources and 10 (storage capacity) storage resources are secured for the transmission devices 103e and 103c. Next, resources for the first virtual network are prepared from the remaining resources. In other words, the first virtual network is configured by the transmission devices 103e, 103a, 103d, and 103c. In preparation for online game data transmission, the link between the transmission device 103e and the transmission device 103a, and between the transmission device 103a and the transmission device 103d. The link between the transmission device 103d and the transmission device 103c is used. The transmission resources of the transmission device 103e and the transmission device 103c are secured by 5 (bandwidth), and the transmission resource of the transmission device 103a and the transmission device 103d is secured by 10 (bandwidth). For the game processing of the mobile game machines 102a and 102b, 10 (processing capacity) processing resources and 10 (storage capacity) storage resources are secured for the transmission devices 103a and 103d. Note that the first method and the second method in the first embodiment may be used as the calculation method of the resources of each virtual network.

  As described above, the resources of all the transmission apparatuses under the management apparatus are managed by the management apparatus, and the total resources are adaptively distributed and redistributed to the transmission apparatuses as necessary. This makes it possible to calculate necessary resources with a small amount of calculation even when the number of virtual networks is large or a large-scale network, and various communication links can be established flexibly as needed.

  Although the present invention has been described above with reference to specific embodiments, each embodiment is merely illustrative, and those skilled in the art will appreciate various variations, modifications, alternatives, substitutions, and the like. Let's go. For example, communication between mobile game machines has been described, but this is merely for the sake of simplicity and convenience, and the present invention is not limited to game applications. The present invention may be used for any appropriate application that uses a virtualization technology in a network including a transmission device that performs signal processing for a user. However, it is particularly advantageous for game use to be able to deal with various quality requirements flexibly while acting on the user's side. Although specific numerical examples have been described in order to facilitate understanding of the invention, these numerical values are merely examples and any appropriate values may be used unless otherwise specified. Although specific mathematical formulas have been described to facilitate understanding of the invention, these mathematical formulas are merely examples, unless otherwise specified, and any appropriate mathematical formula may be used. The division of each embodiment is not essential to the present invention, and two or more embodiments may be used as necessary. For convenience of explanation, an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention has been described using a functional block diagram. However, such an apparatus may be realized by hardware, software, or a combination thereof. The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications, modifications, alternatives, substitutions, and the like are included in the present invention without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the communication system by 1st embodiment of this invention. The functional block diagram of the transmission apparatus used with a communication system is shown. It is a figure which shows the hardware constitutions of a transmission apparatus and a management apparatus. The functional block diagram of the management apparatus used with a communication system is shown. It is a figure which shows an example of the resource management table managed with a management apparatus. It is a figure which shows an example of the topology management table managed by the management apparatus. The functional block diagram which shows the initial state of a transmission apparatus is shown. It is a sequence diagram which shows the operation example of 1st embodiment. It is a figure which shows the information item contained in a quality request message. It is a figure which shows a mode after the resource management table is updated. It is a figure which shows a mode that the virtual transmission apparatus was prepared for the transmission apparatus which was the initial state. It is a figure which shows the operation example in an online game. It is a figure which shows the structure of the communication system by 2nd embodiment of this invention. It is a sequence diagram which shows the operation example of 2nd embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of the information item contained in another quality request message.

Explanation of symbols

100 communication system
101 network
102a, 102b Mobile game console
103a, 103b, 103c, 103d, 103e Transmission equipment
104 Management device
201a-201c Virtualization control unit
202a to 202c virtual transmission equipment
203a-203c Game processing part
204a to 204c Network control unit
301 processing resources
302 Accumulated resources
303 Transmission resources
401 Management control unit
402 Management information storage
403 Network controller
702a Network control unit
703 Game processor
704a Network control unit
1101a Virtual transmission equipment
1501a, 1501b Mobile game console

Claims (10)

A management device that manages resources of a plurality of transmission devices that transmit and receive user communication signals, wherein at least one of the plurality of transmission devices is connected to a user terminal and communicates with a communication partner instead of the user terminal. The management device
In accordance with the quality request message from the user terminal, a determination unit that determines a communication path and the amount of resources used in each of the plurality of transmission apparatuses included in the communication path;
A communication unit for transmitting a resource allocation message indicating the determined amount of resources to each of the plurality of transmission devices;
Each of the plurality of transmission devices has a resource corresponding to the amount indicated by the resource allocation message in a software execution unit that can be logically divided into a plurality of virtual transmission devices. Prepare
A management device in which software designated by the user is installed in a virtual transmission device prepared in the software execution unit.   The management device according to claim 1, wherein the communication signal of the user terminal is a signal for forming an online game screen.   The management according to claim 2, wherein the determination unit determines which transmission device a virtual transmission device should be prepared with a game processing unit that repeatedly prepares a signal for forming the online game screen. apparatus.   The management device according to claim 3, wherein the determination unit determines a plurality of transmission devices based on communication quality specified in the quality request message and a network topology of the plurality of transmission devices. In response to a quality request message from a user terminal different from the user terminal, the determination unit determines a plurality of transmission devices that transmit and receive communication signals of the other user terminal,
The management apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a resource allocation message different from the resource allocation message is transmitted to each of the determined plurality of transmission apparatuses.   The management apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the quality request message specifies at least the identity information of the user terminal, the allowable delay time, and the required storage capacity.   The management apparatus according to claim 6, wherein allocation of communication paths and resources is determined in order of shortest allowable delay time among a plurality of quality request messages. A transmission device that is used in a communication system to transmit and receive user communication signals, is connected to a user terminal, and communicates with a communication partner instead of the user terminal,
A software execution unit that can be logically divided into a plurality of virtual transmission devices;
A virtualization control unit for preparing in the software execution unit a virtual transmission device having resources according to the amount indicated in the resource allocation message;
And the software designated by the user is installed in the virtual transmission device prepared in the software execution unit,
The resources of the transmission device are managed by a management device in the communication system,
According to the quality request message from the user terminal, a communication path and the amount of resources used in each of the plurality of transmission apparatuses included in the communication path are determined, and a resource allocation message indicating the determined resource amount is transmitted to each transmission apparatus. A transmission device designed to transmit to A plurality of transmission devices that transmit and receive user communication signals; and a management device that manages resources of the plurality of transmission devices. At least one of the plurality of transmission devices is connected to a user terminal, and the user A communication system configured to communicate with a communication partner instead of a terminal, wherein the management device includes:
In accordance with the quality request message from the user terminal, a determination unit that determines a communication path and the amount of resources used in each of the plurality of transmission apparatuses included in the communication path;
A communication unit for transmitting a resource allocation message indicating the determined amount of resources to each of the plurality of transmission devices;
Each of the plurality of transmission devices includes:
A software execution unit that can be logically divided into a plurality of virtual transmission devices;
A virtualization control unit that prepares in the software execution unit a virtual transmission device having a resource corresponding to the amount indicated in the resource allocation message;
A communication system in which software designated by the user is installed in a virtual transmission device prepared in the software execution unit. A plurality of transmission devices that transmit and receive user communication signals; and a management device that manages resources of the plurality of transmission devices. At least one of the plurality of transmission devices is connected to a user terminal, and the user This is a method used in a communication system that communicates with a communication partner instead of a terminal, and each of the plurality of transmission devices has a software execution unit that can be logically divided into a plurality of virtual transmission devices. And
In accordance with the quality request message from the user terminal, the management device determines the communication path and the amount of resources used in each of the plurality of transmission devices included in the communication path;
Transmitting a resource allocation message indicating the determined amount of resources to each of the plurality of transmission devices;
Preparing a virtual transmission device having resources according to the amount indicated in the resource allocation message in the software execution unit;
And the software designated by the user is installed in the virtual transmission device prepared in the software execution unit.

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