JP2012008804A - Service provision device, service provision method and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a client device to automatically use a service by a network interface selected in accordance with the change of a communication state.SOLUTION: A service provision device includes: selection means for, when the transmission request of service information is received by reception means, selecting one network interface capable of performing communication via a network at a communication speed which is necessary for providing a service designated by service designation information to a client device from among a plurality of network interfaces based on the communication states of the network interfaces; and transmission means for transmitting the service information for enabling the client device to use the service to be executed by service execution means via the network interface selected by the selection means to the client device.

Description

  The present invention relates to a service providing apparatus, a service providing method, and a program.

Conventionally, a service providing apparatus fixes an installation location, secures a stable network connection via a single network interface, and provides a service to a client apparatus via a network.
However, in recent years, mobile devices have been improved in performance, and service providing devices such as media servers and WEB servers can be installed in mobile devices, and mobile service providing devices have appeared. In addition, mobile devices are equipped with a plurality of network interfaces in order to cope with diversification of access networks such as mobile communication. Therefore, a service providing apparatus that can move and has a plurality of network interfaces has appeared.
When a service providing apparatus having a plurality of network interfaces moves, the communication status such as connection availability and communication speed for each network interface changes. For each service or content to be provided, the service cannot be provided unless the necessary communication conditions are satisfied. Therefore, a function for continuing the service provision according to the change in the communication state is required of the service providing apparatus.
For example, Patent Document 1 proposes a technique for continuing service provision by changing the quality of content to be provided according to a change in communication state.

JP 2004-272563 A

However, in the method in which the service providing apparatus changes the content quality according to the communication state as in Patent Document 1, the client apparatus can continue to use the service but cannot receive the service of the originally desired quality. There's a problem.
In addition, even if the service providing apparatus and the client apparatus have other network interfaces that can ensure the service quality, there is a problem that it takes time to make settings for providing and using the service with the new network interface. .

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object of the present invention is to enable a client apparatus to automatically use a service through a network interface selected in accordance with a change in a communication state.

  Accordingly, the present invention provides a service providing apparatus having a plurality of network interfaces, a receiving means for receiving a service information transmission request including service designation information for designating a service from a client apparatus, and the receiving means When an information transmission request is received, it is necessary to provide the client device with a service designated by the service designation information out of the plurality of network interfaces based on a communication state of the plurality of network interfaces. Selection means for selecting one network interface capable of performing communication via a network at a communication speed, service execution means for executing a service designated by the service designation information, and the client device serving as the service execution means Run in Service information for making available through the network interface to the selected service by the selecting means and a transmission means for transmitting to said client device.

  According to the present invention, a client device can automatically make a service available through a network interface selected in accordance with a change in communication state.

It is a figure which shows an example of the system configuration of a network system, a functional configuration, and the hardware configuration of a service providing apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows an example of a service provision start process. It is a figure showing an example of network status information. It is a flowchart which shows an example of a service utilization start process. It is FIG. (1) which shows an example of the message sequence between a service provision apparatus and a client apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows an example of a service provision change process when a network state changes during service provision of a service provision apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows an example of a service use change process when the service information is transmitted from the service providing device while the client device is using the service. It is FIG. (2) which shows an example of the message sequence between a service provision apparatus and a client apparatus. FIG. 10 is a third diagram illustrating an example of a message sequence between the service providing apparatus and the client apparatus.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

<Embodiment 1>
FIG. 1A is a diagram illustrating an example of a system configuration of a network system.
The service providing apparatus 101 has a plurality of network interfaces and can provide a service to the client apparatus 102 via the network. The client device 102 is a device that can use the service provided by the service providing device 101 via a network. The network interface A103 is a network interface that connects the service providing apparatus 101 to the network via a mobile network. The network interface B104 is a network interface that connects the service providing apparatus 101 to the network via a wireless LAN. The network interface C105 is a network interface that connects the service providing apparatus 101 via a wired LAN. The service information request receiving unit 106 receives a service information request (request for service information) to the service providing apparatus 101 transmitted from the client apparatus 102. The service information request is an example of a service information transmission request. The network state information acquisition unit 107 acquires network state information (communication state information) such as communication enable / disable information and communication speed information from the network interface A103, network interface B104, and network interface C105. The speed condition calculation unit 108 is a calculation unit that can hold a condition of a communication speed at which a service can be provided or can calculate a condition according to an internal state.

The interface selection unit 109 selects, from the plurality of network interfaces, one network interface that can provide the service requested by the client apparatus 102 based on the communication states of the plurality of network interfaces. More specifically, the interface selection unit 109 selects a network interface from the network state information held by the network state information acquisition unit 107 and the minimum communication speed held by the speed condition calculation unit 108. The service execution unit 110 executes the service provision of the type specified by the information received by the service information request reception unit 106 via the network interface selected by the interface selection unit 109. The service information transmission unit 111 transmits, to the client device 102, service information for making the service executed by the service execution unit 110 available to the client device 102 via the network interface selected by the interface selection unit 109. Here, the service information is more specifically, for example, connection destination information (network location or network identifier) for the client device 102 to use the service.
The service providing apparatus 101 can receive a service information request from any one of the network interface A 103, the network interface B 104, and the network interface C 105. Further, the service providing apparatus 101 can transmit service information from any one of the network interface A103, the network interface B104, and the network interface C105.
Note that the description has been given by taking three network interfaces as an example of the network interface that the service providing apparatus 101 has, but this does not limit the present embodiment. The same applies to the following.

FIG. 1B is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the service providing apparatus 101.
The CPU 201 executes processing based on the program stored in the storage device 202, thereby realizing the functions 106 to 111 shown in FIG. Further, when the CPU 201 executes a process based on a program stored in the storage device 202, a process according to a flowchart of the service providing apparatus 101 described later is realized.
In addition to the program, the storage device 202 stores information or data used when the CPU 201 executes processing based on the program.
The client device 102 also has a CPU, a storage device, and a network interface as a hardware configuration. When the CPU of the client device 102 executes the processing based on the program stored in the storage device of the client device 102, the processing according to the flowchart of the client device 102 is realized. In the case of the client device 102, the hardware configuration may further include a display device such as a display and an input device such as a keyboard and a mouse.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the service provision start process.
In step S <b> 201, the service information request receiving unit 106 waits for reception of a service information request from the client device 102.
In step S <b> 202, the speed condition calculation unit 108 calculates the minimum communication speed necessary for providing the type of service specified by the service designation information included in the service information request received by the service information request reception unit 106. In the following, for the sake of simplicity of explanation, it is assumed that the minimum communication speed for each service is set in advance and held in the storage device 202 or the like. More specifically, the type of service held in the storage device 202 and the minimum communication speed are, for example,
Video streaming: 12Mbps
Video download: No rules,
Still image slide: 1 Mbps
Still image download: No rules
Audio streaming: 0.2Mbps
Audio download: No regulation.
The speed condition calculation unit 108 acquires the minimum communication speed necessary for providing the type of service specified by the service information request received by the service information request receiving unit 106 from the storage device 202 or the like.
In S203, the network status information acquisition unit 107 acquires network status information of the network interface A103, the network interface B104, and the network interface C105. FIG. 3A is a diagram illustrating an example of network state information.
In step S204, the interface selection unit 109 determines whether the network interface that has received the service information request in step S201 has the minimum communication speed calculated in step S202, using the network state information acquired in step S203.

In S205, when it is determined in S204 that the communication speed is insufficient, the interface selection unit 109 determines whether there is any other network interface that satisfies the minimum communication speed from the network state information.
In S206, the interface selection unit 109 selects a network interface to be used for service provision from the network interfaces determined to satisfy the minimum communication speed in S205.
If it is determined in S204 that the network interface that has received the service information request satisfies the minimum communication speed, in S209, the interface selection unit 109 selects the network interface for service provision.
In S207, the service execution unit 110 starts providing a service using the network interface selected as the network interface that provides the service in S206 or S209.
In step S <b> 208, the service information transmission unit 111 generates service information for receiving provision of the service started in step S <b> 207 and transmits the service information to the client apparatus 102. When it is determined in S205 that there is no network interface having a sufficient speed, in S208, the service information transmission unit 111 creates service information indicating that the service cannot be provided and transmits the service information to the client apparatus 102.
For example, when the client device 102 has transmitted a service information request for a video streaming service, the service information transmission unit 111 includes, as service information,
Service type: Video streaming server Service URL: http://192.168.2.20/mediasever
Is transmitted to the client apparatus 102. For example, when the video streaming server requests authentication, the service information transmission unit 111 transmits the service information including the necessary information for authentication to the client device 102.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of service use start processing.
In step S <b> 301, the client apparatus 102 transmits a service information request for requesting service information of a service desired to be used to the service providing apparatus 101.
In S <b> 302, the client apparatus 102 is a process of waiting for service information reception waiting for service information from the service providing apparatus 101.
In step S303, the client apparatus 102 is a process for starting service use based on the information described in the service information received from the service providing apparatus 101 in step S302. If the service information indicating that the service cannot be provided is received, the client apparatus 102 does not start using the service in S303.
The service information request transmitted from the client apparatus 102 in S301 of FIG. 4 is received by the service providing apparatus 101 in S201 of FIG. Further, the service information transmitted from the service providing apparatus 101 in S208 of FIG. 2 is received by the client apparatus 102 in S302 of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a message sequence between the service providing apparatus 101 and the client apparatus 102.
A message M701 is a message requesting service information from the client apparatus 102 to the service providing apparatus 101 (service information request).
The message M702 is a message for transmitting service information from the service providing apparatus 101 to the client apparatus 102.
The message M703 is a message for using a service between the client apparatus 102 and the service providing apparatus 101.
In the example of FIG. 5, service information indicating that a service is provided by the network interface B 104 is transmitted in a message M702. The client apparatus 102 that has received the message M702 transmits a message M703 for using the service, for example, in order to use the video streaming service on the network interface B104.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a service provision change process when the network state changes while the service provision apparatus 101 provides a service.
In step S801, the network state information acquisition unit 107 acquires network state information of the network interface A103, the network interface B104, and the network interface C105.
In step S802, the interface selection unit 109 determines whether the network interface that is currently providing a service has a communication speed sufficient to provide the service.
If it is determined in S802 that the communication speed of the network interface currently providing the service is insufficient for service provision, in S803, the service execution unit 110 stops providing the service.

In step S804, the interface selection unit 109 determines whether there is a network interface having a communication speed sufficient for continuing service provision other than the network interface whose service is stopped in step S803.
If it is determined in S804 that there is a network interface capable of continuing service provision, in S805, the interface selection unit 109 determines which network interface to provide the service.
In step S806, the service execution unit 110 starts providing a service using the network interface selected in step S805.
In step S807, the service information transmission unit 111 generates service information of the service started in step S806. If it is determined in S804 that there is no network interface having a communication speed sufficient for service provision, in S809, the service information transmission unit 111 generates service information for service provision suspension.
In step S808, the service information transmission unit 111 transmits the service information generated in step S807 or S809 to the client apparatus 102.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a service use change process when service information is transmitted from the service providing apparatus 101 while the client apparatus 102 is using a service.
In step S <b> 901, the client apparatus 102 waits for service information reception from the service providing apparatus 101 while the service providing apparatus 101 is using the service.
In step S902, the client apparatus 102 determines whether the service information received in step S901 is service stop information.
If it is determined in S902 that the information is not service stoppage, in S903, the client apparatus 102 changes the process of using the service according to the service information received in S901.
If it is determined in step S902 that the service information is service stop information, in step S904, the client apparatus 102 stops processing for using the service.
In S901 of FIG. 7, the client apparatus 102 receives the service information transmitted from the service providing apparatus 101 in S808 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 3B is a diagram illustrating an example of network state information. FIG. 3B shows an example of network state information in which the network interface B104 that is providing a service falls below the minimum communication speed required for the moving image streaming service. In the case of the network state information of FIG. 3B, since there is no other network interface that can communicate and has a communication speed necessary for service continuation, service stop is selected in S809 of FIG.
In such a case, the service providing apparatus 101 has service information as
Service type: Video streaming server Service URL: http://192.168.2.20/mediasever
Status: Stop is transmitted to the client device 102.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a message sequence in the case where the communication speed is lowered and the service cannot be continued while using the moving image streaming service.
A message M1201 is a message regarding the use of a video streaming service between the network interface B104 of the service providing apparatus 101 and the client apparatus 102.
The message M1202 is a service stop message for service stoppage from the service providing apparatus 101 to the client apparatus 102. When the client apparatus 102 receives the message M1202 including service stop service information, the client apparatus 102 executes stop processing of the use of the video streaming service. In this example, service information for service stop is transmitted from the network interface B104. However, when the network interface B104 cannot communicate, it is transmitted from another network interface.

FIG. 3C is a diagram illustrating an example of network state information. FIG. 3C shows an example of network state information that allows the provision of the moving picture streaming service to be continued in the network interface A103, although the provision of the moving picture streaming service becomes impossible in the network interface B104. In the case of the network status information of FIG. 3C, since the service of the network interface A103 can be continued, service provision at the network interface A103 is started in S806 of FIG.
In such a case, the service providing apparatus 101 has service information as
Service type: Video streaming server Service URL: http://192.168.2.20/mediasever
Status: Service URL change Service URL (change): http://192.168.2.10/mediasever
Is transmitted to the client apparatus 102.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a message sequence in the case where the network state as illustrated in FIG. 3C is used while the moving image streaming service is used and the service is changed to the service provision at the network interface A103.
A message M1501 is a message regarding the use of a video streaming service between the network interface B104 of the service providing apparatus 101 and the client apparatus 102.
The message M1502 is a message in which the service information of the service provision change at the network interface A103 is transmitted from the service providing apparatus 101 to the client apparatus 102 as described above. When the client apparatus 102 receives the message M1502 which is service information of service provision change, the client apparatus 102 executes the change of the processing of the moving picture streaming service.
A message M1503 is a video streaming service use message between the network interface A103 of the service providing apparatus 101 and the client apparatus 102 after execution of the change process in the client apparatus 102.

<Other embodiments>
The present invention can also be realized by executing the following processing. That is, software (program) that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus via a network or various storage media, and a computer (or CPU, MPU, etc.) of the system or apparatus reads the program. It is a process to be executed.

  As described above, according to each of the above-described embodiments, the service can be automatically made available to the client device through the network interface selected according to the change in the communication state.

  The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, but the present invention is not limited to such specific embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the gist of the present invention described in the claims.・ Change is possible.

101 service providing apparatus 102 client apparatus

Claims (6)

A service providing apparatus having a plurality of network interfaces,
Receiving means for receiving a transmission request for service information including service designation information for designating a service from a client device;
When the transmission request for the service information is received by the receiving unit, a service specified by the service specification information among the plurality of network interfaces is transmitted to the client device based on a communication state of the plurality of network interfaces. A selection means for selecting one network interface capable of performing communication via a network at a communication speed necessary for providing;
Service execution means for executing a service specified by the service specification information;
Transmitting means for transmitting service information for enabling the client apparatus to use the service executed by the service executing means via the network interface selected by the selecting means;
A service providing apparatus.   When the reception unit receives the service information transmission request, the selection unit is configured so that the network interface is based on a communication state of the network interface used when receiving the service information transmission request. It is determined whether or not communication via a network can be performed at a communication speed necessary for providing the service specified by the specified information to the client device, and when it is determined that the network interface is selected, the network interface is selected. If it is determined that it is not possible, a network at a communication speed required to provide the client device with the service specified by the service specification information from a network interface different from the network interface among the plurality of network interfaces. Service providing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein selecting one of the network interfaces that can perform communication via the over click.   The selection means includes the communication speed required to provide a service specified by the service specification information and a communication state of the plurality of network interfaces, and the selection means The service providing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one network interface capable of performing communication via a network at a communication speed necessary for providing the client apparatus with a service specified by service specifying information is selected. The selection unit is configured such that the selected network interface is designated by the service designation information while the client device is using a service executed by the service execution unit via the selected one network interface. When the communication via the network cannot be performed at a communication speed necessary for providing the service to the client device, based on the communication state of the plurality of network interfaces, Re-selecting one network interface capable of performing communication via a network at a communication speed required to provide the client device with the service specified by the service specification information;
2. The transmission unit transmits the service information for enabling the client device to use the service executed by the service execution unit via the network interface selected by the selection unit. Service providing equipment. A service providing method executed by a service providing apparatus having a plurality of network interfaces,
A reception step of receiving a transmission request for service information including service designation information for designating a service from the client device;
When the transmission request for the service information is received in the reception step, a service specified by the service specification information among the plurality of network interfaces is transmitted to the client device based on a communication state of the plurality of network interfaces. A selection step of selecting one network interface capable of communicating over the network at a communication speed required to provide;
A service execution step for executing a service specified by the service specification information;
A transmission step of transmitting service information to the client device to make the service executed by the client device available in the service execution step through the network interface selected in the selection step;
A service providing method. For computers with multiple network interfaces,
A reception step of receiving a transmission request for service information including service designation information for designating a service from the client device;
When the transmission request for the service information is received in the reception step, a service specified by the service specification information among the plurality of network interfaces is transmitted to the client device based on a communication state of the plurality of network interfaces. A selection step of selecting one network interface capable of communicating over the network at a communication speed required to provide;
A service execution step for executing a service specified by the service specification information;
A transmission step of transmitting service information to the client device to make the service executed by the client device available in the service execution step through the network interface selected in the selection step;
A program that executes

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