JP2012249021A - System, method and program for communication control between terminals - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide communication fully utilizing both a merit of peer-to-peer communication and a merit of communication using a relay server.SOLUTION: To establish communication with a user terminal 10, a support terminal 20 requests a relay server 100 for concentrated communication that communicates through a predetermined relay server, and simultaneously, to establish communication with the user terminal 10, the support terminal 20 requests a user terminal 10 for distributed peer-to-peer communication between user terminals 10. If the communication by the concentrated communication is established earlier than the communication by the distribution communication, communication is started using the established concentrated communication, and thereafter, the communication by the distributed communication is established, so that the concentrated communication is switched to the distributed communication at predetermined timing.

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication control system, a communication control method, and a communication control program for controlling communication of terminals connected via a public network.

  In recent years, various services are provided to users by connecting a mobile terminal connected to a public network to a Web server or the like. In particular, with the advent of smartphones (high-function mobile phones), it has become possible to perform advanced services that have been provided for personal computers with mobile phones.

  Therefore, in order to make full use of such advanced Web services and advanced functions of the smartphone, the user needs to be familiar with setting operations and functions for the smartphone. In addition, when a user unfamiliar with the operation makes the first setting on the terminal, the setting information that should not be deleted may be deleted or an inappropriate setting may cause an error. Many.

  For such a problem, a method is known in which a user's terminal is remotely operated from the system to remotely set the user's terminal, repair a failure, or guide the user. . For example, Patent Literature 1 and Patent Literature 2 disclose that screen information of each client to be supported is acquired on the server side, and this screen information is displayed on the server to realize remote operation.

JP 2011-018333 A JP 2010-268497 A

  Here, the user who desires the remote support desires an early remote login from the support person to his / her terminal, and desires the setting to the terminal and the repair of the failure. As communication from the support terminal to the user terminal, there are assumed two methods of peer-to-peer communication which is one-to-one communication and communication performed via a relay device such as a relay server.

  In peer-to-peer communication, since a support terminal and a user terminal are directly connected, it may take time until the support terminal authenticates the user terminal and establishes communication. Therefore, in general, it takes more time to establish communication than to establish communication using a relay server. On the other hand, when a relay server is used, the time to establish communication is shorter than that of peer-to-peer communication, but the load on the relay server increases because many user terminals and support terminals are connected. End up.

  In view of such problems, the present invention provides a communication control system, a communication control method, and a program that take advantage of both of the merits of peer-to-peer communication and the merits of communication using a relay server. Objective.

  The present invention provides the following solutions.

  The invention according to the first feature is a communication control system for controlling a communication method between terminals, wherein a first terminal (for example, support terminal 20) establishes communication with a second terminal (for example, user terminal 10). In order to establish a communication with the second terminal, the central communication start module for requesting the relay server to perform the centralized communication that communicates via a predetermined relay server, the first terminal When the establishment of communication by the centralized communication is earlier than the establishment of communication by the distributed communication, the distributed communication start module for requesting the second terminal one-to-one distributed communication with the second terminal, A communication system that starts communication by the established centralized communication and then establishes the communication by the distributed communication when the distributed communication is established, and switches from the centralized communication to the distributed communication at a predetermined timing. It provides a communication control system comprising a module.

  According to the first aspect of the invention, there is provided a communication control system that controls a communication method between terminals, and the first terminal communicates via a predetermined relay server in order to establish communication with the second terminal. The first terminal requests the second terminal to perform one-to-one distributed communication between the first terminal and the second terminal in order to request the centralized communication to be performed from the relay server. If the establishment of communication by centralized communication is earlier than the establishment of communication by distributed communication, communication is started by the established centralized communication, and then communication by distributed communication is established when distributed communication is established. The centralized communication is switched to the distributed communication at a predetermined timing.

  Therefore, when connecting between terminals, it is possible to take advantage of both the advantages of one-to-one communication between terminals, which has a low load, and the advantage of communication using a relay server that has a high speed of communication establishment. is there.

  The invention according to the first feature exhibits the same operation and effect not only in the system in the category of the invention but also in the method and the program.

  The invention according to a second feature is the invention according to the first feature, wherein the communication control module disconnects the centralized communication after a predetermined time elapses after the distributed communication is established.

The invention according to the third feature is a communication control system for controlling a communication method between terminals,
A centralized communication start module for requesting the relay server to perform centralized communication for communication via a predetermined relay server in order for the first terminal to establish communication with the second terminal;
In order for the first terminal to establish communication with the second terminal, a distributed communication start module that requests the second terminal for one-to-one distributed communication between the first terminal and the second terminal;
A communication disconnecting module for starting communication by the established distributed communication and canceling the communication request for the centralized communication when establishment of communication by the centralized communication is slower than establishment of the distributed communication. Control system.

  According to the third aspect of the invention, in order for the first terminal to establish communication with the second terminal, the relay server requests centralized communication for communication via a predetermined relay server, and the first terminal In order for the terminal to establish communication with the second terminal, the first terminal and the second terminal request one-to-one distributed communication to the second terminal. If the establishment of communication by centralized communication is slower than the establishment of distributed communication, communication is started by the established distributed communication, and the communication request for centralized communication is stopped. Therefore, when the distributed communication is established first, it is possible to cancel the centralized communication connection in advance.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a communication control system, a communication control method, and a program that take advantage of both the merits of peer-to-peer communication and the merits of communication using a relay server.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a remote communication system 1. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the support terminal 20, the user terminal 10, and the relay server 100. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing communication control processing executed by the support terminal 20, the user terminal 10, and the relay server 100. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing communication stop processing executed by the support terminal 20, the user terminal 10, and the relay server 100. FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a screen display example of the support terminal 20 and the user terminal 10.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. This is merely an example, and the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to this.

[System configuration]
FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a remote communication system 1 which is a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The remote communication system 1 includes user terminals 10 a and 10 b (hereinafter simply referred to as “10”), a relay server 100, a public network 3 (Internet network, third generation, fourth generation communication network, etc.), and a support terminal 20. Composed.

  The user terminal 10 is communicably connected to the relay server 100 via the public line network 3. The relay server 100 and the support terminal 20 may be connected via a LAN (Local Area Network) or may be connected via the public line network 3. The communication in the remote communication system 1 may be wireless communication or wired communication. In order for the user terminal 10 to connect to the public line network 3, communication may be possible via a network device 50 such as a router.

  The user terminal 10 may be a general information terminal used by a user, and is an information device or an electrical appliance having functions to be described later. The user terminal 10 may be an information home appliance such as a personal computer 10a, a smartphone 10b, a netbook terminal, a slate terminal, an electronic book terminal, an electronic dictionary terminal, and a small multimedia terminal.

  The support terminal 20 is a general information terminal used by a support person who operates the user terminal 10 remotely.

[Description of each function]
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the functional blocks of the support terminal 20, the relay server 100, and the user terminal 10 and the relationship between the functions.

  The user terminal 10 and the support terminal 20 include, as control devices 11 and 21, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and the like, and as the data communication devices 13 and 23, for example, It includes a WiFi (Wireless Fidelity) compatible device compliant with IEEE 802.11, a wireless device compliant with IMT-2000 standards such as a third generation mobile communication system, etc. (may be wired LAN connection).

  Furthermore, the user terminal 10 and the support terminal 20 include, as input / output devices 14 and 24, a display device that outputs and displays data and images controlled by the control device, a touch panel, a keyboard, a mouse, and the like that accept input from the user or supporter. Is provided. In addition, the user terminal 10 and the support terminal 20 include data storage devices such as hard disks and semiconductor memories as the data storage devices 12 and 22.

  In the user terminal 10 and the support terminal 20, the control devices 11 and 21 read predetermined programs, applications, and libraries to realize remote support applications 15 and 25 in cooperation with other devices. The relay modules 16 and 26 and the peer-to-peer modules 17 and 27 are realized as functions that cooperate with 15 and 25. Specific functions of each module will be described with reference to FIG.

  The relay server 100 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and the like as the control device 101, and a LAN (Local Area) compliant with, for example, IEEE 802 as the data communication device 103. Network) compatible device. In addition, the relay server 100 includes a data storage device such as a hard disk or a semiconductor memory as the data storage device 102.

  When the control device 101 of the relay server 100 reads a predetermined program, application, and library, the remote support application 105 is realized in cooperation with the data communication device 103 and the data storage device 102, and the remote support application 105 is linked. As a function to perform, the relay module 106 is realized. The function of each module will be described with reference to FIG.

[Communication control processing]
FIG. 3 is a flowchart of communication control processing executed by the support terminal 20, the user terminal 10, and the relay server 100.

  First, the support terminal 20 receives a communication start request from a supporter. When the communication start request is received (step S01), the peer-to-peer module 27 and the relay module 26 are activated. The relay module 26 requests relay communication from the relay module 106 of the relay server 100 (R01). On the other hand, the peer to peer module 27 requests peer to peer communication from the peer to peer module 17 of the user terminal 10.

  Note that the support terminal 20 stores data (telephone number, IP address, MAC address, user ID, etc.) specifying the user terminal 10 that is a communication partner when this request is transmitted, or is stored in advance by the supporter's instruction. Specify from the address book. In the case of relay communication, data specifying this user terminal 10 is transmitted from the support terminal 20 to the relay server 100.

  The relay communication is communication performed via the relay server 100 when a plurality of terminals perform communication. That is, communication is not directly established between terminals, one terminal establishes communication with the relay server 100, and the other terminal establishes communication with the relay server 100, and the data contents are This is a communication method that is transmitted and received between terminals via the relay server 100. Since communication is concentrated on the relay server 100, this communication is referred to as centralized communication.

  Peer-to-peer communication is a communication method in which communication is directly established between terminals that perform communication. Of peer-to-peer communication, one-to-one type communication that performs communication between equivalent terminals may be employed. Here, the direct communication between the user terminal 10 equivalent to the support terminal 20 is referred to as peer-to-peer communication. In peer-to-peer communication, since each terminal communicates individually, communication is performed in a distributed manner. Therefore, this communication is referred to as distributed communication.

  Next, the relay server 100 receives a request for relay communication from the support terminal 20 and starts preparation for performing relay communication with the user terminal 10 (step S02). That is, the relay server 100 specifies the user terminal 10 that is the communication partner and requests relay communication from the user terminal 10 that is the partner (R02).

  The relay module 16 of the user terminal 10 makes a relay communication response to the relay server 100 in response to the relay communication request of the relay server 100 (R03).

  In parallel with this, the peer-to-peer module 17 of the user terminal 10 accepts the peer-to-peer communication request in response to the peer-to-peer communication request from the support terminal 20 (step S03), and starts preparation for peer-to-peer communication.

  Next, the relay server 100 receives the relay communication response (R03) of the user terminal 10, and confirms the start of relay communication for relaying between the support terminal 20 and the user terminal 10 (step S04). When the relay server 100 determines that the relay communication is ready, the relay server 100 sends a relay communication response to the relay module 26 of the support terminal 20 (R04).

  The relay module 26 of the support terminal 20 receives the relay communication response from the relay server 100 and starts relay communication (step S05). Thereby, the relay communication between the support terminal 20 and the user terminal 10 via the relay server 100 is established (R05). By establishing this communication, data can be transmitted and received between the support terminal 20 and the user terminal 10, and remote login and remote support by the support terminal 20 are started.

  On the other hand, when the peer-to-peer module 17 of the user terminal 10 is ready for peer-to-peer communication, the peer-to-peer communication response is transmitted to the support terminal 20 (P02). The peer-to-peer module 27 of the support terminal 20 that has received the response of the peer-to-peer communication starts peer-to-peer communication (step S06). Thereby, peer-to-peer communication between the support terminal 20 and the user terminal 10 is established (P03).

  Next, the peer-to-peer module 27 and the relay module 26 of the support terminal 20 and the relay module 16 and the peer-to-peer module 17 of the user terminal 10 perform a data transmission / reception path switching process (step S07). That is, data transmission / reception performed in relay communication is switched to data transmission / reception in peer-to-peer communication. After this switching is completed, the relay module 26 of the support terminal 20 and the relay module 16 of the user terminal 10 disconnect the relay communication (step S08).

  In this communication control process, it is assumed that peer-to-peer communication takes longer than relay communication. This processing becomes more effective as the time “T” from the establishment of the relay communication (R05) to the peer-to-peer communication (P03) becomes longer. That is, when only the peer-to-peer communication can be performed between the support terminal 20 and the user terminal 10, the user cannot receive the remote support until the establishment of the peer-to-peer communication (P03). However, if relay communication is used, this time can be advanced by “T”.

  However, it may be faster to establish peer-to-peer communication than to establish relay communication. The process at this time will be described with reference to the communication stop process in FIG.

[Communication stop processing]
The communication cancellation process will be described with reference to FIG. The communication cancellation process is the same as the above-described communication control process from step S01 to step S04 (including R01 to R03 and P01).

  The peer-to-peer module 17 of the user terminal 10 receives the request for peer-to-peer communication, starts preparation for peer-to-peer communication, and when the preparation is completed, sends a response of peer-to-peer communication to the peer-to-peer module 27 of the support terminal 20 (P02). In response to this, the peer-to-peer module 27 of the support terminal 20 starts peer-to-peer communication (step S06). Thus, peer-to-peer communication between the support terminal 20 and the user terminal 10 is established (P03).

  If the peer-to-peer communication is established earlier than the relay communication, it is not necessary to use the relay communication. At this time, the relay module 26 of the support terminal 20 determines to cancel the relay communication request ( Step S07). The relay module 26 of the support terminal 20 requests the relay server 100 to stop the relay communication (P04). The relay server 100 that has received this request stops the relay communication process (step S08).

  As a suitable application example of the above-described communication control process and communication stop process, as shown in FIG. 5, it can be applied to communication between a support terminal 20 realized by a personal computer or the like and a user terminal 10 realized by a smartphone or the like. In general, the support terminal 20 and the user terminal 10 such as a smartphone often have a higher connection speed in relay communication than in peer-to-peer communication. At this time, it is useful to immediately establish communication by relay communication and switch to peer-to-peer communication at a predetermined timing. As shown in FIG. 5, a message indicating switching may be displayed on the user terminal 10 at the timing when the communication is switched from the relay communication after the peer-to-peer communication is established.

  The means and functions described above are realized by a computer (including a CPU, an information processing apparatus, and various terminals) reading and executing a predetermined program. The program is provided in a form recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a flexible disk, CD (CD-ROM, etc.), DVD (DVD-ROM, DVD-RAM, etc.), for example. In this case, the computer reads the program from the recording medium, transfers it to the internal storage device or the external storage device, stores it, and executes it. The program may be recorded in advance in a storage device (recording medium) such as a magnetic disk, an optical disk, or a magneto-optical disk, and provided from the storage device to a computer via a communication line.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to these embodiment mentioned above. The effects described in the embodiments of the present invention are only the most preferable effects resulting from the present invention, and the effects of the present invention are limited to those described in the embodiments of the present invention. is not.

  1 remote communication system 3 public network 10 user terminal 20 support terminal 200 relay server

Claims (7)

A communication control system for controlling a communication method between terminals,
A centralized communication start module for requesting the relay server to perform centralized communication for communication via a predetermined relay server in order for the first terminal to establish communication with the second terminal;
In order for the first terminal to establish communication with the second terminal, a distributed communication start module that requests the second terminal for one-to-one distributed communication between the first terminal and the second terminal;
When establishment of communication by the centralized communication is earlier than establishment of communication by the distributed communication, communication is started by the established centralized communication, and then, when the distributed communication is established, A communication control system comprising: a communication control module that establishes communication and switches from centralized communication to distributed communication at a predetermined timing.   The communication control system according to claim 1, wherein the communication control module disconnects the centralized communication after a predetermined time has elapsed after the establishment of the distributed communication. A communication control system for controlling a communication method between terminals,
A centralized communication start module for requesting the relay server to perform centralized communication for communication via a predetermined relay server in order for the first terminal to establish communication with the second terminal;
In order for the first terminal to establish communication with the second terminal, a distributed communication start module that requests the second terminal for one-to-one distributed communication between the first terminal and the second terminal;
A communication disconnecting module for starting communication by the established distributed communication and canceling the communication request for the centralized communication when establishment of communication by the centralized communication is slower than establishment of the distributed communication. Control system. A communication control method for controlling a communication method between terminals,
Requesting the relay server for centralized communication to communicate via a predetermined relay server in order for the first terminal to establish communication with the second terminal;
Requesting the second terminal to perform distributed communication on a one-to-one basis between the first terminal and the second terminal in order for the first terminal to establish communication with the second terminal;
When establishment of communication by the centralized communication is earlier than establishment of communication by the distributed communication, communication is started by the established centralized communication, and then, when the distributed communication is established, Establishing communication and switching from centralized communication to distributed communication at a predetermined timing.   The communication control method according to claim 4, wherein in the controlling step, the centralized communication is disconnected after a predetermined time elapses after the distributed communication is established. A communication control method for controlling a communication method between terminals,
Requesting the relay server for centralized communication to communicate via a predetermined relay server in order for the first terminal to establish communication with the second terminal;
Requesting the second terminal to perform distributed communication on a one-to-one basis between the first terminal and the second terminal in order for the first terminal to establish communication with the second terminal;
A communication control method comprising: starting communication by the established distributed communication and canceling the communication request for the centralized communication when establishment of the communication by the centralized communication is slower than establishment of the distributed communication. . On the first terminal,
Requesting the relay server for centralized communication to communicate via a predetermined relay server in order to establish communication with the second terminal;
Requesting the second terminal for one-to-one distributed communication between the first terminal and the second terminal to establish communication with the second terminal;
When establishment of communication by the centralized communication is earlier than establishment of communication by the distributed communication, communication is started by the established centralized communication, and then, when the distributed communication is established, A communication control program for establishing communication and executing the step of switching from centralized communication to distributed communication at a predetermined timing.

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