JP2016042679A - Communication control method and communication control device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide best-effort communication services that maintain fairness of the services for small-traffic communication users and increase utilization efficiency of shared lines.SOLUTION: A communication control method allocates traffic to a plurality of users by distributing total traffic BT capable of communication using a line bandwidth B per prescribed control cycle T, and within the range of traffic allocated to each user, transfers, by a communication control unit, packets between each user and a relay network. A traffic management unit sets, as unit traffic, BT/(Mn) which is obtained by dividing the total traffic BT by M, where M is an integer of two or more, and further dividing the resultant value by the number of communicating users n, pays out one unit traffic to each communicating user at the start point of each control cycle T, and pays out one unit traffic from remaining unpaid traffic to each user on a first-come-first-served basis when the communication control unit requests additional payout of unit traffic to users.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for alleviating unfairness of service among end users in a so-called best-effort communication service.

  The best-effort communication service shares a single line with multiple end users (hereinafter simply referred to as users), and does not perform QoS (Quality of Service: quality assurance regarding communication speed or delay time) control for each user. It is a service. Instead, the best-effort communication service is provided at a lower cost than the guarantee-type communication service that guarantees the communication quality.

  In a normal best effort communication service, when a communication packet from a certain user is received and there is no available communication band, the accepted communication packet is discarded. Also, in the best effort type communication service, a user with a larger amount of communication has more opportunities for communication processing, which may cause unfairness among users. In particular, when a user who performs mass communication called a heavy user exists on the same line, it may be difficult for other users who share the line to communicate, and various countermeasures have been taken by each telecommunications carrier. (For example, refer nonpatent literature 1).

Japan Internet Providers Association, Telecommunications Carriers Association, Telecom Service Association, Japan Cable Television Federation, MVNO Council, “Guidelines on Bandwidth Control Operation Standards (Revised)”, revised March 2012, [online], [Heisei Search August 7, 26], Internet <URL: http://www.jaipa.or.jp/other/bandwidth/guidelines.pdf>

  Non-Patent Document 1 describes a total amount regulation method that makes it easy for other users to pass communication packets by measuring the traffic amount of individual users and limiting the user's bandwidth that exceeds a certain traffic amount. Has been. According to this method, it is possible to limit the traffic amount of a heavy user, but the following two problems remain.

  <Problem 1> Even if the traffic volume of a heavy user is limited, the chance that a user's packet with a large traffic volume is processed is still greater than the chance that a user's packet with only a small volume is processed. Therefore, the fairness of services for users with a small amount of communication cannot be maintained.

  <Problem 2> When the usage band of a heavy user is limited, if the communication volume of other users sharing the line is small, the vacant band is not used even though the band is actually vacant. As a result, the line utilization efficiency decreases.

  The present invention has been made to solve these problems, and is a best-effort communication capable of reducing the unused bandwidth and improving the use efficiency of the line while maintaining the fairness of the service for a small amount of communication users. The purpose is to provide services.

  In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a traffic management unit configured to provide a predetermined control cycle T in order to provide a best-effort communication service to a plurality of users who share a single line used for packet transfer. Each time, the total communication amount BT communicable with the bandwidth B of the line is distributed to the plurality of users and the communication amount is allocated, and the communication control unit is allocated to each of the plurality of users by the communication amount management unit. A communication control method for executing packet transfer via the line within the range of the traffic, wherein the traffic management unit divides the total traffic BT into M equal parts (M is an integer of 2 or more). BT / (Mn), which is a value obtained by dividing the value by the number of users n, which is the number of users in communication, is set as a unit communication amount, and each user in communication at the start time of each predetermined control period T The unit traffic is 1 Assigned and paid out one by one, when the communication control unit requests additional payout of the unit communication amount to the user in order to execute packet transfer exceeding the amount of communication paid out to each user in communication In addition, when the unpaid unit communication amount remains, the unpaid unit communication amount is paid out to the respective users on a first-come, first-served basis.

  In this way, even when a line is shared with a heavy user, the use efficiency of the line can be improved while giving a communication opportunity to a user with a small amount of communication.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, in the communication control method described above, the communication amount management unit may perform unit communication when the total amount of communication paid out to each user in the predetermined control period T exceeds BT / n. The amount of excess payout of the amount is counted up for each user, and the communication control unit requests additional payout of the unit communication amount to a user whose total amount of payout has not reached BT / n. When the number of times of excess payout has been maximized at that time, the payout of the unit communication amount paid out last is canceled and the payout destination of the unit communication amount is changed to the user who requested the additional payout. It was supposed to be changed.

  In this way, each user sharing a line can preferentially communicate up to the amount of communication when the bandwidth of the line is equally allocated to the users in communication. It is possible to improve the fairness of services for users with a small number of users.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, in the communication control method, when the number of users n, which is the number of users in communication, increases or decreases in the middle of the predetermined control period T, becomes n ′. The communication amount management unit changes the unit communication amount paid out after that time to BT / (Mn ′), and the unit communication amount paid out last for each user from BT / (Mn). It was supposed to be changed to BT / (Mn ′).

  By doing so, it is possible to follow the change in the number of users performing communication using the line with the amount of unit communication amount to be paid out and continue appropriate communication control.

  Another aspect of the present invention provides a policy / charging control function (PCRF) and policy / standardized by 3GPP for the cooperative operation between the traffic management unit and the communication control unit in the communication control method. The cooperation technology with the charging execution function (PCEF) is applied.

  In this way, the communication control method of the present invention can be realized by applying industry standard technology.

  In another aspect of the present invention, in order to provide a best-effort communication service to a plurality of users who share a single line used for packet transfer, communication is performed with the bandwidth B of the line every predetermined control period T. A traffic management unit that distributes the total possible traffic BT to the plurality of users and allocates the traffic, and the line within the range of the traffic allocated to each of the plurality of users by the traffic management unit. And a communication control unit that executes packet transfer via the network, wherein the communication amount management unit communicates a value obtained by dividing the total communication amount BT into M equal parts (M is an integer of 2 or more). BT / (Mn), which is a value divided by the number of users n, which is the number of users, is set as a unit communication amount, and the unit communication amount is transmitted to each user who is communicating at the start point of each predetermined control period T. One by one When the additional amount of the unit communication amount is requested to the user in order to perform packet transfer beyond the communication amount paid to each user during communication, the communication control unit, When the unpaid unit communication amount remains, the unpaid unit communication amount is paid out to the respective users on a first-come, first-served basis.

  In this way, even when a line is shared with a heavy user, the use efficiency of the line can be improved while giving a communication opportunity to a user with a small amount of communication.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, in the communication control device, the communication amount management unit may perform unit communication when the total amount of communication paid out to each user in the predetermined control period T exceeds BT / n. The amount of excess payout of the amount is counted up for each user, and the communication control unit requests additional payout of the unit communication amount to a user whose total amount of payout has not reached BT / n. When the number of times of excess payout has been maximized at that time, the payout of the unit communication amount paid out last is canceled and the payout destination of the unit communication amount is changed to the user who requested the additional payout. It was supposed to be changed.

  In this way, each user who shares a line can reliably communicate up to the amount of communication when the bandwidth of the line is evenly allocated to the communicating users. The fairness of services for a small number of users can be improved.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, in the communication control apparatus, when the number of users n, which is the number of users in communication, increases or decreases in the middle of the predetermined control cycle T, becomes n ′. The communication amount management unit changes the unit communication amount paid out after that time to BT / (Mn ′), and the unit communication amount paid out last for each user from BT / (Mn). It was supposed to be changed to BT / (Mn ′).

  By doing in this way, the magnitude of the unit communication amount to be paid out can be made to follow the change in the number of users performing communication using the line.

  In another aspect of the present invention, a policy / charging control function (PCRF) and policy / standardized by 3GPP are used for the cooperative operation between the traffic management unit and the communication control unit in the communication control device. The cooperation technology with the charging execution function (PCEF) is applied.

  In this way, the communication control method of the present invention can be realized by applying industry standard technology.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a best-effort type communication service that can maintain the fairness of a service for a small amount of communication users and can increase the use efficiency of a line by reducing unused bandwidth.

It is explanatory drawing which shows the connection structure of the communication control apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the operation principle of the best effort communication service which concerns on this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the operation example of the best effort communication service which concerns on this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the process for every control period of a traffic management part. It is a flowchart which shows the process about one user for every control period of a communication control part. It is an example of the communication sequence in the case of implementing the best effort communication service which concerns on this invention by applying a policy control technique. It is explanatory drawing which shows the operation example when a use user is added in the middle of a control period.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings as appropriate.
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a connection configuration of a communication control apparatus according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, a communication control device 1 according to the present invention is connected to a plurality of user terminals 3 via a communication port 4 and connected to a relay network 7 via a communication port 5 and a communication line 6. The control unit 20 includes a communication amount management unit 10 that is connected to the communication control unit 20. The communication control unit 20 and the communication volume management unit 10 may be mounted and operated in separate cases.

  The traffic management unit 10 manages the traffic allowed for each of a plurality of users sharing the communication line 6. The communication amount management method will be described later with reference to FIG. The communication control unit 20 executes communication by relaying a packet between each user terminal 3 and the relay network 7 within a range of communication amount permitted for each user by the communication amount management unit 10.

  The traffic management unit 10 includes a timer monitoring unit 11 in which each function is embodied by program control by a computer, a unit traffic setting unit 12, and a traffic payout unit 13. The timer monitoring unit 11 notifies the communication amount paying unit 13 of a timeout each time a time corresponding to a predetermined control cycle elapses, and the communication amount paying unit 13 uses the timeout notification as a trigger for the communication amount for each control cycle. Start payout operation. The unit communication amount setting unit 12 sets a unit communication amount as a unit of communication amount when the communication amount paying unit 13 pays out to each user.

  The communication control unit 20 includes a user monitoring unit 21 in which each function is embodied by program control by a computer, a communication amount control unit 22, and a communication execution unit 23. The user monitoring unit 21 monitors the number of users currently communicating (number of users) among users sharing the communication line 6 and notifies the traffic management unit 10 of increase / decrease in the number of users used. The communication amount control unit 22 monitors whether the communication amount of each user falls within the range of the communication amount (allowable communication amount) for each user paid out by the communication amount management unit 10, and the communication amount is the allowable communication. If it exceeds the amount, it requests the communication amount management unit 10 to pay out an additional unit communication amount. The communication execution unit 23 executes packet transfer between each user terminal 3 and the relay network 7 within the range of allowable communication amount for each user.

  FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the operating principle of the best effort communication service according to the present invention. In FIG. 2, the control cycle T (seconds) is a predetermined cycle set by the communication carrier in order to control the communication amount of each user who shares one communication line 6, for example, from several seconds to several Set in the range of 100 seconds. Here, if the bandwidth of the communication line 6 is B (bps), the total communication amount that can be communicated during the control cycle T (seconds) is BT (bit). This total communication amount BT (bit) is divided every s (seconds) by an arbitrary integer M of 2 or more in the time axis direction (s = T / M), and further divided by the number of users n in the vertical axis direction. A value, that is, Bs / n = BT / (Mn) (bit) is used as a unit communication amount, and a communication amount is dynamically allocated (paid out) to each user.

  As shown in FIG. 2, in order to maintain fairness of service among users, unit communication is performed within a range of BT / n (bit) that is a communication amount that can be allocated per user for a user with a small communication amount. The amount Bs / n (bit) is paid out. However, for a user whose communication amount does not reach BT / n (bit), a part of the assignable communication amount remains unused. Therefore, at the beginning of each control cycle, one unit communication amount is paid out to each user as the first payout amount, and the rest is paid out to the users who have used up the paid out communication amount as the best effort payout amount on a first-come-first-served basis. Further, when the paid-out communication amount exceeds BT / n (bit) and the unit communication amount is paid out to the user, the number of payouts (excess number of times) that exceeds is counted. When all the unit communication amounts have been paid out and there is an additional payout request from a user whose paid-out communication amount has not reached BT / n (bit), the number of excesses is the maximum at that time. The unit communication amount paid out to the user is canceled, and the payout destination is changed to the requesting user.

According to such a best effort communication service according to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.
-Since the unit communication amount for the first payout is paid out to all users, even a user with a small communication amount can obtain a communication opportunity at least once every control cycle T (seconds).
Even when the communication line is busy, each user can preferentially perform communication up to BT / n (bit) in each control cycle T (second).
-A user with a large amount of communication can effectively use an unallocated bandwidth caused by the presence of a user with a small amount of communication, and can improve the efficiency of communication line utilization.

  Note that, as the number of divisions when the control cycle T (seconds) is divided into units of s (seconds) is larger, the use efficiency of the communication line can be expected to increase, but conversely, the processing overhead increases. Therefore, it is desirable to set the number of divisions appropriately in consideration of the total bandwidth of the communication line, the number of users to be shared, the total traffic, and the like.

  FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation example of the best effort communication service according to the present invention. This example shows a case where five users, users A to E, share one communication line, and pays out by dividing the control cycle T (seconds) into five. In this case, the unit communication amount paid out to each user is BT / 25 (bit), and each user is paid out of the communication amount up to BT / 5 (bit), that is, once for the first payout of the unit communication amount. In addition to the above, unconditional payments up to 4 times are possible.

  FIG. 3 shows an example of payout operation when only user B among the five users is performing mass communication. In the figure, the unit communication amount for best effort payout is hatched. A square indicates that it was paid out to the user listed on the left side of the line, and a square marked “(User B)” showed that it was paid out as an excess to User B. Yes.

  Here, in this control cycle, after all unit communication amounts have been paid out, including a total of 12 payouts to User B, users who have only received 2 payouts including the initial payout The operation when an additional payout request is made from E will be described. In this case, like the square shown at the right end of the bottom line in the figure, the payout of the square once paid out as an excess to the user B is canceled and the payout destination is changed to the user E. It becomes. Here, an example of operation in the case where only the user B has received an excessive payout has been described, but when multiple users have received an excessive payout, the payout was last made to the user with the largest number of excesses The payout destination of the unit communication amount may be changed.

  Next, operations of the traffic management unit 10 and the communication control unit 20 will be described in detail with reference to flowcharts.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing processing for each control cycle of the traffic management unit 10. When the traffic management unit 10 starts processing for each control cycle T triggered by a time-out notification from the timer monitoring unit 11, first, in step S <b> 41, the communication traffic paying unit 13 sets the initial unit traffic to each user. Make a withdrawal.

  Next, when the communication amount payout unit 13 receives the communication amount addition request from the communication control unit 20 in step S42, in the subsequent step S43, it is determined whether or not there is an unpaid amount in the best effort payout amount. judge. As a result, if there is an unpaid portion (“Yes” in step S43), the process proceeds to step S44, and if there is no unpaid portion (“No” in step S43), the process proceeds to step S45.

  In step S44, the communication amount payout unit 13 performs additional payout of the unit communication amount to the requesting user, updates the paid out communication amount of the user, and returns the process to step S42. In addition, when the updated paid-out communication amount exceeds the unconditionally payable communication amount, the excess payout count of the user is counted up.

  In step S45, the communication amount payout unit 13 compares the amount of communication already paid out to the requesting user with the amount of unconditionally payable communication, and if the former is smaller than the latter (“<unconditional payout in step S45”). The processing proceeds to step S46. If the former is greater than or equal to the latter (“≧ unconditionally payable communication amount” in step S45), the processing proceeds to step S47.

  In step S46, the communication amount payout unit 13 cancels the unit communication amount payout last paid out to the user with the largest paid out communication amount among the communicating users, and then proceeds to step S44 to proceed to the request source. Change the payout destination to the user.

  In step S47, the communication amount payout unit 13 notifies the communication control unit 20 that the additional communication amount cannot be paid to the requesting user, and then returns the process to step S42.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing processing for one user for each control cycle of the communication control unit 20. The communication control unit 20 starts processing upon the initial payment of the unit communication amount to each user (step S41 in FIG. 4) performed by the communication amount management unit 10 every control cycle T. First, in step S51, The communication amount control unit 22 performs initial setting of the remaining communication amount (remaining communication amount allowed for each user terminal 3) held in its own storage unit. Thereby, the remaining communication amount of each user is set to the unit communication amount for the first payout notified from the communication amount management unit 10.

  Next, when the traffic control unit 22 receives a packet communication request addressed to the relay network 7 from the user terminal 3 or addressed to the user terminal 3 from the user terminal 3 in step S52, the packet of the packet is transmitted in subsequent step S53. It is determined whether the data amount is less than the remaining communication amount. As a result, if the packet data amount is less than or equal to the remaining communication amount (“Yes” in step S53), the process proceeds to step S57. If the packet data amount exceeds the remaining communication amount (“No” in step S53), step The process proceeds to S54.

  In step S <b> 54, the traffic control unit 22 sends a request for adding a traffic to the traffic management unit 10 to request an additional payout of the unit traffic. In subsequent step S55, when additional payout of the unit communication amount is recognized (“OK” in step S55), the communication amount control unit 22 sets the unit communication amount additionally paid out to the remaining communication amount in step S56. After adding and updating, the process proceeds to step S57. On the other hand, if the additional payout of the unit communication amount is not recognized (“NG” in step S55), the process for the user in this control cycle is ended.

  In step S57, the communication execution unit 23 performs packet communication, and the communication amount control unit 22 subtracts and updates the packet data amount of the packet for which communication has been performed from the remaining communication amount, and then returns the process to step S52. The above process is repeated until the next control cycle is started.

  FIG. 6 is an example of a communication sequence when the best effort communication service according to the present invention is implemented by applying an industry standard policy control technology. The policy control technology is a technology included in the third generation mobile communication system standard that is standardized by 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project). Among these, a technique used for cooperation between a policy / charging control function (PCRF) and a policy / charging enforcement function (PCEF) is applied.

[1] Upon receiving a communication start request for an IP (Internet Protocol) session from the user terminal 3, the communication control unit 20 makes a CCR-I (Credit Control Request-Initiation) to the user terminal 3. The user identifier is notified and the policy to be applied is inquired.
[2] The traffic management unit 10 determines a policy to be applied by acquiring the service contract information of the user from a subscriber profile database (not shown) as necessary, and the CCA- I (Credit Control Answer-Initiation) notifies the contents. In this example, a unit communication amount Bs / n for initial payout, which is a parameter relating to a communication amount control policy, and a communication amount monitoring instruction are notified.
[3] The communication control unit 20 starts best effort communication, and performs packet transfer between the user terminal 3 and the relay network 7 within the range of the paid out unit communication amount Bs / n.
[4] When the communication amount between the user terminal 3 and the relay network 7 exceeds the paid unit communication amount Bs / n, the communication control unit 20 performs CCR- prior to the execution of the packet transfer. U (Credit Control Request-Update) notifies the traffic management unit 10 that the traffic has reached Bs / n.
[5] If the uncommitted unit communication amount remains in the best effort payout amount, the communication amount management unit 10 gives an additional payout of the unit communication amount Bs / n and a monitoring instruction for the communication amount. Notify by (Credit Control Answer-Update). At this time, when the number of unit communication amounts paid out to the user exceeds the unconditional payout number, the number of payout excess is counted up. On the other hand, if all of the best effort payouts have been paid out and the number of unit communication amounts that have been paid out to the user has not reached the unconditional payout number, the user who has the largest number of payouts is the last. Canceling the paid out unit communication amount and changing the payout destination to the user. Thereby, the communication control unit 20 continuously executes packet transfer between the user terminal 3 and the relay network 7 within the range of the unit communication amount Bs / n that is additionally paid out.
[6] If the amount of communication between the user terminal 3 and the relay network 7 exceeds the additionally allocated unit communication amount Bs / n, the communication control unit 20 prior to execution of packet transfer. Again, the CCR-U notifies the traffic management unit 10 that the traffic has reached Bs / n.
[7] The communication amount management unit 10 determines that when all the best effort payout amount has been paid out and the number of unit communication amounts paid out to the user is equal to or greater than the unconditional payout amount, The communication control unit 20 is notified by the CCA-U that the additional amount of communication cannot be paid out. In this example, the start of communication regulation and the end of monitoring of communication volume are notified.
[8] The communication control unit 20 starts communication restriction for the user terminal 3 and interrupts packet transfer between the user terminal 3 and the relay network 7.
[9] With the arrival of the next control cycle, the traffic management unit 10 releases the communication restriction to the communication control unit 20, and issues an initial payment of the unit traffic Bs / n and an instruction to monitor the traffic RAR (Re -Authorization Request).
[10] The communication control unit 20 starts best effort communication in the next control cycle, and performs packet transfer between the user terminal 3 and the relay network 7 in the range of the paid out unit communication amount Bs / n.
[11] The communication control unit 20 returns a normal response to the RAR to the communication amount management unit 10 by RAA (Re-Authorization Answer).

  As described above, the communication control method of the present invention can be realized by applying industry standard technology.

  FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an operation example when a user is added during the control cycle. In the operation example of FIG. 7, as in the operation example of FIG. 3 described above, five users A to E are communicating at the start of a certain control cycle (n = 5), and the unit communication amount Is set to BT / 25.

  Here, it is assumed that the user F newly starts communication when 2T / 5 (seconds) has elapsed since the start of the control cycle. At this time, the user monitoring unit 21 of the communication control unit 20 that has received the communication start request from the user terminal 3 of the user F notifies the traffic management unit 10 of the addition of the user (n ′ = 6). Upon receipt of this notification, the unit traffic setting unit 12 of the traffic management unit 10 resets the unit traffic to be paid out thereafter to BT / 30, and the traffic payout unit 13 Then, the updated unit communication amount BT / 30 is paid out for the first time. In addition, the communication control unit 20 is notified to each user so that the unit communication amount paid out last is changed to the updated unit communication amount. Thereby, after the time point when the user F is added, all the unit communication amounts to be paid out are changed to BT / 30.

  Here, a case where a user is added in the middle of the control cycle has been described, but conversely, when a user in the middle of the control cycle terminates communication and the number of users is reduced (n ′ = 4), The unit communication amount paid out thereafter is updated to BT / 20.

  As described above, the amount of the unit communication amount to be paid out can be made to follow the change in the number of users performing communication using the line.

  Although the description of the mode for carrying out the present invention has been described above, the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to this, and it goes without saying that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Yes.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Communication control apparatus 10 Communication amount management part 11 Timer monitoring part 12 Unit communication amount setting part 13 Communication amount discharge part 20 Communication control part 21 User monitoring part 22 Communication amount control part 23 Communication execution part 3 User terminal 4,5 Communication port 6 Communication line 7 Relay network

Claims (8)

To provide best-effort communication services to multiple users who share a single line used for packet forwarding,
A traffic management unit distributes the total traffic BT communicable with the bandwidth B of the line to the plurality of users at a predetermined control period T and allocates the traffic, and a communication controller manages the traffic management. A communication control method for executing packet transfer via the line within a range of the traffic allocated to each of the plurality of users by a unit;
The traffic management unit
BT / (Mn), which is a value obtained by dividing the total communication amount BT by M (M is an integer equal to or greater than 2) divided by the number of users in communication n, is set as a unit communication amount. ,
At the start of every predetermined control period T, each unit communication amount is allocated and paid out to each user in communication,
When an additional payout of the unit communication amount to the user is requested from the communication control unit in order to execute packet transfer exceeding the communication amount paid out to each user in communication, When the unit communication amount remains, the communication control method is characterized in that the unpaid unit communication amount is paid out to the respective users on a first-come-first-served basis. The communication control method according to claim 1,
The traffic management unit
When the total amount of communication paid out to each user in the predetermined control period T exceeds BT / n, the number of over-payments of unit communication amount is counted up for each user,
When an additional payout of the unit communication amount is requested from the communication control unit to a user whose total paid-out communication amount has not reached BT / n, the excess payout count is maximized at that time. A communication control method, comprising: canceling a unit communication amount paid out last to a user and changing a payout destination of the unit communication amount to a user who requested the additional payout. In the communication control method according to claim 1 or 2,
In the middle of the predetermined control period T, when the number of users n, which is the number of users in communication, increases or decreases to n ′,
The traffic management unit
The unit communication amount paid out after that time is changed to BT / (Mn ′), and the unit communication amount paid out last for each user is changed from BT / (Mn) to BT / (Mn ′). A communication control method characterized by the above. In the communication control method according to claim 1 or 2,
Applying the cooperation technology of the policy / charging control function (PCRF) and the policy / charging execution function (PCEF) standardized by 3GPP to the cooperative operation of the traffic management unit and the communication control unit A communication control method. To provide best-effort communication services to multiple users who share a single line used for packet forwarding,
A communication amount management unit that distributes the total communication amount BT communicable with the bandwidth B of the line to the plurality of users at a predetermined control period T, and allocates the communication amount;
A communication control unit including a communication control unit that executes packet transfer via the line within the range of the communication amount allocated to each of the plurality of users by the communication amount management unit;
The traffic management unit
BT / (Mn), which is a value obtained by dividing the total communication amount BT by M (M is an integer equal to or greater than 2) divided by the number of users in communication n, is set as a unit communication amount. ,
At the start of every predetermined control period T, each unit communication amount is allocated and paid out to each user in communication,
When an additional payout of the unit communication amount to the user is requested from the communication control unit in order to execute packet transfer exceeding the communication amount paid out to each user in communication, When the unit communication amount remains, the communication control device pays out the unpaid unit communication amount one by one to each user on a first-come-first-served basis. The communication control device according to claim 5, wherein
The traffic management unit
When the total amount of communication paid out to each user in the predetermined control period T exceeds BT / n, the number of over-payments of unit communication amount is counted up for each user,
When an additional payout of the unit communication amount is requested from the communication control unit to a user whose total paid-out communication amount has not reached BT / n, the excess payout count is maximized at that time. A communication control apparatus, wherein the unit communication amount paid out last to the user is canceled and the payout destination of the unit communication amount is changed to the user who requested the additional payout. In the communication control device according to claim 5 or 6,
In the middle of the predetermined control period T, when the number of users n, which is the number of users in communication, increases or decreases to n ′,
The traffic management unit
The unit communication amount paid out after that time is changed to BT / (Mn ′), and the unit communication amount paid out last for each user is changed from BT / (Mn) to BT / (Mn ′). A communication control device. In the communication control device according to claim 5 or 6,
Applying the cooperation technology of the policy / charging control function (PCRF) and the policy / charging execution function (PCEF) standardized by 3GPP to the cooperative operation of the traffic management unit and the communication control unit A communication control device.

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