JP2017212484A - Communication device, communication method, communication program, and communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a communication device and the like that can improve communication efficiency by controlling a communication path of another communication device.SOLUTION: A communication device includes: a communication unit for communicating with a radio base station device by radio; an inter-communication device communication unit for directly communicating with another communication device by radio; and a control unit for determining a communication route that goes through the other communication device between the communication device and an opposite communication device, and communicating by using the determined communication route.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication device, a communication method, a communication program, and a communication system.

  In recent years, with the spread of IOT (Internet of Things), not only smartphones and tablet terminals, but many devices have communication paths that can be directly connected to the Internet. However, these devices are designed so that they can be used only in communication performed by the respective devices, and cannot be used from other devices. For this reason, when the communication state of the communication path of these devices deteriorates, the communication speed in the wireless section is slowed down, and the user experience is deteriorated by stopping the playback processing of the moving image, etc. In some cases, retransmission of data frequently occurs, and the use efficiency of the radio frequency is greatly deteriorated. Communication paths include Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity) and LTE (Long Term Evolution).

There is also a form in which communication is performed via a mobile router or the like.
Also known is a mobile ad hoc network (MANET), MANET is a kind of wireless ad hoc network, and there is a network environment that performs routing on the physical layer and the data link layer ad hoc network. MANET is a distributed control technique for performing communication by selecting a communication path in each device via communication.

Further, a multipath transport protocol (MPTP) is known. MPTP allows support for multiple subflows or streams to be managed at the transport layer between sources and destinations on the Internet.
As an example, Patent Document 1 describes a technique related to “cooperative bandwidth aggregation using multipath transport” (see Patent Document 1).

JP 2015-1111879 A

  Conventionally, a communication device controls a communication path of the communication device (own communication device), but communication efficiency may be insufficient.

  The present invention has been made in consideration of such circumstances, and can control communication paths in other communication devices to improve communication efficiency, a communication method, a communication program, and a communication system. It is an issue to provide.

In order to solve the above problems, a communication device according to one aspect includes a communication unit that communicates wirelessly with a radio base station device, an inter-communication device communication unit that directly communicates wirelessly with another communication device, and communication with itself. A control unit that determines a communication path with the other party via the other communication device and performs communication using the determined communication path.
The communication device according to one aspect is configured such that the control unit determines a communication path between the self and a communication partner via the other communication device and another communication device subsequent thereto. Also good.
The communication device according to one aspect may be configured such that the control unit acquires information on a communication path from the other communication device and determines the communication path based on the acquired information.
In the communication apparatus according to an aspect, a configuration may be used in which the control unit determines a communication path based on communication speed information as the information.
The communication apparatus according to one aspect may be configured such that the control unit acquires information about the network from the radio base station apparatus and determines a communication path based on the acquired information.

In order to solve the above-described problem, a communication method according to one aspect includes: communicating with a radio base station apparatus by radio; directly communicating with another communication apparatus by radio; and communicating the other communication between itself and a communication partner. A communication path passing through the apparatus is determined, and communication is performed using the determined communication path.
In order to solve the above-described problem, a communication program according to an aspect includes a step of wirelessly communicating with a wireless base station device, a step of directly communicating wirelessly with another communication device, and between itself and a communication partner. Determining a communication path that passes through the other communication device and performing communication using the determined communication path.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, a communication system according to an aspect includes a communication device and a radio base station device, and the communication device communicates with the radio base station device by radio and wirelessly communicates with other communication devices. The wireless base station apparatus performs communication using the determined communication path by determining a communication path via the other communication apparatus between itself and a communication partner. Communicate wirelessly with the device.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, a communication device (second communication device) according to one aspect is a second communication device that communicates with the first communication device wirelessly, and the first communication device is , Communicated wirelessly with the second communication device, directly communicated with the other communication device wirelessly, determined a communication path via the other communication device between itself and the communication partner Communicate using the communication path.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, communication efficiency can be made favorable by controlling the communication path | route in another communication apparatus (The communication apparatus which can be connected directly, and a communication apparatus of the back | latter rank).

1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the schematic structure of the communication apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the log information regarding the other communication apparatus which the communication apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention has connected directly. It is a figure which shows an example of the log information regarding another communication apparatus in the back | latter rank of the other communication apparatus with which the communication apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention is directly connected. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the procedure of the process which determines the communication path which can use the communication apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating an example (1st example) of the communication control performed by the communication apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating an example (2nd example) of the communication control performed by the communication apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example (1st example) of communication performed by the communication apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example (2nd example) of communication performed by the communication apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a communication system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The communication system 1 includes a plurality of communication devices 11 to 13, a plurality of radio base station devices 21 to 23, a server device 31 (an example of a communication partner), and a communication network 41. Each of the radio base station devices 21 to 23 and the server device 31 are connected to the communication network 41. As the communication network 41, any network may be used, for example, the Internet may be used.
Each of the wireless base station devices 21 to 23 can wirelessly communicate with the communication devices 11 to 13 existing in its own communicable area. The communication devices 11 to 13 can communicate by directly connecting to each other wirelessly.

In the present embodiment, the communication devices 11 to 13 have the same function except that the individual identification information is different.
Each communication device 11-13 is a terminal device operated by the user like a smart phone or a tablet terminal, for example. As another example, the communication devices 11 to 13 may be communication devices installed in a car or a house.

Each communication device 11-13, when communicating with each communication device 11-13 (self device), and when other communication device that can be directly connected is discovered during communication, the other communication Connect directly to the device (establish direct connection), and acquire (receive) information on the communication path stored in the other communication device from the other communication device. When each of the communication devices 11 to 13 acquires information on a communication path from the other communication device, the other communication device is further referred to as another communication device (here, for convenience of explanation, “another communication device”). When the connection with the other communication apparatus is stored, the information is also acquired (received).
Each of the communication devices 11 to 13 has a function of receiving information related to the state of the communication network 41 from the radio base station devices 21 to 23. As information regarding the state of the communication network 41, for example, information on the state of the communication path, information on the state of the communication device, and the like may be used. As these states, states such as the presence or absence of communication failure may be used.

  Each of the communication devices 11 to 13 has a state of a communication path in each of the communication devices 11 to 13 (own device) and information acquired from another communication device capable of direct communication (the other communication device or a later one). Centrally manages information on the state of the communication path based on information on other communication devices) and information on the state of the communication network 41 based on information acquired from the radio base station devices 21 to 23, and comprehensively manages them based on the information. Therefore, control is performed so as to select a communication path suitable (as an example) that is suitable for the communication state.

When the communication devices 11 to 13 (self device) are the starting points of communication, for example, when operated by the user, the communication devices 11 to 13 perform operations corresponding to the starting points of communication. In addition, when the communication devices 11 to 13 (self device) are directly connected from other communication devices, the communication devices 11 to 13 perform operations corresponding to the direct connection.
In the present embodiment, for convenience of explanation, description will be made assuming that the communication device 11 is a starting point of communication and the other communication devices 12 and 13 are directly connected.
In the present embodiment, in the drawings and the like, the other communication devices 12 and 13 may be described as “communication device (relay)”, and the other communication device 13 (another communication device) is referred to as “communication device (further, (Relay) ".

The communication device 11 can connect to the communication network 41 via the wireless base station device 21 by communicating with the wireless base station device 21 wirelessly. In addition, the communication device 11 communicates with another communication device 12 that can be directly connected via the other communication device 12 (in addition, the wireless base station device 22 or the wireless base station device 23). Thus, the communication network 41 can be connected. In addition, the communication device 11 includes another communication device 12 that can be directly connected and another communication device 13 (rear communication device) that can be directly connected by the other communication device 12. It is possible to connect to the communication network 41 via the radio base station apparatus 22 or the radio base station apparatus 23).
In the example of FIG. 1, the communication devices 12 and 13 can communicate with any one of the two radio base station devices 22 and 23 by radio.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the communication apparatus 11 according to the embodiment of the present invention.
The communication device 11 includes a communication unit 111, an inter-communication device communication unit 112, a storage unit 113, and a control unit 114. The control unit 114 includes a communication path information acquisition unit 131, an information analysis unit 132, and a communication control unit 133.
Note that communication between communication devices may be referred to as D2D (Device to Device) communication.

The communication unit 111 communicates with the radio base station apparatus 21 by radio. Specifically, the communication unit 111 modulates the signal output from the control unit 114 to generate an RF (Radio Frequency) signal, and wirelessly transmits the RF signal via an antenna (not shown). In addition, the communication unit 111 demodulates the RF signal received via the antenna and outputs a signal obtained thereby to the control unit 114.
When the communication unit 112 between communication devices can be directly connected to another communication device 12, the communication unit 112 communicates with the other communication device 12. Specifically, the communication device communication unit 112 modulates a signal output from the control unit 114 to generate an RF signal, and wirelessly transmits the RF signal via an antenna (not shown). The inter-communication device communication unit 112 demodulates the RF signal received via the antenna, and outputs a signal obtained thereby to the control unit 114.
In the present embodiment, the antenna used by the communication unit 111 and the antenna used by the communication device-to-communication unit 112 are the same, but may be different as another configuration example.

The storage unit 113 includes, for example, a ROM (Read Only Memory) and a RAM (Random Access Memory).
The memory | storage part 113 memorize | stores the various information used in order to function the communication apparatus 11, for example, memorize | stores the program and parameter for the control part 114 to operate | move.
Further, the storage unit 113 displays the information acquired by the communication path information acquisition unit 131 of the control unit 114, the analysis result information by the information analysis unit 132, and the state of the communication network 41 acquired through the communication unit 111. Stores information to represent.
Further, the storage unit 113 stores log information generated by the control unit 114. The log information includes information indicating a wireless communication state with respect to the communication device 11 and the other communication devices 12 and 13 connected thereto.

The control unit 114 controls various processes in the communication device 11. The control unit 114 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and controls various processes by executing a program stored in the storage unit 113 by the CPU.
The communication path information acquisition unit 131 relates to the wireless state (for example, the state of radio wave intensity), the communication state, the state of the communication network 41 (network state), etc. Information is acquired and stored in the storage unit 113. This information can be used as communication path information. In the present embodiment, the communication path information acquisition unit 131 requests the storage unit 113 to save the information, thereby causing the storage unit 113 to store the information.

Here, any timing may be used as the timing for acquiring information by the communication path information acquisition unit 131 (hereinafter also referred to as “information acquisition timing”). As the information acquisition timing, for example, an arbitrary timing before the start of communication after the own communication device 11 directly connects to another communication device 12 may be used. As before the start of the communication, the time immediately before the start of communication may be used, or a more previous time may be used. Further, as the information acquisition timing, any timing when the communication device 11 is directly communicating with another communication device 12 (during communication) may be used. In this case, for example, the communication quality is good. However, a configuration in which the communication path that has been deteriorated is not used (cancelled) may be used. Further, the information acquisition timing may be, for example, a real-time timing or a timing later than that.
The information acquired by the communication path information acquisition unit 131 may be arbitrary information. As the information, for example, information on the state of the interface of the communication path in each communication device (for example, a state in which the interface is powered on or off) may be used. Or quality information such as a bit error rate (BER) of wireless communication or a throughput of wireless communication may be used.

The information analysis unit 132 requests information about the communication device 11 and the other communication devices 12 and 13 from the storage unit 113 when the communication device 11 starts communication in response to an operation by the user. Get. Then, the information analysis unit 132 analyzes the information and analyzes (determines) a communication path that can be used.
Here, any analysis may be used as the analysis by the information analysis unit 132. In this analysis, for example, the physical communication speed that can be actually communicated is different depending on the communication method even if the signal strength is the same, so that the communication speed can be compared under the same conditions. After the correction, the processing for analyzing the state such as the quality of each communication path may be used.

In addition, for each communication path used, the communication speed such as a bit rate may be set to a different value. As an example, since the overall communication speed may be reduced if a path with a low communication speed is included in the entire communication path between the transmission source and the transmission destination, the reciprocal of the throughput is determined for each communication path. A communication speed having a value (or a value close thereto) may be set.
Further, for each communication path, MCS (Modulation and Coding Scheme) may be set based on quality such as radio wave intensity.

The communication control unit 133 controls communication by the communication unit 111 and communication by the communication unit 112 between communication devices. The communication control unit 133 controls to perform communication using a usable communication path based on the analysis result by the information analysis unit 132. In this control, routing or the like may be performed.
Here, for example, when it is determined based on the analysis result by the information analysis unit 132 that the state such as the quality of the communication path used for communication has changed during communication, the communication control unit 133 You may have a function which changes routing based on the information of an analysis result.

An example of log information is shown with reference to FIG. 3 and FIG.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of log information 1001 related to another communication device 12 to which the communication device 11 according to an embodiment of the present invention is directly connected. The example of FIG. 3 shows a case where there are two communication paths, Wi-Fi and LTE, but other communication paths may exist.
The log information 1001 includes identification information (for example, a MAC address) of the other communication device 12 and information on the generation time of the log information 1001. Further, regarding the other communication device 12, the IP address of each communication path, Number of communication paths (number of communication paths), communication path type (for example, Wi-Fi and LTE), radio wave intensity of each communication path, communication status of each communication path (as an example, throughput), network status of each communication path (For example, for each communication method or device, it cannot be used because it is restricted due to congestion, or it can be used because it is in a normal state, etc.), information on rear stations (rear communication devices) (For example, the presence or absence, and the identification information of the succeeding station when there is, for example).
The communication device 11 stores the log information 1001 shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of log information 1011 related to another communication device 13 that is behind the other communication device 12 to which the communication device 11 according to an embodiment of the present invention is directly connected. The example of FIG. 4 shows a case where a communication path of WiMAX2 (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access 2) exists, but other communication paths may exist.
The log information 1011 includes information (referred to as “direct communication information”) 1021 related to the other communication device 12 to which the communication device 11 is directly connected, and another information on the rear of the other communication device 12. Information regarding the communication device 13 (referred to as “rear communication information”) 1022 is included.
The direct communication information 1021 includes connection source information (identification information of the other communication device 12) regarding the other communication device 12 to which the communication device 11 is directly connected. The rear communication information 1022 includes information of items similar to the log information 1001 illustrated in FIG. 3 regarding another communication device 13 that is subsequent to the other communication device 12.
Note that, for example, when there are two or more other communication devices 13 following the other communication device 12, the log information 1011 is different from the one direct communication information 1021 by two or more. The rear communication information 1022 (two or more rear communication information 1022) regarding each of the rear stations is included.
The communication apparatus 11 stores the log information 1011 illustrated in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure for determining a communication path that can be used by the communication device 11 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The communication device 11 performs the processing by the information analysis unit 132 of the control unit 114.
The information analysis unit 132 acquires information related to the communication device from the storage unit 113. As the information, for example, information related to the own communication device 11 and information related to the other communication devices 12 and 13 are used. The information analysis unit 132 sets the communication devices 11, 12, and 13 related to the acquired information as candidates (step S1).

Next, the information analysis unit 132 narrows candidates based on the state of the communication path. In the present embodiment, the information analysis unit 132 narrows candidates to only communication devices in which the network state of the communication path is a normal state from the candidates in the process of step S1 (step S2).
Next, the information analysis unit 132 calculates the communication speed (here, the physical communication speed) of each communication path with respect to the candidate in the process of step S2. In the present embodiment, the information analysis unit 132 calculates the physical communication speed in each communication path based on the radio field intensity in each communication path. Here, the physical communication speed at an arbitrary radio wave intensity varies depending on each communication system. For example, the transmission rate at the time of communication is obtained from the communication system received electric field intensity, and thereby the maximum value of the physical communication speed is obtained. . In the present embodiment, information indicating the correspondence between the communication system received electric field strength and the transmission rate is stored in the storage unit 113, and the information analysis unit 132 refers to the information (step S3).

Next, the information analysis unit 132 narrows candidates based on the communication speed. In the present embodiment, the information analysis unit 132 identifies the communication path having the fastest communication speed among all possible communication paths with respect to the candidate in the process of step S2, and the communication speed (that is, the fastest value) of the communication path. ) Is excluded from candidates for communication paths having a communication speed of 1 / n (n is an integer value greater than 1) or less (step S4).
Next, the information analysis unit 132 determines a communication path to be used based on the results of the above analysis. In the present embodiment, the information analysis unit 132 selects a communication path with a high communication speed to be used preferentially, but other selection methods may be used. The information analysis unit 132 uses two or more communication paths in parallel based on the amount of information to be communicated (data amount), the communication time that can be used for communication, and the like. You may select as follows (step S5).

An example of communication control performed by the communication device 11 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 6 is a diagram for describing an example (first example) of communication control performed by the communication device 211 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 shows an example of the communication system 201.
The communication system 201 includes three communication devices 211 to 213 and six radio base station devices 221 to 226.
Further, each of the radio base station apparatuses 221 to 226 is connected to a communication network (not shown) similar to the communication network 41 shown in FIG. 1, and the communication network includes a server shown in FIG. A server device (not shown) similar to the device 31 is connected.
In the example of FIG. 6, the communication devices 211 to 213 are illustrated and described. However, the communication device 211 is an example of the communication device 11 illustrated in FIG. 1, and the communication device 212 is another communication device illustrated in FIG. 1. The communication device 213 is an example of another communication device 13 shown in FIG.

The communication device 211 can communicate with each of the two radio base station devices 221 and 222 by radio. The communication device 212 can communicate with each of the two radio base station devices 223 and 224 by radio. The communication device 213 can communicate with each of the two radio base station devices 225 and 226 by radio. The two radio base station apparatuses 221 to 222, 223 to 224, and 225 to 226 that can communicate with the communication apparatuses 211 to 213 perform communication using, for example, different communication methods. Examples of different communication schemes include Wi-Fi and LTE.
The communication device 211 and the communication device 212 can directly communicate with each other wirelessly. The communication device 212 and the communication device 213 can directly communicate with each other wirelessly.

  The communication device 211 includes a control unit 261 (corresponding to the control unit 114 shown in FIG. 2) having a function of performing communication by multipath TCP (MPTCP: MultiPath Transmission Control Protocol). Each of the communication device 212 and the communication device 213 also includes a control unit (not shown) having the same function as the control unit 261. Note that MPTCP is in the transport layer, and the control unit 261 is in the application layer.

FIG. 6 shows subflows a1 to a2, a11 to a12, and a21 to a22 in MPTCP.
The subflows a1, a2, a11, a12, a21, and a22 are respectively a subflow between the communication device 211 and the radio base station device 221, a subflow between the communication device 211 and the radio base station device 222, and the communication device 212. Subflow between the radio base station apparatus 223, subflow between the communication apparatus 212 and the radio base station apparatus 224, subflow between the communication apparatus 213 and the radio base station apparatus 225, communication apparatus 213 and the radio base station apparatus 226 It is a subflow between.

FIG. 6 shows communication paths b1 to b2, b11 to b12, and b21 to b22.
Communication paths b1 to b2, b11 to b12, and b21 to b22 are respectively a communication path that passes through the communication apparatus 211 and the radio base station apparatus 221, a communication path that passes through the communication apparatus 211 and the radio base station apparatus 222, and a communication apparatus 212. And a communication path via the radio base station apparatus 223, a communication path via the communication apparatus 212 and the radio base station apparatus 224, a communication path via the communication apparatus 213 and the radio base station apparatus 225, a communication apparatus 213 and the radio base station apparatus 226 is a communication path via H.226.
Each of these communication paths b1 to b2, b11 to b12, and b21 to b22 is a communication path from the communication device 211 to the communication server via the communication network.

  In this example, MPTCP defined as a transport layer protocol is used as a technique for constructing a plurality of communication paths and performing communication simultaneously. In MPTCP, a plurality of communication paths inside the communication apparatuses 211 to 213 are regarded as subflows a1 to a2, a11 to a12, and a21 to a22, and a plurality of communication paths b1 to b2, b11 to b12, and b21 to b22 are represented. Build and communicate. However, in MPTCP, the communication device 211 cannot simultaneously control a plurality of communication paths in the other communication devices 212 and 213.

  For this reason, in this example, before starting communication, the communication device 211 first makes an inquiry to the storage unit (corresponding to the storage unit 113 shown in FIG. 2) by the control unit 261. In this inquiry, the communication device 211 determines whether there is another communication device connected to its own communication device 211 by the control unit 261 based on the information stored in the storage unit, and a plurality of communication devices. Check if there is route information. Then, when there is another communication device 212 and there are a plurality of communication paths, the communication device 211 is controlled by the control unit 261 with respect to the control unit of the other communication device 212. A request is made to communicate via each of one or more communication paths designated from 211. Such communication control may be performed by, for example, a communication control unit (corresponding to the communication control unit 133 shown in FIG. 2) in the control unit of each of the communication devices 211 and 212.

An example of a method for specifying each communication path in MPTCP will be described.
In this method, the communication device 211 causes the control unit 261 to perform subflows a1 to a2 on the IP addresses of the communication paths of the communication device 211 and the other communication devices 212 and 213, before performing communication. , A11 to a12, a21 to a22 are set, and communication paths b1 to b2, b11 to b12, b21 to b22 are constructed. And after the communication apparatus 211 constructs the communication paths b1 to b2, b11 to b12, b21 to b22, the control unit 261 causes the subflow a1 corresponding to each of the communication paths b1 to b2, b11 to b12, b21 to b22. ˜a2, a11 to a12, and a21 to a22 can be used to control (adjust) the degree of communication (for example, data amount and communication speed).
FIG. 6 shows an image of setting such communication paths b1 to b2, b11 to b12, and b21 to b22.

  In this way, in the example of FIG. 6, the communication device 211 instructs the other communication devices 212 and 213 how to make a path, so that the other communication devices 212 and 213 change the path according to the instruction. Tighten. The communication device 211 performs communication using a desired path among the extended paths.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining an example (second example) of communication control performed by the communication device 311 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 shows an example of the communication system 301.
The communication system 301 includes three communication devices 311 to 313 and six radio base station devices 321 to 326.
Further, each of the radio base station apparatuses 321 to 326 is connected to a communication network (not shown) similar to the communication network 41 shown in FIG. 1, and the communication network includes a server shown in FIG. A server device (not shown) similar to the device 31 is connected.
In the example of FIG. 7, the communication devices 311 to 313 are shown and described. However, the communication device 311 is an example of the communication device 11 shown in FIG. 1, and the communication device 312 is another communication device shown in FIG. 12, and the communication device 313 is an example of another communication device 13 illustrated in FIG. 1.

The communication device 311 can communicate with each of the two radio base station devices 321 and 322 by radio. The communication device 312 can wirelessly communicate with each of the two wireless base station devices 323 and 324. The communication device 313 can communicate with each of the two radio base station devices 325 and 326 by radio. The two radio base station apparatuses 321 to 322, 323 to 324, and 325 to 326 that can communicate with the respective communication apparatuses 311 to 313 perform communication using different communication methods, for example. Examples of different communication schemes include Wi-Fi and LTE.
The communication device 311 and the communication device 312 can directly communicate with each other wirelessly. The communication device 312 and the communication device 313 can directly communicate with each other wirelessly.

  The communication device 311 includes a control unit 411 (corresponding to the control unit 114 shown in FIG. 2) having a function of performing communication by TCP (Transmission Control Protocol). The other communication devices 312 and 313 also include control units 412 and 413 having functions similar to those of the control unit 411, respectively. Note that TCP is in the transport layer, and the control units 411 to 413 are in the application layer.

FIG. 7 shows communication paths c1 to c2, c11 to c12, and c21 to c22.
Communication paths c 1, c 2, c 11, c 12, c 21, c 22 are respectively a communication path that passes through the communication apparatus 311 and the radio base station apparatus 321, a communication path that passes through the communication apparatus 311 and the radio base station apparatus 322, and a communication apparatus 312. And a communication path via the radio base station apparatus 323, a communication path via the communication apparatus 312 and the radio base station apparatus 324, a communication path via the communication apparatus 313 and the radio base station apparatus 325, a communication apparatus 313 and the radio base station apparatus 326 is a communication path via 326.
Each of these communication paths c1 to c2, c11 to c12, and c21 to c22 is a communication path from the communication device 211 to the communication server via the communication network.

In this example, TCP defined as a transport layer protocol is used as a technique for constructing a plurality of communication paths and performing communication at the same time.
For this reason, in this example, before starting communication, the communication device 311 first makes an inquiry to the storage unit (corresponding to the storage unit 113 shown in FIG. 2) by the control unit 411. In this inquiry, the communication device 311 determines whether there is another communication device connected to its own communication device 311 by the control unit 411 based on the information stored in the storage unit, and a plurality of communication devices. Check if there is route information. Then, when there is another communication device 312 and there are a plurality of communication paths, the communication device 311 instructs the control unit 412 of the other communication device 312 by the control unit 411. Thus, control is performed so that communication is performed via each of one or more communication paths designated from the own communication device 311. Such communication control may be performed by, for example, a communication control unit (corresponding to the communication control unit 133 illustrated in FIG. 2) in the control unit of each of the communication devices 311 and 312.

An example of a method for designating each communication path in TCP will be described.
In this method, when the communication device 311 performs communication, the control unit 411 designates a communication method to be used for communication by the other communication devices 312 and 313 to the other communication devices 312 and 313. As a specific example, when communicating via another communication device 312 and another communication device 313, the communication device 311 instructs the other communication device 312 about the content of communication to be performed, and The communication device 313 is instructed to communicate. The other communication device 312 and the other communication device 313 perform communication according to instructions from the communication device 311 by the control units 412 and 413, respectively. The communication device 311 can control (adjust) the degree of communication (for example, data amount and communication speed) using the communication paths c1 to c2, c11 to c12, and c21 to c22 by the control unit 411. it can.
FIG. 7 shows an image of setting such communication paths c1 to c2, c11 to c12, and c21 to c22.

  Thus, in the example of FIG. 7, there is no concept that the communication devices 311 to 313 establish a path. The communication device 311 instructs the content of communication to be performed to the other communication devices 312 and 313, and the other communication devices 312 and 313 perform communication according to the instruction. Accordingly, the communication device 311 performs communication using desired communication paths c1 to c2, c11 to c12, and c21 to c22.

With reference to FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, an example of communication performed by the communication apparatus 11 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example (first example) of communication performed by the communication device 511 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 includes a communication device 511, another communication device 512 that can directly communicate with the communication device 511, another communication device 513 that can directly communicate with the other communication device 512, A server device 521 is shown.
In the example of FIG. 8, the communication device 511 is an example of the communication device 11 shown in FIG. 1, the communication device 512 is an example of the other communication device 12 shown in FIG. 1, and the communication device 513 is shown in FIG. The server device 521 is an example of the server device 31 shown in FIG. 1.

In the example of FIG. 8, the communication device 511 divides the data to be received into three portions (virtual division), and uses each of the divided data using three different communication paths. Indicates the case of receiving.
The communication device 511 first divides the data to be received into three quantities at the processing timing 2001. In the description of the example of FIG. 8, the data divided into these three quantities are referred to as first divided data, second divided data, and third divided data, respectively.

  Next, the communication device 511 transmits a signal requesting the first divided data to the other communication device 512 (processing T1). The signal includes, for example, information on the destination of the communication device 511. The other communication device 512 transmits the signal to the server device 521 (via a radio base station device and a communication network (not shown)) (processing T2). In response to receiving the signal, server device 521 transmits a signal including the first divided data to another communication device 512 (via a communication network and a radio base station device not shown) (processing T3). ). The other communication device 512 transmits the signal to the communication device 511 (process T4).

  In addition, the communication device 511 transmits a signal requesting the second divided data to another communication device 513 (via another communication device 512) (processing T11). The signal includes, for example, information on the destination of the communication device 511. Another communication apparatus 513 transmits the signal to the server apparatus 521 (via a radio base station apparatus and a communication network (not shown)) (process T12). In response to receiving the signal, server device 521 transmits a signal including the second divided data to another communication device 513 (via a communication network and a radio base station device not shown) (processing T13). ). Another communication device 513 transmits the signal (via another communication device 512) to the communication device 511 (process T14).

  In addition, the communication device 511 transmits a signal requesting the third divided data to the server device 521 (via a radio base station device and a communication network (not shown)) (processing T21). The signal includes, for example, information on the destination of the communication device 511. In response to receiving the signal, server device 521 transmits a signal including the third divided data to communication device 511 (via a communication network and a radio base station device not shown) (process T14).

  The communication device 511 combines the received three pieces of divided data (first divided data, second divided data, and third divided data) at the processing timing 2011 to obtain a set of data.

Here, in the example of FIG. 8, the communication target data is divided into three pieces. However, as another configuration example, the communication target data may be divided into two pieces or four pieces or more. There is no need to divide the data. Further, any communication path may be used as a communication path for communicating each divided data.
Further, in the example of FIG. 8, a case where communication is performed via another communication device 512 and another communication device 513 has been described, but as another configuration example, only one of the communication devices may be used. Alternatively, another communication device (a total of three or more other communication devices) may be used together with the other communication device 512 and the other communication device 513.
In the example of FIG. 8, the case of receiving data is shown, but the same communication control may be applied to the case of transmitting data.
In the example of FIG. 8, the communication path for requesting data and the communication path for transmitting the data are the same. However, other configurations may be used.
Data retransmission control may be performed.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example (second example) of communication performed by the communication device 611 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 shows a communication device 611, another communication device 612 that can directly communicate with the communication device 611, and a server device 621.
In the example of FIG. 9, the communication device 611 is an example of the communication device 11 illustrated in FIG. 1, the communication device 612 is an example of the other communication device 12 illustrated in FIG. 1, and the server device 521 is illustrated in FIG. It is an example of the server apparatus 31 shown by these.

In the example of FIG. 9, the communication device 611 divides data to be received into two parts (virtual division), and each of the divided data passes through two different communication devices 612. The case where it receives using each of a communication path is shown.
First, the communication device 611 divides data to be received into two parts. In the description of the example of FIG. 9, the data divided into these two quantities are referred to as 2-1 divided data and 2-2 divided data, respectively.
Next, the communication device 611 sends a signal requesting to receive each of these pieces of divided data (2-1 divided data, 2-2 divided data) through different communication paths to the other communication devices 612. (Process T101). In the example of FIG. 9, the communication path is determined and specified by the communication device 611. The signal includes, for example, information on the destination of the communication device 611.

Next, in the other communication device 612, two different communications are performed for the 2-1 divided data and the 2-2 divided data based on the signal received from the communication device 611 at the processing timing 2101. It is understood that the route is used.
Next, the other communication device 612 transmits a signal requesting the 2-1 divided data to the server device 621 (via a radio base station device and a communication network (not shown)) (process T111). In response to receiving the signal, the server device 621 transmits a signal including the 2-1 divided data to another communication device 612 (via a communication network and a radio base station device not shown) ( Process T112).
In addition, the other communication device 612 transmits a signal requesting the 2-2nd divided data to the server device 621 (via a radio base station device and a communication network (not shown)) (processing T121). In response to receiving the signal, the server apparatus 621 transmits a signal including the 2-2 divided data to another communication apparatus 612 (via a communication network and a radio base station apparatus not shown) ( Process T122).

Next, in the other communication device 612, the received 2-1 divided data and 2-2 divided data are combined at the processing timing 2111.
Then, the other communication device 612 transmits a signal including the combined data to the communication device 611 (processing T131). Thereby, the communication apparatus 611 receives the signal and acquires the data.

Here, in the example of FIG. 9, the communication target data is divided into two. However, as another configuration example, the communication target data may be divided into three or more, or the communication target data is divided. You don't have to. Further, any communication path may be used as a communication path for communicating each divided data.
Further, in the example of FIG. 9, a case where communication is performed via another communication device 612 is shown. However, as another configuration example, another communication device is used instead of the other communication device 612. Alternatively, other communication devices (a total of two or more other communication devices) may be used together with the other communication device 612.
In the example of FIG. 9, the case of receiving data is shown, but the same communication control may be applied to the case of transmitting data.
In the example of FIG. 9, the communication path for requesting data and the communication path for transmitting the data are the same, but other configurations may be used.
Data retransmission control may be performed.

  As described above, in the communication device 11 according to the present embodiment, direct communication is performed with another communication device 12, and information regarding the communication path in the other communication device 12 and the subsequent communication device 13 is acquired. Then, a communication path for actual communication is determined based on the acquired information, and communication is controlled using the determined communication path. Further, in the communication device 11, when a notification of information related to the communication network 41 or the like is received from a device on the communication network 41 side, the communication path is considered in consideration of the information obtained through communication with the radio base station device 21. It is also possible to determine. Further, in the communication device (in this embodiment, the communication devices 12 and 13 are taken as an example), there is a direct connection and communication request from another terminal device (in the present embodiment, the communication device 11 is taken as an example). In such a case, it operates as a device that relays communication of the other communication device.

Thus, in the communication device 11 according to the present embodiment, the communication efficiency in the other communication devices 12 and 13 can be controlled to improve the communication efficiency.
For example, in the communication device 11, a desired communication route can be selected from among a plurality of communication routes via the own communication device 11 and the other communication devices 12, 13. It can be made selectable or used simultaneously. For this reason, in the communication device 11, even in an environment where the quality or the like of a certain communication path is temporarily or deteriorated over a long period of time, it is possible to use a communication path that the other communication apparatuses 12 and 13 have or It is possible to find and use a communication path suitable for communication by using a combination of the path and the communication path of the own communication device 11. Therefore, for example, stable and high-speed communication is possible as compared with the conventional communication method.

As a comparison technique with respect to this embodiment, there is a technique for performing communication via a mobile router or the like. This is a technique for performing communication by completely switching the communication path to the mobile router, as in this embodiment. The communication path of the communication apparatus 11 and the communication paths of the other communication apparatuses 12 and 13 are simultaneously controlled to communicate with each other.
In addition, MANET is available as a comparison technique with respect to the present embodiment, which uses distributed control in which communication is performed by selecting a communication path in each device via communication. This is different from that in which the communication device 11 that is the starting point of the communication realizes communication by centralized control that controls all communication paths.

As one configuration example, a communication unit 111 that communicates wirelessly with the wireless base station device 21, an inter-communication device communication unit 112 that directly communicates wirelessly with another communication device 12, and itself and a communication partner (server device 31) The communication apparatus 11 includes a control unit 114 that determines a communication path that passes through the other communication apparatus 12 and performs communication using the determined communication path.
As an example of the configuration, the control unit 114 determines a communication path that passes through the other communication device 12 and another communication device 13 subsequent thereto between itself and the communication partner.
As an example of the configuration, the control unit 114 acquires information on a communication path from another communication device 12 and determines a communication path based on the acquired information.
As an example of the configuration, the control unit 114 determines a communication path based on communication speed information.
As an example of the configuration, the control unit 114 acquires information regarding the network (communication network 41) from the radio base station apparatus 21, and determines a communication path based on the acquired information.
In addition, a method (for example, a communication method) performed by the communication devices 11 to 13 according to the present embodiment, a computer program (for example, a communication program) executed by the communication devices 11 to 13 according to the present embodiment, It is also possible to implement the communication system 1 including the communication devices 11 to 13 and the radio base station devices 21 to 23 according to the present embodiment.
Further, as one configuration example, a second communication device (for example, a radio base station device 21) that communicates with a first communication device (for example, the communication device 11) by radio, the first communication device being a first communication device 2 communicates wirelessly with another communication device, directly communicates with another communication device (for example, communication device 12) wirelessly, and passes through the other communication device between itself and a communication partner (for example, server device 31). A communication path to be determined is determined, and communication is performed using the determined communication path.

Here, a program for realizing the function of each device (for example, the communication devices 11 to 13) according to the above-described embodiment is recorded (stored) in a computer-readable recording medium (storage medium), Processing may be performed by causing a computer system to read and execute a program recorded on the recording medium.
The “computer system” herein may include hardware such as an operating system (OS) and peripheral devices. The “computer-readable recording medium” refers to a writable nonvolatile memory such as a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disk, a ROM, and a flash memory, a portable medium such as a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), and a built-in computer system. A storage device such as a hard disk.
Further, the “computer-readable recording medium” refers to a volatile memory (for example, DRAM (DRAM) inside a computer system that becomes a server or a client when a program is transmitted through a network such as the Internet or a communication line such as a telephone line. Dynamic Random Access Memory)) that holds a program for a certain period of time is also included.
The program may be transmitted from a computer system storing the program in a storage device or the like to another computer system via a transmission medium or by a transmission wave in the transmission medium. Here, the “transmission medium” for transmitting the program refers to a medium having a function of transmitting information, such as a network (communication network) such as the Internet or a communication line (communication line) such as a telephone line.
Further, the above program may be for realizing a part of the functions described above. Further, the above program may be a so-called difference file (difference program) that can realize the above-described functions in combination with a program already recorded in the computer system.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was explained in full detail with reference to drawings, the concrete structure is not restricted to this embodiment, The design change etc. of the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention are included.

1, 201, 301: Communication system, 11-13, 211-213, 311-313, 511-513, 611-612 ... Communication device, 21-23, 221-226, 321-326 ... Radio base station device, 31 521, 621 ... server device, 41 ... communication network, 111 ... communication unit, 112 ... communication device communication unit, 113 ... storage unit, 114, 261, 411-413 ... control unit, 131 ... communication path information acquisition unit, 132 ... Information analysis unit, 133 ... Communication control unit, 1001, 1011 ... Log information, 1021 ... Direct communication information, 1022 ... Rear communication information, a1-a2, a11-a12, a21-a22 ... Subflow, b1-b2, b11-b12, b21-b22, c1-c2, c11-c12, c21-c22 ... communication path, 2001, 2011, 2101, 111 ... processing timing

Claims (9)

A communication unit that communicates wirelessly with a radio base station device;
A communication unit between communication devices that directly communicates with other communication devices wirelessly;
A control unit that determines a communication path via the other communication device between itself and a communication partner, and performs communication using the determined communication path;
A communication device comprising: The control unit determines a communication path that passes between the other communication device and the other communication device subsequent thereto between itself and the communication partner.
The communication apparatus according to claim 1. The control unit acquires information on a communication path from the other communication device, and determines a communication path based on the acquired information.
The communication apparatus according to any one of claims 1 and 2. The control unit determines a communication path based on communication speed information as the information.
The communication apparatus according to claim 3. The control unit acquires information about the network from the radio base station device, and determines a communication path based on the acquired information.
The communication apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4. Communicate wirelessly with wireless base station equipment,
Communicate directly with other communication devices wirelessly,
Determine a communication path via the other communication device between itself and a communication partner, and perform communication using the determined communication path;
Communication method. Communicating wirelessly with a wireless base station device;
Communicating directly with other communication devices wirelessly;
Determining a communication path via the other communication device between itself and a communication partner, and performing communication using the determined communication path;
A communication program for causing a computer to execute. A communication device and a radio base station device;
The communication device communicates wirelessly with a wireless base station device, directly communicates with other communication devices wirelessly, and determines a communication path via the other communication device between itself and a communication partner. Using the specified communication path,
The radio base station apparatus communicates with the communication apparatus by radio.
Communications system. A second communication device that communicates wirelessly with the first communication device;
The first communication device communicates wirelessly with the second communication device, directly communicates with other communication devices wirelessly, and establishes a communication path via the other communication device between itself and a communication partner. Determine and communicate using the determined communication path,
The second communication device.

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