JP2020053800A - Communication control device, communication control method and communication control system - Google Patents

Abstract

To enable communication control in which priority is given on the basis of each specific terminal.SOLUTION: A reception unit receives a priority request which is a request for the priority use of a network from a terminal connected to the network. A setting unit performs priority setting, which is the setting of a bandwidth to be used in priority by a terminal, to which the priority request is received, and usable time, to a network switch in which a bandwidth to be used when communicating is set to the plurality of terminals connected to the network. By this, priority communication control on the basis of each terminal such as a user terminal currently in use for business can be performed. Also, the network switch load can be reduced remarkably in comparison with a case when the network switch performs priority communication control. Further, a low-cost terminal becomes usable in comparison with a case when a priority communication control function is provided on the terminal itself, and thus, overall system cost can be reduced.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

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

  Today, with the development of communication technology, various types of data are communicated via networks. Here, when the same network is used by many users, data exceeding the processing amount of the switch may flow on the network. In this case, it becomes difficult to perform data processing by the switch, so that the communication speed is reduced. For example, there is a problem that the work of a user who uses a network for business is hindered.

  As a technique for solving such a problem, a QoS (Quality of Service) that enables specific data to be preferentially communicated by a switch is known. This QoS determines an application based on a destination IP (Internet Protocol) address or a TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) / UDP (User Datagram Protocol) port number, and provides a service when a communication delay occurs, such as voice or video. Data that degrades quality (data where data continuity is important) is preferentially communicated.

  In general, QoS control is performed on the network side. However, in the case of a mobile terminal whose network changes due to movement, it is not efficient to leave the QoS control on the network side. For this reason, in the terminal disclosed in Patent Document 1 (Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2009-105949), in a mobile network using wireless technology, a terminal (switch) of a user who receives a service changes the state of the network. It receives and makes QoS settings while making its own judgment. As a result, the terminal at the terminal receiving the service can handle the QoS.

  However, in the conventional QoS control, it is possible to preferentially set communication for each application such as voice or video, but it is difficult to preferentially set communication for a specific terminal such as a business use terminal. . That is, it has been difficult to perform QoS control on a specific terminal basis. For this reason, when an application that handles a moving image is executed on a non-business use terminal, there has been a disadvantage that communication of the non-business use terminal has priority over the business use terminal.

  In the case of the technology disclosed in Patent Literature 1, QoS control can be performed for each terminal, but QoS control is performed for each specific terminal, for example, QoS control is performed only for business use terminals. It is difficult. For this reason, the same disadvantages as described above occur.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and has as its object to provide a communication control device, a communication control method, and a communication control system that enable priority-based communication control in a specific terminal unit.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the present invention provides a receiving unit that receives a priority request that is a request for preferential use of a network from a terminal connected to the network, and a plurality of terminals connected to the network. A setting unit for setting a priority used as a setting of a bandwidth and an available time that a terminal that has received a priority request gives priority to a network switch that sets a bandwidth used for communication. And

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, there exists an effect that priority-based communication control for a specific terminal unit can be enabled.

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a communication control system according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a QoS management controller provided in the communication control system according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a processing mode of a priority request that is a request for a priority communication setting transmitted from a user terminal to a QoS management controller in the communication control system according to the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram illustrating a flow of a priority request processing operation of the communication control system according to the embodiment when there is no collision of a priority request of a user terminal. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a system operation of the communication control system according to the embodiment in which, when priority requests from a plurality of user terminals collide, QoS control is performed with priority given to user terminals in operation. FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram illustrating a flow of operation of the communication control system according to the embodiment in which, when priority requests from a plurality of user terminals collide, processing of the priority request is performed based on whether or not the business is in operation. is there. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating a system operation of the communication control system according to the embodiment in which, when priority requests from a plurality of user terminals collide, QoS control is performed based on the number of past priority changes. FIG. 8 is a sequence diagram illustrating a flow of a system operation of the communication control system according to the embodiment in which, when priority requests from a plurality of user terminals collide, QoS control is performed based on the number of prioritized priority changes.

  Hereinafter, a communication control system according to an embodiment to which a communication control device, a communication control method, and a communication control system are applied will be described.

(System configuration)
FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a communication control system according to an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, in the communication control system, one or a plurality of user terminals 1 are connected to a network 3 such as the Internet via a network switch 2 (hereinafter simply referred to as a switch 2). A QoS management controller 4 that performs switching control (QoS control) of the switch 2 is connected between the switch 2 and the network 3.

  The user terminal 1 is a QoS control target by the switch 2 and the QoS management controller 4. The switch 2 is an example of a network switch, and has a QoS changing unit 11. The switch 2 performs setting control (QoS control) of the user terminal 1 that can be preferentially communicable according to an instruction from the QoS management controller 4.

  The QoS management controller 4 includes an HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol) server 15, a priority setting unit 16, a priority request collision detection unit 17, and a user terminal information storage unit 18.

  The HTTP server 15 is an example of a receiving unit, and receives a priority request from the user terminal 1 that is a request for preferential use of the network 3. The priority setting unit 16 is an example of a setting unit, and refers to the user information stored in the user terminal information storage unit 18 and sets the priority for the user terminal 1 that has received the priority request in the HTTP server 15. Is set to the switch 2. The priority request collision detection function 17 is an example of a discrimination unit. When a priority request is received from a plurality of user terminals 1 at the same time or within a short time such as within 5 seconds (priority request collision), this is determined. It detects and notifies the priority setting unit 16. When such a priority request collision occurs, the priority setting unit 16 selects one of the user terminals 1 based on a selection condition described later, and sets the priority of each user terminal 1 in the switch 2. Make the settings for

  Here, the “priority” means a bandwidth of a communication line used by each user terminal 1 controlled by the switch 2 for communication. Also, if a wide bandwidth is set, high-speed communication becomes possible, and if the bandwidth is narrowed, the communication speed becomes low. Therefore, it should be understood that the bandwidth and the communication speed are synonymous. The priority setting unit 16 sets the bandwidth permitted to be used for each user terminal 1 in the switch 2 as the priority.

(Hardware configuration of QoS management controller)
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the QoS management controller 4. As shown in FIG. 2, the QoS management controller 4 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 21, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 22, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 23, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 24, and a communication unit 25. Have. The communication unit 25 performs communication with each user terminal 1 and with the switch 2.

  The ROM 22 stores an operation system (OS). The CPU 21 controls the operation of the entire QoS management controller 4 according to the OS. The HDD 24 stores a communication control program for performing QoS control. The CPU 21 reads the communication control program, expands the HTTP server 15, the priority setting unit 16, and the priority request collision detection unit 17 in the RAM 23 and executes them.

  Further, the HDD 24 is provided with a storage area for the user terminal information storage unit 18. The user terminal information storage unit 18 includes a business terminal management table 31 for performing QoS management of the business user terminal 1 and a priority change for managing the number of times the priority of each user terminal 1 is changed. A frequency table 32 is stored. Note that the “table” means a storage area. The HDD 24 is an example of a storage unit.

  In this example, the HTTP server 15 to the priority request collision detection unit 17 are realized by software. However, some or all of them may be realized by hardware such as an IC (Integrated Circuit). Good. Further, the functions realized by the HTTP server 15 to the priority request collision detection unit 17 may be realized by a communication control program alone, by causing another program to execute a part of the processing, or indirectly using another program. The processing may be executed in a targeted manner.

  Further, the communication control program may be provided by being recorded in a recording medium readable by a computer device such as a CD-ROM or a flexible disk (FD) in a file in an installable format or an executable format. Further, the communication control program may be provided by being recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-R, a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk), a Blu-ray Disc (registered trademark), and a semiconductor memory. Further, the communication control program may be provided by being installed via a network such as the Internet, or may be provided by being previously incorporated in a ROM or the like in the device.

(Processing of priority request processing)
(When there is no conflicting user terminal)
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a processing mode of a priority request which is a request for a priority communication setting transmitted from the user terminal 1 to the QoS management controller 4 in the communication control system according to the embodiment. In FIG. 3, for example, when the user of the user terminal 1D desires the priority communication, the priority request time information indicating the priority request time is transmitted together with the priority request to the QoS management controller 4 via the user terminal 1D. I do.

  Upon receiving the priority request from the user terminal 1D, the QoS management controller 4 causes the switch 2 to preferentially communicate the user terminal 1D and sets the other user terminals 1A to 1C to non-priority. I do. Further, the QoS management controller 4 sets a possible priority time of, for example, 5 minutes for the switch 2 (QoS setting). When such a QoS setting is performed, the switch 2 causes the QoS changing unit 11 to perform communication from the user terminal 1D for a possible priority time such as 5 minutes, and communication between the other user terminals 1A to 1C. Process with higher priority.

  The flow of the processing operation of such a priority request is as shown in the sequence diagram of FIG. That is, when the user terminal 1D transmits a communication priority request to the QoS management controller 4 (step S1), the HTTP server 15 of the QoS management controller 4 issues a priority setting instruction to the priority setting unit 16 (step S1). S2).

  The priority setting unit 16 inquires of the collision detection unit 17 whether or not there is a priority request (collision) from the other user terminals 1A to 1C (step S3). The collision detection unit 17 determines whether there is a priority request from the other user terminals 1A to 1C (step S4). When the collision determination result indicating that there is no priority request from the other user terminals 1A to 1C is obtained (step S5), the priority setting unit 16 sets the priority of the user terminal 1D to the switch 2. Is performed (step S6).

  In the switch 2, the QoS changing unit 11 performs setting for reflecting the communication priority on the user terminal 1D (step S7), and after completing the setting, transmits a priority change completion notification to the priority setting unit 16. (Step S8). Upon receiving the priority change completion notification from the switch 2, the priority setting unit 16 requests the user terminal information storage unit 18 to update the priority change count (step S9). The user terminal information storage unit 18 changes the priority change count of the user terminal 1D among the user terminals 1A to 1D recorded in the priority change count table 32 by incrementing it by “1” (update processing). ) (Step S10). The priority change count of each of the user terminals 1A to 1D recorded in the priority change count table 32 is "0 (zero)" by default, and the priority is set each time the priority is set. The number of times the user terminal changes the priority is incremented by “1”.

  When the change of the number of priority changes of the user terminal 1D is completed in this way, the priority setting unit 16 completes the priority change completion indicating to the user terminal 1D via the HTTP server 15 that the change of the priority is completed. Notification is performed (step S11, step S12). Thereby, the user of the user terminal 1D can perform communication preferentially over the other user terminals 1A to 1C during a possible priority time such as 5 minutes.

(When priority requests from multiple user terminals collide)
(QoS setting based on whether or not work is in progress)
The example of FIG. 4 described above is an operation when it is determined that there is no priority request from another user terminal in the priority request collision determination in step S4. On the other hand, in the collision determination of the priority request in step S4, when a priority request from another user terminal is detected together with the priority request of the user terminal 1D, the system operation shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 is performed. .

  FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram schematically showing a system operation of performing QoS control with priority given to a user terminal in operation when a priority request of the user terminal 1D and a priority request of the user terminal 1C collide. is there. Upon detecting such a collision of the priority request, the QoS management controller 4 refers to the business terminal information stored in the business terminal management table 31 of the user terminal information storage unit 18.

  Specifically, the business terminal management table 31 stores the unique information (for example, a serial number or a mobile phone number) of each of the user terminals 1A to 1D and the business hours of each user associated with each of the unique information. Has a business time table stored as business terminal information. The QoS management controller 4 refers to the business terminal information in the business time table to determine whether the user terminal 1C and the user terminal 1D that have received the priority request are currently working or not working. Determine. The example of FIG. 5 is an example in which the user terminal 1C is not in business and the user terminal 1D is in business. In this case, the QoS management controller 4 sets the QoS for the switch 2 so that the communication of the user terminal 1D currently in business is prioritized.

  The flow of the priority request processing operation based on whether or not such a job is being performed is as shown in the sequence diagram of FIG. In the sequence diagram of FIG. 6, portions showing the same operations as those in the sequence diagram of FIG. 4 are denoted by the same step numbers, and redundant description is omitted. In the sequence diagram of FIG. 6, when the collision detection unit 17 determines the collision of the priority request in step S <b> 4, and obtains the collision determination result indicating that the collision of the priority request from a plurality of user terminals 1 has occurred. (Step S5), the priority setting unit 16 stores the business stored in the business terminal management table 31 of the user terminal information storage unit 18 based on the unique information of each user terminal 1 in which the collision of the priority request has occurred. The time table is referred to (Step S21, Step S22). Further, the priority setting unit 16 determines that the user terminal currently accepting the priority request is currently in business, based on the business time zone information included in the business terminal information stored in the business time table. It is determined whether or not. Then, the priority setting unit 16 sets the priority of the switch 2 so as to give priority to the communication of the user terminal currently in business (step S23).

  In the switch 2, the QoS changing unit 11 performs a setting for reflecting the communication priority on the user terminal designated by the priority setting unit 16 (step S24). Is transmitted to the priority setting unit 16 (step S25). Upon receiving the priority change completion notification from the switch 2, the priority setting unit 16 requests the user terminal information storage unit 18 to update the priority change count (step S26). The user terminal information storage unit 18 changes the priority change count of the user terminal 1D among the user terminals 1A to 1D recorded in the priority change count table 32 by incrementing by “1” (step). S27).

  When the change of the number of priority changes of the user terminal 1D is completed in this way, the priority setting unit 16 completes the priority change completion indicating to the user terminal 1D via the HTTP server 15 that the change of the priority is completed. Notification is performed (step S28, step S29). Thereby, the user of the user terminal 1D can perform communication preferentially over the other user terminals 1A to 1C during a possible priority time such as 5 minutes.

(Random setting of QoS control)
In the examples shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the QoS setting is performed based on whether or not the business is in operation. However, when a plurality of priority requests collide, the priority setting unit 16 determines randomly. You may make it perform QoS setting with respect to a user terminal.

(QoS setting based on the number of priority changes)
As described above, the priority setting unit 16 increments the priority change count stored in the user terminal information storage unit 18 by "1" every time the user terminal priority change processing is performed. The priority setting unit 16 may perform QoS setting with reference to the priority change count. In this case, the system operation is as shown in FIGS.

  FIG. 7 shows a system in which when the priority request of the user terminal 1D collides with the priority request of the user terminal 1C, the QoS setting is performed by giving priority to the user terminal 1D having a small number of priority change times of each user terminal. It is a schematic diagram which shows operation | movement typically. When detecting such a collision of the priority request, the QoS management controller 4 refers to the priority change count information stored in the priority change count table 32 of the user terminal information storage unit 18.

  Specifically, in the priority change count table 32, priority change count information indicating the number of times the priority has been changed in the past is stored for each user terminal. The QoS management controller 4 refers to the priority change count table 32 to detect the past priority change counts of the user terminal 1C and the user terminal 1D that have received the priority request. The example shown in FIG. 7 is an example in which the number of past priority changes of the user terminal 1C is 30 times and the number of past priority changes of the user terminal 1D is 5 times.

  As an example, the QoS management controller 4 selects the user terminal whose past priority change count is smaller, and instructs the switch 2 to perform the QoS setting for this user terminal. In the example shown in FIG. 7, the number of past priority changes of the user terminal 1C is 30 times, and the number of past priority changes of the user terminal 1D is 5 times. For this reason, the QoS management controller 4 performs the QoS setting for the switch 2 so as to give priority to the communication of the user terminal 1D, which has the smaller number of priority changes. As a result, the number of times of QoS setting for each user terminal can be averaged, and fairness of the system can be ensured.

  In this example, the QoS setting is performed for the user terminal having the smaller priority change count, but the QoS setting may be performed for the user terminal having the larger priority change count. Alternatively, the QoS may be set for a user terminal whose priority change number is equal to or more than a predetermined number or less than a predetermined number.

  The flow of the priority request processing operation based on the priority change count is as shown in the sequence diagram of FIG. In the sequence diagram of FIG. 8, portions showing the same operations as those in the sequence diagram of FIG. 4 are denoted by the same step numbers, and redundant description will be omitted. In the sequence diagram of FIG. 8, when the collision detection unit 17 determines the collision of the priority request in step S4, the collision detection unit 17 obtains the collision determination result indicating that the collision of the priority request from a plurality of user terminals has occurred ( In step S5), the priority setting unit 16 refers to the priority change count table 32 in the user terminal information storage unit 18 (step S31, step S32). Further, the priority setting unit 16 determines the number of times of priority change of each user terminal that is currently receiving a priority request, based on the number of times of priority change stored in the number of times of priority change table. Then, the priority setting unit 16 sets the priority of the switch 2 so as to give priority to the communication of the user terminal with the smallest number of priority changes (step S33). In the example of FIG. 7, the priority setting unit 16 sets the priority for the switch 2 so that the communication of the user terminal 1D has priority.

  In the switch 2, the QoS changing unit 11 performs a setting for reflecting the communication priority for the user terminal specified by the priority setting unit 16 (step S34). Is transmitted to the priority setting unit 16 (step S35). Upon receiving the priority change completion notification from the switch 2, the priority setting unit 16 requests the user terminal information storage unit 18 to update the priority change count (step S36). The user terminal information storage unit 18 increments the number of priority change of the user terminal for which the priority setting has been performed among the user terminals 1A to 1D recorded in the priority change number table 32 by "1". (Step S37).

  When the change of the number of times of the priority change is completed, the priority setting unit 16 notifies the user terminal 1D via the HTTP server 15 of the priority change completion indicating that the change of the priority has been completed (step S12). S38, step S39). As a result, the user of the user terminal for which the priority is set can communicate with priority over other user terminals for a possible priority time of, for example, 5 minutes.

  The switch 2 cancels the priority setting after the elapse of the priority allowable time. In addition, the above-described priority setting based on “random”, “whether or not in business” and “number of priority changes” may be performed by selecting any one of them, or may be performed by combining some of them. May be.

(Effects of Embodiment)
As is clear from the above description, the communication system according to the embodiment includes the QoS management controller 4 that controls the QoS of the user terminal on the network 3. The QoS management controller 4 performs QoS control by setting a priority and a possible priority time in the switch 2 for each user terminal. As a result, QoS control can be performed for each terminal such as a user terminal during business use.

  Further, since the QoS management controller 4 performs QoS control, the load on the switch 2 can be significantly reduced as compared with the case where the switch 2 performs QoS control. In addition, compared to a case where the user terminal 1 has a QoS control function of making a judgment by itself, an inexpensive user terminal 1 can be used, and the cost of the entire system can be reduced.

  Further, the QoS management controller 4 receives the priority request and the desired priority time transmitted from the user terminal 1, sets the priority for the user terminal 1 which has made the priority request, and sets the priority possible time. Make settings. When priority requests from a plurality of user terminals are simultaneously received (or a plurality of priority requests are received within a predetermined time), the QoS management controller 4 selects a user selected at random from among the user terminals 1 which have simultaneously received the priority requests. The priority is set for the terminal 1.

  Alternatively, the QoS management controller 4 refers to the business time table stored in the business terminal management table of the user terminal information storage unit 18 and, among the user terminals 1 that have simultaneously received the priority request, is currently in business. Of the user terminal 1 is set. This makes it possible to provide a communication service capable of maintaining a truly necessary communication quality of the user terminal 1.

  Alternatively, the QoS management controller 4 refers to the priority change count table 32 of the user terminal information storage unit 18, and among the user terminals 1 that have simultaneously received the priority request, the past priority change count is the smallest. Priority setting is performed for the user terminal 1. As a result, the number of times of priority setting for each user terminal can be averaged, and fairness of the system can be secured.

  Finally, the above-described embodiments have been presented by way of example, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. This new embodiment can be implemented in other various forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. The embodiments and the modifications of the embodiments are included in the scope and the gist of the invention, and are included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 User terminal 2 Switch 3 Network 4 QoS management controller 11 QoS changing unit 15 HTTP server 16 Priority setting unit 17 Priority request collision detection unit 18 User terminal information storage unit 31 Business terminal management table 32 Priority change count table

JP 2009-105949 A

Claims (6)

From a terminal connected to a network, a receiving unit that receives a priority request that is a request for priority use of the network,
A plurality of terminals connected to the network, the bandwidth used when performing communication, the network switch to set each, the bandwidth that the terminal that received the priority request preferentially used and available A setting unit for performing a priority setting which is a time setting;
A communication control device having: Simultaneously or within a predetermined short time, received by the receiving unit, a determination unit that determines the presence or absence of the priority request from a plurality of terminals,
When the determination unit determines that the priority request has been received from a plurality of terminals, the setting unit randomly selects, from the terminals that have received the priority request, the network switch. The communication control device according to claim 1, wherein the priority setting is performed for a terminal that has been set. Simultaneously or within a predetermined short time, received by the receiving unit, a determination unit that determines the presence or absence of the priority request from a plurality of terminals,
A storage unit in which the unique information of the terminal and business time zone information indicating a business time zone of a user who uses the terminal are stored in association with each terminal,
When the determining unit determines that the priority request has been received from the plurality of terminals, the setting unit refers to the storage unit based on the unique information of each terminal that has received the priority request. Detecting the business time zone information of each terminal that has received the priority request, and performing the priority setting for the network switch for the terminal that is detected to be within business hours by the business time zone information. The communication control device according to claim 1, wherein: Simultaneously or within a predetermined short time, received by the receiving unit, a determination unit that determines the presence or absence of the priority request from a plurality of terminals,
A storage unit in which the unique information of the terminal and the set number of times that the bandwidth and the available time that can be used with priority are set are stored in association with each terminal,
The setting unit updates the setting number stored in the storage unit of the terminal in which the bandwidth and the available time that are preferentially used are set, and the determination unit performs a plurality of the setting operations. When it is determined that the priority request has been received from the terminal, the set number of times of each terminal that has received the priority request is referred to by referring to the storage unit based on the unique information of each terminal that has received the priority request. Detecting and performing the priority setting for the network switch with respect to a terminal having the least number of detections, a terminal having the highest number of detections, a terminal having a predetermined number of times or more, or a terminal having a number of times less than the predetermined number. Item 2. The communication control device according to item 1. Multiple devices,
A plurality of terminals connected to a network, a network switch for setting a bandwidth used when performing communication,
A communication control system comprising: the communication control device according to any one of claims 1 to 4. A receiving unit for receiving, from a terminal connected to the network, a priority request that is a request for preferential use of the network,
A setting unit configured to set a bandwidth to be used for communication with the plurality of terminals connected to the network, to a network switch to set each of the bandwidths; A setting step of setting a priority which is a setting of a width and a usable time.

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