JP3173595B2 - How the broadcast system responds - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a response method of a broadcast system, and more particularly, to a response method of a broadcast system that broadcasts responses according to different timings or a predetermined order for each terminal.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Broadcast communication (broadcast simultaneous communication) is performed on a network. The network connects between a server and a plurality of terminals and between a plurality of terminals. In the broadcast communication, a terminal that has received a broadcast message broadcasts a confirmation message informing another terminal of the fact of reception via a server.

If the timing at which a plurality of terminals broadcast confirmation messages concentrates on a time within a certain time width, a trouble occurs that a communication load increases. Techniques for avoiding such obstacles are known. Such a technique discloses a response method for transmitting a response in a predetermined time domain or in a predetermined time domain order for each terminal, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 5-327734.

[0004] Further, other techniques for avoiding such obstacles are known. Such a technique is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 9-261.
No. 255 discloses a response method in which the response order is calculated by random numbers. Generally, in order to reduce the communication load, it is sufficient to shift the response timing. However, determining the transmission order every time the broadcast communication is performed increases the load on each terminal or server and increases the load on the network. This causes a new load that the traffic increases.

It is desirable to determine the communication order with a minimum load. In particular, it is desired that not only the load on the network be reduced but also the increase in the load of the broadcast control of the own terminal be minimized by performing its own response while knowing the response status of the terminal other than the own terminal. Further, it is desired to optimize the time until all the terminals complete the response.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a response method of a broadcast system which can determine a communication order with a smaller load. Another object of the present invention is to provide a response method of a broadcast system that can determine a communication order with a minimum load. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a response method of a broadcast system that can reduce the load on a network and minimize the increase in the load of broadcast control of its own terminal. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a response method of a broadcast system that can determine a communication order with a smaller load and optimize a time until all terminals complete a response.

[0007]

Means for solving the problem are indicated in the following description in which the means for solving the problem are expressed according to the claims. It shows that it corresponds to the member, the process, and the operation of at least one of a plurality of forms of the present invention.
It is not intended to be interpreted as being limited to operations, but to clarify their correspondence.

A response method of a broadcast system according to the present invention comprises a server (1), a plurality of terminals (2), and a network (3) provided between the plurality of terminals (2) via the server (1). A method of responding to a broadcast system wherein a broadcast message is broadcast over a network (3), wherein the plurality of terminals (2) respond to broadcast messages in different response time ranges uniquely defined. It comprises a response step for making each of the plurality of terminals (2) perform a broadcast response.

In this way, since the response time corresponding to the unique number of the terminal is set by the terminal itself, no load is applied to the entire network (3). The response step is
Preferably, when one of the plurality of terminals (2) receives the broadcast message, the terminal (2-n) includes a response time range setting step for determining a response time range corresponding to its own unique address number n. . The own address number is not given from the network (3) system.

Preferably, in the response time range setting step, the response time range is set to (n-1) t using the unique address number n. Here, t is a design constant of the system or a design constant of a system included in the system. The response time zone setting step further includes the step of: when one of the terminals (2-n) receives a broadcast message from another of the terminals (2) (2-k). If nk> 1 using the address number k of the other terminal (2-k), one terminal (2-k)
In n), it is particularly preferable to set the response time range to (nk-1) t in order to optimize the entire response time.

The broadcast response system according to the present invention comprises a server (1), a plurality of terminals (2), and a network provided between the plurality of terminals (2) via the server (2). (3) In the responding apparatus of the broadcast system in which the broadcast message is broadcasted, each of the plurality of terminals (2) includes a detecting unit for detecting an address number n of the plurality of terminals (2);・
Setting means for setting its own response time range when a message is received, and the setting means sets a unique response time range corresponding to its own address number n.

Using the own address number n and the other address number k, the unique response time range corresponding to the own address number n is preferably (n-1) t for optimization. The user is the terminal (2) of the plurality of terminals (2).
When the broadcast message is received from -k), if nk> 1, it is preferable that the self sets its response time range to (nk-1) t for further optimization.

The response method of the broadcast system according to the present invention, in other words, is a step of broadcasting a response to a broadcast message transmitted on a network at a specific timing corresponding to a number specific to a terminal.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In accordance with FIG. 1, an embodiment of a method for responding to a broadcast system according to the present invention is shown in a network system in which a broadcast takes place. The network system is a communication system including a server 1, a plurality of clients 2 as terminals, and a network 3. The plurality of clients 2 include client 2-1 and client 2-
2,..., A client 2- (n−1) and a client 2n as elements, and broadcast communication can be performed between arbitrary plural elements. Arbitrary two clients are represented by subscripts 2-k and 2-n below. The broadcast communication can be performed via the server 1.

The server 1 includes a server-side controller 4 that performs all processes for performing broadcast communication. The server-side controller 4 has a receiving function of receiving a broadcast message and a transmitting function of broadcasting a transmission message. The client 2-n includes an address check unit 5 for detecting the address As of another plurality of clients. The address check unit 5 can also detect the address of the server 1. The address of the server 1 is zero, and the addresses of the clients 2-1... 2-n are 1,. Such an address is unique and invariable for each client 2 unless there is a special situation and the address is not changed.

The client 2-n further includes a response time range calculator 6 for calculating and determining a response time range before transmitting its own acknowledgment by broadcast when receiving the broadcast message. I have. The response time range calculator 6 has a timer function. The client 2-n further includes a client-side controller 7 that performs all processes for performing broadcast communication. The client-side control unit 7 has a receiving function of receiving a broadcast message and a transmitting function of broadcasting a transmission message.

The message contains a source address As and a destination address Ad. If the message is a broadcast message, Ad = FF, and if the message is a message addressed to the client 2-n, Ad = n. The address check unit 5
It has a first check function for checking the destination address Ad of the received message and a second check function for checking the source address As.

FIG. 2 shows a time table of the broadcast response. The initial state of the client 2-n is indicated by status0. Client 2-
n receives the message as Event1, and
When (d = FF) is detected, the response time (n-1) t is set in the response time range calculator 6 having the timer function. Here, t is a design constant given to the communication network.

The design constant t is set to be larger than the maximum value of the time required for a message transmitted by a certain client to reach another client. However,
Exceptionally, the client 2-1 broadcasts an immediate response message by Event 1 and
The status0 is controlled so as not to move to the status1.

The client 2-n uses the preceding equation (Ad = FF)
And the response time range calculator 6 sends the response time (n-1) t
Is set, its Status0 is set to Status
Move to state 1. Client 2 in Status1
When -n receives a broadcast message (response to a message from server 1) from another client 2-k, that is, when Event2 occurs, As = k, and client 2-n has n -K>
If it is 1, the response time range calculation unit 6 sends the response time range (nk)
-1) t is reset. If nk <= 1, broadcast a response immediately and return to Status0.

In status 1, no response message is received from any other client, and the response timer (n-1)
If t has timed out, that is, if the state has shifted to Event 3, an immediate response is broadcast and transmitted.
The status returns to Status0.

In such a case, the client 2-
, 2-n are reset to t, (n-1) t, nt, respectively, and the order in which the responses are transmitted is the client 2-1,. The order of the client 2- (n-1) and the client 2-n is as follows.

The maximum value of the time required for a message transmitted by a client to reach another client is t2
Expressed by Naturally, t2 <t. The time from when the server 1 sends a broadcast message to when all clients finish sending a response is calculated as follows.

1. 1. When all the response transmissions of the client 2 are possible: n · t2 When only the client 2- (n-1) is out of order and each of the other clients can send a response: Client 2-1 to client 2- (n-
The time at which the client finishes transmitting up to 2) is (n-
2) t2. The time from when the client 2- (n-2) transmits a response to when the client 2-n transmits a response is {n- (n-2) -1} .t. It is. The time required for the client 2-n to transmit a response is the sum of the two times, and is expressed as {(n-2) ·
t2 + t}. This value is optimally less than n · t and is minimized.

In such an embodiment, each client transmits a response while checking the response transmission of another client in a state where each client does not transmit the response at the same time, so that the network load can be suppressed.
This eliminates the need to configure broadcast control for each terminal, which reduces the load on the entire network,
The time until all clients finish sending has been optimized.

FIG. 3 shows another time table of the broadcast response. When the client 2-n receives the message, detects the previous equation (Ad = FF), and sets the response time (n-1) t in the response time area calculation unit 6, the Status0 becomes the value of the Status1. Transition to the state. This time t is the time as described above. For the client 2-1, the above-mentioned exceptions are applied as they are.

If the response time in Time1 is over (Event2), the client 2-n
Sends an immediate response and returns to Status0. In this embodiment, a response message is transmitted in a response time range calculated in advance from its own address without checking a response message of another client. Therefore, the time from when the server 1 transmits the broadcast message to when all the clients complete the response transmission is calculated as follows regardless of the presence or absence of the failed client: t
2+ (n-1) t.

[0028]

According to the method for responding to a broadcast system or the responding device according to the present invention, the load on the entire network is reduced. In addition, the load on the own terminal is reduced. Furthermore, the overall response time is optimized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a method and apparatus for responding to a broadcast system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a time table of steps for determining a response time range.

FIG. 3 is another time table of Steps for determining a response time range.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Server 2 ... Plurality and terminal 2-n ... (n-th) one terminal (client) 3 ... Network 5 ... Detection means (Address check part) 6 ... Setting means (Response time area calculation part) n ... (Unique ) Address number t ... design constant (time)

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A method of responding to a broadcast system, comprising a server, a plurality of terminals, and a network interposed between the plurality of terminals via the server, wherein a broadcast message is broadcast on the network. A response step for causing the plurality of terminals to perform a broadcast response to the broadcast message in different response time ranges uniquely defined by the plurality of terminals, wherein the response step includes: When one of the terminals receives the broadcast message, the terminal further comprises a response time range setting step for determining the response time range in accordance with its own unique address number, wherein the response time range setting step comprises: When expressed, the response time range is set to (n-1) t Wherein the t is a time width as a design constant of the system, and the response time range setting step further comprises the step of setting one of the terminals to another of the terminals. When receiving a broadcast message from the terminal,
When the address number of the other terminal is represented by k, nk> 1
Then, the one terminal sets the response time range to (nk).
-1) setting the value to t. 2. A responding device for a broadcast system, comprising: a server, a plurality of terminals, and a network interposed between the plurality of terminals via the server, wherein a broadcast message is broadcast on the network. Each of the plurality of terminals comprises: detecting means for detecting the address numbers of the plurality of terminals; and setting means for setting its own response time range when receiving the broadcast message; The means sets a unique response time range corresponding to the address number of the own device. When the address number of the own device is represented by n and the other address numbers are represented by k, the unique response time range corresponding to the address number of the own device is provided. The above response time range is expressed by (n-1) t, where t represents a time width as a design constant of the system. When the self receives a broadcast message from another terminal of the plurality of terminals, the address number of the other terminal is represented by k. A broadcast response system, wherein a response time range is set to (nk-1) t.