JP3453120B2 - Communication service condition control method and apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a communication service condition (Q) such as communication speed and delay time in a computer communication system for performing communication between computers via a communication line.
oS: Quality of Service control method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In computer communication systems for performing communication between computers via communication lines, various systems have been developed for performing communication under communication service conditions suitable for each content and application. Among computer communications, IP communications using IP (Internet Protocol) are widely used as the Internet, intranets, or extranets.

Conventionally, IP communication has generally been a communication form called best effort in which communication service conditions such as communication speed and delay time are not guaranteed. However, with the spread of IP communication, good response time, wide band, and real time have been achieved. Since it has been applied to contents or applications that require the property, control of communication service conditions adapted to various contents and applications has come to be required.

In IP communication, typical methods of controlling communication service conditions include a method using Diffserve (priority control for each flow type) and Intserve (setting of bandwidth guaranteed connection). Diffserv
The method according to e depends on a plurality of communication service conditions by classifying the packets into a plurality of groups using the value of a specific field in the header of the IP packet as a key and defining the handling method in the IP network for each group. It provides communication.

The rules for classifying packets into groups and how to handle packets belonging to each group are described in I.
It is set in the transfer device in the P network. When a user communicates under a specific communication service condition, the IP field is previously set in a specific field in the header of the packet to be transmitted.
You need to explicitly set a value that complies with the rules set in the network. Further, generally, the rule regarding the communication service condition set in the transfer device in the network cannot be changed by the user.

In the method by Intserve, RSV is used.
A virtual connection is set end-to-end using a connection setting protocol such as P (Resource Reservation Protocol).

When the RSVP connection setting request packet transmitted from the user terminal is interpreted and transferred by a plurality of transfer devices in the IP network, and the IP network has a capacity or capability that satisfies the required communication service condition. Only, a virtual connection that satisfies the required communication service condition is set between the user terminal and the target server or the opposite terminal.

In order for the user to set the communication service condition for each content or application, it is necessary to set the RSVP connection setting parameter prior to the communication.

On the other hand, in providing and using contents and applications on an IP network, HTML (Hyp) is used between a WWW (World Wide Web) server device and a WWW browser application in a user terminal.
er Text Markup Language)
A method based on a WWW system for exchanging by P (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol) is widely used. In the WWW system, the user uses the content or application provided on the IP network by clicking the hyperlink displayed in the window of the browser application.

[0010]

Among the above-mentioned conventional communication service condition control methods, the method by Intserve allows the user to control the communication service condition according to the content of the user, the content of the application, the importance, and the like. Although it is a method that can be set arbitrarily, typically, there is a problem that it is difficult for the user to use because a procedure for setting a connection is required prior to communication and the operation is complicated. Also, a method for automating the connection setting has been developed in order to reduce complexity, but this method requires modification of the existing application software, and there is a problem that the existing application software resources cannot be effectively used.

Further, regarding the use of RSVP, which is a typical example of the method by Intserve, there is a problem that the processing load of the transfer device in the IP network is high and it is difficult to increase the scale of the network. From these issues,
As an IP network service that is publicly provided, I
ntserve is hardly popular.

Therefore, as a method of controlling the communication service condition for each content or application in the large-scale wide area IP network, the method by Diffserve is relatively promising. However, in this method, the packet handling in the IP network is handled. Is generally specified for each protocol type used as a container in the network for contents and applications. The contents specified by the hyperlink on the WWW system, or the actual contents of the application, There is a problem that it is difficult to control the communication service conditions adapted to the content, the content of the application, the importance, etc., because there is no means for explicitly associating the importance with the handling in the IP network.

The present invention has been made against such a background, and when using the contents or the application menued by the hyperlinks on the WWW system, the IP can be used without any special operation by the user. Publicly provides control of communication service conditions such as communication speed and delay time, which are difficult to distinguish only by the type of protocol used as a container in the network, and the actual content of the content or application and the importance, etc. It is an object of the present invention to provide a communication service condition control method and device which can be realized in a large-scale wide area IP network.

[0014]

The present invention is characterized in that communication service conditions such as communication speed and delay time are changed in accordance with the contents of contents, contents of applications, importance of communication and the like. That is, (A) In order to solve such a problem, the following first method is proposed. That is, triggered by the user clicking a hyperlink to the content on the portal site in the WWW system, the content management unit in the WWW server sends the session connection parameter to the session control unit in the user terminal together with the information about the location of the content. Suggest ways to notify. (B) Also, the following second method is proposed. That is,
It is proposed that the session control unit in the user terminal, which has been notified of the session connection parameter, embeds the notified parameter in the session connection protocol and makes a call. (C) Also, the following third method is proposed. That is,
A session management unit in the IP network determines a flow control method using the session in the IP network based on the session connection parameter notified by the session connection protocol, and controls the behavior of the forwarding node in the IP network. Suggest a way to do it. (D) Further, the following fourth method is proposed. That is,
If the functional component of the session control unit in the user terminal does not exist or the version is old, the functional component is automatically activated when the user clicks the hyperlink to the content on the portal site. We propose a method to download from a WWW server to a user terminal. (E) Also, the following fifth method is proposed. That is,
PPP or PPPo as the session establishment protocol
We propose a method that uses verEthernet and uses Username, Realm (domain), Password, and the line number of the line that has received the session establishment protocol as the session connection authentication parameter. (F) Further, the following sixth method is proposed. That is,
IP configured by a transfer device having a virtual router function
Using a network, set a plurality of virtual networks corresponding to Realm (domain) information, set the traffic accommodation rate of each virtual network individually, and set the relative priority of traffic between each virtual network, or Alternatively, the IP network is set so that traffic interference does not occur between the respective virtual networks, the traffic priority designation method for the packets flowing into the virtual network is set, and the priority control of the packet based on the traffic priority in the virtual network is set. By setting a method and establishing a new session, the session management unit connects the session with a preset virtual network based on the Realm information exchanged by the session connection protocol, thereby We propose a method of providing communication service between the user terminal and the content server with multiple QoS grades in response separately. (G) Also, the following seventh method is proposed. That is,
A band management device that manages the band capacity for each virtual network is installed, and the session management unit in the IP network
Bandwidth management is performed by transmitting a session establishment completion notification to the bandwidth management unit in the bandwidth management device after the session establishment is completed, and by transmitting a session disconnection completion notification to the bandwidth management unit in the bandwidth management device when the session disconnection is completed. In this section, we propose a method to manage the number of connection sessions for each virtual network. (H) Further, the following eighth method is proposed. That is,
When the session is created, the session management unit that receives the session establishment protocol sends a connection request notification to a certain virtual network to the bandwidth management unit, and the bandwidth management unit that receives the connection request notification connects to the virtual network at that time. Based on the number of sessions in progress, determine whether to accept a new connection request. If the connection is accepted, send a connection permission notification to the session management section, or if the connection is not accepted, reject the connection. A method is proposed in which a notification is transmitted to the session management unit, and the session management unit that receives the notification connects or rejects the session according to the notification from the bandwidth management device.

That is, a first aspect of the present invention is a communication service condition control method, which is characterized in that the present invention is applied to an IP network service provided by a broadband constant connection type access line, and When the hyperlink to the content on the portal site in the WWW system is clicked by the user, the content management unit in the WWW server sets the session connection parameter to the session in the user terminal along with the information about the location of the content and the protocol for accessing the content. The session control unit in the user terminal notified to the control unit and notified of the session connection parameter makes a call by embedding the notified parameter in the session connection protocol, and the session management unit in the IP network notifies the session connection protocol. Based on the announced session connection parameters by, determine how to control the flow using the session in the IP network, IP
By controlling the behavior of the forwarding node in the network, a new session specialized for the use of the content selected by clicking the hyperlink is newly generated, and the user terminal is based on the control method suitable for the use of the content. And the content server to communicate.

At this time, the functional component of the session control unit in the user terminal does not exist, or
If the version is out of date, the user can click the hyperlink to the content on the portal site to trigger the WWW of the relevant functional component automatically.
It is desirable to download from the server to the user terminal.

Furthermore, the session establishment protocol has a PP
Using P or PPPoverEthernet
As the session connection parameter, Username,
It is desirable to use Realm (Domain) and Password.

[0018] Further, in the authentication at the time of session establishment, Us
ername, Realm (domain), Password
In addition to rd, the line number that received the session establishment protocol can also be used.

Furthermore, the Realm is used by using an IP network composed of a transfer device having a virtual router function.
Set multiple virtual networks corresponding to (domain) information, set the traffic capacity of each virtual network individually, and set the relative priority of traffic between each virtual network, or set each virtual network. Set up the IP network so that no traffic interference occurs between them, set the traffic priority designation method for packets flowing into the virtual network, and set the packet priority control method based on the traffic priority in the virtual network. When establishing a new session, the session management unit connects the session with a preset virtual network based on the Realm information exchanged by the session connection protocol, thereby providing a plurality of qualities according to the type of content. gray In it may also provide communication services between the user terminal and the content server.

Alternatively, using an IP network composed of a transfer device having a virtual router function, the Real
The configuration information of a plurality of virtual networks corresponding to m (domain) information is set in advance, the traffic capacity of each virtual network is set individually, and the relative priority of traffic between each virtual network is set individually. Set the relative priority of traffic between each virtual network, or set the IP network so that traffic interference does not occur between each virtual network, and traffic to packets flowing into the virtual network. When a new session is established, a priority specification method is set, a packet priority specification method based on traffic priority in the virtual network is set, and a packet priority control method based on traffic priority in the virtual network is set. In the session tube Based on the Realm information exchanged by the session connection protocol, the virtual network is generated in the IP network based on the preset virtual network configuration information, the session is connected, and the session is disconnected. By deleting the virtual network from the IP network, the communication service between the user terminal and the content server can be provided in a plurality of quality grades according to the type of content.

Further, a band management device for managing the band capacity of each virtual network is installed, and the session management unit in the IP network transmits a session establishment completion notification to the band management unit in the band management device after completion of session establishment. Further, when the session disconnection is completed, the bandwidth management unit can manage the number of connection sessions for each virtual network by transmitting a session disconnection completion notification to the bandwidth management unit in the bandwidth management device.

Further, at the time of session generation, the session management unit that has received the session establishment protocol transmits a connection request notification to a certain virtual network to the band management unit, and the band management unit that has received the connection request notification makes the current time. Based on the number of sessions connected to the virtual network, determine whether to accept a new connection request,
When accepting the connection, send a connection permission notification to the session management section, or when not accepting the connection,
It is also possible to send a connection refusal notification to the session management unit, and the session management unit that has received the notification can connect or reject the session according to the notification from the bandwidth management device.

Further, a plurality of content servers that provide the same content are installed at physically separated locations,
Set up a separate virtual network for each content server, and the WWW server manages the location of each user, the grade of subscription service, the bandwidth of each virtual network, the number of simultaneous connection sessions, or the simultaneous connection of each virtual network. The number of sessions is acquired from the bandwidth management device, and when the user clicks a hyperlink on the portal site, the location of the user requesting the target content, the grade of the subscription service, the bandwidth of the virtual network, and the target content are displayed. Based on the number of connection sessions at the requested time, select the content server that communicates with the user terminal from the multiple content servers installed, and set the session connection parameter for communicating with the selected content server to the user terminal. notification Rukoto can also.

A second aspect of the present invention is a WWW server device, which is a feature of the present invention, which is applied to an IP network service provided by a broadband always-on access line and is used by a user in a WWW system. There is provided a content management means for notifying information about the location of the content and session connection parameters to the session control unit in the user terminal when a hyperlink to the content on the portal site is clicked.

Further, when the functional component of the session control unit in the user terminal does not exist or the version is old, the functional component is triggered by the user clicking the hyperlink to the content of the portal site. It is also possible to provide a means for automatically downloading from the WWW server to the user terminal.

Furthermore, the location of each user, the grade of the subscription service, the bandwidth of each virtual network, and the number of simultaneous connection sessions are managed, or the number of simultaneous connection sessions of each virtual network is acquired from the bandwidth management device, and the portal by the user. Based on the click of the hyperlink on the site, based on the location of the user requesting the target content and the grade of the subscription service, the bandwidth of the virtual network, and the number of connection sessions at the time the target content is requested, A means for selecting a content server that communicates with the user terminal from a plurality of installed content servers and notifying the user terminal of the session connection parameter for communicating with the selected content server may be provided.

A third aspect of the present invention is a user terminal device, which is characterized in that the present invention is applied to an IP network service provided by a broadband constant connection type access line, and a user's WWW portal. When the hyperlink to the content on the site is clicked, the session connection parameter notified from the content management unit in the WWW server is received together with the information about the location of the content, and the received session connection parameter is embedded in the session connection protocol. It is equipped with a means to make a call.

Further, when the functional component of the session control unit in the user terminal does not exist or the version is old, the functional component is triggered by the user clicking the hyperlink to the content of the portal site. It is also possible to provide a means for automatically downloading from the WWW server to the user terminal.

A fourth aspect of the present invention is an IP transfer device, which is characterized by being applied to an IP network service provided by a broadband constant connection type access line and receiving from a content management unit. The method for controlling the flow in the IP network that uses the session is determined based on the session connection parameter in the session connection protocol received from the user terminal device that makes the session connection request by embedding the session connection parameter in the session connection protocol. It is equipped with session management means.

Further, the session connection protocol has a PP
Using P or PPPoverEthernet
Username as a session connection authentication parameter
e, Realm (domain), Password, and the line number of the line that has received the session connection protocol, and based on the Realm information, session management means for determining the control method of the flow using the session in the network is provided. You can also

Alternatively, after the completion of session establishment, a session establishment completion notice is transmitted to the bandwidth management unit in the bandwidth management device, and when the session disconnection is completed, a session disconnection completion notice is transmitted to the bandwidth management unit in the bandwidth management device. Means can also be provided.

Further, when the session establishment protocol is received, a connection request notification is transmitted to the band management unit in the band management apparatus, and the session concerned is sent based on the connection permission notification or the connection refusal notification received from the band management unit as a response. It is also possible to provide a means for controlling the connection between the virtual network and

A fifth aspect of the present invention is a bandwidth management device, which is characterized by being applied to an IP network service provided by a broadband always-on access line, and a session in an IP network. It is provided with means for receiving the session establishment completion notification and the session disconnection completion notification from the management unit and managing the number of connected sessions for each virtual network.

Further, in response to the connection request notification received from the session management unit in the IP network, based on the information on the number of session connections to the virtual network managed by itself,
A means for estimating the resource consumption status in the virtual network, determining whether or not the requested session can be connected to the virtual network, and transmitting a connection permission notification or a connection refusal notification to the session management unit may be provided.

[0035]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of a communication service condition control method according to the present invention will be described below.

FIG. 1 shows a functional block configuration relating to an embodiment of a communication service condition control method. The user terminal device 10 is connected to the session terminating device 150 in the IP network 100 by the broadband access line 200. The user terminal device 10 is provided with a WWW browser unit 11, a session control unit 12, a PPP control unit 13, and an application unit 14.

The session terminating device 150 is provided with a session management section 151 and a PPP control section 153 and stores authentication information 152. In the authentication information 152 of the session terminating device 150, a set of Username, Password, and line number for which connection is permitted for each Realm, and identification information of a virtual network corresponding to Realm are stored. Us in the authentication information 152
ername, Password, and line number are
Wildcards, which mean that any value is allowed, can also be set. IP network 100
Is composed of a transfer device having a virtual router function, and includes a plurality of virtual networks 110, 120, 130, 140.
To set. Each virtual network sets its own band and relative priority, and by selecting a virtual network, it is possible to select a plurality of quality grades.

The WWW server device 20 connects the virtual network 14 in the IP network 100 through the line 300.
Connected to 0. The WWW server unit 20 is provided with a WWW server unit 21 and a content management unit 22, and an HTML document 23 for a personal portal, portal authentication information 24,
The PPP information 25 is accumulated and the HTML document is provided to the WWW browser section in the user terminal device.

The portal authentication information 24 includes User-ID and Pa for each individual portal as authentication information for access to the individual portal 60 in the WWW server device 20.
The password is stored. The PPP information 25 includes, as PPP session information used in accessing the content indicated by each hyperlink,
Userna for PPP session connection for each personal portal and for each hyperlink or content
me, Realm, Password are stored.

The connection bandwidth management device 30 is connected to the session terminating device 150 by a line 400. The bandwidth management device 30 is provided with a bandwidth management unit 31 and an acceptance determination unit 32, and stores bandwidth information 33, session information 34, and authentication information 35. The band information 33 stores information about band resources of the virtual network, but the information may be manually set by a network management device or may be automatically collected by an autonomous distributed protocol such as IGP.

The session information 34 stores, for each virtual network, information such as the number of sessions connected at a certain time and the service condition required by the session. The authentication information 35 of the bandwidth management device 30 is set when the session terminating device 150 does not hold the authentication information 152, and Usrname, Password, and a virtual network corresponding to Realm that allows connection for each Realm, Password, and line number. Identification information is stored.

Username in the authentication information 35
For e, Password, and line number, wildcards having the meaning of allowing any value can be set. If the session terminating device 150 does not hold the authentication information 152, the authentication information 35 of the bandwidth management device 30 is used to authenticate the session establishment request issued by the user terminal. The bandwidth management device 30 uses Use for authentication.
It is assumed that authentication parameters such as rname, Realm, Password, and line number are transmitted / received by an authentication protocol such as RADIUS protocol or COPS, or a policy setting protocol. The content server device 40 uses the line 500 to connect to the virtual network 110.
The content 41 is provided to the user terminal device 10.

When the user uses the intended content 41, the WWW is sent from the user terminal device 10 in advance.
It is necessary to be able to access the personal portal 60 of the server device 20.

As an example, the procedure when the user terminal device 10 accesses the content 41 will be described with reference to FIG. The user terminal device 10 transmits a PPP connection request for connecting to the virtual network 140 to the session termination device 150 (S1). Upon receiving the PPP connection request, the session terminating device 150 performs authentication based on the Username, Realm (domain), Password information included in the PPP connection request packet, and the line number that received the PPP connection request packet (S2), and the session. A PPP session 201 is established between the terminating device 150 and the user terminal device 10, and the PPP session 201 is established.
The session 201 and the virtual network 140 are connected (S3).

After the session is established, the session terminating device 1
50 transfers the packet received from the PPP session 201 to the virtual network 140, and transmits the packet addressed to the IP address of the user terminal device 10 received from the virtual network 140 to the PPP session 201.

Next, in the WWW browser section 11 of the user terminal device 10, the PPP session 201, the session termination device 150, the virtual network 140, and the line 30.
The personal portal 6 is communicated with the WWW server unit 21 of the WWW server device 20 via HTTP via HTTP (S4).
0 is displayed (S5). When the user accesses the personal portal 60, the WWW server device 20
Authentication by ser-ID and Password is performed.

When using the content, the user clicks the hyperlink 61 to the target content displayed on the personal portal 60 (S6). The hyperlink 61 represents the content 41 of the content server device 40. The information that the user has clicked the hyperlink 61 is notified from the user terminal 10 to the server WWW device 20 by HTTP.

The WWW server device 20, which has detected the click on the hyperlink 61, uses the protocol for accessing the content 41 by the content management unit 22.
IP address (or host name) of the content server device 40 accommodating the content 41, content 4
The virtual network 110 for notifying the user terminal device 10 of the path name and the file name in which 1 is stored and accessing the content 41 from the PPP information 25.
To retrieve the PPP parameters such as Username, Realm (domain), and Password information for connection to the session control unit 1 of the user terminal device 10.
Notify 2. At this time, if the session control unit 12 of the user terminal device 10 does not exist or the version is old, the session control unit program file is downloaded from the WWW server device 20 to the user terminal device 10 (S7).

P for accessing the content 41
PP parameters (Username, Realm, Pa
(sword etc.), protocol, content server IP
The session control unit 12 of the user terminal device 10, which has received the address (or host name), the path name, the file name, etc., activates the PPP control unit 13 to pass the session termination device 150 via the broadband access line 200. A PPP session connection request is made to the PPP control unit 153 (S8).

Upon receiving the PPP connection request, the PPP control unit 153 of the session terminating device 150 notifies the session management unit 151 of the received PPP parameters. The session management unit 151 uses Username, Realm, P
Authentication is performed based on the password and the line number information of the line that has received the PPP connection connection request, and a connection request notification is transmitted to the band management unit 31 of the band management device 30 via the line 400 (S9).

In the connection request notification, the Realm information for which the connection is requested or the information about the virtual network corresponding to the Realm information is embedded. Upon receiving the connection request notification, the bandwidth management unit 31 notifies the reception determination unit 32 of the Realm information or the virtual network information included in the connection request notification, and the reception determination unit 32 refers to the bandwidth information and the session information, Whether or not the connection can be accepted is determined, and whether or not the connection can be accepted is notified to the session management unit 151 via the bandwidth management unit 31 and the line 400 (S1).
0).

The session management unit 151 that has received the notification
When the content of the notification is acceptable, the newly established PPP session 202 is established between the user terminal device 10 and the session termination device 150, and the PPP session 2
02 and the virtual network 110 (S1
1).

After the session is established, the session terminating device 1
50 transfers the packet received from the PPP session 202 to the virtual network 110, and transmits the packet addressed to the IP address of the user terminal device 10 received from the virtual network 110 to the PPP session 202.

Also, the session connection notification is transmitted to the bandwidth management device 30 (S12), and the bandwidth management device 30 having received the session connection notification updates the session information 34 regarding the virtual network 110, and requests the session connection for the next and subsequent times. It is used as the basic information for acceptance judgment in. However, in addition to the form in which the session terminating device 150 authenticates the PPP connection, the session terminating device and the bandwidth management device or the authentication device are connected by the RADIUS protocol or the COPS protocol to thereby provide the bandwidth management device or the authentication device. The form carried out in 1 is also one of the options of the embodiment.

On the other hand, the user terminal device 10 activates the application unit 14 which uses the content 41 designated by the hyperlink 61 after the session is established,
The application unit 14 includes the content server device 40.
And PPP session 202, virtual network 110,
And the contents 4 by communicating via the line 500.
1 is accessed (S13). The user who has finished using the content 41 disconnects the PPP session 202, or the session terminating device 150 sets the P
When the PP session 202 is forcibly disconnected (S
14), the session terminating device 150 that has detected the disconnection of the PPP session 202 (S15), the bandwidth management device 30
A session disconnection notification is transmitted to (S16).

After the session is disconnected, the session terminating device 1
50 stops transferring the packet received from the PPP session 202 to the virtual network 110, and receives the user terminal device 10 received from the virtual network 110.
The packet addressed to the IP address of the PPP session 202
Stop sending to. Further, the bandwidth management device 30 that has received the session disconnection notification updates the session information 34 regarding the virtual network 110, and uses it as the basic information for the acceptance determination in the session connection request from the next time onward.

In this embodiment, the WWW server device 20 for personal portal is connected to the specific virtual network 140. However, even if the user terminal device 20 is connected to a plurality of virtual networks, the WWW server device is connected. Two
A form that allows access to the personal portal 60 of 0 is also a range assumed as an embodiment of the present invention.

Further, the session connection protocol is set to PPP.
Although the form using overEthernet was shown,
PPoverATM, L2TP, PPTP, IPSec
A mode using other protocols such as is also a range assumed as an embodiment of the present invention.

Although a method of differentiating and setting a plurality of virtual networks according to quality grades has been shown, a method of differentiating and setting according to other factors such as security or policy is also within the scope of the embodiment of the present invention. Is.

In this embodiment, the session management unit is installed in the session terminating device. However, the session management unit is separated and installed in another device such as the authentication server device, or the bandwidth is reduced. Deployment within the management device is also within the scope envisioned as an embodiment of the present invention.

In this embodiment, a method of setting a plurality of virtual networks in advance has been described, but a method of dynamically generating virtual networks when the network receives a session connection request is also an embodiment of the present invention. This is the expected range.

A dynamic virtual network is generated by CR-
A method of generating by a transfer device that configures an IP network using a signaling protocol such as LDP or RSVP-TE, or a generation request of the virtual network is notified to the management system, and generation is performed by automatic setting from the management system. A method etc. is assumed.

In the present embodiment, one content server is shown, but a plurality of content servers that provide the same content are installed at physically distant locations, and W
When the content management section of the WW server clicks the hyperlink on the portal site by the user,
Based on the location of the user requesting the target content, the grade of the subscription service, the bandwidth of the virtual network, and the number of connection sessions at the time the target content is requested, the content server installed from multiple users can Selecting a content server that accepts a request is also within the scope of the embodiment of the present invention.

The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and it goes without saying that various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0065]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Control of communication service conditions such as communication speed, delay time, etc. adapted to menu contents or actual contents of applications and importance of WWW system hyperlinks without requiring the user to perform special operations. Can be realized in a wide-area large-scale IP network that is publicly provided.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a procedure when a user terminal device according to an embodiment of the present invention accesses content.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 user terminal 11 WWW browser section 12 Session control unit 13 PPP control unit 14 Application Department 20 WWW server device 21 WWW server section 22 Content Management Department 23 HTML documents 24 Portal authentication information 25 PPP information 30 Band management device 31 Band Management Department 32 Reception judgment section 33 Band information 34 Session Information 35 Authentication information 40 content server device 41 contents 60 Personal portal 61,62 Hyperlink 100 IP network 110, 120, 130, 140 Virtual network 150 session terminator 151 Session Management Department 152 authentication information 153 PPP control unit 200 broadband access line 201, 202 PPP session 300, 400, 500 lines

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (56) Reference JP-A-8-340332 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04L 12/00 G06F 15/00 310

Claims (20)

(57) [Claims] 1. It is applied to an IP (Internet Protocol) network service provided by a broadband constant connection type access line, and triggered by a user clicking a hyperlink to a content on a portal site in a WWW (World Wide Web) system. , WWW, along with information about where the content is and the protocols that access it
The content management unit in the server notifies the session connection parameter to the session control unit in the user terminal, and the session control unit in the user terminal notified of the session connection parameter embeds the notified parameter in the session connection protocol. A call is made, and the session management unit in the IP network sends an I packet based on the session connection parameters notified by the session connection protocol.
By determining the flow control method that uses the session in the P network and controlling the behavior of the forwarding node in the IP network, a new session specialized for the use of the content selected by clicking the hyperlink is newly generated. Then, a communication service condition control method characterized in that communication is performed between the user terminal and the content server based on a control method suitable for use of the content. 2. When the functional component of the session control unit in the user terminal does not exist or the version is old, the function is triggered by the user clicking a hyperlink to the content on the portal site. The communication service condition control method according to claim 1, wherein the component is automatically downloaded from the WWW server to the user terminal. 3. The session establishment protocol has a PPP (Poi
nt-to-Point Protocol), or PPPoverEt
hernet (Point-to-Point Protocol over Etherne
t) as the session connection parameter and User
name, Realm (domain), Password
3. The communication service condition control method according to claim 2, wherein: 4. A Usern is used for authentication at the time of session establishment.
4. The communication service condition control method according to claim 3, wherein the line number that has received the session establishment protocol is used in addition to ame, Realm (domain), and Password. 5. An IP network configured by a transfer device having a virtual router function is used to set a plurality of virtual networks corresponding to Realm (domain) information,
Set the traffic capacity of each virtual network individually and set the relative priority of traffic between each virtual network, or set the IP network so that no traffic interference occurs between each virtual network. , Set the traffic priority designation method for packets flowing into the virtual network, and based on the traffic priority in the virtual network,
By setting the packet priority control method, and when establishing a new session, the session management unit connects the session with a preset virtual network based on the Realm information exchanged by the session connection protocol. 5. The communication service condition control method according to claim 4, wherein the communication service between the user terminal and the content server is provided in a plurality of quality grades according to the type of. 6. An IP network configured by a transfer device having a virtual router function is used, configuration information of a plurality of virtual networks corresponding to Realm (domain) information is set in advance, and a traffic accommodation rate of each virtual network is individually set. , And set the relative priority of traffic between each virtual network individually, and set the relative priority of traffic between each virtual network, or the traffic between each virtual network. The IP network is set so that interference does not occur, the traffic priority designation method for packets flowing into the virtual network is set, and the packet priority designation method based on the traffic priority in the virtual network is set. Trahi in When a new session is established, the session management unit sets the virtual network configuration information set in advance based on the Realm information exchanged by the session connection protocol. Based on the above, by creating the virtual network in the IP network, connecting the session, and deleting the virtual network from the IP network when the session is disconnected,
The communication service condition control method according to claim 4, wherein the communication service between the user terminal and the content server is provided in a plurality of quality grades according to the type of content. 7. A bandwidth management device for managing bandwidth capacity for each virtual network is installed, and a session management unit in the IP network transmits a session establishment completion notification to the bandwidth management unit in the bandwidth management device after completion of session establishment. Also, when the session disconnection is completed, by transmitting a session disconnection completion notification to the bandwidth management unit in the bandwidth management device,
The bandwidth management unit manages the number of connection sessions for each virtual network.
The described communication service condition control method. 8. A session management unit that receives a session establishment protocol at the time of session generation transmits a connection request notification to a certain virtual network to the band management unit, and the band management unit that receives the connection request notification at that time point Based on the number of sessions connected to the virtual network,
Determine whether to accept a new connection request, if the connection is accepted, send a connection permission notification to the session management unit, or if not accept the connection, send a connection refusal notification to the session management unit, The session management unit that receives the notification follows the notification from the bandwidth management device,
The communication service condition control method according to claim 7, wherein the session is connected or rejected. 9. A plurality of content servers providing the same content are installed at physically distant locations, an individual virtual network is set for each content server, and the WWW server sets the location of each user. Manages the grade of subscription service, the bandwidth of each virtual network and the number of simultaneous connection sessions, or acquires the number of simultaneous connection sessions of each virtual network from the bandwidth management device, triggered by the user clicking a hyperlink on the portal site. Based on the location of the user requesting the target content, the grade of the subscription service, the bandwidth of the virtual network, and the number of connection sessions at the time the target content is requested, the user can be selected from the content servers installed in multiple units. Content server that communicates with the terminal 9. The communication service condition control method according to claim 8, wherein the session connection parameter for communicating with the selected content server is notified to the user terminal. 10. A session, which is applied to an IP network service provided by a broadband always-on access line, and is accompanied by information about the location of the content when a user clicks a hyperlink to the content on a portal site in the WWW system. A WWW server device comprising content management means for notifying a session control unit in a user terminal of connection parameters. 11. If the functional component of the session control unit in the user terminal does not exist or the version is outdated, the functional component is triggered by the user clicking a hyperlink to the content of the portal site. 2. A means for automatically downloading a file from a WWW server to a user terminal is provided.
0 WWW server device. 12. The location of each user, the grade of subscription service, the bandwidth of each virtual network and the number of simultaneous connection sessions are managed, or the number of simultaneous connection sessions of each virtual network is acquired from a bandwidth management device,
When the user clicks a hyperlink on the portal site, the location of the user requesting the target content, the grade of the subscription service, the bandwidth of the virtual network, and the number of connection sessions when the target content is requested are displayed. On the basis of the above, based on the plurality of installed content servers, a content server that communicates with the user terminal is selected, and means for notifying the user terminal of session connection parameters for communicating with the selected content server is provided. The WWW server device according to claim 10. 13. A WWW server, which is applied to an IP network service provided by a broadband always-on access line, and which is accompanied by information about the location of the content upon the user's clicking a hyperlink to the content on the portal site in the WWW. A user terminal device, comprising means for receiving a session connection parameter notified from the content management unit, embedding the received session connection parameter in a session connection protocol, and making a call. 14. When the functional component of the session control unit in the user terminal does not exist or the version is old, the functional component is triggered by the user clicking a hyperlink to the content of the portal site. 2. A means for automatically downloading a file from a WWW server to a user terminal is provided.
3. The user terminal device according to 3. 15. A session received from a user terminal device, which is applied to an IP network service provided by a broadband always-on access line, and which embeds a session connection parameter received from a content management unit into a session connection protocol to make a session connection request. An IP transfer apparatus comprising: a session management unit that determines a method of controlling a flow using the session in an IP network based on a session connection parameter in a connection protocol. 16. The session connection protocol includes PPP,
Alternatively, PPPoverEthernet is used as the session connection authentication parameter, Username,
Session management means for determining the control method of the flow using the session in the network based on the Realm (domain), Password, and the line number of the line that received the session connection protocol is provided. 16. The method according to claim 15,
The IP transfer device described. 17. A session establishment completion notification is transmitted to a bandwidth management unit in the bandwidth management device after completion of session establishment,
16. The IP transfer device according to claim 15, further comprising means for transmitting a session disconnection completion notification to a bandwidth management unit in the bandwidth management device when the session disconnection is completed. 18. When receiving a session establishment protocol,
Send a connection request notification to the bandwidth management unit in the bandwidth management device,
The connection permission notification received from the bandwidth management unit as a response,
The IP transfer device according to claim 17, further comprising means for controlling connection between the session and the virtual network based on a connection refusal notification. 19. A connection session for each virtual network, which is applied to an IP network service provided by a broadband always-on access line, receives a session establishment completion notification and a session disconnection completion notification from a session management unit in the IP network. A bandwidth management device comprising means for managing the number. 20. In response to the connection request notification received from the session management unit in the IP network, the resource consumption status in the virtual network is estimated based on the information on the number of session connections to the virtual network managed by itself, and the request is made. 20. The bandwidth management apparatus according to claim 19, further comprising means for determining whether or not the session can be connected to the virtual network and transmitting a connection permission notification or a connection refusal notification to the session management unit.