JP3457243B2 - Push network - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is used for a push type service for copying and delivering contents to a plurality of destinations. Here, the push-type service is a service that copies one packet sent by the information providing terminal to a plurality of user terminals and distributes it. At this time, the information providing terminal recognizes the state of the user terminal. Instead, the packet can be transferred regularly or at a predetermined time. In addition, the user can operate the user terminal at any time to retrieve the distributed information.

[0002]

44, 45, and 46 are diagrams for explaining the configuration of a conventional datagram network. Figure 4
4 is a diagram showing the structure of a conventional packet. FIG. 45 is a diagram showing a configuration of a conventional network. FIG. 46 is a diagram showing the structure of a conventional broadcast packet. The network has a router 70 having a routing table 80 as shown in FIG. 45. When a packet with a destination (DA) is sent from the source to the network as shown in FIG. 44, the router 70 is provided. Then, if the destination exists downstream of itself, this packet is passed.

Destinations are unique within the network, and if a packet is to be sent to a plurality of destinations, a plurality of packets are created by copying them as shown in FIG. 46, and the destinations (DA1, DA4, , DA7, etc.) is added and sent in the network.

[0004]

In the future multimedia, it is expected that the traffic of packets broadcast to a plurality of destinations will increase as the number of push-type services increases. In this case, the network described in the conventional example cannot be said to be efficient. Especially recently, WW
The number of push-type services is increasing in W (World Wide Web), and it automatically delivers from the weather forecast to the latest technical news contents. Such a service is a point that uses a unique destination as in the past.
It cannot be transferred efficiently on the toe-point network.

For example, it is necessary to copy one packet sent from the source side, and add a plurality of destination addresses to this packet. That is, it is necessary to generate a large number of packets to which different addresses corresponding to the number of destinations are added, and it takes time to generate them.

Further, in a situation where the destination to which the packet is to be delivered is not constant and is changing from moment to moment, it is difficult for the source side to grasp the change in real time. There is a situation in which a packet for the destination is not generated, or a packet for the newly added destination cannot be generated.

On the user side, the information about the content that the user does not desire may be delivered, or the information about the content that the user desires may not be delivered. The user deletes the information about the content that he does not want without using it, which is an invalid traffic for the distribution network.

The present invention has been made against such a background, and an object thereof is to provide a push network capable of easily generating a packet used for a push service. It is an object of the present invention to provide a push network that can respond to a change in the destination to which a packet should be delivered in real time.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a push type network capable of delivering only the information of the content and / or category desired by the user. An object of the present invention is to provide a push network that can efficiently transfer traffic of push services. It is an object of the present invention to provide a push network that can effectively use memory resources in each node of a distribution network.

[0009]

According to the present invention, a packet is provided with a content identifier which is an identifier for identifying content, or this content identifier and a category identifier for identifying the category to which the content belongs,
Information on the content identifier or content identifier and / or category identifier that the user needs to distribute in advance is registered in the distribution network, and the distribution network allows the content or content and / or category to pass when the downstream user needs it. The main feature is to have such a content filter or a content filter and a category filter. It differs from the conventional technique in that the user sets the packet format, the method of holding the filter table, and the requested content identifier and / or category identifier.

That is, according to the present invention, there is provided a means for generating a plurality of packets of the same information by copying the information contained in one packet sent from the information providing terminal, and a packet generated by this generating means. It is a push-type network including means for delivering to a plurality of user terminals.

Here, the feature of the present invention is that a content identifier for identifying the content of the information contained in the packet or this content identifier and a category identifier for identifying the category to which the content belongs A means for giving to a packet is provided, and the means for delivering has a means for determining whether or not to deliver the packet to a predetermined user terminal according to the content identifier or the content identifier and / or category identifier. is there.

For example, there is provided means for assigning the content identifier to the packet, and the means for delivering comprises means for determining whether or not the packet is delivered to a predetermined user terminal according to the content identifier. can do.

At this time, the determining means includes a table provided corresponding to the destination and in which the information of the content identifier is registered, and the content identifier given to the packet matches the information of the content identifier registered in this table. If so, it is desirable to include means for passing the packet.

Further, it is desirable to provide a means for registering the information of the content identifier in the table according to the declaration from the user.

As a result, the contents of the packet can be identified without individually adding the identifiers of the destinations uniquely assigned in the network to the plurality of packets for performing the broadcast. Since it is only necessary to add the same identifier, the packet generation procedure can be simplified.

Further, since the destination user can register the content identifier information in the table himself,
The distribution network side recognizes the content required by the user, and wasteful packet transfer can be omitted. This makes it possible to suppress an increase in traffic. further,
On the user side, since there is no useless packet arrival,
The received information can be processed efficiently. Further, since the user side registers the content in the distribution network, even if the situation of the destination user changes momentarily, the source side can deliver the content without being aware of the change.

From the above, if the push network of the present invention is used, the traffic of the push service can be efficiently transferred.

Further, it is desirable to delete unnecessary content identifiers among the content identifiers registered in the table.

That is, it is desirable to provide means for deleting the information of the content identifier registered in the table from the table after passing through the series of packets to which the content identifier is added. This makes it possible to effectively use the memory resources without the unnecessary content identifiers remaining in the table.

The means for deleting may be configured to include means for deleting the information of the content identifier from the table after a predetermined time has passed after the passage of the series of packets. As a result, even if a new packet with the same content identifier is generated again after a series of packets having the same content identifier has passed, this packet can be passed within a certain period of time. .

Alternatively, the content identifier information registered in the table may be deleted from the table at a preset time.

As a result, for contents that become invalid depending on time, the content identifier can be deleted regardless of the presence or absence of a packet, and effective use of memory resources can be achieved. Furthermore, even if there is an invalid packet that is erroneously transferred at the time when the information is already invalid, the invalid packet transfer can be avoided because the content identifier is deleted depending on the time.

Alternatively, the determining means may be provided with means for receiving a packet requesting deletion of the content identifier information and deleting the corresponding content identifier information from the table. At this time, it is preferable that the user terminal or the information providing terminal includes means for transmitting a packet requesting deletion of the information of the content identifier.

For example, route information from the information providing terminal to the user is written in the packet arriving at the user, and the user sends a packet requesting deletion of the content identifier information according to the route information. The node having the table may be provided with a means for transmitting the packet, and the node having the table may be configured to receive the packet requesting the deletion and delete the information of the corresponding content identifier from the table. In this way, when there is content that was desired for distribution but is no longer needed, the user can notify the distribution network to that effect and delete the information of the corresponding content identifier from the table.

As described above, the information of the content identifier can be deleted at the discretion of the user or the information provider. Therefore, the user can stop the distribution of the unnecessary content information. Further, the information provider can realize this by deleting the information of the content identifier corresponding to the destination when there is a destination to which the distribution of the information is desired to be prohibited.

Alternatively, if the packet having the same content identifier as the content identifier of the passed packet does not arrive even after a lapse of a fixed time after the last packet has passed, the determining means determines that content identifier. It is also possible to adopt a configuration including means for deleting information from the table. This allows each node to autonomously detect the content that has already been distributed, and delete the information of the content identifier from the table.

Alternatively, when the determination means receives a packet notifying reception completion sent from the node or the user who has received the packet to which the content identifier is added, the information of the corresponding content identifier is deleted from the table. It may be configured to include means. As a result, it is possible to confirm that the packet has reached the destination and delete the corresponding content identifier, thus avoiding accidentally deleting the content identifier information from the table before the packet reaches the destination. can do.

The registration means receives the request packet in which the content identifier declared by the user is written, and the content identifier information according to the content identifier written in the request packet received by the receiving means. It is desirable to have a configuration that includes means for registering in the table.

As a result, the content desired by the user for distribution can be freely registered in the distribution network. Therefore, the traffic of the push type service can be efficiently transferred.

The registering means may be provided for each of the plurality of judging means.
In this case, the registering means stores means for storing an information providing terminal which is a transmission source of a packet of the content corresponding to the content, and stores information from the corresponding information providing terminal to the corresponding user terminal according to the stored contents of the storing means. It is preferable to include means for searching a route, and means for registering information of the content identifier declared by the user in the table of the determining means on the route according to the search result of the searching means.

As described above, in order to register the information of the content identifier declared by the user in the table of each judging means, the route from the relevant information providing terminal to the relevant user terminal is searched and the route is on the route. It is necessary to register the content identifier information declared by the user in the node table. In the present invention, the information providing terminal which is the transmission source of the packet of the content is stored corresponding to the content, and the route search is performed by this.

Alternatively, the registration means may be provided for each of the determination means. In this case, the registering means stores means for storing an information providing terminal which is a transmission source of a packet of the content corresponding to the content, and stores information from the corresponding information providing terminal to the corresponding user terminal according to the stored contents of the storing means. A means for searching a route and a means for transferring an incoming request packet according to the route information to the information providing terminal written in the request packet are provided, and the transferring means are provided for the incoming request packet to the information providing terminal. When there is no route destination information, it is preferable to include means for writing the route information to the corresponding information providing terminal in the request packet according to the route information searched by the means for searching the route.

As described above, when a large number of the registration means are arranged in a distributed manner, for example, the node that first receives the request packet performs a route search from the corresponding information providing terminal to the corresponding user terminal, and the route information is acquired. Is written in the request packet. Once the route information is written,
Subsequent nodes no longer need to perform route search and can forward request packets according to the route information.

Alternatively, the registration means stores the information providing terminal which is the source of the packet of the content corresponding to the content, and the information written in the incoming request packet according to the storage content of the storage means. A configuration is provided that includes means for searching a route to the providing terminal and means for updating the route information of the request packet according to the search result of this searching means, and each time the request packet arrives at each node, the route is updated each time the request packet arrives. By performing the search, even if an inappropriate route is searched for in the downstream node viewed from the information providing terminal, the route information can be corrected in the subsequent upstream node. For example, when a failure occurs on the transmission path in the network during the transfer of the request packet, the path searched by the node closest to the user terminal may already be an inappropriate path. In such a case, an appropriate route can always be selected by updating the route information at each node.

The means for registering may be configured to include means for storing the information of the output port to be routed corresponding to the destination information of the information providing terminal written in the incoming request packet.

In this way, it is necessary for each node to hold the routing information up to the next node, and it is not necessary to hold the topology information for the entire distribution network.
The amount of information held by each node can be reduced.

The registering means transmits the incoming request packet to all output routes connected to the node, a means for writing the transmission history information by the transmitting means into the request packet, and the transmission history. And a means for detecting the number of hops of the request packet according to the information, and a means for selecting one of the plurality of packets according to the detection result of the detecting means when the same packet arrives from a plurality of routes. You can also

As a result, each node does not need to hold any information such as the topology information of the entire distribution network or the routing information up to the next node. When a plurality of the same request packets arrive, for example, the one with the smallest number of hops may be selected.

[0039] Further, it is possible to have a structure provided with a means for temporarily accumulating the packet determined to be delivered by the determining means. It is preferable that the means for temporarily accumulating comprises means for temporarily accumulating a packet to be transferred to the transfer destination when the packet receiving speed of the packet transfer destination is equal to or lower than a predetermined speed.

That is, when a transit node is provided with a means for temporarily accumulating packets and there is a packet transfer destination with a reduced throughput, by accumulating the packets in this temporary accumulating means, the transit node upstream from the throughput lowering point. It is also possible to adopt a configuration that avoids a decrease in the throughput of.

As described above, by providing the means for temporarily accumulating the packet determined to be delivered, when a portion where the throughput is lowered occurs in the network, the packet transferred to this portion is stored in this portion. It is accumulated by this means for temporarily accumulating when it arrives just before. Therefore, regarding the upstream of the place where the throughput decreased,
Packets can be transferred without being affected by the reduction in throughput. As a result, a decrease in the throughput of some delivery destinations does not affect the entire network.

Further, when a plurality of the information providing terminals are arranged, a means for circulating a token for giving a transmission permission to the plurality of information providing terminals, and one information providing terminal that has received the token and / or a passage. It is desirable to have means for sending out content from the node.

This makes it possible to prevent packets transmitted from a plurality of information providing terminals or transit nodes from colliding with each other.

Alternatively, transit nodes are hierarchically arranged between the information providing terminal and the user terminal, and a plurality of the information providing terminals or the transit nodes are arranged in each hierarchy, and Means for collecting traffic information for each layer, means for giving transmission permission to the plurality of information providing terminals and / or the transit nodes according to the traffic information collected by this collection means, and transmission permission It is also possible to have a configuration including one information providing terminal that has received the information and / or means for transmitting the content from the transit node.

As a result, it is possible to prevent packets transmitted from a plurality of information providing terminals or transit nodes from colliding with each other, and it is possible to transfer packets according to the traffic situation. For example,
It is possible to avoid the packet transfer from the information providing terminal or transit node where the downstream traffic is congested, and to execute the control such that the packet transfer from the information providing terminal or transit node with relatively low traffic is given priority. it can.

So far, an example of realizing the push type network of the present invention using only the content identifier has been shown, but next, an example of realizing the push type network of the present invention using the content identifier and / or the category identifier. Indicates.

There is provided means for assigning to the packet a content identifier for identifying the content of the information content contained in the packet and a category identifier for identifying the category to which the content belongs, and the delivering means comprises: It is also possible to adopt a configuration including means for determining whether or not to deliver the packet to a predetermined user terminal according to the content identifier and / or the category identifier.

At this time, the determining means includes a table in which information of the category identifier and / or the content identifier corresponding to the category identifier is provided corresponding to the destination, and the category identifier assigned to the packet is A means for passing the packet if it matches the information of the category identifier registered in the table and the content identifier given to the packet matches the information of the content identifier registered in this table corresponding to the category identifier It is desirable to include.

Further, there is provided a means for registering information of a content identifier and / or a category identifier of the information content which the user desires to deliver or the information content which refuses to deliver in the table according to a report from the user, or The table may be provided with a means for registering information of a content identifier and / or a category identifier of information content that the information provider desires to distribute or information content that prohibits distribution according to a report from the information provider. it can.

That is, according to the present invention, a packet is provided with a content identifier and a category identifier for identifying the content and category of the information content, and the user side (destination side) rejects the information content desired to be delivered or the delivery in advance. Information on the content identifier and / or category identifier of the information content is registered in the distribution network. Each node in the distribution network can prevent unnecessary packets from being transferred to the user by having a filter that passes the information of the content and / or the category when the downstream user needs it.

As a result, all packets of a specific category can be made non-passable, or conversely, packets of a specific category can be made to pass unconditionally. In this way, the user is
Packets to be delivered can also be selected according to category. As a result, the user can perform finer filtering as compared with the case of selecting a packet to be delivered only by content. Alternatively, the user can widen the selection range of information by registering only the information of the category identifier in the table and setting the condition that the content is unquestioned. Further, the network side can perform filtering efficiently by performing rough filtering according to categories and then filtering according to content.

On the information provider side, the packet of the content and / or category is required by simply adding the content identifier and the category identifier to the packet without individually assigning the destination of each user to the packet. The packet can be delivered to the user.

Alternatively, by allowing the information provider to register the content identifier and / or the category identifier of the information content desired to be delivered to the specific destination or the information content whose delivery is prohibited, in the distribution network, Information of a specific content and / or category may be actively distributed to a specific user, or information of a specific content and / or category may be prohibited from being distributed to a specific user.

The configuration of the means for deleting and registering the information of the content identifier and / or category identifier registered in the table is the same as that of the content identifier described above. That is, the content identifier and / or category identifier information registered in the table is provided with a unit for deleting from the table after a series of packets to which the content identifier and the category identifier are given has passed, or the deleting unit. Is configured to include means for deleting the information of the content identifier and / or the category identifier from the table after a lapse of a predetermined time after the passage of the series of packets, or of the content identifier and / or the category identifier registered in the table. The information may be deleted from the table at a preset time, or the determination means may receive the packet requesting deletion of the information of the content identifier and / or the category identifier and receive the corresponding content identifier and category. Knowledge It can or configured to include a means for deleting information of the child from the table.

At this time, the user terminal may be provided with means for transmitting a packet for requesting deletion of the information of the content identifier and / or the category identifier, or the information providing terminal may use the content identifier and / or the category identifier. It may be configured to have a means for transmitting a packet requesting deletion of information.

Alternatively, the determining means does not receive any packet having the same content identifier and category identifier as the passed packet, even if a fixed time has elapsed after the last packet passed. Then, the content identifier and / or the category identifier information is deleted from the table, or the determining means is configured to detect the content identifier and the category identifier from the node or the user terminal that receives the packet. A configuration may be provided in which, when a transmitted notification packet of completion of reception is received, information of the corresponding content identifier and / or category identifier is deleted from the table.

The registration means receives the request packet in which the content identifier and / or category identifier declared by the user is written, and the content identifier and / or category written in the request packet received by the receiving means. It is configured to include a unit for registering information of a content identifier and / or a category identifier in the table according to the identifier, or one unit for registering is provided for a plurality of the determining units, and corresponds to the content and / or the category. Means for storing the information providing terminal that is the source of the packet of the content and / or category, means for searching a route from the corresponding information providing terminal to the corresponding user terminal according to the stored contents of the storing means, and this searching Search for means According can be configured to include a means for registering the information of the declared content identifier and or category identifier from the user to the table of said determining means on the route.

Alternatively, the means for registering is provided for each of the determining means, and means for storing an information providing terminal which is a transmission source of a packet of the content and / or category corresponding to the content and / or category, and the storage means. Means for searching a route from the corresponding information providing terminal to the corresponding user terminal according to the stored contents of the means, and means for transferring an incoming request packet according to the route information to the information providing terminal written in the request packet. This means for transferring, when the incoming request packet does not have the route information to the information providing terminal, according to the route information searched by the means for searching the route, the route information to the corresponding information providing terminal in the request packet The configuration includes a writing means, or The means for recording is a means for storing the information providing terminal which is the transmission source of the packet of the content and / or the category corresponding to the content and / or the category, and the information written in the incoming request packet according to the stored content of the storing means. The configuration includes a means for searching a route to the providing terminal and a means for updating the route information of the request packet according to the search result of the searching means, or the registering means writes in the incoming request packet. The information providing terminal is configured to have a means for storing information on an output port to be routed corresponding to destination information of the information providing terminal, or the means for registering the incoming request packet to all output routes connected to the own node. And the history information sent by this sending means. One of the plurality of packets according to the detection result of the means for writing the same packet from a plurality of routes, and a means for writing the hop count of the request packet according to the transmission history information. And a means for selecting.

Although the example using only the content identifier and the example using both the content identifier and / or the category identifier have been described above, an example using only the category identifier is also possible. In this case, the same explanation can be made by interpreting the content and the content identifier in the description of the example using only the content identifier described above as the category and the category identifier.

[0060]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION (First Embodiment) The configuration of a push network according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a push network according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a packet configuration of the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of the content filter according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

The present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, includes a copy node 2 which is means for copying information contained in one packet sent from the information providing terminal 7 to generate a plurality of packets of the same information. , A distribution network 10 which is a means for distributing the packet generated by the copy node 2 to a plurality of user terminals 8.

Here, the feature of the present invention is that, as shown in FIG. 2, a content ID assigning section which is means for assigning a content identifier for identifying the content of the information contained in the packet to the packet. 3 is provided,
The distribution network 10 is provided with the content filter 1 which is means for determining whether or not to deliver the packet, to which the content identifier is added, to a predetermined user terminal 8 according to the content identifier.

As shown in FIG. 3, the content filter 1
Is C in which the information of the content identifier is registered in correspondence with the destination.
It includes the OI table 13, and includes a passage / discard controller 12 that is a means for passing the packet if the content identifier given to the packet matches the information of the content identifier registered in the COI table 13. This C
Information on content identifiers can be registered in the OI table 13 in accordance with a report from the user.

The operation of the push network according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of specific delivery of the push network according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3, the content filter 1 includes a COI table 13 in which information on content identifiers declared by a user is registered, a packet header analysis unit 11 for reading and comparing content identifiers (COIs) in packets, Also, a passage / discard controller 12 that determines passage or discard of the packet.
It is composed of

The COI bit of the arrived packet is read by the packet header analysis unit 11, and the passing / discarding controller 12 passes this packet if the COI value is stored in the COI table 13 and is stored. If not, discard. The addition or deletion of the COI table 13 is executed by a necessary or unnecessary command from the user.

The user sends information of the content identifier required by the user to the distribution network 10 in advance. Each content filter 1 registers the information of this content identifier in the COI table 13. The content identifier is, for example,
It is unique for each content like the G code of a TV program.

The packet transferred from the source into the distribution network 10 has its content identifier assigned to the content filter 1.
It is read by the packet header analysis unit 11. If the content identifier matches the information of the content identifier registered in the COI table 13, the passage / discard controller 12 of the content filter 1 passes the packet, but the content identifier is the COI.
If it does not match the content identifier information registered in the table 13, it is discarded.

In the example of FIG. 4, users # 1, # 2, and # 7.
Indicates to the distribution network 10 "content identifier (COI)"
= 8 ". In response to this, the distribution network 10 writes" COI = 8 "in the COI table 13 of the content filter 1 relating to the packet transfer to the users # 1, # 2, and # 7.
To register. Therefore, the packet having the content identifier (COI) = 8 sent from the source side is #
It passes through the content filter 1 related to the transfer of packets to 1, # 2 and # 7, and is transferred to the users # 1, # 2 and # 7.

As described above, when the source side regularly distributes the contents, the contents are multicast and transferred to the users who have previously offered the contents.

(Second Embodiment) The configuration of the push network according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 2, 5 and 6. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the packet structure of the first embodiment of the present invention, which is common to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the essential parts of a push network according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the essential parts of a content filter according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

The present invention is a push type network, and as shown in FIG. 5, means for copying information contained in one packet sent from the information providing terminal 7 to generate a plurality of packets of the same information. Copy node 2 which is
A distribution network 10 which is a means for distributing the packet generated by the copy node 2 to a plurality of user terminals 8.
The information providing terminal 7 is provided with a content ID assigning unit 3 which is means for assigning a content identifier for identifying the content of the information content contained in the packet to the packet, and the distribution network 10 uses the content identifier as the content identifier. Therefore, the content filter 1 is provided as a means for determining whether or not to deliver the packet to a predetermined user terminal. The content filter 1 is provided corresponding to the destination and the information of the content identifier is registered as shown in FIG. CO
The I table 13 and the packet header analysis unit 11 and the passage / discard controller 12 that are means for passing the packet if the content identifier assigned to the packet matches the information of the content identifier registered in the COI table 13. It is a push type network including the information of the content identifier of the information content desired to be distributed by the user according to the user's declaration in the COI table 13.

In the second embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 6, the COI table as means for deleting the information of the content identifier registered in the COI table 13 after passing through a series of packets to which the content identifier is added. It is characterized by having a clear section 4.

The operation of the push network according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a plurality of packets having the same content. FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing the operation of the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of the COI table of the second embodiment of the present invention.

In the push type network, the user sends the required content identifiers to the network, and the content filter 1 in each transit node stores these content identifiers in the COI table 13. The content identifier is unique to each content like a G code of a television program. The packet transferred by the source into the distribution network 10 is sent to the COI table 1 by each content filter 1.
If it is in 3, then it is passed, and if it is not in COI table 13, it is discarded. In this way, when the source periodically delivers the content, the content is multicast and transferred to the user who has made the request in advance.

As shown in FIG. 8, after the packet has passed, the COI table clearing section 4 shown in FIG. 6 deletes the content identifier of the passed packet from the COI table 13.

As shown in FIG. 7, a packet having the same content identifier may be divided into a plurality of packets and transferred in the network. In such a case, each packet has a BOC (Beginning O
f Contents), MOC (Middle Of C) showing an intermediate packet
ontents), EOC (End Of Content) indicating the last packet
ts) is added. In this case, the passage of a series of packets having the same content identifier can be recognized by detecting the passage of the last packet. For example, if the content of COI = # 180 passes, CO
As shown in FIG. 9, the I table clear unit 4 sends a COI table clear signal to the COI table, and COI = # 1.
Delete 80 registrations.

In this way, by deleting the registration of the unnecessary content identifier from the COI table 13, the resources of the table memory can be effectively used.

(Third Embodiment) The configuration of the content filter according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Figure 1
Reference numeral 0 is a block diagram of the essential parts of the content filter according to the third embodiment of the present invention. In the content filter 1 according to the third embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 10, the COI table clearing unit 4 uses a timer as a means for deleting the information of the content identifier after a predetermined time has elapsed after passing the series of packets. 15 is provided.

Next, the operation of the content filter according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the operation of the content filter according to the third embodiment of the present invention. In the second embodiment of the present invention, the operation of clearing the COI table 13 is started immediately after the packet has passed. On the other hand, in the third embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, the timer 15 shown in FIG.
The I table clearing unit 4 starts the operation of clearing the COI table 13.

Therefore, even after the packet has passed,
When a packet having the same content identifier arrives, the packet can be passed within a certain time.

The content filter of the third embodiment of the present invention can be used in two ways. The first purpose is that if a packet having a content identifier registered in advance by a user passes, the packet is sent to the COI table 13 after a certain period of time.
It is usually used within hours or days. The second purpose is to set the setting value of the timer 15 to an extremely long time such as several weeks or months to identify and delete the contents for which the information provider has already finished providing the information. It is an application.

In the case of the second use, if the information provider wants to prevent the information of the content identifier from being deleted from the COI table 13, the information provider periodically sends a dummy packet to which a predetermined content identifier is added. This can be avoided by sending.

(Fourth Embodiment) The configuration of the content filter according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Figure 1
2 is a block diagram of the essential parts of a content filter according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 12, the content filter 1 of the fourth embodiment of the present invention is provided with a clear time setting unit 16 that is means for deleting the information of the content identifier registered in the COI table 13 at a preset time. Is characterized by.

Next, the operation of the content filter according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the operation of the content filter according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. In the second embodiment of the present invention, the operation of clearing the COI table 13 is started immediately after the packet has passed. On the other hand, in the fourth embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, the time to clear the COI table 13 for each content is set in advance in the clear time setting unit 16 shown in FIG. When the set time comes, C
The OI table clearing unit 4 clears the content identifier of the COI table 13.

As a result, the content identifier registered in the COI table 13 is reduced because the value of the information has decreased after a certain time with respect to the content such as news having the value of the information at the time of transmission. Is determined to be unnecessary and cleared.

(Fifth Embodiment) The structure of a content filter according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 14 and 15. FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a push-type network according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 15 is a block diagram of the essential parts of a content filter according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. The content filter 1 of the fifth embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, a COI table clearing unit 4 which is a means for receiving a COI table clear packet requesting deletion of the content identifier transmitted from the information providing terminal 7 and deleting the corresponding content identifier is provided. To do.

Next, the operation of the content filter according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 16 is a diagram showing the structure of a COI table clear packet according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing the operation of the content filter according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. In the fifth embodiment of the present invention, when clearing the COI table 13, the server (source) shown in FIG. 14 sends a COI table clear packet to the network as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 16, in the COI table clear packet, the clear packet identifier (CLR) is added to the packet for transferring the normal content, and it can be determined as the COI table clear packet based on this value.

COI table clear packet is also distributed network 1
The data in 0 is transferred in the same manner as a normal packet, filtered by the COI table 13, and passed or discarded. When the packet header analysis unit 11 shown in FIG. 15 detects the COI table clear packet shown in FIG. 16, the COI table clear unit 4 shown in FIG.
The content identifier of the table 13 is cleared.

(Sixth Embodiment) The structure of a content filter according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 18 and 19. FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a push network according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 19 is a block diagram of the essential parts of a content filter according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention. The content filter 1 of the sixth embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 9, when the node which receives the packet to which the content identifier is added or the packet which notifies the reception completion transmitted from the user is received, the reception completion notification packet analysis unit 18 which is means for deleting the corresponding content identifier is provided. It is characterized by having.

Next, the operation of the content filter according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 20 is a flow chart showing the operation of the content filter according to the sixth exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In the content filter of the sixth embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 20, when a node or a user downstream from a node passing the content receives the content, a reception completion notification packet for notifying the reception completion to the upstream node is transmitted. . The upstream node receives the reception completion notification packet.

When the reception completion notification packet analysis unit 18 shown in FIG. 19 detects arrival of the packet from all or some of the downstream leaf nodes, it is determined that the downstream reception has been completed, and the COI table is completed. The clear section 4 is C
The content identifier of the OI table 13 is cleared.

(Seventh Embodiment) The configuration of the content filter according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 21 and 22. FIG. 21 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a push network according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 22 is a block diagram of the essential parts of a content filter according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention. The content filter 1 of the seventh embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, it is characterized by including a claim packet analysis unit 19 which is means for receiving a claim packet transmitted from the user terminal 8 and requesting deletion of the content identifier and deleting the corresponding content identifier.

Next, the operation of the content filter according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 23 is a flow chart showing the operation of the content filter of the seventh embodiment of the present invention. In the seventh embodiment of the present invention, when clearing the COI table 13, as shown in FIG. 23, the user (destination) sends out a claim packet of a content identifier that he / she does not want to receive in the network. The route of the complaint packet is the reverse route of transferring the packet from the server to the user, as shown in FIG.
This route information is transmitted to the user, for example, by adding the information of the route passed to the packet that arrives at the user. Claim packet analysis unit 1 shown in FIG.
According to 9, the node detecting that the claim packet has been received does not affect the CO only when the node other than the user who originates the claim packet is affected by the node downstream from the node.
The I table clearing unit 4 clears the content identifier of the COI table 13.

(Eighth Embodiment) FIG. 5, FIG. 2, FIG. 3, FIG. 24 show the configuration of the push-type network of the eighth embodiment of the present invention.
This will be described with reference to FIGS. 25 and 26. FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the essential parts of the push network according to the second embodiment of the present invention, which is common to the block diagram of the essential parts of the push network according to the eighth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a packet configuration used in the first embodiment of the present invention, which is common to the diagram showing a packet configuration used in the eighth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the essential parts of the content filter of the first embodiment of the present invention, which is common to the block diagram of the essential parts of the content filter of the eighth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 24 is a diagram showing the configuration of a push network according to the eighth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 25 is a block diagram of the essential parts of a content filter setting device according to the eighth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 26 is a configuration diagram of a request packet according to the eighth embodiment of the present invention.

The present invention is a push-type network, and the feature of the present invention is as shown in FIG.
A copying node 2 which is a means for copying a plurality of packets of the same information by copying the information contained in one packet sent from the information providing terminal 7, and a packet generated by the copying node 2 for a plurality of users. A distribution network 10 that is a means for delivering to the terminal 8 is provided, and a content ID assigning unit 3 that is a means for assigning a content identifier for identifying the content of the information content contained in the packet to the packet is provided. The network 10 includes a content filter 1 as means for determining whether or not to deliver the packet to a predetermined user terminal 8 according to the content identifier, and the content filter 1 corresponds to the destination as shown in FIG. A content identifier provided to the packet, which includes the COI table 13 in which the information of the provided content identifier is registered Wherein the passage and disposal controller 12 is a means for passing the packet if they match the registered content identifier information in COI table 13, as shown in FIG. 24, the content filtering 1 C
The OI table 13 is provided with a content filter setting device 20 which is means for registering information of content identifiers according to a user's declaration. As shown in FIG. 25, the content filter setting device 20 has the content identifiers declared by the user. A content ID analysis unit 21 that is a unit that receives the written request packet, and a unit that registers content identifier information in the COI table 13 according to the content identifier written in the request packet that is received by the content ID analysis unit 21. The content filter setting unit 23 is included.

Next, the operation of the push network according to the eighth embodiment of the present invention will be described. The user sends a content identifier indicating the information content required by the user to the distribution network 10,
The content filter 1 in each transit node shown in FIG.
These content identifiers (COI) are shown in FIG.
Store in I-table 13. The content identifier is unique to each content like a G code of a television program. Packets transferred from the information providing terminal 7 into the distribution network 10 are sent to the COI table 1 by each content filter 1.
If it is 3, then it is passed, and if it is not in the COI table 13, it is discarded by the content filter 1. In this way, when the information providing terminal side regularly distributes the content, the packet is transferred by multicasting to the user who has made a request.

In the eighth embodiment of the present invention, the user sets the content filter 1 as shown in FIG.
The content filter setting device 20 is placed on the information providing terminal side of the network. The content filter setting device 20 centrally manages the content filter 1 in the network.

In order for the user to receive the packet having the information of a certain content, the content filter 1 of each node must be set so that the packet of the relevant content passes from the information providing terminal 7 to the user terminal 8. I have to.

First, the user sends a request packet requesting the reception of content to the network. As shown in FIG. 26, the request packet has a request packet identifier RQ for identifying the request packet, a content identifier COI, and a source address SA area indicating the address of the information providing terminal 7.

The request identifier RQ and the content identifier COI are set by the user. The source address SA may be set by the user or may be set by the network administrator side. For example, when the user specifies a server as an information providing terminal that transmits content, the user sets the source address SA. If the server transmitting the content is not specified, the user does not set the source address SA but the network administrator sets it.

The request packet sent from the user into the distribution network 10 is transferred to the content filter setting device 20 via the node. As shown in FIG.
In the content filter setting device 20, the content ID
The analysis unit 21 analyzes the content identifier (COI).
At this time, if the source address SA is not set in the request packet, the content information storage unit 25
Then, the address of an appropriate server transmitting the content is searched. The content information storage unit 25 updates the information indicating which server is transmitting the content. The route search unit 22 searches for a route between the user and the server that transmits the source based on the information in the network topology information storage unit 24. As the search route, for example, the shortest route or the minimum hop route is selected. In the network topology information storage unit 24, the topology information is updated from the network manager and network elements.

The content filter setting unit 23 sets the corresponding content filter 1 so that the content transmitted from the server can pass through the node on the route from the server to the user.

By setting the content filter 1 in this way, it is possible to efficiently perform the traffic of the push type service in which the source server does not copy the content by the number of users as in the conventional case, but periodically sends the content. A push-type network that transfers well can be realized.

(Ninth Embodiment) A push network according to the ninth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 27 to 29. FIG. 27 is a diagram for explaining the setting of the content filter according to the ninth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 28 is a block diagram of essential parts of a content filter setting device according to the ninth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 29 is a diagram for explaining a request packet of the ninth embodiment of the present invention. In the ninth embodiment of the present invention, the content filter setting device 30 is provided in each node. The first node that receives the request packet from the user searches the route by the route search unit 33 shown in FIG. After searching the route, the route information from the user or the corresponding node to the server is written in the request packet of FIG. The request packet is transferred to the upstream node for the server. Also, the content filter setting unit 3
4 sets the content filter 1.

The node which has received the request packet transferred from the downstream node, in the content filter setting device 30, if the request packet has the path information, does not perform the path search and transfers it to the upstream node for the server.
Further, the content filter setting unit 34 sets the content filter 1.

In this way, the request packet is
It is transferred in the upstream direction on the route between the server and the user, and the content filter 1 is set.

In the ninth embodiment of the present invention, since the content filter setting devices 30 are distributedly arranged, the processing capacity can be improved.

(Tenth Embodiment) A push network according to a tenth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Figure 30
FIG. 20 is a block diagram showing the main parts of a content filter setting device according to a tenth embodiment of the present invention. In the ninth embodiment of the present invention, the node that receives the request packet from the user conducts a route search, and the nodes upstream thereof forward the request packet based on the route information.

On the other hand, in the tenth embodiment of the present invention, each node searches for a route from each node to the server. Each node searches the route and rewrites the route information if there is a change. As a result, the route can be changed on the upstream node side even if the optimal route is not selected on the downstream node. For example, if a failure occurs in the route selected by the downstream node and the request packet has not reached the server at this point, the request packet is transferred according to the route information updated on the upstream node side. It is possible to perform transfer avoiding the faulty part.

That is, in the content filter setting device 30 of the ninth embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 28, the route search unit 3
Although there is a packet that bypasses route 3, the content filter setting device 40 of the tenth embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 30 ensures that all packets pass through the route search unit 43.

(Eleventh Embodiment) A push network according to an eleventh embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 31 is a block diagram of the essential parts of a content filter setting device according to the eleventh embodiment of the present invention. In the ninth and tenth embodiments, the route search from the server to the node is performed based on the network topology information. In the eleventh embodiment, the source address S of the server is searched without performing the route search.
A is referred to the routing table 55 and transferred to the next upstream node. In the routing table 55,
The source address SA and the port number of the node to be output are written. The routing table 55 is created from network topology information and the like.

As described above, it is not necessary to hold the network topology information in order to search the route at each node. Instead, since the routing table 55 may be held, the amount of information held by each node can be reduced.

(Twelfth Embodiment) A push network according to a twelfth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 32 is a diagram for explaining the setting of the content filter according to the twelfth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 33 is a block diagram of the essential parts of a content filter setting device according to the twelfth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 34 is a diagram for explaining a request packet of the twelfth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 35 is a diagram for explaining a CF setting packet of the twelfth embodiment of the present invention. In the eighth to eleventh embodiments of the present invention, the route search or the routing table search is performed in order to transfer the request packet to the source server side. Also, the content filter 1 is set during the transfer to the upstream. On the other hand, in the twelfth embodiment of the present invention, the request packet is flooded, and when the request packet reaches the source server, the content filter is set in the direction from the server to the user.

As shown in FIG. 32, the node # 1 which receives the request packet from the user copies the packet to all ports other than the received port and transfers it. Figure 3
In the flooding unit 64 of the content filter setting device 60 shown in FIG. 3, information on the node as transmission history information and information on the distance from the user to the node are written in a packet, and the packet is copied and received in all ports except the port. Forward to port. The distance is determined, for example, from the number of hops or the length of the transmission link. In this way, the request packet propagates in the distribution network 10. The distance is added each time it is propagated. In addition, the number of passed nodes is also accumulated and added.

In node # 5, routes # 1- # 2-
Request packets come from a plurality of routes # 5 and routes # 1- # 3- # 5. The same request means that the content identifier COI and the request packet identifier RQ
Can be judged by In particular, the request packet identifier RQ is set so that the request packet for each user can be identified. When the request packets of the same request are received from a plurality of routes, the request packet analysis unit 62 selects only one, copies it, and transfers it to another node. Request packets of the same request that are not selected are discarded.

The user or the network presets the hop limit HL for limiting the number of transit nodes, and when the number of passed nodes exceeds the hop limit HL, it is discarded. Also, the request packet is
It does not forward to the passed node.

Here, as a method of selecting request packets of the same request from a plurality of routes, there is a method of selecting the request packet that arrives earliest. Two
The request packet that arrives second is discarded. Also,
A certain fixed time is set from the earliest arrival, and among the request packets that arrived within that time,
There is a method of selecting the one with the smallest distance or the one with the smallest number of passed nodes.

The request packet propagated through the network arrives at the source server. The source server also
One request packet is selected similarly to the transit node. The route through which the request packet passes is the route through which the server transfers the content to the user.
The content transfer path is written in the content filter (CF) setting packet shown in FIG. The CF setting packet is
According to the content transfer route, the content filter is set by the content filter setting device 60 of the node on the route.

As described above, in the twelfth embodiment of the present invention, the request packet can be transferred to the server by flooding even without the server address.

(Thirteenth Embodiment) The structure of the push-type network according to the thirteenth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the packet configuration of the first embodiment of the present invention, but it is common with the diagram showing the packet configuration of the thirteenth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the configuration of the push network according to the second embodiment of the present invention, which is common to the diagram showing the configuration of the push network according to the thirteenth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 36 is a diagram showing the structure of a content filter according to the thirteenth embodiment of the present invention.

The present invention, as shown in FIG. 5, includes a copy node 2 which is means for copying information contained in one packet sent from the information providing terminal 7 to generate a plurality of packets of the same information. , A distribution network 10 which is a means for distributing the packet generated by the copy node 2 to a plurality of user terminals 8.

Here, the feature of the present invention is that, as shown in FIG. 2, a content ID assigning unit that is a means for assigning a content identifier for identifying the content of the information contained in the packet to the packet. 3 is provided,
The distribution network 10 is provided with a content filter 1 which is means for determining whether or not a packet to which the content identifier is added is delivered to a predetermined user terminal 8 according to the content identifier, and as shown in FIG. It is provided with a storage device 9 which is a means for temporarily storing the packet determined to be delivered by the filter 1.

As shown in FIG. 36, the content filter 1 includes the COI table 13 in which the information of the content identifier is registered corresponding to the destination, and the content identifier assigned to the packet is the content identifier registered in the COI table 13. It includes a passing / discarding controller 12 which is means for passing the packet if it matches the information. Information on the content identifier can be registered in the COI table 13 in accordance with a report from the user.

The packet in the present invention has an identifier (COI) for identifying the content, as shown in FIG. The user sends the required content identifiers to the network, and the content filter 1 in each transit node registers these content identifiers in the COI table 13. The transit node is not shown, and only the content filter 1 therein is shown. The content identifier is unique to each content like the G code of a television program. The packet transferred by the information providing terminal 7 into the distribution network 10 is passed if the content identifier given to the packet matches the information of the content identifier registered in the COI table 13 of each content filter 1. The content identifier assigned to the packet is the COI table 13 of each content filter 1.
If it does not match the content identifier information registered in, the packet is discarded by the content filter 1.

At this time, if the packet receiving speed of the packet transfer destination is lower than the predetermined speed due to the increase of traffic and other reasons, the packet to be transferred is temporarily stored in the storage device 9. Then, the accumulated packets are sent out according to the acceptance speed of the packet transfer destination.

By providing the storage device 9 as described above, even when there is a node whose packet reception speed is equal to or lower than the predetermined speed, the node upstream from the node transfers the packet at the predetermined speed. be able to. Therefore, it is possible to eliminate the influence of a decrease in throughput at some nodes on the entire network.

FIG. 37 is a diagram for explaining a memory content erasing state of the storage device 9. t indicates the passage of time. Content that is multicast and transferred in the distribution network 10 is erased each time it is copied to a lower node. When A is copied to two nodes as A1 and A2 at t = 1, A is deleted at t = 2 and A1 becomes 3
Copied to one node as A3, A4, A5. A
Since 1 has been copied, it is erased at t = 3, and at the same time A
2 is copied to the lower node. That is, the contents are copied and transferred in a pipeline manner. Therefore, even if there is a bottleneck at a certain distribution destination, the effect does not reach the entire network and becomes a part.

As described above, when the information providing terminal 7 periodically distributes the contents, the contents are multicast and transferred to the user who has made the request in advance. The storage device 9 of each node has a necessary and sufficient capacity.

(Fourteenth Embodiment) A push network according to a fourteenth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 38 is a diagram showing the configuration of a push network according to the 14th embodiment of the present invention. In the fourteenth embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of information providing terminals 7 are arranged. A plurality of information providing terminals 7 turn the tokens in order to deliver the contents at the same time, and obtain the transmission right in the order of A, B, and C. When the information providing terminal 7 does not have the content to be sent, the token of the sending right is passed to the next information providing terminal 7. In this way, even if there are multiple content senders, the content can be freely distributed without colliding with each other.

(Fifteenth Embodiment) A push network according to a fifteenth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 39 is a diagram showing the configuration of a push network according to the fifteenth embodiment of the present invention. In the fifteenth embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of information providing terminals 7 are arranged, and transit nodes including the content filter 1 are arranged in a hierarchical structure. A controller 6 is provided in the distribution network of each layer, and in the example, a system which gives a transmission permission to the information providing terminal 7 most suitable than A, B, and C is provided.

Here, the most suitable information providing terminal 7 or transit node is the information providing terminal 7 or transit node that has little traffic at the downstream transit node and can transfer packets smoothly. For this purpose, the controller 6 collects traffic information in each layer and selects the most suitable information providing terminal 7 or transit node.

(Sixteenth Embodiment) The structure of a push-type network according to a sixteenth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 40 to 42. FIG. 40 is a packet diagram of the sixteenth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 41 is a block diagram of the essential parts of a push-type network according to the sixteenth embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4
2 is a block diagram of the essential parts of a content filter according to the sixteenth embodiment of the present invention.

The present invention, as shown in FIG. 41, includes a copy node 2 which is means for copying information contained in one packet sent from the information providing terminal 7 to generate a plurality of packets of the same information. , A distribution network 10 which is a means for distributing the packet generated by the copy node 2 to a plurality of user terminals 8.

Here, as a characteristic of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 40, a content identifier (CO) for identifying the content of the information content contained in the packet
I) and an information content identifier assigning unit 17 for assigning a category identifier (CAI) for identifying the category to which the content belongs to the packet. It is provided with a content filter 1 which is means for determining whether or not to deliver the packet to a predetermined user terminal according to the category identifier and the content identifier.

The content filter 1 is provided for each destination and includes the CAI / COI table 14 in which the category identifier and the information of the content identifier corresponding to the category identifier are registered as shown in FIG.
The category identifier given to the packet is this CAI / C
The CAI / COI corresponding to the category identifier, which matches the category identifier information registered in the OI table 14 and corresponds to the category identifier.
It includes a packet header analysis unit 11 and a passage / discard controller 12 that are means for passing the packet if the information matches the content identifier information registered in the table 14.

In the CAI / COI table 14, the information of the category identifier and the content identifier of the information content that the user desires to deliver or the information content that rejects the delivery can be registered according to the notification from the user. Alternatively, in accordance with a report from the information provider, information of a category identifier of information content desired to be distributed by the information provider or information content prohibited from distribution can be registered in the CAI / COI table 14 in correspondence with the destination.

Next, the operation of the 16th embodiment of the present invention will be described. As shown in FIG. 41, the information provider assigns the category identifier (CAI) and the content identifier (COI) corresponding to the content of the main information to the main information by the information content identifier assigning unit 17 of the information providing terminal 7. To do. The packet in which the category identifier and the content identifier are added to the main information is transferred to the distribution network 10. The information content identifier added to the packet in this way is hierarchically divided into a field indicating a category and a field indicating each content, as shown in FIG.

The user sends the category identifier and / or content identifier required by him / her to the distribution network 10, and the content filter 1 in each transit node sends these category identifier and / or content identifier to CAI / C.
Store in the OI table 14. Figure 43 shows CAI / CO
It is a figure which shows the registration condition of I table 14. For the packet transferred from the source into the distribution network 10, the category identifier and the content identifier written in the header are analyzed by the packet header analysis unit 11 of each content filter 1, and the category identifier registered in the CAI / COI table 14 is analyzed. If the contents identifier matches the contents identifier, the contents identifier is passed, and if the contents identifier does not match, the contents identifier is discarded. in this way,
When the source side regularly distributes the content, it will be multicast and transferred to the user who has made the request in advance.

For example, when a user who desires cooking recipe information wants to distribute all recipe information, a category identifier corresponding to “cooking recipe” is registered in the distribution network 10. However, when the user only wants to deliver the recipe information of a specific dish, which is a part of the cooking recipe information, the content identifier corresponding to the recipe of the specific dish is registered in the distribution network 10.

[0140] Further, the information provider is the CAI of the distribution network 10.
In the COI table 14, it is possible to register the category identifier of the category that is not distributed to the subordinate network.
As a result, the predetermined category can be filtered using the category identifier so as not to be distributed to the subordinate networks. That is, as shown in FIG.
Some category identifiers are undelivered regardless of the content identifiers, and some category identifiers pass unconditionally. The category identifier that passes unconditionally will be used for general multicast.

By using such non-delivery by the category identifier, the distribution of the information of the content having a bad influence on the specific user is prohibited, or the setting of the content identifier by the user who is not permitted in the security management of the company is prevented. It is also possible to do so. In this way, it is possible to create a category in which the user can arbitrarily set the content identifier and a category in which it is not.

The CAI in the sixteenth embodiment of the present invention using both the content identifier and the category identifier.
The details of the embodiment regarding registration and deletion of the content identifier and / or the category identifier in the COI table 14 are described in the COI table 13 of the content identifier described above.
The registration and deletion can be described in the same manner as in the embodiment.

Similarly, an embodiment in which the present invention is realized by using only the category identifier by interpreting the contents and the content identifier in the first to fifteenth embodiments of the present invention as the category and the category identifier will be similarly described. can do.

[0144]

As described above, according to the present invention,
It is possible to easily generate a packet used for the push type service. In addition, it is possible to respond in real time to changes in the destination to which the packet should be delivered. Further, it is possible to distribute only the information of the content and / or category desired by the user. Thereby, the traffic of the push type service can be efficiently transferred. Moreover, the memory resources in each node of the distribution network can be effectively used.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a push network configuration according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a packet configuration according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a content filter according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of specific delivery of the push network according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the essential parts of a push network according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a main part of a content filter according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a plurality of packets having the same content.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation of the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a COI table according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of the essential parts of a content filter according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the operation of the content filter according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing the main parts of a content filter according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the operation of the content filter according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing the configuration of a push network according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing the main parts of a content filter according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing the structure of a COI table clear packet according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing the operation of the content filter according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing the configuration of a push network according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a block diagram showing the main parts of a content filter according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing the operation of the content filter according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing the configuration of a push network according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 22 is a block diagram showing the main parts of a content filter according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing the operation of the content filter of the seventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 24 is a diagram showing the configuration of a push network according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 25 is a block diagram showing the main part of a content filter setting device according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 26 is a configuration diagram of a request packet according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 27 is a view for explaining setting of a content filter according to the ninth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 28 is a block diagram of a main part of a content filter setting device according to a ninth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 29 is a diagram illustrating a request packet of the ninth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 30 is a block diagram showing the main parts of a content filter setting device according to a tenth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 31 is a block diagram showing the main parts of a content filter setting device according to an eleventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 32 is a diagram for explaining setting of the content filter according to the twelfth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 33 is a block diagram of the essential parts of a content filter setting device according to a twelfth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 34 is a diagram for explaining a request packet of the twelfth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 35 is a diagram for explaining a CF setting packet according to the twelfth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 36 is a diagram showing the structure of a content filter according to a thirteenth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 37 is a diagram for explaining a memory content erasing state of the storage device.

FIG. 38 is a diagram showing the configuration of a push-type network according to the fourteenth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 39 is a diagram showing the configuration of a push-type network according to the fifteenth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 40 is a packet diagram of the sixteenth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 41 is a block diagram of the essential parts of a push-type network according to the sixteenth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 42 is a block diagram of the essential parts of a content filter according to the sixteenth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 43 is a diagram showing a registration status of a CAI / COI table.

FIG. 44 is a diagram showing the structure of a conventional packet.

FIG. 45 is a diagram showing a configuration of a conventional push network.

FIG. 46 shows the structure of a conventional broadcast packet.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Content Filter 2 Copy Node 3 Content ID Assigning Unit 4 COI Table Clearing Unit 5 Sending Controller 6 Controller 7 Information Providing Terminal 8 User Terminal 9 Storage Device 10 Distribution Network 11 Packet Header Analysis Unit 12 Pass / Discard Controller 13 COI Table 14 CAI COI table 15 Timer 16 Clear time setting unit 17 Information content identifier assigning unit 18 Reception completion notification packet analysis unit 19 Claim packet analysis unit 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 Content filter setting device 21, 32, 42, 52 Content ID analysis Part 22, 33, 43 Route search part 23, 34, 44, 54 Content filter setting part 24, 35, 45 Network topology information storage part 25, 36, 46, 56 Content information storage part 31, 41, 51, 61 Request Packet receiving unit 53 routing table searching unit 55, 80 routing table 62 request packet analyzing unit 63 request packet discarding unit 64 flooding unit 65 CF setting packet analyzing unit 66 CF setting packet receiving unit 70 router CFS CF setting packet identifier HL hop limit SA source Address CAI Category identifier COI Content identifier RQ Request packet identifier

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (31) Priority claim number Japanese Patent Application No. 11-96945 (32) Priority date April 2, 1999 (April 2, 1999) (33) Priority claim country Japan (JP) (31) Priority claim number Japanese Patent Application No. 11-98101 (32) Priority date April 5, 1999 (1999.4.5) (33) Priority claim country Japan (JP) (56) References JP 9-51297 (JP, A) JP 9-200386 (JP, A) JP 9-326825 (JP, A) JP 10-28143 (JP, A) JP 10-32594 (JP , A) JP 10-126420 (JP, A) JP 10-200543 (JP, A) JP 10-210029 (JP, A) JP 10-215244 (JP, A) JP 10-247917 (JP, A) JP 11-55256 (JP, A) JP 11-68965 (JP, A) JP 11-205312 (JP, A) JP 11-20534 3 (JP, A) JP-A 11-275099 (JP, A) JP-A 2000-78161 (JP, A) JP-A 2000-134199 (JP, A) JP-A 2000-253043 (JP, A) 11-514504 (JP, A) Special table 2002-525975 (JP, A) International publication 98/057497 (WO, A1) Naoaki Yamanaka, High-speed push type network construction method, IEICE technical report, Japan , The Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers, January 28, 1999, Vol. 98, No. 566, SSE98-176 Shonai Takeuchi, Service Navigation Information Management Method, Information Processing Society of Japan, Research Report, Japan, Information Processing Society of Japan, September 14, 1995, 95-AVM-10-1 , Pp1-7 (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04L 12/56 G06F 13/00 354

Claims (41)

(57) [Claims] 1. A packet transmitted from an information providing terminal
Copy the information stored in the
Means for generating a
And a means for delivering the received packet to a plurality of user terminals.
In the push network, It identifies the content of the information contained in the packet.
Content identifier or this content identifier and
And the category to which the content belongs
Means is provided for assigning a category identifier to the packet, The means for delivering is the content identifier or the
The content identifier and / or the category identifier
Therefore, whether to deliver the packet to a predetermined user terminal
Equipped with means to determine whether or not, The determining means is provided for each destination and is provided with content identification.
Including a table in which Besshi information is registered, This table shows the content identifier assigned to the packet
If it matches the content identifier information registered in
Pass the packet, if it does not match, drop the packet
Including means to abandon Push-type network characterized by
Ark. 2. The user has made a declaration in the table.
The push-type network according to claim 1, further comprising means for registering content identifier information . 3. Content identification registered in the table
Bespoke information is a series of
Means to delete from the table after passing the packet
The push network according to claim 1 . 4. The means for deleting is the series of packets.
Content identifier after a lapse of a predetermined time after passage of the content
4. The push-type network according to claim 3 , further comprising means for deleting the information of [1] from the table . 5. A push network as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means for deleting from the table the preset time information of the content identifier registered in the table. 6. The content identifier is the determining means.
Push network according to claim 1, wherein the receiving the packets you requesting the deletion of information information of the corresponding configuration <br/> Ceiling identifier comprises means for deleting from the table. 7. The user terminal is configured to identify the content.
Equipped with means for sending packets requesting deletion of child information
The push-type network according to claim 6 . 8. The information providing terminal is configured to identify the content.
A means to send a packet requesting the deletion of the child's information
The push-type network according to claim 6, which is provided. 9. The determination means is a packet which has passed.
Has the same content identifier as the content identifier of
A packet has passed a certain time since the last packet passed.
If none arrives, the information of the content identifier is
Push network according to claim 1, further comprising means for deleting the distribution from the table. 10. The information providing terminal transmits a dummy packet, to which a predetermined content identifier is added, for a predetermined time or more.
Push network as claimed in claim 9, further comprising means for transmitting within. Wherein said determining means, node or Yoo receives a packet which the content identifier is assigned
Packet sent from the user terminal
Push network according to claim 1, wherein the information of the content identifier comprising means for deleting from the table corresponding to the reception. 12. The means for registering is declared by the user.
Request packet in which the content identifier to be written is written
And means received by this means for receiving
In the content identifier written in the request packet
Therefore, the content identifier information is registered in the table.
A push network according to claim 2 including means for recording . 13. The registering means comprises a plurality of the judgments.
One is provided for the means for
Describes the information providing terminal that is the sender of the content packet.
According to the means to remember and the stored contents of this means to store
To find the route from the relevant information providing terminal to the relevant user terminal.
According to the searching method and the search results of this searching method
To the table of the determining means on the route.
How to register the content identifier information declared by the
The push-type network according to claim 2, further comprising a step . 14. The registering means is a means for judging.
The push network according to claim 2 , wherein the push network is provided for each stage . 15. means for the registration, the corresponding user terminal and means for storing the information providing terminal that is the transmission source of the packet of the content to content corresponding, from the relevant information providing terminal in accordance with the stored contents of the means for the storage and means for searching for a route to, this a request packet that arrives
To the information providing terminal written in the request packet of
And a means for transferring according to the route information of
The means of sending information is provided to the incoming request packet
If there is no route information to the terminal, search for the route
Providing relevant information according to the route information searched by means
Write the route information to the service terminal in the request packet
15. The push network according to claim 14 , including means for plugging . 16. The means for registering corresponds to content.
The information providing end that is the source of the packet of the content
The means for storing the end and the stored contents of this means for storing
The information written in the incoming request packet
A means for searching the route to the information providing terminal and this searching
According to the search result of the means, the request packet
The push network according to claim 14, further comprising means for updating the route information . 17. The means for registering the destination information pair information providing terminal written in the request packet to come arrives
To store information about output ports that should be routed
The push-type network according to claim 14, comprising a step . 18. The means for registering is an incoming request.
Strobe packets to all output routes connected to the local node
Sending means and sending history information by this sending means
To write in the request packet and the transmission history
The number of hops of the request packet according to the information
The same packet arrived from multiple routes as the means to detect
Sometimes a plurality of items are detected according to the detection result of the detecting means.
Claim 1 including means for selecting one of the packets
4. The push-type network described in 4 . Determine when delivered by 19. Before Symbol determining means
Claim constant packet comprises means for storing at one 1
Push network as described. 20. The means for temporarily storing is packet transfer.
If the packet acceptance speed of the destination is less than or equal to the predetermined speed
Means for temporarily storing packets to be transferred to the transfer destination
The push-type network according to claim 19, further comprising: 21. A plurality of the information providing terminals are arranged,
Token that gives permission to send to multiple information providing terminals
Means to circulate, and one piece of information that received the token
The push-type network according to claim 1, further comprising means for transmitting the content from the providing terminal . 22. The information providing terminal and the user terminal
The transit nodes are hierarchically arranged between the
Is distributed by a plurality of the information providing terminals or the transit nodes.
Traffic information for each layer.
And the means by which this collecting means
According to the traffic information, a plurality of information providing terminals
And / or a hand that gives permission to send to the transit node
And one information providing terminal that has received the transmission permission, and
Or the means to send the content from the transit node
The push-type network according to claim 1, further comprising: 23.One packet sent from the information providing terminal
The information contained in the
Means for generating a ket and the means for generating this
Means for delivering the captured packet to a plurality of user terminals.
In the push network with It identifies the content of the information contained in the packet.
Content identifier or this content identifier and
And the category to which the content belongs
Means is provided for assigning a category identifier to the packet, The means for delivering is the content identifier or the
The content identifier and / or the category identifier
Therefore, whether to deliver the packet to a predetermined user terminal
Equipped with means for determining whether or not The determination means is provided for each destination
An identifier and / or said corresponding to said category identifier
Includes a table in which the content identifier information is registered, The category identifier given to the packet is stored in this table.
Registered category knowledge It matches the information of Besshi, and
The content identifier given to the
Content knowledge registered in this table corresponding to Besshi
If it matches the information of another child, the packet is passed, and it matches.
Otherwise drop the packet Meansincluding Special
CollectPush network. 24. A report from a user is added to the table.
Therefore, the information content or distribution that the user wants to distribute
Content identifier and categorization of information content that is denied
24. The push network according to claim 23, further comprising means for registering information of the re-identifier . [25] A report from an information provider to the table
Information content that the information provider wishes to deliver according to
Or the content identifier of the information content for which distribution is prohibited and
And the information of the category identifier are registered for the destination.
24. The push-type network of claim 23, comprising steps . 26. Content registered in the table
The identifier and / or category identifier information is
A series of parts with a category identifier and a category identifier.
24. The push-type network according to claim 23, comprising means for deleting after passing the packet. 27. The means for deleting is the series of packets.
Content identifier after a lapse of a predetermined time after passage of the content
And / or category identifier information from the table
27. The push network according to claim 26, comprising means for deleting . 28. The contents registered in the table
Information on the content identifier and / or category identifier
Means to delete from the table at the set time
24. The push network of claim 23, comprising . 29. The judging means requests deletion of information on a content identifier and / or a category identifier.
A procedure for receiving a packet and deleting the corresponding content identifier and / or category identifier information from the table.
24. The push-type network of claim 23, comprising steps . 30. The user terminal requests deletion of information of the content identifier and / or category identifier .
30. The push-type network according to claim 29, further comprising means for transmitting a packet . 31. The information providing terminal requests deletion of information of the content identifier and / or category identifier.
30. The push-type network according to claim 29, comprising means for transmitting a packet to be transmitted . 32. The judging means is a packet which has passed.
Content identifier and category identifier
Packet with content identifier and category identifier
However, even after a certain time has passed since the last packet passed,
If it doesn't arrive, its content identifier and / or
Means for deleting category identifier information from the table
The push-type network according to claim 23, further comprising: 33. The information providing terminal is provided with a predetermined content.
A dummy package with a group identifier and category identifier
A means for transmitting a packet within the fixed time.
32. A push network according to item 32 . 34. The determination means is the content.
Receives packets with identifiers and category identifiers
Completion of reception sent from the trusted node or user terminal
When the packet that notifies the
The table of information of the identifiers and / or category identifiers
24. The push-type network according to claim 23, comprising means for removing from the push-type network. 35. The means for registering is declared by the user
Content identifier and / or category identifier
The means for receiving the embedded request packet and this
Write to the request packet received by the means
Embedded content and / or category identifiers
According to the content and category identifiers
25. The push network according to claim 24 , including means for registering information in the table . 36. The means for registering comprises a plurality of the judgments.
One for the means to
Corresponds to the category and its content and / or category
For storing the information providing terminal that is the sender of the packet
And the corresponding information according to the stored contents of this storing means.
Means for searching the route from the providing terminal to the corresponding user terminal
And the route according to the search results of this searching means.
Declaration from the user in the table of the determination means above
Content identifier Oyobima other categories identifier
The push network according to claim 24, further comprising means for registering information . 37. The registration means is a means for judging.
25. The push network according to claim 24, which is provided for each stage . 38. The means for registering is content and
The content and / or category
Stores the information providing terminal that is the sender of the packet
And the storage contents of the storing means.
Search for a route from this information providing terminal to the corresponding user terminal
And the incoming request packet.
Information to the information providing terminal written in the packet
And means for transferring according to
Sends the incoming request packet to the information providing terminal
When there is no route information, by means of searching the route
According to the searched route information to the relevant information providing terminal
Means to write the route information of
38. The push network of claim 37, including . 39. said means for registering includes means for storing the content and or categories thereof content and or information providing terminal as the transmission source of categories of packets to a corresponding, arrival in accordance with the stored contents of the means for the storage
Information providing terminal written in the incoming request packet
A means to search for a route to and a search for this searching means
According to the result, the route information of the request packet is
38. The push network of claim 37, comprising means for updating . 40. The means for registering is an incoming request.
Destination information pair of the information providing terminal written in the packet
To store information about output ports that should be routed
38. The push-type network of claim 37, comprising steps . 41. The means for registering is an incoming request.
Strobe packets to all output routes connected to the local node
Sending means and sending history information by this sending means
To write in the request packet and the transmission history
The number of hops of the request packet according to the information
The same packet arrived from multiple routes as the means to detect
Sometimes a plurality of items are detected according to the detection result of the detecting means.
Claim 3 including means for selecting one of the packets
7. The push network according to 7 .