JP3628557B2 - Communication quality control device and recording medium - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a communication quality control technique suitable for a network site where access is concentrated, such as a video delivery site or a Web site.
[0002]
[Prior art]
One method for controlling the communication quality is a method using a protocol called RSVP (Resource reServation Protocol). RSVP is a control protocol that operates between communicating terminal devices and reserves network resources in a network node device on a route as described in Request for Comments 2205 “RSVP-Version 1 Functional Specification”. When the network node device in the network receives the RSVP message exchanged between the transmission-side terminal device and the reception-side terminal device, the network node device assigns the network resource specified by the RSVP message to the data flow, thereby improving the communication quality. It comes to guarantee.
[0003]
Further, as described in “Computer Network LAN (1996.12)” issued by Ohmsha, an IP switch is a network node device configured by components of an IP router and an ATM switch. The IP switch normally performs IP packet delivery processing by the IP router, but always monitors the data flow passing through the same device. When the same data flow that flows for a certain period of time is detected, the IP switch receives an instruction from the IP router. , It is switched to cut-through transfer by ATM switch.
[0004]
Further, in Request for Comments 2297 “Ipsilon's General Switch Management Specification Version 2.0”, GSMP (control protocol for controlling an ATM switch from an external device and setting / releasing a communication path in the ATM switch is provided. General Switch Management Protocol).
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the current Internet, for example, if access concentrates on a specific network site, traffic increases. Therefore, it is not always possible to guarantee all communications targeting the network site. On the contrary, the traffic generated at the network site compresses the data flow outside the network site, which may adversely affect the operation of the entire network.
[0006]
Further, in the current technology such as RSVP, since it is necessary to exchange RSVP messages between communicating terminal devices, it is not practical to spread RSVP in a huge number of client terminal devices. Furthermore, it is necessary to set the communication quality parameters necessary to guarantee the communication quality according to the work of the user accessing from the client terminal device, but this work requires special knowledge. Is a big burden.
[0007]
In addition, in the current Internet, there is a possibility that traffic is concentrated on an IP router that has a connection with an external network such as an ISP (Internet Service Provider) network at each network site and relays data inside and outside the network site. is there. However, since the IP router determines the delivery destination by referring to the destination IP address added to the IP packet by software processing, the apparatus becomes a bottleneck and it is impossible to guarantee the communication quality. There is.
[0008]
An object of the present invention is to make it possible to guarantee communication quality for communication targeted at terminal devices in a network site without exceeding the total amount of network resources available in the entire network site. .
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides:
A communication quality control device is arranged at a position where a network site composed of one or more terminal devices is connected to an external network so that all communication information targeted for the terminal devices in the network site passes. Like that.
[0010]
And the structure of the communication quality control apparatus of this invention is as follows.
Switching that has a plurality of network interfaces, and when a cut-through communication path is set between two network interfaces by a logical communication line, communication information flowing on the cut-through communication path is delivered at high speed by hardware processing. Hardware,
A communication quality control unit for performing communication quality control by software processing is configured by components connected by communication lines.
[0011]
Here, the communication quality control unit
Contract user storage means for storing information indicating contract users who have previously contracted with the network site,
Communication quality storage means storing information indicating communication quality to be guaranteed to each contract user;
Network resource amount storage means for storing information indicating the network resource amount that can be used at the present time among the network resource amounts that can be used in the entire network site;
Communication path storage means for storing information indicating a cut-through communication path set in the switching hardware;
When the communication information received via the switching hardware is a connection request directed to the terminal device in the network site, the stored content of the contract user storage means is referred to and the connection request source user contracts User authentication means for determining whether the user is a user;
Communication quality selection means for selecting communication quality to be guaranteed to the contract user by referring to the stored contents of the communication quality storage means when the user authentication means determines that the user is a contract user;
Referring to the storage contents of the network resource amount storage means, the network resource amount necessary for guaranteeing the communication quality selected by the communication quality selection means does not exceed the network resource amount usable in the entire network site. Network resource amount judging means for judging whether or not allocation is possible;
When the network resource amount determining means determines that the allocation is possible, a cut-through communication path for communication between the contract user and the connection request destination is set in the switching hardware, and the network The content stored in the resource amount storage means and the communication path control means for updating the storage content of the communication path storage means are provided.
[0012]
The communication path control means is
If the communication information received via the switching hardware is a disconnection request directed to the terminal device in the network site, and communication quality is being guaranteed for the communication that is the disconnection request target, The cut-through communication path for the communication set in the switching hardware is released, and the storage contents of the network resource amount storage means and the storage contents of the communication path storage means are updated.
[0013]
The communication quality control unit
According to the destination of the communication information, a packet delivery means for transferring the communication information is provided,
The packet delivery means is:
When the communication information received via the switching hardware is not a connection request directed to a terminal device in the network site, the user authentication means determines that the user is not a contract user, and the network resource amount If the determination means determines that assignment is impossible, the corresponding communication information is transferred.
[0014]
According to the communication quality control device of the present invention, it is possible to guarantee the communication quality for communication targeting terminal devices in the network site without exceeding the total amount of network resources available in the entire network site. It becomes.
[0015]
Furthermore, by providing the communication quality storage means, for example, the contract user can specify at the time of contract whether the communication quality to be guaranteed is divided into a plurality of ranks and the guarantee of the communication quality of any rank is desired. For example, it is possible to guarantee communication quality of different ranks for each contract user.
[0016]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0017]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a network to which a communication quality control apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.
[0018]
In FIG. 1, 100 is a communication quality control device according to the present embodiment, 101-A to 101-D are network node devices, 102-A to 102-C are server terminal devices, and 103-A to 103-C are client terminals. 104, a communication line, 105 an ISP network, and 106-A and 106-B are network sites.
[0019]
As shown in FIG. 1, the communication quality control apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment has a network configuration in which an ISP network 105 configured by connecting a plurality of network node apparatuses 101 by communication lines 104 is connected to a network site 106. Operated.
[0020]
The network site 106 has a configuration in which one or more server terminal devices 102 or client terminal devices 103 are connected via a communication line 104. In the example of FIG. 1, the network site 106-B is related to the present embodiment. A connection with the ISP network 105 is made via the communication quality control device 100.
[0021]
When the network site 106 includes one or more server terminal devices 102, the communication quality is guaranteed for a user who receives a service from the server terminal device 102 using the communication quality control device 100 according to the present embodiment. In the example of FIG. 1, since the network site 106-B includes the server terminal devices 102-A to 102-C, the network site 106-B includes the communication quality control device 100 according to the present embodiment. , And is connected to the ISP network 105.
[0022]
In the network configuration shown in FIG. 1, the communication quality control apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment is installed in the network site 106-B, but the ISP network 105 and the network site 106-B are not connected. If it is installed at the boundary, it may be installed in the ISP network 105.
[0023]
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of a network to which the communication quality control apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment is applied.
[0024]
In FIG. 2, a network site 106-B is a service site that provides various services to a user. In the example of FIG. 2, a video server 201 and a Web server 202 are installed.
[0025]
Since the network site 106-B includes the video server 201 and the Web server 202 which are the server terminal devices 102, the network node device N1 (101) and the network node are connected via the communication quality control device 100 according to the present embodiment. It is connected to the ISP network 105 composed of the device N2 (101).
[0026]
In FIG. 2, for example, when the client terminal device 103 downloads data from the Web server 201, the data is delivered through a route R <b> 3 as indicated by a dashed arrow. The communication quality control apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment reserves network resources such as a communication band for each apparatus on the route R3, and performs communication quality control for guaranteeing a certain communication quality. To do.
[0027]
Here, the network node device N1 (101) and the network node device N2 (101) support communication quality control by the communication quality control device 100, but the server terminal device 102 does not necessarily have communication quality by the communication quality control device 100. There is no need to support control. In addition, the client terminal device 103 can transmit and receive a control message related to communication quality control that can be interpreted by the ISP network 105 and the communication quality control device 100, such as an RSVP message. Furthermore, it is assumed that the network site 106-B has previously contracted with the ISP network 105 for the amount of network resources that can be consumed by the entire network site 106-B. In addition, a user who requests a service from the network site 106-B using the client terminal device 103 has previously contracted with the network site 106-B for guaranteeing communication quality (specifically, communication quality is guaranteed). It is assumed that the service content and communication quality rank) are exchanged in advance.
[0028]
In the network configuration shown in FIG. 2, the communication quality control apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment is installed in the network site 106-B as in the network configuration shown in FIG. If it is installed at the boundary between the ISP network 105 and the network site 106 -B, it may be installed in the ISP network 105.
[0029]
Next, the configuration and operation of the communication quality control apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0030]
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the communication quality control apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment.
[0031]
As shown in FIG. 3, the communication quality control apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment includes a hardware processing between a communication quality control unit 301 that performs communication quality control by software processing and two network interfaces such as an ATM switch. The switching hardware 302 having a high-speed packet delivery function is configured by a component connected by a connection line 104.
[0032]
3 indicate the flow of data that passes through the communication quality control apparatus 100.
[0033]
In the switching hardware 302, a default communication path is set in advance, and communication information that arrives at the communication quality control apparatus 100 is normally delivered to the communication quality control unit 301 via the default communication path. On the other hand, when a cut-through communication path in which two network interfaces are connected by a logical communication line is set in the switching hardware 302, the corresponding data flow does not pass through the communication quality control unit 301. Cut-through transfer is performed on the cut-through communication path.
[0034]
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the configuration of the communication quality control unit 301 in FIG.
[0035]
As shown in FIG. 4, the communication quality control unit 301 is realized based on an existing information processing apparatus, and a communication interface 401, a keyboard 402, a display 403, a CPU 404, and a memory 405 are connected via a bus 406. It has been configured.
[0036]
In the memory 405, an OS 407, a communication quality control program 408 operating on the OS 407, and storage information 409 used by the communication quality control program 408 are mounted.
[0037]
Further, the communication quality control unit 301 is connected to the switching hardware 302 via the communication interface 401, and the network site administrator 410 performs an operation on the communication quality control unit 301 using the keyboard 402 and the display 403. It is possible.
[0038]
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the configuration of the communication quality control program 408 and the stored information 409 of FIG.
[0039]
In FIG. 5, 501 is a request management unit, 502 is a main control unit, 503 is an IP delivery unit, 504 is a user authentication unit, 506 is a contract user information definition unit, 507 is a communication quality selection unit, and 509 is a communication quality definition information definition. Reference numerals 511 and 511 denote communication path control units, which are functional blocks realized by the CPU 404 executing the communication quality control program 408.
[0040]
In FIG. 5, 505 is contract user information, 508 is communication quality definition information, 510 is resource management information, 512 is channel setting information, 513 is request information, and these are stored in the memory 405 as storage information 409. Information.
[0041]
The main control unit 502 transmits / receives information to / from the switching hardware 302 via the communication interface 401, and when the communication information received by the communication quality control device 100 is a control message related to communication quality control. The request management unit 501 is requested to perform communication quality control processing.
[0042]
On the other hand, when the communication information received by the communication quality control device 100 is not a control message related to communication quality control, the main control unit 502 uses the IP delivery unit 503 to transfer the communication information to the destination. To do. The IP delivery unit 503 is a functional block for realizing the IP packet delivery by the existing router device in the communication quality control unit 301, and executes IP delivery processing such as reference and update of the routing table. Therefore, with the support of the IP delivery unit 503, the communication quality control unit 301 can operate as an IP router.
[0043]
The request management unit 501 receives a processing request from the main control unit 502 and executes a communication quality control process. The communication quality control process includes a user authentication process, a communication quality selection process, and a communication path control process. The request management unit 501 executes one of these three types of processing depending on the situation, as will be described in detail later.
[0044]
First, the first type of user authentication process will be briefly described.
[0045]
The user authentication process is a process executed by the request management unit 501 using the user authentication unit 504 when the type of control message related to communication quality control is a service start request message described later. The request management unit 501 stores the service start request message in the request information 513 while guaranteeing communication quality. The request information 513 is temporary storage information for managing users and services that guarantee communication quality.
[0046]
The user authentication unit 504 collates the content of the service start request message with the contract user information 505, and determines whether or not the user who requested the start of the service is a contract user who can receive a guarantee of communication quality. judge.
[0047]
The contract user information 505 is contract user management information, which is input from the keyboard 402 by the network site administrator 410, accepted by the contract user information definition unit 506, and stored in the memory 405.
[0048]
FIG. 6 shows a configuration example of the contract user information 505.
[0049]
As shown in FIG. 6, the contract user information 505 is information that stores the contract contents in order to authenticate that the user is a contracted user. The contract user information 505 includes a contract class 601 representing the rank of contract contents, and a list of user identification information 602 and content type information 605 for each contract class 601.
[0050]
The user identification information 602 is contract user management information. In the example of FIG. 6, an E-Mail address 603 and a password 604 are used. The content type information 605 is information representing the type of service content to be contracted, and uses, for example, an identification number representing the type of data to be delivered, such as Web data or video data.
[0051]
In the present embodiment, by providing the content type information 605, even if there are server terminal apparatuses 102 that provide different service contents in the same network site 106, the user designates the type of service content, and the communication quality The communication quality control apparatus 100 can perform centralized control with respect to communication quality.
[0052]
Next, the second type of communication quality selection processing will be briefly described.
[0053]
The communication quality selection process is a process executed by the request management unit 501 using the communication quality selection unit 507 in order to determine the communication quality to be guaranteed to the contract user.
[0054]
The communication quality selection unit 507 refers to the communication quality definition information 508 that is the definition of the communication quality parameter, and selects the communication quality parameter corresponding to the contract class 601 for the contract user.
[0055]
The communication quality definition information 508 is a list of communication quality parameters for each contract class 601, input from the keyboard 402 by the network site administrator 410, accepted by the communication quality definition information definition unit 809, and stored in the memory 405. .
[0056]
FIG. 7 shows a configuration example of the communication quality definition information 508.
[0057]
As shown in FIG. 7, the communication quality definition information 508 is communication quality definition information to be guaranteed to the contract user. From the contract class 601 representing the rank of the contract content and the list of the network-dependent communication quality parameter information 701. It is configured.
[0058]
The network-dependent communication quality parameter information 701 is a list of communication quality parameters to be reported to the ISP network 105. FIG. 8 shows a configuration example of the network-dependent communication quality parameter information 701.
[0059]
FIG. 8 shows an example in which the ISP network 105 is an ATM network, and the network-dependent communication quality parameter information 701 is a list of ATM communication quality parameters to be reported to the ATM network.
[0060]
That is, as shown in FIG. 8, ATM network-dependent communication quality parameter information 801 includes ATM service category 802, PCR (Peak Cell Rate) 803, SCR (Sustainable Cell Rate) 804, MCR. (Minimum Cell Rate) 805, cell delay variation allowable value 806, and so on, the ATM communication quality parameters are listed.
[0061]
In the ATM service category 802, CBR (Constant Bit Rate: fixed transmission rate) is an ATM service that emulates data transfer with strong time constraints by fixing the data transfer rate to the SCR 803, and VBR (Variable Bit Rate). (Rate: variable transmission rate) is an ATM service that has strong time constraints and is suitable for cases where the amount of data fluctuates over time. The SCR 803 and SCR 804 are specified for fluctuations in the amount of data, and the difference between the peak and the average In this part, the ATM service allows the cell loss by the cell delay variation allowable value 806. ABR (Available Bit Rate) is an ATM service that does not allow cell loss, but does not allow cell loss. ATM that increases or decreases the transfer rate between SCR 803 and MCR 805 according to traffic. It is a service.
[0062]
Therefore, for example, a contract user whose contract class 601 is “1” guarantees communication quality by CBR, a contract user whose contract class 601 is “2” guarantees communication quality by VBR, and contract class 601 has “3”. The ATM service category 802 and the contract class 601 can be associated with each other such as guaranteeing communication quality by ABR to the contract user of “ It becomes possible to rank.
[0063]
In the example of FIG. 8, the ATM network is targeted, but the communication quality definition information 508 is based on the definition of the network site manager 410, so that it is possible to handle network-specific communication quality parameters. It is possible to specify communication quality parameters regardless of which network is connected at the same time.
[0064]
Further, the communication quality selection unit 507 determines whether or not the content of the contract with the ISP network 105 is exceeded when the network resource corresponding to the parameter value of the selected communication quality parameter is allocated. Refer to the management information 510.
[0065]
The resource management information 510 is network resource management information effective for the entire network site 106 that the network site 106 has previously contracted with the ISP network 105. A configuration example of the resource management information 510 will be described after the description of the communication path setting information 512 described later.
[0066]
Next, the third type of communication path control processing will be briefly described.
[0067]
The communication path control process is a process executed by the request management unit 501 using the communication path control unit 511 in order to start / end the guarantee of communication quality.
[0068]
The communication path control unit 511 sets / releases a cut-through communication path in the switching hardware 302. For example, the communication path control unit 511 performs this processing using a communication path control protocol such as GSMP, and stores the set cut-through communication path management information as the communication path setting information 512.
[0069]
FIG. 9 shows a configuration example of the communication path setting information 512.
[0070]
As illustrated in FIG. 9, the communication path setting information 512 is management information of a cut-through communication path set in the switching hardware 302 by the communication path control unit 511, and includes communication path status information 901 and communication path identification information. 902 and communication path-compatible consumption resource information 903.
[0071]
The communication path status information 901 represents the state of the cut-through communication path. For example, a value such as “1” is set in the operating state and “0” is set in the pending state.
[0072]
In this embodiment, by providing the communication path status information 901, for example, when a service is interrupted / changed, a value indicating a pending state is set in the communication path status information 901 instead of sequentially releasing the cut-through communication path. Therefore, it is possible to secure a cut-through communication path. That is, for example, for a user who accesses frequently, a cut-through communication path is secured for a predetermined time after the service ends, and a service start request message is transmitted again during that time. By returning the communication path status information 901 to the operating state, it becomes possible to restart the service, and it is possible to reduce the processing load when the cut-through communication path is released and re-set. Become.
[0073]
The communication path identification information 902 is information for identifying the set cut-through communication path, and FIG. 10 shows a configuration example of the communication path identification information 902.
[0074]
As shown in FIG. 10, the communication path identification information 902 includes, for example, a transmission source IP address 1001, an input port number 1002, an input communication path identifier 1003, a transmission destination IP address 1004, an output port number 1005, an output communication path identifier 1006, and the like. These parameters are used as information for identifying the cut-through communication path and the data flow delivered on the cut-through communication path.
[0075]
Further, the communication resource corresponding to the communication path 903 is information for representing the network resource allocated to the cut-through communication path. FIG. 11 shows a configuration example of the communication resource corresponding to the communication path 903.
[0076]
Since the network site 106 has previously contracted with the ISP network 105 for the amount of network resources that can be consumed by the entire network site 106, communication quality can be improved within a range not exceeding the contract amount with the ISP network 105. In order to guarantee, it is necessary to constantly monitor the amount of network resources currently consumed at the network site 106. Specifically, since the cut-through transfer by the switching hardware 302 in the communication quality control apparatus 100 is applied to the delivery of data for which the communication quality is guaranteed, the amount of network resources allocated to each cut-through communication path is grasped. The total of these may be suppressed within a range that does not exceed the contract amount with the ISP network 105. In this way, communication quality within a range that does not exceed the contract amount with the ISP network 105 can be reliably guaranteed from the start to the end of the service.
[0077]
As shown in FIG. 11, the communication resource corresponding to communication path 903 is management information of the network resource allocated to each cut-through communication path. In FIG. 11, the maximum communication band 1101 and the cell delay variation allowable value 1102 are shown. Is a communication quality parameter to be reported to the ISP network 105.
[0078]
By storing these communication path-compatible consumption resource information 903 for all cut-through communication paths, it becomes possible to manage the amount of network resources currently consumed at the network site 106.
[0079]
Here, a configuration example of the resource management information 510 referred to by the communication quality selection unit 507 is shown in FIG.
[0080]
As shown in FIG. 12, the resource management information 510 is information for managing the network resource amount that is effective in the entire network site 106, similarly to the communication resource corresponding to the communication path 903 shown in FIG.
[0081]
The resource management information 510 is configured by listing the resource type information 1201, the maximum effective resource amount 1201, and the remaining effective resource amount 1203 for all resource types. In FIG. 12, the communication bandwidth of 50,000 kbps is set. An example in which a contract is made with the ISP network 105 is shown.
[0082]
Therefore, for example, as shown in FIG. 11, when the communication quality is guaranteed by two cut-through communication paths each assigned with a communication bandwidth of 500 kbps, the remaining contract amount is set as shown in FIG. The remaining effective resource amount 1203 shown is 49,000 kbps.
[0083]
Now, the flow of communication quality control in this embodiment will be described below.
[0084]
First, the overall flow of communication quality control in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0085]
FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the overall flow of communication quality control in this embodiment.
[0086]
As shown in FIG. 13, when starting access to the server terminal device 102, the client terminal device 103 first performs a service start request procedure (S131).
[0087]
Here, it is assumed that the user of the client terminal device 103 is a contract user who designates a service by the server terminal device 102 to be accessed and has a contract for guaranteeing communication quality in advance.
[0088]
Specifically, in S131, the client terminal device 103 transmits a service start request message 1301 to the communication quality control device 100. A service start request message 1301 transmitted from the client terminal device 103 arrives at the communication quality control device 100 via the ISP network 105.
[0089]
As will be described later in detail, when the communication quality control apparatus 100 confirms that the service start request message 1301 has been received, the request management unit 501 executes communication quality control processing. Here, in the communication quality control process, the user authentication process and the communication quality selection process are executed first, and the user of the client terminal device 103 is a contract user, so that it may be a contract user as will be described in detail later. The communication quality parameter (network-dependent communication quality parameter information 701 to be guaranteed to the contract user is selected at the same time as the authentication, and the communication path control process is executed in the communication quality control process. Thus, the cut-through communication path is secured in the switching hardware 302 as a hold state.
[0090]
Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 13, when the network-dependent communication quality parameter information 701 is selected, the communication quality control device 100 performs a reservation parameter notification procedure (S132).
[0091]
Specifically, in S132, the communication quality control apparatus 100 transmits a reservation parameter information message 1302 to notify the client terminal apparatus 103 of the selected network-dependent communication quality parameter information 701. The reservation parameter information message 1302 transmitted from the communication quality control apparatus 100 arrives at the client terminal apparatus 103 via the ISP network 105.
[0092]
Next, as shown in FIG. 13, when receiving the reservation parameter information message 1302, the client terminal device 103 performs a resource reservation request procedure (S133).
[0093]
Specifically, in S133, the client terminal device 103 interprets the received reservation parameter information message 1302, and makes a resource reservation that can be interpreted by the network node device 101 on the path in the ISP network 105 to the communication quality control device 100. A request message 1303 is transmitted. A resource reservation request message 1303 transmitted from the client terminal device 103 arrives at the communication quality control device 100 via the ISP network 105.
[0094]
In the ISP network 105, when the resource reservation request message 1303 is routed, the network node device 101 interprets the contents and allocates network resources to the requested data flow. The resource reservation request message 1303 can be realized using, for example, an RSVP Path message, and the operation of the network node device 101 is the same as the operation of the network node device employing RSVP.
[0095]
Next, as shown in FIG. 13, upon receiving the resource reservation request message 1303, the communication quality control apparatus 100 performs a server operation start instruction procedure (S134).
[0096]
More specifically, in S134, the communication quality control apparatus 100 interprets the received resource reservation request message 1303 and confirms that the communication quality is guaranteed for the apparatus on the route. A start instruction message 1304 is transmitted to instruct start of service operation by the server terminal apparatus 102. In addition, the communication quality control apparatus 100 performs communication quality control processing by the request management unit 501 as described later in detail. Here, in the communication quality control process, the communication path control process is executed, and the cut-through communication path secured in the switching hardware 302 is set as an operation state to prepare for data delivery, as will be described in detail later. Will be.
[0097]
Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 13, upon receiving the server operation start instruction message 1304, the server terminal apparatus 102 performs a service operation procedure (S135).
[0098]
Specifically, in S135, when the server terminal apparatus 102 is instructed to start the service operation by the server operation start instruction message 1304, the server terminal apparatus 102 delivers the data to the client terminal apparatus 103. Data delivered from the server terminal device 102 flows on the cut-through communication path and is cut-through transferred in the communication quality control device 100.
[0099]
As shown in FIG. 13, the client terminal device 103 performs a service termination request procedure (S136) and a resource release request procedure (S137) when access to the server terminal device 102 is terminated.
[0100]
Specifically, in S136, the client terminal apparatus 103 transmits a service end request message 1305 to the communication quality control apparatus 100. A service end request message 1305 transmitted from the client terminal device 103 arrives at the communication quality control device 100 via the ISP network 105.
[0101]
More specifically, in S137, the client terminal device 103 sends a resource release request message 1306 that can be interpreted to the network node device 101 on the path in the ISP network 105 to the communication quality control device 100. A resource release request message 1306 transmitted from the client terminal device 103 arrives at the communication quality control device 100 via the ISP network 105.
[0102]
In the ISP network 105, when the resource release request message 1306 is routed, the network node device 101 interprets the contents and releases the allocated network resources. The resource release request message 1306 can be realized by using, for example, an RSVP Resvteaer message, and the operation of the network node apparatus 101 is the same as the operation of the network node apparatus adopting RSVP.
[0103]
Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 13, upon receiving the service end request message 1305 and the resource release request message 1306, the communication quality control apparatus 100 performs a server operation end instruction procedure (S138).
[0104]
In S138, in detail, the communication quality control apparatus 100 interprets the received service end request message 1305 and the resource release request message 1306, and confirms that the client terminal apparatus 103 has finished receiving the service by the server terminal apparatus 102. Then, a server operation end instruction message 1307 is transmitted to the server terminal apparatus 102 to instruct the server terminal apparatus 102 to end the service operation. In addition, the communication quality control apparatus 100 executes communication quality control processing by the request management unit 501 as described in detail later. Here, the communication path control process is executed in the communication quality control process, and the cut-through communication path set in the switching hardware 302 is released as will be described in detail later.
[0105]
FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a service start request message 1301 transmitted in the service start request procedure (S131) of FIG.
[0106]
As shown in FIG. 14, the service start request message 1301 includes service request status information 1401, user identification information 1402, content type identifier 1403, and content identification information 1404.
[0107]
The service request status information 1401 is information for identifying the type of request, and a number uniquely determined in advance is set for each type of request. FIG. 14 shows an example in which “0” is set when the request type is the service start request message 1301.
[0108]
The user identification information 1402 is information for identifying the user who has transmitted the request, and has the configuration shown in FIG.
[0109]
The content type identifier 1403 is information for identifying the type of service. For example, “0” is used to request a video delivery service, and “1” is used to request a Web service. Either the identification number uniquely determined on the side or the port number of the application that operates the service is set.
[0110]
The content identification information 1404 is, for example, a network site administrator 410 for specifying service data to be delivered, such as an identification number assigned to each video title in the video server 201 or an http address assigned to the Web server 202. Is identification information uniquely determined in advance.
[0111]
If “1” is set in the service request status information 1401 when the request type is the service start end message 1305, this figure is transmitted in the service end request procedure (S136) of FIG. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the service start end message 1305 to be performed.
[0112]
FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a reservation parameter information message 1302 transmitted in the reservation parameter notification procedure (S132) of FIG.
[0113]
As shown in FIG. 15, the reservation parameter information message 1302 indicates the communication quality applied to the service, and is composed of a communication quality parameter type identifier 1501 and a communication quality parameter value 1502.
[0114]
The communication quality parameter type identifier 1501 is information for identifying the type of communication quality parameter set in the network-dependent communication quality parameter information 701, and a predetermined number is set for each type of communication quality parameter. Is done. FIG. 15 shows an example in which the maximum communication bandwidth and the cell delay variation allowable value are communication quality parameters to be reported to the ISP network 105.
[0115]
The communication quality parameter value 1502 is a communication quality parameter value corresponding to the communication quality parameter type identifier 1501.
[0116]
FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a server operation start instruction message 1304 transmitted in the server operation start instruction procedure (S134) of FIG.
[0117]
As shown in FIG. 16, the server operation start instruction message 1304 includes server operation request status information 1601, content type identifier 1602, content identification information 1603, and a delivery destination IP address 1604.
[0118]
The server operation request status information 1601 is information for identifying the type of request, and a number uniquely determined in advance is set for each type of request. FIG. 16 shows an example in which “0” is set when the request type is the server operation start instruction message 1304.
[0119]
The content type identifier 1602 and the content identification information 1603 are information for identifying service contents as described with reference to FIG.
[0120]
The delivery destination IP address 1604 indicates the IP address of the client terminal device 103 that receives the service.
[0121]
If “1” is set in the server operation request status information 1601 when the request type is the server operation end instruction message 1307, this figure shows the server operation end instruction procedure (S138) of FIG. ) Is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the server operation end instruction message 1307 transmitted.
[0122]
Next, processing of the communication quality control apparatus 100 in the flow of communication quality control in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0123]
FIG. 17 is a process flowchart of the communication quality control apparatus 100 when communication information arrives.
[0124]
The communication quality control apparatus 100 sets a default communication path in the switching hardware 302 in advance. The default communication path is a logical communication line for connecting the outside of the communication quality control apparatus 100 and the communication quality control unit 301, and communication information from the outside normally arrives at the default communication path. .
[0125]
As shown in FIG. 17, in the communication quality control apparatus 100, when communication information arrives from the outside, the received communication information is delivered to the communication quality control unit 301 via the switching hardware 302 (step). 1701).
[0126]
Therefore, in the communication quality control unit 301, the main control unit 502 determines whether or not the delivered communication information is a control message related to communication quality control (step 1702). Specifically, the control message related to the communication quality control is a service start request message 1301, a reservation parameter information message 1302, a resource reservation request message 1303, a server operation start instruction message transmitted and received by the communication quality control apparatus 100 in FIG. Reference numeral 1304 denotes a service end request message 1305, a resource release request message 1306, and a server operation end instruction message 1307.
[0127]
If the main control unit 502 determines that the control message is related to communication quality control, the main control unit 502 requests the request management unit 501 to perform communication quality control processing (step 1703).
[0128]
If the main control unit 502 determines that the message is not a control message related to communication quality control, the main control unit 502 cooperates with the IP delivery unit 503 to transfer the received communication information toward the destination (step 1704).
[0129]
FIG. 18 is a process flowchart of the communication quality control apparatus 100 in S131 and S132 of FIG.
[0130]
The service start request message 1301 transmitted by the client terminal device 103 in S131 of FIG. 13 is delivered to the communication quality control unit 301, and the main control unit 502, as shown in FIG. The request management unit 501 is requested to perform communication quality control processing.
[0131]
Therefore, as shown in FIG. 18, in the communication quality control apparatus 100, the request management unit 501 requested for the communication quality control process first confirms that it has received the service start request message 1301 (step 1801). A user authentication process in the communication quality control process is executed (step 1802).
[0132]
FIG. 19 shows a process flowchart of the user authentication process.
[0133]
As shown in FIG. 19, when the request management unit 501 first confirms that the received control message is a service start request message 1301, the request management unit 501 requests the user authentication unit 504 for user authentication processing (step 1901).
[0134]
When requested to perform user authentication processing, the user authentication unit 504 collates the user identification information 1402 included in the service start request message 1301 with the user identification information 602 stored in the contract user information 505 (step 1902), it is determined whether or not the sender of the service request message 1401 is a contract user (step 1903).
[0135]
If the user authentication unit 504 is not a contract user, the user authentication unit 504 interrupts the processing. If the user authentication unit 504 is a contract user, the user authentication unit 504 returns the contract class 601 corresponding to the contract user in the contract user information 505 to the request management unit 501 ( Step 1904).
[0136]
In S131 of FIG. 13, it is authenticated that it is a contract user by a user authentication process.
[0137]
Returning to FIG. 18, in the communication quality control apparatus 100, the request management unit 501 performs communication quality control processing in order to obtain network-dependent communication quality parameter information 701 for the contract class 601 obtained by the user authentication processing in step 1802. Communication quality selection processing is executed (step 1803).
[0138]
FIG. 20 shows a process flowchart of the communication quality selection process.
[0139]
As shown in FIG. 20, when the request management unit 501 first confirms that the received control message is a service start request message 1301, the request management unit 501 requests the communication quality selection unit 507 to perform a communication quality selection process (step 2001). .
[0140]
When the communication quality selection unit 507 is requested to perform communication quality selection processing, the communication quality selection unit 507 searches the communication quality definition information 508 and obtains network-dependent communication quality parameter information 701 corresponding to the contract class 601 obtained by the user authentication processing in step 1802. Obtain (step 2002).
[0141]
Subsequently, the communication quality selection unit 507 refers to the resource management information 510 and determines the network resource corresponding to the communication quality parameter set in the network-dependent communication quality parameter information 701 obtained in step 2002 as the ISP network 105. It is determined whether or not it can be consumed within a range not exceeding the contract content between the two (step 2003).
[0142]
If it is not consumable, the communication quality selection unit 507 interrupts the processing. If it is consumable, the communication quality selection unit 507 determines the network resource amount corresponding to the communication quality parameter set in the network-dependent communication quality parameter information 701. Subtract from the resource management information 510 (step 2004) and return the network-dependent communication quality parameter information 701 to the request management unit 501 (step 2005).
[0143]
In S131 of FIG. 13, the network-dependent communication quality parameter information 701 is selected by the channel quality selection process.
[0144]
Returning to FIG. 18, in the communication quality control apparatus 100, the request management unit 501 performs communication quality control processing in order to secure a cut-through communication path for the service requested to be started by the service start request message 1301. The communication path control process is executed (step 1804). In the communication path control process, as described below, the process branches to three types of processes, that is, a communication path setting process, a communication path release process, and a communication path hold process. In the communication path control process executed in step 1804, Branches to the communication path hold processing.
[0145]
FIG. 21 shows a process flowchart of the communication quality control process.
[0146]
As shown in FIG. 21, when the request management unit 501 first confirms that the received control message is a service start request message 1301, the request management unit 501 requests the communication channel control unit 511 to perform communication channel control processing (step 2101). . The request management unit 501 also performs communication when confirming that the received control message is the resource reservation request message 1303 and confirming that the received control message is the service end request message 1305 and the resource release request message 1306. Requests a path control process to the path control unit 511.
[0147]
When requested to perform the communication path control process, the communication path control unit 511 selects a process to be executed from the communication path setting process, the communication path release process, and the communication path standby process according to the received control message. (Step 2102). Specifically, when the received control message is the service start request message 1301, the communication path control unit 511 selects the communication path hold processing, and when the received control message is the resource reservation request message 1303, If the communication path setting process is selected and the received control message is the service end request message 1305 and the resource release request message 1306, the communication path release process is selected.
[0148]
When the communication path setting process is selected (step 2103), the communication path control unit 511 sets a cut-through communication path in the switching hardware 302 (step 2105), and sets the set cut-through communication path as a communication path. The operation information is registered in the setting information 512 (step 2106). If the communication path release process is selected (step 2104), the cut-through communication path set in the switching hardware 302 is released (step 2107), and the registration of the released cut-through communication path is communicated. The route setting information 512 is deleted (step 2108). When the communication path hold process is selected (step 2104), the cut-through communication path in the switching hardware 302 is registered in the communication path setting information 512 as a standby state (step 2109).
[0149]
In S131 of FIG. 13, the cut-through communication path is secured in the switching hardware 302 as a hold state by the communication path hold process.
[0150]
Returning to FIG. 18, in the communication quality control apparatus 100, the request management unit 501 stores the received service start request message 1301 in the request information 513 (step 1805). Further, the request management unit 510 creates a reservation parameter information message 1302 using the network-dependent communication quality parameter information 701 obtained by the communication quality selection process executed in step 1803, and creates the reservation parameter information message 1302 thus created. A reply is sent to the client terminal device 103 (step 1806).
[0151]
S132 in FIG. 13 is realized by step 1806 in FIG.
[0152]
FIG. 22 is a process flowchart of the communication quality control apparatus 100 in S133 and S134 of FIG.
[0153]
The resource reservation request message 1303 transmitted by the client terminal device 103 in S133 of FIG. 13 is delivered to the communication quality control unit 301, and the main control unit 502, as shown in FIG. The request management unit 501 is requested to perform communication quality control processing.
[0154]
Therefore, as shown in FIG. 22, in the communication quality control apparatus 100, the request management unit 501 requested for the communication quality control process first confirms that the resource reservation request message 1303 has been received (step 2201). A communication path setting process in the communication quality control process is executed (step 2202). Note that the communication path control process executed in step 2202 branches to the communication path setting process as shown in FIG.
[0155]
In the communication path setting process, a cut-through communication path is set with the cut-through communication path secured in the hold state in the communication path hold process as the operating state. That is, in S134 of FIG. 13, the cut-through communication path secured in the switching hardware 302 is set as the operating state by the communication path setting process.
[0156]
Subsequently, the request management unit 501 creates a server operation start instruction message 1304 and transmits the created server operation start instruction message 1304 to the server terminal apparatus 102 (step 2203). Specifically, in step 2203, the request management unit 501 sets a value “0” indicating that it is the server operation start instruction message 1304 in the server operation request status information 1601 in the server operation start instruction message 1304. In the content type identifier 1602 and the content identification information 1603, values in the service start request message 1301 stored in the request information 513 in step 1805 of FIG. 18 are set, and the delivery destination IP address 1604 is set in FIG. In step 1804, the registered value is set in the communication path setting information 512.
[0157]
S134 of FIG. 13 is realized by step 2203 of FIG.
[0158]
FIG. 23 is a process flowchart of the communication quality control apparatus 100 in S136 to S138 of FIG.
[0159]
The service end request message 1305 sent by the client terminal device 103 in S136 of FIG. 13 and the resource release request message 1306 sent by the client terminal device 103 in S137 of FIG. 13 are delivered to the communication quality control unit 301, and the communication quality In the control unit 301, as shown in FIG. 17, the main control unit 502 requests the request management unit 501 to perform communication quality control processing.
[0160]
Therefore, as shown in FIG. 23, in the communication quality control apparatus 100, the request management unit 501 requested for the communication quality control process first confirms that it has received the service end request message 1305 and the resource release request message 1306. Then (step 2301), a server operation end instruction message 1307 is created, and the created server operation end instruction message 1307 is transmitted to the server terminal device 102 (step 2302). Specifically, in step 2302, the request management unit 501 sets a value “1” indicating that it is the server operation end instruction message 1307 in the server operation request status information 1601 in the server operation end instruction message 1307. In the content type identifier 1602 and the content identification information 1603, values in the service start request message 1301 stored in the request information 513 in step 1805 of FIG. 18 are set, and the delivery destination IP address 1604 is set in FIG. In step 1804, the registered value is set in the communication path setting information 512.
[0161]
S138 of FIG. 13 is realized by step 2302 of FIG.
[0162]
Subsequently, the request management unit 501 deletes the registration of the service whose termination is requested by the service termination request message 1305 from the request information 513 (step 2303). Specifically, in step 2302, the request management unit 501 deletes the service start request message 1301 stored in the request information 513 in step 1805 of FIG.
[0163]
Further, the request management unit 501 executes a communication path setting process in the communication quality control process (step 2304). In the communication path control process executed in step 2304, the process branches to the communication path release process as shown in FIG.
[0164]
In the communication path release process, the cut-through communication path set as the operation state in the communication path setting process is released. That is, in S137 of FIG. 13, the cut-through communication path set in the switching hardware 302 is released by the communication path release process.
[0165]
As described above, according to the communication quality control apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, the network site 106 that has previously made a contract with the ISP network 105 and is guaranteed to use the network resources in the ISP network 105. The communication quality can be guaranteed for the communication intended for the terminal device in the network site 106.
[0166]
In particular, the communication quality control apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment guarantees the communication quality within the contract range with the ISP network 105. Quality can be guaranteed. On the contrary, since the total amount of network resources that can be used in the entire network site 106 is not exceeded, the data flow other than the network site 106 is not compressed.
[0167]
In the present embodiment, since the network site 106 also has a contract with the user, the contracted user can be treated with priority, and the network site manager 410 defines the contract contents. For example, it is possible to guarantee higher communication quality for a user who is assigned a rank and contracts for a higher fee.
[0168]
In this embodiment, the network site administrator 410 also defines the network-dependent communication quality parameter information 701, and the network quality control parameter information that the communication quality control apparatus 100 according to this embodiment should guarantee to the contract user. Since 701 is selected, it is not necessary to select a communication quality parameter by the user as in RSVP.
[0169]
In addition, the communication quality control apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment uses the switching hardware 302 to deliver data at high speed by hardware processing, and separately manages service data flows and control messages. Communication quality control is also possible on Web sites and the like.
[0170]
Further, since the communication quality control apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment can make a contract by designating the contents of service content for each user, for example, a server terminal apparatus that provides different services such as the video server 201 and the Web server 202 Even if 102 are mixed in the same network site 106, centralized management of communication quality is possible.
[0171]
In the present embodiment, the network site administrator 410 defines the network-dependent communication quality parameter information 701 that can be interpreted by the external network in the communication quality definition information 508. Therefore, the network site administrator 410 connects to an arbitrary network. It is possible.
[0172]
In this embodiment, the management information of the cut-through communication path set in the switching hardware 302 is stored in the communication path setting information 512. The communication path storage information 512 includes the communication information. Since the path status information 901 is retained, for example, for users who frequently access, the cut-through communication path is reserved as a hold state for a predetermined time after the service ends, When the service start request message is transmitted again, the service can be resumed by returning the communication path status information 901 to the operating state, and the cut-through communication path is released and set. It is possible to reduce the processing load when repairing. In addition, for example, when ranking contract contents, it is also possible to reserve a cut-through communication path as a pending state for users with higher ranks even when services are not provided. Further, it is possible to provide a service hold request message using the service request status information 1402 and to secure the cut-through communication path as a hold state only when requested by the user.
[0173]
In this embodiment, the network resource to be guaranteed for each contract user is managed for each type using the communication resource corresponding to the communication channel 903 and the resource management information 510. Detailed monitoring is also possible. This feature also has an effect that the network site manager 410 can flexibly cope with it at the same time.
[0174]
Further, according to the network configuration according to the present embodiment, the server terminal apparatus 102 does not need to perform the user authentication process and the communication quality parameter designation process, so that the load on the server terminal apparatus 102 can be reduced. An effect is also produced.
[0175]
In addition, the communication quality control apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment can be operated as a proxy server by having a Web caching function, or by having a packet filtering function. It is also possible to operate as a firewall.
[0176]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to guarantee communication quality for communication targeted at terminal devices in a network site without exceeding the total amount of network resources available in the entire network site. It becomes possible.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of a network to which a communication quality control apparatus according to an embodiment is applied.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a specific example of a network to which the communication quality control apparatus according to the embodiment is applied.
FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a communication quality control apparatus according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a service control unit.
FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a control program and stored information.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of contract user information.
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of communication quality definition information.
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of network-dependent communication quality parameter information.
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of communication path setting information.
FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration example of communication path identification information.
FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of communication path-compatible consumption resource information.
FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of resource management information.
FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing the overall flow of communication quality control in the present embodiment.
FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of a service start request message transmitted in a service start request procedure.
FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of a reservation parameter information message transmitted in a reservation parameter notification procedure.
FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of a server operation start instruction message transmitted in the server operation start instruction procedure.
FIG. 17 is a processing flowchart of the communication quality control apparatus when communication information arrives.
18 is a processing flowchart of the communication quality control apparatus in S131 and S132 of FIG.
FIG. 19 is a processing flowchart of user authentication processing;
FIG. 20 is a process flowchart of a communication quality selection process.
FIG. 21 is a process flowchart of a communication path control process.
FIG. 22 is a processing flowchart of the communication quality control apparatus in S133 and S134 of FIG. 13;
FIG. 23 is a processing flowchart of the communication quality control apparatus in S136 to S138 of FIG. 13;
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Communication quality control apparatus, 101, 101-A-101-D ... Network node apparatus, 102, 102-A-102-C ... Server terminal apparatus, 103, 103-A-103-C ... Client terminal apparatus, 104 ... Communication line, 105 ... ISP (Internet Service Provider) network, 106, 106-A, 106-B ... Network site, 201 ... Video server, 202 ... Web server, 301 ... Communication quality control unit, 302 ... Switching hardware, 401 ... Communication interface, 402 ... Keyboard, 403 ... Display, 404 ... CPU, 405 ... Memory, 406 ... Bus, 407 ... OS, 408 ... Control program, 409 ... Storage information, 410 ... Network site manager, 501 ... Request management Part 502 Main control unit, 503 ... IP delivery unit, 504 ... user authentication unit, 505 ... contract user information, 506 ... contract user information definition unit, 507 ... communication quality selection unit, 508 ... communication quality definition information, 509 ... communication quality definition information Definition part 510 ... Resource management information, 511 ... Communication path control part, 512 ... Communication path setting information, 513 ... Request information, 601 ... Contract class, 602 ... User identification information, 603 ... E-Mail address, 604 ... Password, 605 ... Content type information, 701 ... Network-dependent communication quality parameter information, 801 ... ATM network-dependent communication quality parameter information, 802 ... ATM service category, 803 ... PCR (Peak Cell Rate), 804 ... SCR (Sustainable Cell Rate), 805 ... MCR (Minimu Cell Rate), 806... Cell delay variation allowable value, 901... Communication path status information, 902... Communication path identification information, 903... Communication path compatible resource information, 1001. Input communication path identification number, 1004 ... Destination IP address, 1005 ... Output port number, 1006 ... Output communication path identification number, 1101 ... Maximum communication bandwidth, 1102 ... Cell delay variation allowable value, 1201 ... Resource type information, 1202 ... Maximum Effective resource amount, 1203 ... Remaining effective resource amount, 1301 ... Service start request message, 1302 ... Reservation parameter information message, 1303 ... Resource reservation request message, 1304 ... Server operation start instruction message, 1305 ... Service end request message, 1306 ... Resource Release request message, 1 07 ... Server operation end instruction message, 1401 ... Service request status information, 1402 ... User identification information, 1403 ... Content type identifier, 1404 ... Content identification information, 1501 ... Communication quality parameter type identifier, 1502 ... Communication quality parameter value, 1601 ... Server operation request status information, 1602 ... content type identifier, 1603 ... content identification information, 1604 ... delivery destination IP address.

Claims (4)

At a position where a network site composed of one or more terminal devices is connected to an external network, all communication information targeted for the terminal devices in the network site is routed,
Switching that has a plurality of network interfaces, and when a cut-through communication path is set between two network interfaces by a logical communication line, communication information flowing on the cut-through communication path is delivered at high speed by hardware processing. Hardware,
The communication quality control unit connected with the switching hardware via a communication line is a component configuration,
The communication quality control unit
Contract user storage means for storing information indicating contract users who have previously contracted with the network site,
Communication quality storage means storing information indicating communication quality to be guaranteed to each contract user;
Network resource amount storage means for storing information indicating the network resource amount that can be used at the present time among the network resource amounts that can be used in the entire network site;
Communication path storage means for storing information indicating a cut-through communication path set in the switching hardware;
When the communication information received via the switching hardware is a connection request directed to the terminal device in the network site, the stored content of the contract user storage means is referred to and the connection request source user contracts User authentication means for determining whether the user is a user;
Communication quality selection means for selecting communication quality to be guaranteed to the contract user by referring to the stored contents of the communication quality storage means when the user authentication means determines that the user is a contract user;
Referring to the storage contents of the network resource amount storage means, the network resource amount necessary for guaranteeing the communication quality selected by the communication quality selection means does not exceed the network resource amount usable in the entire network site. Network resource amount judging means for judging whether or not allocation is possible;
When the network resource amount determining means determines that the allocation is possible, a cut-through communication path for communication between the contract user and the connection request destination is set in the switching hardware, and the network A communication quality control apparatus comprising: a storage content of a resource amount storage means; and a communication path control means for updating the storage content of the communication path storage means. The communication quality control device according to claim 1,
The communication path control means is
If the communication information received via the switching hardware is a disconnection request directed to the terminal device in the network site, and communication quality is being guaranteed for the communication that is the disconnection request target, Release the cut-through communication path for the communication set in the switching hardware, and update the storage contents of the network resource amount storage means and the storage contents of the communication path storage means Communication quality control device. The communication quality control device according to claim 1 or 2,
The communication quality control unit
A packet delivery means for transferring the communication information according to the destination of the communication information;
The packet delivery means is:
When the communication information received via the switching hardware is not a connection request directed to a terminal device in the network site, the user authentication means determines that the user is not a contract user, and the network resource amount A communication quality control apparatus characterized by transferring corresponding communication information when the determination means determines that assignment is impossible. Switching that has a plurality of network interfaces, and when a cut-through communication path is set between two network interfaces by a logical communication line, communication information flowing on the cut-through communication path is delivered at high speed by hardware processing. All the communication information for the terminal devices in the network site passes through the location where the network site connected to the hardware is connected by a communication line and the network site composed of one or more terminal devices is connected to the external network. In the information processing apparatus configured with the switching hardware, the communication control device arranged as described above,
A recording medium recording a program to be installed in the information processing apparatus,
Contract user storage means for storing information indicating contract users who have previously contracted with the network site,
Communication quality storage means storing information indicating communication quality to be guaranteed to each contract user;
Network resource amount storage means for storing information indicating the network resource amount that can be used at the present time among the network resource amounts that can be used in the entire network site;
Communication path storage means for storing information indicating a cut-through communication path set in the switching hardware;
When the communication information received via the switching hardware is a connection request directed to the terminal device in the network site, the stored content of the contract user storage means is referred to and the connection request source user contracts User authentication means for determining whether the user is a user;
Communication quality selection means for selecting communication quality to be guaranteed to the contract user by referring to the stored contents of the communication quality storage means when the user authentication means determines that the user is a contract user;
Referring to the storage contents of the network resource amount storage means, the network resource amount necessary for guaranteeing the communication quality selected by the communication quality selection means does not exceed the network resource amount usable in the entire network site. Network resource amount judging means for judging whether or not allocation is possible;
When the network resource amount determining means determines that the allocation is possible, a cut-through communication path for communication between the contract user and the connection request destination is set in the switching hardware, and the network A recording medium in which a program for causing the information processing apparatus to include the storage contents of the resource amount storage means and the communication path control means for updating the storage contents of the communication path storage means is recorded .

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