JP3779652B2 - Service quality experience / evaluation equipment and method of use - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a technique for experiencing or evaluating the quality of service of an interactive network application such as a telephone / TV telephone / matching game.
[0002]
[Prior art]
The quality of service of the conversational network application is affected by a delay time generated in communication between user terminals. That is, if the delay time increases, the time until the communication partner's response to the transmitted content is returned becomes longer, and conversation with a good tempo cannot be performed. For this reason, in order to experience and evaluate the service quality of the conversational network application, it is important to accurately reflect the influence of the delay time caused by communication between user terminals.
[0003]
Therefore, in experience and evaluation of service quality of conversational network applications, it is not possible to experience or evaluate the effect of delay time simply by viewing received signals affected by coding distortion, packet loss, etc. It is insufficient. That is, it is essential to have a conversation with the communication partner.
[0004]
In order to experience or evaluate the service quality of an interactive network application under various communication quality environments, a mechanism for switching a plurality of communication qualities to be experienced or evaluated in a short time is required. This is because when a user experiences or evaluates multiple communication qualities, if it takes too much time to switch, it cannot be compared with the quality experienced or evaluated immediately before, and the user's own quality criteria will be ambiguous. It is.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In order to be able to switch between multiple communication quality environments in a short time, it is necessary to use a quality deterioration simulation circuit that has the function of generating and controlling quality deterioration factors such as delay and packet loss. Is assumed to be used in laboratories and exhibition rooms, so it is necessary to connect the user terminal directly without going through the communication network.
[0006]
For this reason, the user terminal must be installed near the quality degradation simulation circuit, and the quality degradation simulation circuit can be connected to an unspecified number of user terminals installed at remote locations to experience service quality and evaluation. I couldn't do it.
[0007]
As described above, conventionally, there is no environment in which quality parameters including delay time can be freely switched in a short time in a conversation format by remote access, so when trying to experience or evaluate the service quality of various conversational network applications, The only way to access it is from a user terminal prepared in a place where a quality degradation simulation circuit is installed.
[0008]
An object of the present invention is to provide an environment for experience / evaluation of service quality in which quality parameters including delay time can be freely switched in a short time in a conversation format by remote access.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, a line holding circuit that holds a connection state with a user terminal regardless of the state of the quality deterioration simulation circuit is inserted between the connection terminal to the network and the quality deterioration simulation circuit. As a result, it is possible to change the settings of the quality degradation simulation circuit and to insert / delete while maintaining the conversation state between user terminals installed at remote locations. It differs from the conventional technology related to quality experience / evaluation in that it enables quality experience / evaluation by remote access.
[0010]
In the present invention, the apparatus of the present invention and a user terminal (a user terminal of a quality experience person or a quality evaluator remotely accessed) are individually connected via a communication network, and the user terminal or the apparatus of the present invention is connected by a line holding circuit. The connection state is maintained unless one of these is forcibly disconnected. Therefore, each user terminal can be asynchronously connected to the device of the present invention, and after confirming the connection between both user terminals, the quality degradation simulation circuit can be operated to enable communication between the user terminals. become.
[0011]
In addition, since the quality deterioration simulation circuit can be inserted, deleted, or changed regardless of the connection state between the user terminal and the apparatus, the setting parameters of the quality deterioration simulation circuit can be changed at any time.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a service quality experience / evaluation apparatus according to the present invention, in which 1 and 2 are user terminals, 3 is a network (communication network), and 10 is network connection terminals 11 and 12. , A service quality experience / evaluation apparatus (hereinafter simply referred to as “apparatus”) according to the present invention including the line holding circuits 13 and 14, the quality deterioration simulation circuit 15, and the set value changing means 16.
[0013]
In the apparatus 10, network connection terminals 11 and 12 are connected to user terminals 1 and 2 via the communication network 3, respectively. The line hold circuits 13 and 14 are inserted between the network connection terminals 11 and 12 and the quality deterioration simulation circuit 15 respectively, and hold the connection state with the user terminals 1 and 2 regardless of the state of the quality deterioration simulation circuit 15. Has the function of
[0014]
The quality deterioration simulation circuit 15 has a function of simulating service quality deterioration of the conversational network application. The set value changing means 16 has a function of changing the set value of the simulated quality in the quality deterioration simulation circuit 15 according to an external instruction or the like, thereby allowing various quality deterioration to be experienced or evaluated.
[0015]
In addition, although not shown in figure, the apparatus 10 shall be provided with the transmission / response function for connecting with a user terminal via a communication network.
[0016]
Prior to quality experience / evaluation, it is necessary to establish a connection between the user terminals 1 and 2 and the device 10. The following various patterns can be considered for this connection process.
[0017]
(Connection pattern 1)
FIG. 2 shows an example of a connection procedure with a user terminal. Here, the connection procedure is shown when both user terminals are called from the device side. Established. The connection procedure on the user terminal 1 side and the connection procedure on the user terminal 2 side are independent of each other, and communication between the user terminals 1 and 2 becomes possible after both terminals are connected together.
[0018]
This connection pattern is an effective method, for example, when scheduling an experience time zone or a time zone participating in the evaluation in advance according to the convenience of the user who performs the quality experience or evaluation and wants to process efficiently.
[0019]
(Connection pattern 2)
FIG. 3 shows another example of a connection procedure with a user terminal, in this case, a connection procedure when calling a device from one user terminal side, establishing a connection, and then calling another user terminal from the device side. After making a call from the user terminal 1 to the device 10 and establishing a connection, the specific information of the communication partner (here, the user terminal 2) transmitted from the user terminal 1 is used to transfer the information from the device 10 to the user terminal 2. A call is made to the terminal and a connection is established.
[0020]
FIG. 4 shows a connection procedure in the case of calling a device from one user terminal side and establishing a connection and then calling another user terminal from the device side, as in FIG. After making a call from 1 to the device 10 and establishing a connection, the communication partner (here, the user terminal 2) is automatically selected within the device 10 to make a call to the user terminal 2 and establish a connection. It has become.
[0021]
The point that communication between the user terminals 1 and 2 is possible after both terminals are connected together is the same as in the case of the connection pattern 1.
[0022]
The example in FIG. 3 is an effective method when, for example, a user who wants to experience service quality wants to make a call by freely selecting a partner (especially who has not promised a call). It is convenient because it can be used immediately. In addition, since a plurality of communication partners can be freely switched at their own discretion, it is convenient when it is desired to check a quality difference depending on the communication partner or communication ground.
[0023]
In the example of FIG. 4, for example, even when there is no other person who is likely to be a communication partner, the device automatically connects to a communication partner candidate such as a contact person in charge, so that the communication partner can be immediately connected. It becomes possible to find and talk.
[0024]
(Connection pattern 3)
FIG. 5 shows still another example of the connection procedure with the user terminal, in this case the connection procedure when calling up the device from the user terminal side. Is becoming established. The connection procedure on the user terminal 1 side and the connection procedure on the user terminal 2 side are independent of each other, and communication between the user terminals 1 and 2 becomes possible after both terminals are connected together.
[0025]
As an application example of this connection pattern, when a plurality of devices of the present invention are prepared and can be accessed with a representative access number, when two users have accessed for quality experience / evaluation. Then, there is a usage method in which the two people are connected to one of the devices of the present invention to experience and evaluate the quality. In this method, there is an advantage that the user side does not need to select a call partner, and the apparatus side does not need to have a contact person in charge for the call partner.
[0026]
As described above, since the connection state between the user terminals 1 and 2 and the device 10 is held by the line holding circuits 13 and 14, the quality deterioration simulation circuit is maintained in a state where the connection between the user terminal and the device is held. It is possible to experience or evaluate various quality deterioration states using 15 setting value changing means 16. It is also possible to change the other party at any time by putting only one of the user terminals on hold, disconnecting only the other terminal, and establishing a connection with another user terminal.
[0027]
FIG. 6 shows a second embodiment of the service quality experience / evaluation apparatus of the present invention. Here, a plurality of quality deterioration simulation circuits are prepared, and these are used by switching to experience various quality deterioration states. An example of an evaluation is shown. That is, in the figure, 15-1, 15-2,... 15-n are quality deterioration simulation circuits having different simulated quality, and 17 is a quality deterioration simulation circuit 15-1 to 15-n according to an instruction from the outside. Is a simulated circuit switching means for switching and connecting one of the circuits to the line holding circuits 13 and 14. Other configurations and operations are the same as those in the first embodiment.
[0028]
Although omitted in the figure, a set value switching unit similar to that in the first embodiment may be provided for each of the quality deterioration simulation circuits 15-1 to 15-n.
[0029]
In order to perform quantitative evaluation of service quality using the apparatus of the present invention, a function for instructing a user a procedure for evaluating service quality and a function for collecting evaluation results by the user are required.
[0030]
FIG. 7 shows a third embodiment of the service quality experience / evaluation apparatus of the present invention. Here, an example in which an evaluation procedure instruction circuit 18 and an evaluation result collection circuit 19 are provided in the apparatus of FIG.
[0031]
The evaluation procedure instruction circuit 18 sends, to each user terminal, information such as a conversation start instruction between users, a pause instruction for conversation / instruction for rating input in the form of voice / characters, etc., and each user performs an evaluation according to this instruction. . The evaluation result collection circuit 19 collects and stores evaluation results input by each user and sent from the user terminal.
[0032]
In the case of a service with a screen display such as a TV phone, for example, a telop or a pop-up window that prompts the player to enter a score every certain time is displayed, and the quality evaluation for multiple times is continuously executed without interrupting the conversation. Is also possible.
[0033]
If this method is used, subjective quality at each time in a situation where quality changes without interrupting the conversation state by simultaneously executing service provision and score collection while changing the degree of quality deterioration from moment to moment. Can be collected.
[0034]
FIG. 8 shows an application example of the apparatus of the present invention, here an example of application to quality experience / evaluation of IP telephone service. That is, in the figure, 4 and 5 are IP telephones used for conversation, and 6 and 7 are PCs dedicated to evaluation instruction display and score input distributed in advance, and these are connected to the apparatus 10 via the IP communication network 8.
[0035]
According to the above configuration, while having conversations with the IP telephones 4 and 5, according to the screen instructions of the PCs 6 and 7 connected to the same line at the same time, the score can be input from the keyboard of the PCs 6 and 7.
[0036]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the line hold circuit is inserted between the connection terminal to the network and the quality deterioration simulation circuit, so that the quality deterioration simulation is performed while maintaining the conversation state between users at remote locations. Circuit settings can be changed and inserted / deleted. With this, the application range of “experience or evaluation of communication quality degradation in conversation state”, which has been limited to communication between two users in the same place, There is an advantage that it can be expanded to communication between two users in remote locations.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of a service quality experience / evaluation apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram showing an example of a connection procedure with a user terminal. FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram showing still another example of the connection procedure with the user terminal. FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram showing still another example of the connection procedure with the user terminal. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of the service quality experience / evaluation apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a third embodiment of the service quality experience / evaluation apparatus of the present invention. Configuration diagram showing an example when the device is applied to IP phone service quality experience / evaluation
1, 2: user terminal, 3: network (communication network), 10: service quality experience / evaluation device, 11, 12: network connection terminal, 13, 14: line hold circuit, 15, 15-1 to 15-n: Quality deterioration simulation circuit, 16: setting value changing means, 17: simulation circuit switching means, 18: evaluation procedure instruction circuit, 19: evaluation result collecting circuit.

Claims (8)

An apparatus for experiencing and evaluating service quality degradation of an interactive network application executed on at least two user terminals connected via a network,
A terminal for connecting to a user terminal via a network;
A quality degradation simulation circuit that simulates degradation of service quality;
Service quality experience / evaluation characterized by comprising a line hold circuit inserted between the terminal and the quality deterioration simulation circuit and holding the connection state with the user terminal regardless of the state of the quality deterioration simulation circuit apparatus. In the service quality experience / evaluation apparatus according to claim 1,
A service quality experience / evaluation apparatus comprising setting value changing means for changing a setting value of simulated quality in a quality deterioration simulation circuit. In the service quality experience / evaluation apparatus according to claim 1,
A plurality of quality deterioration simulation circuits each having different simulated quality,
A service quality experience / evaluation apparatus comprising a circuit switching means for switching a plurality of quality deterioration simulation circuits. In the service quality experience / evaluation apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
Means for instructing a user terminal a predetermined procedure for evaluating service quality;
A service quality experience / evaluation apparatus comprising: means for collecting and storing quality evaluation results transmitted from a user terminal. A method of using the service quality experience / evaluation apparatus according to claim 1,
A service quality experience characterized in that a service quality experience / evaluation device makes a call to each user terminal, establishes a connection, and then allows each user to experience and evaluate the service quality of the service quality experience / evaluation device -How to use the evaluation device. A method of using the service quality experience / evaluation apparatus according to claim 1,
A call is made from one user terminal to the service quality experience / evaluation device, a connection is established, and the service quality experience / evaluation device sends another user terminal according to the specific information of the communication partner sent from the one user terminal. A method of using a service quality experience / evaluation apparatus, characterized in that a call is made to a connection, a connection is established, and thereafter each user experiences and evaluates the service quality of the service quality experience / evaluation apparatus. A method of using the service quality experience / evaluation apparatus according to claim 1,
Call from one user terminal to the service quality experience / evaluation device, establish a connection, automatically select a communication partner within the service quality experience / evaluation device, call to another user terminal, and connect And then allowing each user to experience and evaluate the service quality of the service quality experience / evaluation apparatus. A method of using the service quality experience / evaluation apparatus according to claim 1,
A service quality experience characterized by making a call from each user terminal to a service quality experience / evaluation device, establishing a connection, and then allowing each user to experience and evaluate the service quality by the service quality experience / evaluation device -How to use the evaluation device.

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