JP3997999B2 - Service quality maintenance system, service quality maintenance method, and route change instruction program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a service quality maintenance system and a service quality maintenance method that perform maintenance control of service provision quality of services provided via the Internet, and to a route change instruction program for performing maintenance control of service provision quality.

  In general, when the Internet connection is made, the line operator who performs the line connection connects the user terminal and the system of the Internet connection operator (hereinafter referred to as the ISP operator). In general, in the Internet connection environment, various services are provided via the Internet in a communication form called “best effort”. Therefore, each service is processed through the same route regardless of whether high service quality is required for the service to be used. For example, even a service that requires real-time processing such as an IP telephone service is processed along the same route as a service that does not require real-time processing such as an e-mail service or a homepage browsing service. Since processing is performed without considering the required quality level, it is difficult to ensure the quality of a service that requires high service provision quality.

  As a system that performs path control, Patent Document 1 describes a network path control system that performs path control based on a service level (network use bandwidth) requested by a user. In the network route control system described in Patent Document 1, a communication quality request between terminals managed by the quality control device is reflected in the route control of the route control device by linking the route control device and the quality control device. . The route control device recalculates and resets the route in order to bring the traffic accommodation design closer to the actual traffic. If recalculation and reconfiguration are impossible, the routing control device requests the network administrator to increase network resources.

  Patent Document 2 describes a packet switch that can perform congestion control without degrading packet transfer performance. The packet switch described in Patent Document 2 measures the transmission / reception amount per unit time of each port of the routing device. When the measured value exceeds the number of packets that can be processed per unit time, the packet switch diverts the packet to another port with a low utilization rate.

JP 2003-51845 A (paragraphs 0039-0055, FIGS. 5-6) JP 2000-4253 (paragraphs 0011-0020, FIG. 1)

  In the network path control system described in Patent Document 1, the user requests to secure the use band before starting the use of the service, and when the user cannot secure the service, the network layout is recalculated and rearranged. However, if recalculation and relocation are not possible, the user cannot receive service level guarantees until network resources are increased. In addition, there may be a user who cannot use the service until the network resources are increased. Therefore, even if the network path control system described in Patent Document 1 is used, there is a possibility that the service provision quality of a service that requires real-time processing cannot be maintained.

  Moreover, if the packet switch described in Patent Document 2 is used, it is possible to prevent a decrease in transfer capability in the routing device. However, only congestion control is performed, and even if the packet switch described in Patent Document 2 is used, the service provision quality of services provided via the Internet cannot always be maintained. Further, in the packet switch described in Patent Document 2, communication time is not taken into consideration, and it takes a transfer time to a node that performs service processing by detouring a packet to a port with a low utilization rate, and processing delay May occur. Therefore, there is a possibility that the service provision quality of a service that requires real-time processing cannot be maintained.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides a service quality maintenance system, a service quality maintenance method, and a route change instruction program that can perform maintenance control of service provision quality of services provided via the Internet.

A service quality maintenance system according to the present invention is a service quality maintenance system that performs maintenance control of service provision quality of a service provided via the Internet, and provides a user terminal used by a user and a service via the Internet. A relay device that relays communication between a plurality of service providing devices is installed , and includes a registration information storage unit that stores in advance registration information of a service selected by a user among services provided via the Internet, The service providing apparatus includes data transfer means for transferring the received data via the Internet to the service providing apparatus indicated by the destination included in the received data , and the relay apparatus is a route between the relay apparatus and the service providing apparatus. A route selection means for selecting the communication between the relay device and each service providing device. Monitoring the quality, and the communication quality comparison means for comparing the respective communication quality, based on the comparison result of the communication quality comparison unit, and a route change instruction means for instructing the rerouting to the route selection unit, the path selection unit The route between the relay device and the service providing device is changed in accordance with an instruction from the route change instruction unit, and the registration information storage unit stores in advance registration information including identification information that can identify the service selected by the user. The communication quality comparing means, for each transmission / reception of data, out of the identification information included in the registration information stored in advance by the registration information storage means, the identification matching the identification information for identifying the service corresponding to the data to be transmitted / received The service corresponding to the data to be transmitted / received among the identification information included in the registration information stored in advance by the registration information storage means is determined. When it is determined that there is identification information that matches the identification information for separation, the communication quality between the relay device and each service providing device is compared, and the communication quality is determined between the relay device and each service providing device. Monitoring the communication time of data transmitted and received by the relay device, the difference between the transmission time when the relay device transmits data to the service providing device and the reception time when the response data transmitted by the relay device is received from the service providing device, Obtained as the communication time of data transmitted and received between the relay device and the service providing device, and the selected route communication time, which is the communication time of data transmitted and received on the route selected by the route selection means, and the route selection means The non-selected route communication time, which is the communication time of data transmitted and received on the unselected route, is obtained, and the selected route communication time and the non-selected route communication And the route change instruction means determines that the communication quality comparison means is longer than the non-selected route communication time. In this case, the route selection unit is instructed to switch the non-selected route to the selected route .

A service quality maintenance method according to the present invention is a service quality maintenance method for performing maintenance control of service provision quality of a service provided via the Internet, and provides a user terminal used by a user and a service via the Internet. A relay device that relays communication between a plurality of service providing devices is installed, the relay device selects a route between the relay device and the service providing device, and the relay device is connected to each of the relay devices. A communication quality comparison step for monitoring communication quality between the service providing devices and comparing the communication qualities , and a route between the relay device and the service providing device based on the communication quality comparison result a route changing step of changing a service providing apparatus, the service providing device indicated by the destination included in the received data, the received The chromatography data and a data transfer step of transferring via the Internet, a relay apparatus, the communication quality comparison step, for each transmission and reception of data, among the identification information contained in the registration information stored in advance, the data exchanged It is determined whether there is identification information that matches the identification information for identifying the corresponding service, and the relay device transmits / receives the identification information included in the registration information stored in advance in the communication quality comparison step. When it is determined that there is identification information that matches the identification information for identifying the service corresponding to the data, the communication quality between the relay device and each service providing device is compared, and the relay device performs a communication quality comparison step. Then, as communication quality, the communication time of data transmitted and received between the relay device and each service providing device is monitored, and the relay device performs a communication quality comparison step. The difference between the transmission time at which the relay device transmits data to the service providing device and the reception time at which response data for the data transmitted by the relay device is received from the service providing device is transmitted and received between the relay device and the service providing device. Is determined as the communication time of the data to be transmitted, and in the communication quality comparison step, the relay device is transmitted / received on the selected route communication time which is the communication time of the data transmitted / received on the selected route, and on the unselected route Non-selected route communication time, which is the communication time of the selected data, compares the selected route communication time with the non-selected route communication time, and the relay device performs the selected route communication time in the communication quality comparison step. If the relay device determines that the selected route communication time is longer than the unselected route communication time in the route change step, it is not selected. The route is switched to a selected route .

The route change instruction program according to the present invention relays in an Internet connection environment in which a relay device that relays communication between a user terminal used by a user and a plurality of service providing devices that provide services via the Internet is installed. A route change instruction program for instructing route change to route selection means for selecting a route between a device and a service providing device , wherein a service selected by a user among services provided via the Internet is selected. A communication quality comparison process for comparing communication quality between the relay device and each service providing device, and a comparison result of the communication quality in a computer provided with registration information storage means for storing registration information including identifiable identification information in advance based on, by executing a route change instruction process to instruct the route change to the route selection unit, the communication quality In the comparison process, there is identification information that matches the identification information for identifying the service corresponding to the data to be transmitted / received among the identification information included in the registration information stored in advance by the registration information storage means for each data transmission / reception. There is identification information that matches the identification information for identifying the service corresponding to the data to be transmitted / received among the identification information included in the registration information stored in advance by the registration information storage means When judged, processing for comparing communication quality between the relay device and each service providing device, and processing for monitoring communication time of data transmitted and received between the relay device and each service providing device as communication quality The transmission time when the relay device transmits data to the service providing device, and the reception time when the response data for the data transmitted by the relay device is received from the service providing device. The difference between the two is a process for obtaining the communication time of data transmitted / received between the relay apparatus and the service providing apparatus, and the selected path communication which is the communication time of the data transmitted / received on the path selected by the path selection means A process for obtaining a non-selected route communication time that is a communication time of data transmitted and received on a route that is not selected by the route and the route selection means, and comparing the selected route communication time and the non-selected route communication time; A process for determining whether or not the communication time is longer than the non-selected route communication time, and when the route change instruction process determines that the selected route communication time is longer than the non-selected route communication time, the route selection means This is for executing a process for instructing to switch the non-selected route to the selected route.

   According to the present invention, the communication quality of each route is monitored, and route control is performed based on the comparison result of the communication quality of each route. Therefore, it is possible to increase the possibility of maintaining the service provision quality when using a service provided via the Internet. Accordingly, it is possible to perform maintenance control of service provision quality of services provided via the Internet.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a service quality maintenance system according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, ISP operators A and B are provided with service providing apparatuses that provide various services such as an electronic mail service, a homepage browsing service, an IP telephone service, a dictionary search service, and a groupware service via the Internet. Hereinafter, a service provided by an ISP company via the Internet is referred to as an Internet service.

  The line provider performs line connection between the user terminal 190 used by the user and the service provider of the ISP provider. In the present embodiment, when a connection from the user terminal 190 to the Internet is requested, the system of the circuit provider authenticates the user, and the ISP provider's service providing apparatus and the user terminal 190 with which the user contracts Connect the line.

  Further, the line operator performs route control between the user terminal 190 and the ISP provider's service providing apparatus. In the present embodiment, the line operator has concluded a contract with the ISP operators A and B in advance to perform mutual transfer of data between the ISP operators. When the ISP provider's service provider receives data addressed to an ISP provider other than itself, the service provider transfers the received data to the destination ISP provider's service provider via the Internet. For example, when the service provider device of ISP provider B receives data addressed to ISP provider A, it transfers the received data to the service provider device of ISP provider A. In the present embodiment, a plurality of paths exist between the circuit provider system and the ISP provider service providing apparatus by performing mutual data transfer between ISP providers.

  In addition, the line provider not only performs line connection, but also provides the user with a quality maintenance service that performs maintenance control of the service provision quality of the Internet service provided by the ISP provider. In the present embodiment, the service quality maintenance system can maintain the communication quality between the circuit provider system and the ISP provider service providing apparatus at a predetermined level while providing the service via the Internet. To control. Further, in the present embodiment, the communication quality is the time (communication processing time) required for the communication processing between the system of the line operator and the service providing device of the ISP operator. However, the communication quality is not limited to the communication processing time, and may be a communication bandwidth, communication reliability, or the like.

  In this embodiment, the network service provider system monitors the communication status of each route, and performs route control so that the route with the best communication status (the shortest communication processing time) is always selected, thereby enabling the Internet. Increase the possibility of maintaining the quality of service provision when using the service at a predetermined level.

  The user terminal 190 is an information processing terminal such as a personal computer. In FIG. 1, one user terminal 190 is shown, but a plurality of user terminals 190 are connected to the system of the line operator.

  The service providing devices provided by the ISP operators A and B include routing devices 150 and 160 for routing transmission / reception of IP packets with the line operator system. In addition, the service providing devices of the ISP companies A and B provide Internet services 151, 152, 161, and 162 in response to user requests. Specifically, each Internet service 151, 152, 161, 162 is provided via the routing devices 150, 160 using a server (not shown) operated by an ISP provider. In addition, the service providers of ISP companies A and B are connected to the Internet (not shown).

  In FIG. 1, two ISP operators A and B are shown, but three or more ISP operator service providing apparatuses may be connected to the line operator system.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the circuit provider system includes a service level management routing device 100, an authentication device 110, a routing control device 120, and a counting device 130. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the line operator system.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the service level management routing apparatus 100 includes a service level monitoring unit 201, a routing table setting unit 202, a route control unit 203, a service level management target routing table 204 and a routing table 205.

  Specifically, the service level monitoring unit 201 is realized by the control unit of the service level management routing apparatus 100. The service level monitoring unit 201 has a function of constantly monitoring the communication status of each route. In the present embodiment, the service level monitoring unit 201 monitors the communication status between the service level management routing device 100 and the routing devices 150 and 160 of the ISP operators A and B. Further, the service level monitoring unit 201 has a function of notifying the routing control device 120 of a communication status monitoring result.

  In the present embodiment, the service level monitoring unit 201 sets the user terminal IP, the destination IP, the service port number, the target communication process start time (transmission time), and the target communication process as the communication status for each transmission / reception of an IP packet. The end time (reception time) is detected. Then, the service level monitoring unit 201 outputs notification information including the user terminal IP, the destination IP, the service port number, the target communication process start time, and the target communication process end time to the routing control device 120.

  The user terminal IP is the IP address of the user terminal 190. The destination IP is the IP address of the routing device of the destination ISP operator of the IP packet. The service port number is a port number of an Internet service provided by a destination ISP company, and specifically, a port number of a server operated by the ISP company. The target communication processing start time is the time when the service level management routing apparatus 100 transmits a packet. The target communication end time is the time when the service level management routing device 100 receives the response packet.

  FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the progress of IP packet transmission / reception in the service level management routing apparatus 100. In FIG. 3, point A is the time when the service level management routing apparatus 100 receives an IP packet from the user terminal 190. Point B is the time when the service level management routing device 100 transmits an IP packet to the routing devices 150 and 160 of the destination ISP operator. Point C is the time at which the service level management routing device 100 receives the response IP packet for the transmitted IP packet from the routing devices 150 and 160 of the destination ISP operator. Point D is the time when the service level management routing device 100 transmits a response IP packet to the user terminal 190.

  In the present embodiment, the service level monitoring unit 201 sets the time at point B as the target communication processing start time. Further, the service level monitoring unit 201 sets the time at point C as the target communication processing end time. The time between points B and C is defined as the data communication time. For each communication event of each IP packet, the service level monitoring unit 201 measures the transmission / reception time of the IP packet in the service level management routing device 100, thereby unifying the processing time measurement location. Therefore, it is possible to objectively maintain and control the quality when using the monitored Internet service. Further, detailed communication time for each IP packet can be obtained.

  Specifically, the routing table setting unit 202 is realized by the control unit of the service level management routing apparatus 100. The routing table setting unit 202 has a function of updating the service level management target routing table 204 based on the notification information from the routing control device 120.

  Specifically, the route control unit 203 is realized by the control unit of the service level management routing apparatus 100. The route control unit 203 has a function of performing route control between the user terminal 190 and the ISP provider's service providing device based on the service level management target routing table 204 or the routing table 205. In this embodiment, when transmitting / receiving an IP packet of the Internet service that is the target of the quality maintenance service, the route control unit 203 performs route control based on the service level management target routing table 204. Further, when transmitting / receiving an IP packet of an Internet service that is not the target of the quality maintenance service, the route control unit 203 performs route control based on the routing table 205.

  For example, the route control unit 203 determines whether or not a record that matches the condition is included in the service level management target routing table 204 based on the transmission source address and the transmission destination address of the IP packet to be transmitted and received. If a record that matches the condition is included, the route control unit 203 performs route control based on the service level management target routing table 204. When a record that matches the condition is not included, the route control unit 203 performs route control based on the routing table 205.

  More specifically, the service level management target routing table 204 is stored in the storage device of the service level management routing device 100. The service level management target routing table 204 includes route control data for performing route control when transmitting and receiving IP packets of the Internet service that is the target of the quality maintenance service.

  FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a format example of a record in the service level management target routing table 204. As shown in FIG. 4, the service level management target routing table 204 includes a user terminal IP601, a destination IP602, an adjacent destination IP603, and interface information 604 as route control data. A user terminal IP 601 is an IP address of the user terminal 190. The destination IP 602 is the IP address of the routing device of the destination ISP operator.

  The adjacent destination IP 603 is the IP address of the routing device of any ISP carrier A or B. The adjacent destination IP 603 is determined depending on which route is selected from among a plurality of routes between the circuit provider system and the ISP provider service providing apparatus. For example, when an IP packet addressed to the ISP carrier A is directly transmitted / received to / from the routing device 150, the service level management target routing table 204 includes the IP address of the routing device 150 as the adjacent destination IP 603. Further, for example, when transmission / reception is performed using a bypass route via the routing device 160 of the ISP carrier B, the service level management target routing table 204 includes the IP address of the routing device 160 as the adjacent destination IP 603.

  The interface information 604 is the number of the transmission port connected to the routing device of the adjacent destination IP 603 among the transmission ports of the service level management routing device 100.

  Specifically, the routing table 205 is stored in the storage device of the service level management routing device 100. The routing table 205 includes route control data for performing route control according to a standard Internet route control protocol.

  FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a format example of a record in the routing table 205. As shown in FIG. 5, the routing table 205 includes a destination IP 501, an adjacent destination IP 502, and interface information 503 as route control data.

  The destination IP 501 is the IP address of the routing device of the destination ISP provider. The adjacent destination IP 502 is an IP address of a routing device of any ISP company. In the present embodiment, for example, when transmitting / receiving an IP packet addressed to ISP carrier A, service level management routing apparatus 100 directly transmits / receives an IP packet to / from routing apparatus 150 according to a standard Internet routing protocol. . In this case, the routing table 205 includes the IP address of the routing device 150 as the adjacent destination IP 502. The interface information 503 is the number of the transmission port connected to the routing device of the adjacent destination IP 502 among the transmission ports of the service level management routing device 100.

  The authentication device 110 includes a user terminal authentication unit 211 and a service level management target database 212.

  Specifically, the service level management target database 212 is realized by the database device of the authentication device 110. The service level management object database 212 stores in advance registration information of the Internet service that is the object of the quality maintenance service. In the present embodiment, the user selects and pre-registers a service desired to receive the quality maintenance service from among the Internet services 151, 152, 161, 162 provided by the ISP operators A, B. For example, a user has registered in advance a service that the user wants to secure in real time, such as an IP phone service, a dictionary search service, and a groupware service.

  FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a format example of a record stored in the service level management target database 212. As shown in FIG. 6, the service level management target database 212 stores a user terminal IP301, a target service IP302, and a service port number 303 as registration information. The user terminal IP301 is the IP address of the user terminal 190. The target service IP 302 is information for identifying the Internet service that is the target of the quality maintenance service, and specifically, the IP addresses of the routing devices 150 and 160. The service port number 303 is information for accessing the Internet service that is the target of the quality maintenance service, and is specifically the port number of the server operated by the ISP company.

  Specifically, the user terminal authentication unit 211 is realized by the control unit of the authentication device 110. The user terminal authentication unit 211 has a function of authenticating the user of the user terminal 190 when a line connection request is made from the user terminal 190.

  The user terminal authentication unit 211 has a function of searching the service level management target database 212 using the IP address of the user terminal 190 of the authenticated user as a key. When there is a record that matches the user terminal IP301, the user terminal authentication unit 211 has a function of notifying the routing control device 120 that the user terminal IP301 is a registered user of the quality maintenance service. In addition, the user terminal authentication unit 211 outputs notification information including the user terminal IP 301, the target service IP 302, and the service port number 303 included in the record that matches the conditions to the routing control device 120.

  The routing control device 120 includes a service level analysis unit 221, a service level analysis target database 222, and a service level monitoring record database 223.

  Specifically, the service level analysis target database 222 is realized by the database device of the routing control device 120. The service level analysis target database 222 stores determination data for determining whether or not the Internet service being used by the user is the target of the quality maintenance service.

  FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a format example of a record stored in the service level analysis target database 222. As shown in FIG. 7, the service level analysis target database 222 stores a user terminal IP 401, a target service IP 402, and a service port number 403 as determination data. A user terminal IP 401 is an IP address of the user terminal 190. The target service IP 402 is information for identifying the Internet service that is the target of the quality maintenance service, and specifically, is the IP address of the routing devices 150 and 160. The service port number 403 is information for accessing the Internet service that is the target of the quality maintenance service, and specifically, is the port number of the server operated by the ISP company.

  Specifically, the service level monitoring record database 223 is realized by the database device of the routing control device 120. The service level monitoring record database 223 stores information on the communication status monitoring result input from the service level management routing apparatus 100. In this embodiment, information on the monitoring result of the communication status of each route is input from the service level management routing apparatus 100 as needed, and information on the monitoring result of each route is stored in the service level monitoring record database 223.

  FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a format example of a record stored in the service level monitoring record database 223. As shown in FIG. 8, the service level monitoring record database 223 stores a user terminal IP701, a destination IP702, a service port number 703, a target communication processing start time 704, and a target communication processing end time 705 as monitoring result information. To do. User terminal IP 701 is the IP address of user terminal 190. The destination IP 702 is the IP address of the routing device of the destination ISP operator. The service port number 703 is information for accessing the monitored Internet service, and is specifically the port number of the server operated by the ISP company.

  The target communication processing start time 704 is a time when the service level management routing device 100 transmits an IP packet to the ISP carrier's routing device. The target communication processing end time 705 is the time when the service level management routing device 100 receives the response IP packet from the ISP provider's routing device.

  Specifically, the service level analysis unit 221 is realized by the control unit of the routing control device 120. The service level analysis unit 221 has a function of storing the user terminal IP 301, the target service IP 302, and the service port number 303 included in the notification information from the authentication device 110 in the service level analysis target database 222. In addition, the service level analysis unit 221 determines the user terminal IP, the destination IP, the service port number, the target communication process start time, and the target communication process end time included in the notification information from the service level management routing apparatus 100 as the service level. A function for storing in the monitoring record database 223 is provided.

  The service level analysis unit 221 has a function of searching the service level analysis target database 222 using the user terminal IP, the destination IP, and the service port number included in the notification information from the service level management routing apparatus 100 as keys. . When there is a record that matches the condition, the service level analysis unit 221 determines whether the service level management routing device 100 and the ISP provider's routing devices 150 and 160 are based on the information stored in the service level monitoring record database 223. A communication time (hereinafter also referred to as a route communication time) of data transmitted and received between them is obtained. In this case, the service level analysis unit 221 obtains the communication time of the route currently selected by the service level management routing apparatus 100 and also obtains the communication time of the route not currently selected. Hereinafter, the communication time of the route currently selected by the service level management routing apparatus 100 is referred to as a selected route communication time. Hereinafter, the communication time of a route that is not currently selected by the service level management routing device 100 is referred to as a non-selected route communication time.

  For example, when the service level management routing device 100 transmits and receives IP packets to and from the routing device 150 of the ISP carrier A, the service level analysis unit 221 starts the target communication processing of the record corresponding to the route of the routing device 150 The time 704 and the target communication processing end time 705 are extracted from the service level monitoring record database 223. Then, the service level analysis unit 221 obtains the difference between the extracted target communication processing start time 704 and the target communication processing end time 705 as the selected route communication time. Further, the service level analysis unit 221 extracts the target communication processing start time 704 and the target communication processing end time 705 of the record corresponding to the route of the routing device 160 from the service level monitoring record database 223. Then, the service level analysis unit 221 obtains the difference between the extracted target communication process start time 704 and the target communication process end time 705 as the non-selected route communication time.

  In addition, the service level analysis unit 221 compares the obtained selected route communication time with the non-selected route communication time. The service level analysis unit 221 has a function of instructing the service level management routing device 100 to change the route when the selected route communication time is longer than the non-selected route communication time.

  The counting device 130 includes a counting unit 231. Specifically, the counting unit 231 is realized by the control unit of the counting device 130. The counting unit 231 has a function of obtaining information for calculating the cost of the internet service that is the target of the quality maintenance service, for the amount of the predetermined quality level that could not be maintained.

  In the present embodiment, the counting unit 231 searches the service level monitoring record database 223 using the user terminal IP601 and the destination IP602 extracted from the service level analysis target database 222 as keys. When there is a record in which the user terminal IP 701 and the destination IP 702 match, the counting unit 231 indicates the target communication processing start time 704 and the target communication processing end time 705 of the record that matches the condition, in the service level monitoring record database 223. Extract from Then, the counting unit 231 calculates the time spent for processing based on the extracted target communication processing start time 704 and target communication processing end time 705, and quantifies the time when the service providing quality level could not be guaranteed.

  The line operator can charge the user based on the calculation result of the counting unit 231 and can calculate the payment amount to the ISP operator. For example, the line operator can charge the user based on the calculation result including the refund amount for which the service quality level could not be guaranteed. Further, for example, the line operator can calculate a usage fee using the ISP operator's line in order to provide the quality maintenance service.

  In the present embodiment, the relay device is realized by the service level management routing device 100, the authentication device 110, the routing control device 120, and the counting device 130. The data transfer means is realized by the routing devices 150 and 160 and the ISP operator's server. The route selection means is realized by the routing table setting unit 202 and the route control unit 203. The communication quality comparison unit is realized by the service level monitoring unit 201 and the service level analysis unit 221. The route change instruction means is realized by the service level analysis unit 221. The registered information storage means is realized by the service level management object database 212 and the service level analysis object database 222.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the storage device of the routing control device 120 causes the computer to select a route based on the processing for comparing the communication quality between the relay device and each service providing device and the comparison result of the communication quality. A route change instruction program for causing the means to execute processing for instructing route change is stored.

  Next, the operation will be described. First, an operation for initializing route control data used for route control between the user terminal 190 and the ISP provider's service providing device when the user terminal 190 makes a connection request to the Internet will be described. To do. FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process for initializing the path control data.

  When the user wants to connect to the Internet in order to use the Internet service, the user operates the user terminal 190 to input a line connection request instruction. Then, the user terminal 190 transmits a line connection request to the equipment on the line provider side according to the user's operation (step S101). In this case, the user terminal 190 transmits a line connection request including the IP address of the user terminal 190.

  The user terminal authentication unit 211 authenticates whether or not the user can permit line connection (step S102). If it is determined that the user can be permitted, the user terminal authentication unit 211 searches the service level management target database 212 based on the IP address of the user terminal 190 (step S103). Then, the user terminal authentication unit 211 determines whether there is a record that matches the user terminal IP301 (step S104).

  If it is determined in step S104 that there is no record that matches the condition, the user terminal authentication unit 211 ends the process. In this case, the route control unit 203 performs route control between the user terminal 190 and the ISP provider's service providing device based on the routing table 205. That is, since it is not a line connection request from a user registered in the quality maintenance service, the route control unit 203 performs route control according to a standard Internet route control protocol.

  If there is a record that matches the condition in step S104, the user terminal authentication unit 211 stores the user terminal IP301, the target service IP302, and the service port number 303 of the record that matches the condition in the service level management target database 212. Extract from Then, the user terminal authentication unit 211 outputs notification information including the extracted user terminal IP301, target service IP302, and service port number 303 to the service level analysis unit 221 (step S105).

  The service level analysis unit 221 uses the user terminal IP301, the target service IP302, and the service port number 303 included in the notification information from the user terminal authentication unit 211 as the user terminal IP401, the target service IP402, and the service port number 403, respectively. Then, it is stored in the service level analysis object database 222 (step 106). Also, the service level analysis unit 221 outputs notification information including the user terminal IP301, the target service IP302, and the service port number 303 to the routing table setting unit 202 (step S107).

  The routing table setting unit 202 searches the routing table 205 based on the target service IP 302 included in the notification information from the service level analysis unit 221. Then, the routing table setting unit 202 extracts from the routing table 205 a record whose destination IP 501 matches the target service IP 302 (step S108).

  The routing table setting unit 202 updates the service level management target routing table 204 based on the extracted record and the notification information from the service level analysis unit 221 (step S109).

  In the present embodiment, the routing table setting unit 202 newly generates a record with the adjacent destination IP 502 included in the extracted record as the adjacent destination IP 603 and the interface information 503 as the interface information 604. In this case, the routing table setting unit 202 generates a record with the user terminal IP301 included in the notification information from the service level analysis unit 221 as the user terminal IP601 and the target service IP302 as the destination IP602. Then, the routing table setting unit 202 adds the generated record to the service level management target routing table 204 and stores it.

  The route control unit 203 performs route control between the user terminal 190 and the ISP provider based on the service level management target routing table 204. That is, since it is a line connection request from a user registered in the quality maintenance service, the route control unit 203 performs route control so as to maintain and control the service provision quality of the Internet service used by the user.

  The service level management routing device 100 performs route control and constantly monitors the communication status of each route. In addition, the routing control device 120 instructs the service level management routing device 100 to change the route as needed according to the monitoring result of the service level management routing device 100. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing for constantly monitoring the communication status of each route and instructing route change as needed according to the communication status.

  The service level monitoring unit 201 constantly monitors the communication status of each route. The service level monitoring unit 201 detects the user terminal ID, the target service IP, the service port number, the target communication processing start time and the target communication processing end time for each transmission / reception of the IP packet, and notifies the service level analysis unit 221 of the notification information. Is output (step S201).

  The service level analysis unit 221 updates the service level monitoring record database 223 based on the notification information from the service level monitoring unit 201 (step S202). In the present embodiment, the service level analysis unit 221 generates a record including the user terminal ID, the target service IP, the service port number, the target communication process start time, and the target communication process end time included in the notification information. Then, the service level analysis unit 221 adds the generated record to the service level monitoring record database 223 for storage.

  Further, the service level analysis unit 221 searches the service level analysis target database 222 based on the user terminal IP, the destination IP, and the service port number included in the notification information from the service level monitoring unit 201 (step S203). . Then, the service level analysis unit 221 determines whether or not a record that matches the user terminal IP 401, the target service IP 402, and the service port number 403 exists in the service level analysis target database 222 (step S204).

  If it is determined in step S204 that there is no record that matches the condition, the processing from step S205 to step S210 is not executed. That is, since this is a case of IP packet transmission / reception of an Internet service that is not the target of the quality maintenance service, the process returns to step S201 without performing quality maintenance processing.

  If it is determined in step S204 that there is a record that matches the condition, the service level analysis unit 221 uses the target communication process start time 704 and the target communication process end time 705 stored in the service level monitoring record database 223. The selected route communication time is obtained (step S205). Further, the service level analysis unit 221 obtains the non-selected route communication time based on the target communication process start time 704 and the target communication process end time 705 stored in the service level monitoring record database 223 (step S206).

  The service level analysis unit 221 determines whether or not the obtained selected route communication time is longer than the non-selected route communication time (step S207). If it is determined in step S207 that it is not longer than the non-selected route communication time, the processing from step S208 to step S210 is not executed. That is, in this case, the quality level can be maintained by performing IP packet transmission / reception using the route currently selected by the route control unit 203 as compared to the case where the route not currently selected by the route control unit 203 is used. Probability is high. For this reason, the process directly returns to step S201 without instructing to change the route.

  If it is determined in step S207 that it is longer than the non-selected route communication time, the service level analysis unit 221 instructs the routing table setting unit 202 to change the route (step S208). That is, in this case, compared to the case where the route currently selected by the route control unit 203 is used, the quality level can be maintained by performing IP packet transmission / reception using a route not currently selected by the route control unit 203. Probability is high. Therefore, the service level analysis unit 221 instructs to change the route.

  The routing table setting unit 202 updates the service level management target routing table 204 in accordance with the change instruction from the service level analysis unit 221 (step S209).

  In step S209, the routing table setting unit 202 searches the service level management target routing table 204 using the user terminal IP701 and the destination IP702 included in the notification information from the service level analysis unit 221 as keys, and the user terminal IP601. And a record that matches the destination IP 602. Then, the routing table setting unit 202 changes the adjacent destination IP 603 of the identified record to the IP address of the routing device of the route that is not currently selected. Also, the routing table setting unit 202 changes the interface information 604 to the number of the transmission port connected to the changed routing device of the adjacent destination IP 603 among the transmission ports of the service level management routing device 100.

  Then, the route control unit 203 performs route control between the user terminal 190 and the ISP provider based on the updated service level management target routing table 204. By repeatedly performing the above processing, route control is performed so that the route with the best communication status (the communication processing time between the service level management routing device 100 and the routing devices 150 and 160 is the shortest) is always selected. Done.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the communication status of each route is monitored, and the route control is performed so that the route with the best communication status is always selected based on the monitoring result. Therefore, it is possible to increase the possibility that the quality of service provision when using the Internet service can be maintained at a predetermined level. Accordingly, it is possible to perform maintenance control of service provision quality of services provided via the Internet. In particular, by performing route control so that the route with the shortest communication time is always selected, it is possible to perform maintenance control of the service provision quality of an Internet service that requires real-time processing.

  In addition, for ISP operators, by transferring data addressed to other ISP operators, the usage rate of equipment can be improved, and a line usage fee can be obtained from the line operator.

  Further, the line operator can obtain a profit by collecting a service usage fee for providing the quality maintenance service from the user. Further, the line operator can provide the user with a value-added service using the connection with the service providing devices of a plurality of ISP providers, and can obtain a usage fee.

  The present invention can be applied as a system for performing path control between a user terminal and an Internet provider. In particular, the present invention can be applied to an application for maintaining and controlling the quality of service provision when using a service provided via the Internet in a system in which the Internet connection is performed in a communication mode called “best effort”.

It is a block diagram which shows an example of a structure of the service quality maintenance system by this invention. It is a block diagram which shows an example of a structure of a circuit provider's system. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing the transmission / reception progress of IP packets in the service level management routing apparatus 100. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of a format of the record of the service level management object routing table 204. FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of a format of the record of the routing table 205. FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of a format of the record which the service level management object database 212 memorize | stores. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of a format of the record which the service level analysis object database 222 memorize | stores. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of a format of the record which the service level monitoring recording database 223 memorize | stores. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the process which performs the initialization of the data for path control. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the process which always monitors the communication condition of each path | route and instruct | indicates a route change at any time according to a communication condition.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Service level management routing apparatus 110 Authentication apparatus 120 Routing control apparatus 130 Counting apparatus 150,160 Routing apparatus 151,152,161,162 Service 201 Service level monitoring part 202 Routing table setting part 203 Path control part 204 Service level management object routing table 205 Routing Table 211 User Terminal Authentication Unit 212 Service Level Management Target Database 221 Service Level Analysis Unit 222 Service Level Analysis Target Database 223 Service Level Monitoring Record Database 231 Counting Unit

Claims (3)

A service quality maintenance system that performs maintenance control of service provision quality of services provided via the Internet,
A relay device that relays communication between a user terminal used by a user and a plurality of service providing devices that provide services via the Internet is installed,
Of the services provided via the Internet, comprising registration information storage means for storing in advance registration information of a service selected by the user,
The service providing device includes data transfer means for transferring the received data via the Internet to a service providing device indicated by a destination included in the received data ,
The relay device is
Route selection means for selecting a route between the relay device and the service providing device;
A communication quality comparing means for monitoring the communication quality between the relay device and each service providing device and comparing the respective communication qualities;
A route change instruction means for instructing the route selection means to change the route based on the comparison result of the communication quality comparison means ,
The route selection unit changes a route between the relay device and the service providing device according to an instruction from the route change instruction unit ,
The registration information storage means stores in advance registration information including identification information capable of identifying the service selected by the user,
The communication quality comparison means includes
Whether there is identification information that matches the identification information for identifying the service corresponding to the data to be transmitted / received, among the identification information included in the registration information stored in advance by the registration information storage means for each data transmission / reception Judging
When it is determined that there is identification information that matches the identification information for identifying the service corresponding to the transmitted / received data among the identification information included in the registration information stored in advance by the registration information storage unit, the relay device And the communication quality between each service providing device,
As communication quality, the communication time of data transmitted and received between the relay device and each service providing device is monitored,
The difference between the transmission time at which the relay apparatus transmits data to the service providing apparatus and the reception time at which the relay apparatus receives response data for the transmitted data from the service providing apparatus is determined as the relay apparatus and the service providing apparatus. As the communication time of data sent to and received from
The selected route communication time which is the communication time of data transmitted and received on the route selected by the route selection means, and the non-selection which is the communication time of data transmitted and received on the route not selected by the route selection means Finding the route communication time, comparing the selected route communication time and the non-selected route communication time,
Determining whether the selected route communication time is longer than the non-selected route communication time;
The route change instructing unit instructs the route selecting unit to switch the non-selected route to the selected route when the communication quality comparing unit determines that the selected route communication time is longer than the non-selected route communication time. Service quality maintenance system characterized by. A service quality maintenance method for performing maintenance control of service provision quality of services provided via the Internet,
A relay device that relays communication between a user terminal used by a user and a plurality of service providing devices that provide services via the Internet is installed,
A route selection step in which the relay device selects a route between the relay device and the service providing device ;
A communication quality comparison step in which the relay device monitors communication quality between the relay device and each service providing device, and compares each communication quality;
A route change step in which the relay device changes a route between the relay device and the service providing device based on the comparison result of the communication quality ;
A data transfer step in which the service providing device transfers the received data to the service providing device indicated by the destination included in the received data via the Internet ;
Identification that matches the identification information for identifying the service corresponding to the transmitted / received data among the identification information included in the registration information stored in advance for each transmission / reception of data in the communication quality comparison step Determine if there is any information,
In the communication quality comparison step, the relay device determines that there is identification information that matches identification information for identifying a service corresponding to data to be transmitted / received among identification information included in registration information stored in advance. The communication quality between the relay device and each service providing device,
The relay device monitors the communication time of data transmitted and received between the relay device and each service providing device as the communication quality in the communication quality comparison step,
A transmission time at which the relay device transmits data to the service providing device in the communication quality comparison step; and a reception time at which the relay device receives response data for the transmitted data from the service providing device. Is determined as a communication time of data transmitted and received between the relay device and the service providing device,
In the communication quality comparison step, the relay device is a communication time of data that is transmitted / received on a route that is selected, and a communication time of data that is transmitted / received on a route that is not selected. Finding the non-selected route communication time, comparing the selected route communication time and the non-selected route communication time,
The relay apparatus determines whether the selected route communication time is longer than the non-selected route communication time in the communication quality comparison step;
A service quality maintenance method , wherein the relay device switches a non-selected route to a selected route when the route change step determines that the selected route communication time is longer than the non-selected route communication time . In an Internet connection environment in which a relay device that relays communication between a user terminal used by a user and a plurality of service providing devices that provide services via the Internet is installed, the relay device and the service providing device A route change instruction program for instructing a route change to route selection means for selecting a route between,
Among the services provided via the Internet, a computer having registration information storage means for storing in advance registration information including identification information that can identify the service selected by the user ,
Communication quality comparison processing for comparing communication quality between the relay device and each service providing device;
Based on the comparison result of the communication quality, the route selection unit is configured to execute route change instruction processing for instructing route change .
In the communication quality comparison process,
Whether there is identification information that matches the identification information for identifying the service corresponding to the data to be transmitted / received, among the identification information included in the registration information stored in advance by the registration information storage means for each data transmission / reception The process of determining
When it is determined that there is identification information that matches the identification information for identifying the service corresponding to the transmitted / received data among the identification information included in the registration information stored in advance by the registration information storage unit, the relay device Processing for comparing communication quality between the service providing device and each service providing device;
As communication quality, a process of monitoring the communication time of data transmitted and received between the relay device and each service providing device;
The difference between the transmission time at which the relay apparatus transmits data to the service providing apparatus and the reception time at which the relay apparatus receives response data for the transmitted data from the service providing apparatus is determined as the relay apparatus and the service providing apparatus. Processing to obtain as the communication time of data sent to and received from
The selected route communication time which is the communication time of data transmitted and received on the route selected by the route selection means, and the non-selection which is the communication time of data transmitted and received on the route not selected by the route selection means A process for obtaining a route communication time and comparing the selected route communication time and the non-selected route communication time;
Determining whether the selected route communication time is longer than the non-selected route communication time,
A route for causing the route selection means to execute processing for instructing to switch the non-selected route to the selected route when the route change instruction processing determines that the selected route communication time is longer than the non-selected route communication time. Change instruction program.

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