JP4340562B2 - COMMUNICATION PRIORITY CONTROL METHOD, COMMUNICATION PRIORITY CONTROL SYSTEM, AND COMMUNICATION PRIORITY CONTROL DEVICE - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an improvement in priority control of communication between a server and a client for content distribution using the Internet, and more particularly, it controls a bandwidth by simply giving priority to only a necessary communication flow and processing the flow. The present invention relates to providing a comfortable communication environment for the user while reducing the load on the network.

  With the rapid spread of broadband in recent years, for example, two-way communication services such as network games and live content or download distribution of images, videos, music, etc. It has been enhanced and expanded.

  However, at the same time, the traffic of the forwarded packets also increases, exceeding the limits of the core network (relay network) bandwidth and server processing capacity, ensuring broadband and enabling high transmission speeds, In many cases, the quality of the provided service is deteriorated due to delays in downloading or the like and discarding of packets.

  For this reason, in the past, for example, in a content providing service based on a data protocol unit such as web or FTP, data that is preferentially controlled and data that is not preferentially controlled are allocated to other data. Transfer processing is preferentially performed prior to data to guarantee the provision of services (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).

  Also, in a communication control device such as a router or a switch exchange, a predetermined bandwidth set in advance for a predetermined content providing service is secured to ensure access to a client user or a packet communication flow to be transferred. It has also been proposed to distribute loads to different routes to avoid load concentration on a specific line (see, for example, Patent Document 3).

  However, in any conventional priority control, it is assumed that the bandwidth is controlled or managed in units of IP addresses assigned to each user (client) or each content providing service provider (server). If all of the communication by the IP address is subject to priority control, and access to the core network by the priority IP address is concentrated, data transfer by the IP address occupies a large bandwidth, There is a possibility that smooth communication by other IP addresses is significantly impaired and a great load is applied to each relay point.

  As a result, for example, in one server to which the IP address to be subject to priority control is assigned, not only the content desired by the user but also other communication is prioritized so that the bandwidth is secured. Even if the data to be transferred with the highest priority is processed with the same pressure as the other data, it may be postponed in some cases to provide sufficient services to the user. There were cases where it was not possible.

  Similarly, even if there is data communication that the user wants to give priority to in particular, even if there is data communication that is processed in the same manner as other data communication, for example, even when it is desired to process e-mail transmission first , Processing on the web may be performed first.

  In addition, when priority control is performed for each IP address as described above, a process for recognizing a transmission source and a transmission destination is necessary for priority control in a route of transferred data, and the control procedure is complicated. There was also.

Furthermore, in the prioritized control, only a narrow choice between data to be prioritized and data not to be prioritized can be selected, and as a result, data not prioritized may be discarded. Even if the data should be prioritized, the data that should be prioritized were not compared with each other. Therefore, when the data to be prioritized is concentrated, it is necessary to guarantee the data transfer as the data to be prioritized. Nevertheless, there is a problem that it is not possible to receive a sufficient service because the data that should be prioritized is discarded as a result of being processed in the same way as other priority data.
JP 2003-188913 A JP 2003-124988 A JP 2003-163687 A

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is that, in view of the above-mentioned problems, only necessary data transfer is simply prioritized and efficiently processed, so that necessary data can be reliably transferred and protected at the same time. Another object of the present invention is to provide a communication priority control method that can reduce the load on the bandwidth, and a priority control system and a priority control device that can be used in such a method.

  As a first means for solving the above-mentioned problems, the present invention adds priority processing information to transmission data transmitted between a server and a client and prioritizes a flow of transmission data to which priority processing information is added. In the communication priority control method, priority processing information is set for each content provided by the server, and only the transmission data flow to which priority processing information set for each content is added in the transmission data is processed with priority. A communication priority control method is provided.

  According to the present invention, as a second means for solving the above-described problem, priority processing information set for each content is added in the transmission data for the data transfer request from the client in the first solution means. It is an object of the present invention to provide a communication priority control method characterized by preferentially processing a flow of transmitted data.

  As a third means for solving the above problems, the present invention provides a transmission in which priority processing information is given to a server that has properly received priority processing information in either the first or second solving means. Priority processing information is added to the transmission data requested to be sent back to the client that sent the data, and priority is given to the flow of the transmission data to which the priority processing information is added among the transmission data for reply from the server. A communication priority control method is provided.

  According to the present invention, as a fourth means for solving the above-described problems, in any of the first to third solving means, the priority processing information is set stepwise or as a continuous value to give priority. In addition, the present invention provides a communication priority control method characterized in that processing is performed preferentially from a flow of transmission data to which priority processing information with high priority is added.

  According to the present invention, as a fifth means for solving the above-described problem, in any one of the first to fourth solving means, the presence / absence of priority processing information is determined for a plurality of transmission data, and the priority processing information is It is an object of the present invention to provide a communication priority control method characterized in that processing is prioritized from the flow of added transmission data.

  The present invention provides a sixth means for solving the above-mentioned problems, in the fourth or fifth solving means, by comparing priority processing information for a plurality of transmission data, and determining a priority order, The present invention provides a communication priority control method characterized by processing a plurality of transmission data in order according to this priority.

  The present invention provides, as a seventh means for solving the above-described problems, in any one of the first to sixth solving means, wherein (1) a client, (2) a server, and (3) a client and a server. Determination of presence / absence of priority processing information for a plurality of transmission data requested to be received in each reception buffer of (1) to (3) in a relay node through which transmission data to which priority processing information is added passes. Provided is a communication priority control method characterized by performing processing or priority processing information comparison processing, and performing reception processing or transmission processing preferentially from transmission data to which priority processing information to be prioritized is added. .

  The present invention provides, as an eighth means for solving the above-mentioned problems, in the seventh solution means, when storing transmission data in a reception buffer, reading data from a reception buffer, or from a transmission buffer. It is an object of the present invention to provide a communication priority control method characterized by performing determination processing of presence / absence of priority processing information or comparison processing of priority processing information in any or an arbitrary combination at the time of reading.

  The present invention provides, as a ninth means for solving the above-described problem, in any one of the first to eighth solving means, wherein the priority processing information is set in a relay node installed between the client and the server. The present invention provides a communication priority control method characterized in that priority processing information is added to transmission data.

  As a tenth means for solving the above-mentioned problems, the present invention compares the transmission data from a client having priority processing authority at the relay node in the ninth solution means, and prioritizes at the relay node. A communication priority control method is characterized in that priority processing information is added to transmission data only when it is determined that the processing authority exists.

  According to the present invention, as eleventh means for solving the above-described problem, in any one of the first to eighth solving means, priority processing information is added to transmission data at a client. The priority control method is provided.

  The present invention provides, as a twelfth means for solving the above-described problem, in the eleventh solving means, in the relay node installed between the client and the server, the transmission data transmitted from the client is preferentially processed. Priority of communication characterized by checking whether the data is authorized transmission data and processing the transmission data with priority processing information preferentially only when it is determined that the relay node has priority processing authority A control method is provided.

  According to the present invention, as a thirteenth means for solving the above-described problem, in any one of the third to twelfth solving means, the priority processing information is added to the transmission data in the server. A communication priority control method characterized by being added is provided.

  According to the present invention, as a fourteenth means for solving the above-mentioned problem, in any one of the first to thirteenth solving means, the priority processing information is numerical data. A method is provided.

  The present invention also provides the following priority control system and priority control apparatus that can be used in the first to fourteenth solving means. That is, the present invention includes, as a fifteenth means for solving the above-described problem, a client and a server connected to the client, and priority processing information is transmitted to transmission data transmitted between the server and the client. In a communication priority control system having priority processing information adding means for adding priority and priority control means for preferentially processing the flow of transmission data to which the priority processing information is added, the priority processing information adding means is The priority processing information set for each provided content is added to the transmission data, and the priority control means gives priority only to the flow of the transmission data to which the priority processing information set for each content is added. A priority control system characterized by processing is provided.

  According to the present invention, as a sixteenth means for solving the above-described problem, in the fifteenth solving means, the priority control means is set for each content of transmission data for a data transfer request from a client. It is an object of the present invention to provide a communication priority control system that preferentially processes only a flow of transmission data to which priority processing information is added.

  According to the present invention, as a seventeenth means for solving the above-described problem, in any one of the fifteenth and sixteenth solving means, the priority information adding means is configured so that the server that properly receives the priority processing information performs priority processing. Priority processing information is added to the transmission data requested to be transferred, which is sent back to the client that sent the transmission data to which the information is sent, and the priority control means adds the priority processing information among the transmission data for the reply from the server. It is an object of the present invention to provide a communication priority control system characterized by preferentially processing a flow of transmitted data.

  According to the present invention, as an eighteenth means for solving the above-described problem, in any one of the fifteenth to seventeenth solving means, the priority processing information adding means is a priority set stepwise or as a continuous value. A priority control system for communication is provided, wherein priority processing information having a priority is added to transmission data, and priority control means performs processing with priority from transmission data to which priority processing information having a higher priority is added. Is.

  According to the present invention, as a nineteenth means for solving the above-described problem, in any one of the fifteenth to eighteenth solving means, the priority control means determines presence / absence of priority processing information for a plurality of transmission data. The present invention provides a communication priority control system characterized in that processing is prioritized from a flow of transmission data to which priority processing information is added.

  According to the present invention, as a twentieth means for solving the above-described problem, in any one of the eighteenth or nineteenth solving means, the priority control means compares priority processing information for a plurality of transmission data and gives priority. The present invention provides a communication priority control system characterized by determining a rank and processing a plurality of transmission data in order according to the priority.

  According to the present invention, as a twenty-first means for solving the above-described problem, in any one of the fifteenth to twentieth solving means, the priority control means includes (1) a client, (2) a server, and (3) A plurality of transmission data that is installed between a client and a server and that is installed in a relay node through which transmission data to which priority processing information is added passes and requests reception to each reception buffer of (1) to (3) Priority control of communication, characterized in that priority processing information determination processing or priority processing information comparison processing is performed and reception processing or transmission processing is performed preferentially from transmission data to which priority processing information to be prioritized is added A system is provided.

  According to the present invention, as a twenty-second means for solving the above problem, in the twenty-first solution means, the priority control means is configured to store transmission data in a reception buffer or read transmission data from a reception buffer. Alternatively, the present invention provides a communication priority control system characterized in that determination processing of presence / absence of priority processing information or comparison processing of priority processing information is performed at any time or any combination at the time of reading from a transmission buffer.

  According to the present invention, as a twenty-third means for solving the above problem, in any one of the fifteenth to twenty-second solution means, the priority processing information adding means is a relay installed between the client and the server. A communication priority control system is provided which is set in a node and adds priority processing information to transmission data in a relay node.

  According to the present invention, as a twenty-fourth means for solving the above-described problem, in the twenty-third solution means, the relay node checks whether the data is transmission data from a client having priority processing authority, and performs priority processing information. The adding means provides a communication priority control system in which priority processing information is added to transmission data at a relay node only when it is determined by the relay node that there is priority processing authority.

  According to the present invention, as a twenty-fifth means for solving the above problem, in any one of the fifteenth to twenty-second solution means, the priority processing information adding means is set in the client, and the priority processing information is set in the client. A communication priority control system characterized by being added to transmission data is provided.

  According to the present invention, as a twenty-sixth means for solving the above-described problem, in the twenty-fifth solving means, the relay node installed between the client and the server is configured so that transmission data transmitted from the client is prioritized. The priority control means collates whether the transmission data is authorized, and prioritizes the transmission data to which the priority processing information is added at the relay processing node only when the relay node determines that there is priority processing authority. The present invention provides a communication priority control system.

  According to the present invention, as a twenty-seventh means for solving the above-described problem, in any one of the seventeenth to twenty-sixth solving means, the priority processing information adding means prioritizes the priority processing information over the transmission data in the server. A communication priority control system characterized by adding processing information is provided.

  According to the present invention, as a twenty-eighth means for solving the above-mentioned problems, in any one of the fifteenth to twenty-seventh solving means, the priority processing information is numerical data. Is to provide.

  The present invention provides a communication priority control apparatus comprising priority processing information adding means for adding priority processing information to data when receiving and transmitting data as a twenty-ninth means for solving the above-mentioned problems. The priority processing information adding means provides a communication priority control device characterized by adding priority processing information set for each content provided by a server to transmission data.

  According to the present invention, as a thirtieth means for solving the above-mentioned problem, in the twenty-ninth solution means, the priority processing information adding means has priority processing information having a priority set stepwise or as a continuous value. Is provided to the transmission data, and a communication priority control apparatus is provided.

  According to the present invention, as a thirty-first means for solving the above-mentioned problem, there is provided communication control having priority control means for preferentially processing a data flow to which priority processing information is added when data is received and transmitted. A priority control device, wherein priority control means preferentially processes only a data flow to which priority processing information set for each content provided by a server is added. A device is provided.

  According to the present invention, as a thirty-second means for solving the above-described problem, in the thirty-first solving means, the priority control means determines priority by comparing priority processing information for a plurality of transmission data. The present invention provides a communication priority control apparatus characterized by processing a plurality of transmission data in order according to a priority order.

  According to the present invention, as a thirty-third means for solving the above problem, in any one of the twenty-ninth to thirty-second solution means, the communication priority control device transmits transmission data transmitted between the server and the client. The present invention provides a communication priority control device characterized in that it is installed in a server to be processed, a client, and a relay node installed between the server and the client.

  As in the present invention, when priority processing information added to transmission data is set for each content provided by a server in transmission data instead of for each IP address, the priority processing information is transmitted from one IP address. Even if it is data, it is possible to avoid the bandwidth being occupied due to the concentration of transmission data that is allocated to priority transmission data and other data and that are unnecessarily prioritized and controlled. As well as being able to reduce the load, the data transfer related to the content desired by each user can be surely prioritized, so there is a real advantage that it is possible to suppress a long download time and a deterioration in the quality of the provided service. .

  In particular, as in the present invention, when priority control is performed only for necessary data transfer related to the content desired by each user, the necessary content differs depending on the user (client), so that priority is given in a range that does not cause a significant load on the bandwidth. The total amount of transfer data to be transferred can be efficiently distributed for each user, and there is an advantage that efficient bandwidth control can be realized easily and without processing a technology for particularly expanding the bandwidth.

  As a result, according to the present invention, the server can satisfactorily provide the content to the user subject to the priority control. Therefore, the service provider that provides the content or the priority control can be used. There is an actual advantage that it is possible to ensure the superiority in the market of a connection provider such as an Internet service provider (ISP).

  In addition, according to the present invention, as described above, (1) the data transfer request from the client to the server is performed at the initial stage of data transmission at the authentication server or the like of the ISP to which the client joins the client or the relay node. Since it is sufficient to add priority processing information, data processing is not required for priority control in the intermediate route such as the carrier to the server and the ISP to which the server belongs, and (2) a transfer request. For the data transfer (reply) from the server to the client according to the priority, if priority processing information is added at the server stage, priority is given to the carrier, the server to the subsequent client, the intermediate route such as the ISP to which the client belongs Since data processing is not required for control, the burden on relay nodes can be reduced. Rutotomoni, it is not necessary to make significant changes to the resource to the priority control to the relay node such as a router or the like of the existing ISP or carrier, there is a practical benefits that can be realized priority control easily.

  According to the present invention, in particular, since the priority processing information itself is set in relation to the content, not the IP address, the data transfer itself by priority control is not particularly determined without determining the transmission source or the transmission destination. Since it suffices to control data packets to which priority control is added prior to other packets, there is an advantage that priority control can be realized easily.

  According to the present invention, as described above, since simple data having a small capacity such as numerical data is used as the priority processing information, it is possible to easily perform comparison judgment processing and the like regarding the priority processing information, and to perform priority processing. There is an advantage that priority control can be easily performed without requiring a large amount of data for control and without complicated processing.

  According to the present invention, as described above, not only the presence / absence of priority information, but also priority processing information is set stepwise or as a continuous value to give priority, and this priority processing information is compared, Since the processing order of a plurality of transmission data is determined and all of them are sequentially processed, transmission data to which priority processing information is added can be protected without being discarded, and at the same time can be subjected to post-processing. There is a real advantage that good communication can be guaranteed.

  In addition, after the data to be given the highest priority is read from the reception buffer of the server or client, the transmission order is determined again by comparing the priorities of the other plural transmission data in the reception buffer again. Since the data to be processed with the highest priority is reliably transferred without being discarded, there is an advantage that it is possible to ensure the provision of a good service.

  In this case, the priority order to be compared only needs to be compared with simple data such as numerical values, so that the processing does not take time, and the processing can be easily performed. There is an actual benefit that is not burdened.

  In addition, since a plurality of priorities are set stepwise or continuously, it is possible to finely control the bandwidth, and as a result, for example, when providing content, it is classified as premium, standard, guest, etc. Each has the practical benefit of being able to provide appropriate services according to their requirements.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIGS. 1 to 3 show a schematic configuration of a priority control system 10 that implements a communication priority control method according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, the server includes a client 12, a server 14 connected to the client 12, and a relay node 16 installed between the client 12 and the server 14.

  If the client 12 is an information processing terminal used by a user provided by the server 14 and has an interface that can be connected to the Internet with a browser, the types of personal computers and portable information processing terminals are particularly It doesn't matter. However, as will be described later, it may be necessary to separately provide a means for authenticating the authority to use the priority control system 10 of the present invention, that is, the presence or absence of the priority control authority.

  The server 14 is an information processing terminal that transfers data related to the corresponding content to the client 12 in response to a data transfer request from the client 12, so that the client 12 can identify the server 14, In order to give priority processing information to be described later, it is necessary to own a global IP address. The server 14 may be of any type as long as it has a browser and an interface for connecting to the Internet, like the client 12. Of course, on the role of the server 14 for providing contents, it is needless to say that the means necessary for providing contents, that is, software capable of operating and distributing content data itself such as images and sounds should be provided. is there. The content provided by the server 14 is not particularly limited to, for example, a network game provided in the form of an ASP, an image, a video, music, or the like. There is no particular limitation such as download distribution.

  In the present invention, if the relationship between the server 14 that provides information and the client 12 that receives the information is established, the information provider and the customer or the information provider (homepage provider) are not necessarily provided. It is not limited to the relationship of information users (viewers), but can be widely applied regardless of the relationship, especially if the relationship between the information sender and the information receiver is established, such as in-house LAN. can do. Similarly, the transmission of data in the present invention is not necessarily limited to the Internet, and includes forms such as an intranet. In that sense, the server 14 in the present invention is not particularly limited as long as the location of information can be specified.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the relay node 16 is an information processing device that transfers data to be transmitted and received between the client 12 and the server 14 and a device that functions for the information processing device. As shown in FIG. 3, the router 26 and the server 14 in the carrier 24 constructing the communication network itself belong to the authentication server 20 and the router 22 in the Internet service provider 18 for connecting the client 12 to the core network. This corresponds to the router 30 in the Internet service provider 28. In the present invention, for example, when the client 12 is a portable information terminal, depending on the connection form of the client 12 to the Internet service provider 18, the client 12 may be called a so-called access network. It also includes an access node for connecting to the network.

  In this case, the configuration of the relay node 16 engaged in data transfer differs depending on the connection mode between the client 12 and the server 14, and a plurality of modes can be considered for the combination. In the present invention, the form and the name of the relay node 16 to be used are not particularly limited, but can be divided into almost three forms as shown in FIGS.

  That is, first, as shown in FIG. 1, the client 12 and the server 14 are connected via different carriers 24A and 24B. It should be noted that the two carriers 24A and 24B in the form shown in FIG. 1 are not only in the same country, but due to the nature of the Internet, the carrier 24B on the server 14 side depends on the installation location of the server 14, It is not particularly excluded in practice that the carrier is in a country different from the carrier 24A on the client 12 side.

  Second, as shown in FIG. 2, the client 12 and the server 14 are connected via the same carrier 24. Third, as shown in FIG. 3, when the client 12 and the server 14 belong to the same Internet service provider 18, they are connected without using the carrier 24. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the type of the relay node 16 required for each of these forms is different, but the priority control method of the present invention can be implemented in any form. In other words, the present invention can be realized simply by programming for simple processing without any particular change to the existing hardware resources of packet communication.

  In the present invention, in the above system configuration, priority processing information adding means for adding priority processing information to transmission data transmitted between the server 14 and the client 12, and this priority as shown in FIG. And priority control means 32 for preferentially processing the flow of transmission data to which the processing information is added.

  The priority processing information adding means in the present invention adds priority processing information set in advance for each content provided by the server 14 to the transmission data. As this priority processing information, for example, it is desirable to use relatively simple numerical data such as “2”, “4”, “6”, etc., in order to simplify the processing and reduce the load. The priority processing information is not necessarily limited to the numerical data as long as the priority order can be defined, and other data can be used, but even in that case, for example, , “A”, “B”, “C”, etc. are desirable.

  In this case, what is important in the present invention is not single priority processing information, but sets a plurality of priority processing information in this way, and sets a difference in the weights of the plurality of priority processing information. It is to set priorities. That is, priority processing information having a priority set stepwise or as a continuous value is set, for example, information having a higher numerical data value should be given priority, or vice versa. It is arbitrarily set in advance so that the smaller value should be given priority. Thereby, as will be described later, the priority control means 32 can determine the priority order by comparing the priority processing information as the numerical data.

  Also, as a premise, this priority processing information is not the IP address of the client 12 determined when connecting to the Internet or the fixed global IP address of the server 14, but the server 14 registered in advance by a contract or the like. It is to set for each content provided in. Specifically, for example, it can be set for each content data used in a specific online real game, content data such as an image, video, music, or data for distributing it.

  Therefore, in the case of priority processing information added in units of IP addresses, that is, priority processing information between specific IP addresses, it is necessary to always recognize transmission source and destination information for priority processing. This is not necessary, and the band can be controlled only with simple numerical data as described above. In addition, since priority information is not added in units of IP addresses, not all the transmission data requested to be transferred from the server 14 or the client 12 having a specific IP address, but data that requires priority control of them. It is added to only. Note that this priority processing information is also data that can be used only by the user of the client 12 registered in advance as a user who has the priority processing authority by a contract or the like.

  Specifically, the priority processing information can be added by dividing the transmission data to be transferred as a packet and storing the numerical value in a certain area of each packet. This fixed area is preferably the same area as various field values of the IP header such as the IP address and port number of the destination normally included in the packet.

  The priority processing information adding means for adding the priority processing information includes: (1) transmission data for a data transfer request from the client 12 to the server 14 (for example, a to f in FIG. 1). The router of the Internet service provider 18 on the client 12 side that receives transmission data for a data transfer request related to specific content from the client 12 to the server 14 relatively first (first) among the relay nodes 16 of 22A can be set. Specifically, as will be described later, the authentication server 20 checks whether the data received from the client 12 is transmission data that should be subject to priority control by the authentication server 20 (with priority processing authority). Only when it is determined that the user has priority processing authority, the router 22A in cooperation with the authentication server 20 adds priority processing information to the transmission data.

  In this case, the priority processing information adding means set in the router 22A adds priority processing information corresponding to the priority order set in advance by a contract with the user of the client 12 or the like. That is, for example, if the user has a contract of priority “6” for a specific content X and a contract of priority “4” for another content Y, the destination IP address Priority processing information (= “6”) with a priority corresponding to the content (for example, content X) specified in accordance with is added. Therefore, the authentication server 20 or the router 24A owns a database regarding the contract contents of the user of the client 12 for making this determination. In addition, when setting the priority processing information adding means in the relay node 16 in this way, setting it as a router as an initial route as much as possible is a considerable degree in giving priority to subsequent data transfer. Although it is desirable, in exceptional cases, when there is no possibility of delay in data transfer due to the bandwidth or buffer capacity, the other relay node 16, specifically, the router 22A of the Internet service provider 18 is used. Then, the router 26A of the carrier 24A that receives the next data transfer can be set and dealt with.

  However, the priority processing information adding means is not necessarily set in the relay node but can be set in the client 12. However, in this case, the transmission data transmitted from the client 12 is transmission data with priority processing authority so that the priority processing information is not added to transmission data other than the specific content (contracted content) in the client 12. It is necessary to check whether it exists. Specifically, the transmission data added with the priority processing information transmitted from the client 12 is collated with the registered contents in the router 22A or the authentication server 20 of the Internet service provider 18, and the priority added with the destination IP address. Whether or not transfer processing to the next route is determined by priority control after determining whether the priority order of the processing information is appropriate or whether or not there is priority authority in the first place, or priority is given to the client 12 At the stage where the processing information is added to the transmission data or the stage where the priority processing information is generated and added, it is also possible to transmit the data to the router 22A after certifying the priority authority by making the same determination.

  In addition, the priority processing information is added by the priority processing information adding means, in particular, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the client 12 and the server 14 are connected via the carrier 24, and the route has many relay nodes. 16, (2) a response from the server 14, that is, a transfer request for the server 14 having properly received the priority processing information to send back the transmission data to which the priority processing information has been sent is sent. It is also desirable to perform the transmission data transfer (for example, g to k in FIG. 1). That is, even if the data transfer request to the server 14 is preferentially transferred to the server 14, if the transfer of the target content data is delayed, a good service cannot be provided.

  In this case, the priority processing information adding means set in the server 14 can add the received priority processing information as it is to the data of the content to be transferred, or newly generate similar priority processing information, It can also be added. However, the priority processing information adding means is not necessarily set in the server 14 itself even in the session toward the client 12, but is set in the router 30A of the Internet service provider 18B to which the server 14 belongs. Priority processing information can also be added at.

  The communication priority control apparatus in the present invention means each client 12, server 14, and relay node 16 itself in which such priority processing information adding means is set. In this case, the priority processing information adding means includes both of cases where these are incorporated in the chips of these nodes and set in advance as hardware, or cases where they are set later as software by installing a program. The setting method is not particularly limited. In addition, it is not limited to the case where priority processing information addition means is set in the client 12, the server 14, and the relay node 16 itself, but also exists independently as a communication device or the like externally attached to these nodes, for example. Even if it does, if it can exhibit the function as the priority processing information adding means, it corresponds to the communication priority control apparatus in the present invention.

  On the other hand, in the present invention, the priority control means 32 preferentially processes only a flow of transmission data to which priority processing information set for each content is added among transmission data. In this case, in order to obtain a comfortable communication environment, the user of the client 12 makes a data transfer request from the client 12 (for example, a to f in FIG. 1), and the content data corresponding to the request is transmitted to the client. It is necessary to perform priority processing on all routes up to reception (for example, g to k in FIG. 1). Therefore, this priority control means 32 basically needs to be installed in all of the client 12, the server 14, and the routers 22, 26, 30 that are involved in the transmission data path to which the priority processing information is added. .

  That is, the priority control means 32 (1) in the transfer of transmission data for the data transfer request from the client 12 to the server 14 (for example, a to f in FIG. 1), the data transfer request from the client 12 Only the flow of transmission data to which priority processing information set for each content is added is preferentially processed. On the other hand, (2) Reply from the server 14 side, that is, transfer of the transmission data requested to be transferred is returned to the client 12 which has transmitted the transmission data to which the priority processing information is given by the server 14 that has properly received the priority processing information. In (for example, g to k in FIG. 1), the priority control means 32 preferentially processes a flow of transmission data to which priority processing information is added among transmission data for reply from the server 14.

  However, as shown in FIG. 3, when the client 12 and the server 14 are connected within the same Internet service provider 18 without going through the carrier 24, (2) a transfer request from the server 14 side. As for the reply to the client 12 regarding the data related to the content, since the communication state depends only on the transmission speed between the client 12 and the server 14, priority control by the priority control means 32 is always necessary in this case. It is not. Further, in all the connection modes shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the relay node 16 delays data transfer with respect to a plurality of transmission data traffics in relation to a bandwidth, a buffer capacity, etc. in exceptional cases. When there is no fear, priority control in the relay node 16 can be omitted.

  The communication priority control apparatus according to the present invention includes each client 12, server 14, and relay node 16 itself in which such priority control means 32 is set. In this case, the priority control means 32 includes both the case where it is built in the chips of these nodes and set as hardware in advance, or the case where it is set afterwards as software by installing a program, There is no particular limitation on the setting method. In addition, the priority control unit 32 is not limited to the client 12, the server 14, and the relay node 16 itself, and other devices such as a communication device externally attached to these nodes exist independently. Even if it is a thing, if the function as the priority control means 32 can be exhibited, it corresponds to the communication priority control apparatus in this invention. Of course, even if one node or device includes both the priority processing information adding means and the priority control means 32 described above, it corresponds to the communication priority control apparatus of the present invention.

  As specific processing of the priority control means 24, first, the presence or absence of priority processing information is determined for a plurality of transmission data, and processing is performed with priority from the flow of transmission data to which priority processing information is added. As a result, the transmission data to which the priority processing information is added is transmitted (transferred) earlier than the other data, and is subjected to superior transfer processing and reliably and promptly processed. In this case, the transmission data to which the priority processing information is added is simply processed with priority over the other data, and as a result, the presence or absence of the priority processing information may be determined.

  In addition, the priority control means 32 according to the present invention is not limited to the presence / absence of priority processing information, but, as shown in FIG. 4, priority processing information with high priority is added to transmission data to which a plurality of priority processing information is added. Processing is prioritized from the transmitted data. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, first, priority processing information (numerical data) is compared for a plurality of transmission data to determine the priority, and then the plurality of transmission data are sequentially assigned according to the priority. Process.

  As a result, for example, when the priority is set higher when the numerical value is larger, in FIG. 4, in the order of data 3 (weight 1) → data 1 (weight 6) → data 2 (weight 4) When the priority processing information is received, the priority processing information that is numerical data is compared with reference to the storage area of the priority control information of these transmission data, and data 1 (weight 6) → data 2 (weight 4) → data 3 (weight 1) is determined in order of transmission, and the transmission data is carried in that order except for the data that has already been read. That is, even data 1 and data 2 transmitted later are processed before data 3 transmitted earlier, and the data is surely prioritized and transferred.

  As the priority control processing algorithm, first, in the client 12 that triggers the data transfer, the priority processing information is added to the transmission data for the transfer request at the time of reading from the transmission buffer. Transmission data and other data, and data to which priority processing information is added are transmitted according to the priority order. Thereby, in the client 12, the data to be prioritized and other data can be managed separately including the order of transmission. On the other hand, the reply data related to the content sent from the server 14 is subjected to subsequent processing in the client 12 according to the priority order when stored in the reception buffer or when read from the reception buffer. .

  Further, in the relay node 16 such as a router serving as a relay point, since the transfer of reception and transmission is the main role, priority is given to processing such as subsequent transmission when transmission data is stored in the reception buffer. Although it is preferable to ensure the performance, priority processing is performed at the time of reading transmission data from the reception buffer (sending to the transmission buffer) or reading from the transmission buffer according to the configuration and necessity of each node 16 The presence or absence of information and comparison can be performed.

  The relay node 16 such as a router has the routing information indicating the destination of the data in the relay node 16 itself, and a function for controlling from which physical or logical interface the data is transmitted. It has. The relay node 16 such as a router that has received the data to which the priority processing information is added has a database for decrypting the route information and the priority processing information, and by referring to these databases, specific numerical data Is compared with the area of other transfer data, and each transmission data is transferred according to the priority order.

  Further, in the server 14, transmission data for a transfer request from the client 12 is performed when the transmission data is stored in the reception buffer, so that priority is given to subsequent processing such as transmission of reply data regarding the content. This is preferable. On the other hand, for the reply data related to the content to be transmitted from the server 14 to the client 12, when reading from the transmission buffer, transmission data to which priority processing information is added and other data, and priority processing information is added. Data is transmitted according to its priority. Thereby, in the server 14, the data to be prioritized and other data can be managed separately including the order of transmission.

  Next, with respect to the implementation of the priority control method by the priority control system 10 of the present invention described above, that is, an example of the priority control processing procedure, real time between the client 12 and the server 14 with reference to FIGS. An example of a network game performed by a method of mutually transmitting and receiving data will be described.

  First, the client 12 connects to the Internet environment by a normal method, and refers to the destination (URL) of the target content as shown in FIG. In this case, if the URL type is used, the process proceeds to the next process, and if not correct, an error is returned as the destination is unknown, and the data transmission ends.

  Next, this priority control software is launched in order to perform a priority control service by using an independent priority control software different from the network game software or the priority control software incorporated for the network game, as shown in FIG. Then, the authentication server 20 is accessed, and a user ID, a password, and the like are transmitted to the authentication server 20. It does not matter whether the priority control software is launched and the authentication information is transmitted before or after the URL is referred to. The client 12 is distinguished from other personal computers and the like in that the priority control software needs to be installed. However, in other words, any information processing terminal can be applied as the client 12 in the present invention simply by installing the priority control software.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the authentication server 20 that has received the authentication packet from the client 12 refers to its own database and verifies that the user ID and password of the client 12 are authentic. This is for confirming whether the user who uses the client 12 is a person who appropriately has priority processing authority. As a result, if the authentication is successful, the subsequent processing is performed. If the authentication is unsuccessful, error information is returned to the client 12 and the processing is terminated. In this case, as an extension, not only the priority control software but also hardware can be used, so that authentication can be performed more securely and safely, and unauthorized use by a third party can also be prevented.

  The authentication server 20 that has confirmed that the user ID and password of the client 12 are authentic transmits the result to the server 14 (game server). Upon receiving the authentication result, the server 14 maintains a session in the direction from the client 12 to the server 14. This session has a function as a management / control for transmitting / receiving data and a proof of successful authentication.

  On the other hand, as an example of priority control, a case where priority processing information adding means is set in the authentication server 20 will be described as an example. As shown in FIG. 5, the processing information is transmitted to the router 22 and added to the transmission data.

  In this way, the transmission data for the transfer request to which the priority processing information is added is attached to the subsequent transfer while being subjected to the above-described priority control as shown in FIG. In other words, in the connection form shown in FIG. 1, on each of the paths cf, the priority control software installed in each relay node 16 repeats the transfer process with priority by the above-described priority control, and then transfers to the server 14. Transferred. Similarly, in the connection mode shown in FIG. 2, in each of the routes 3 and 4, and in the connection mode shown in FIG. Transferred. These relay nodes 16 can also be applied as the relay nodes 16 in the present invention simply by incorporating software for priority control into the existing relay nodes 16.

  On the other hand, in returning the data related to the content from the server 14 side that has received the transfer request to the client 12, the server 14 or the relay node 16 refers to the destination information of the client 12 to be returned, as shown in FIG. Thus, data relating to the content is repeatedly transferred to the client 12 while performing the above-described priority control. As described above, in the connection form shown in FIG. 3, the priority control shown in FIG. 6 is not necessarily performed. In that sense, it is arbitrary that the server 14 implements this priority control software. Finally, as described above, in the client 12 that has received the data related to the content, the plurality of received data are subjected to other processes in the client 12 such as display on the display and operation according to the priority order. The Thereby, necessary data can be used reliably and promptly.

  The present invention can be applied to, for example, a real-time two-way communication service such as a network game, and various content providing services by transferring data such as live distribution or download distribution of images, videos, music, and the like.

It is the schematic of 1st Embodiment of the communication priority control system of this invention. It is the schematic of 2nd Embodiment of the communication priority control system of this invention. It is the schematic of 3rd Embodiment of the priority control system of the communication of this invention. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the comparison state of the data to which the priority processing information was added in the priority control method of communication of this invention. It is a flowchart figure of the data transfer from the client in the communication priority control method of this invention to a server. It is a flowchart figure of the data transfer from the server to the client in the priority control method of communication of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

10 Communication priority control system 12 Client 14 Server 16 Relay node 18 Internet service provider (client side)
20 Authentication Server 22 Internet Service Provider Router 24 Carrier 26 Carrier Router 28 Internet Service Provider (Server Side)
32 Priority control means

Claims (33)

In a communication priority control method for adding priority processing information to transmission data transmitted between a server and a client and preferentially processing a flow of transmission data to which the priority processing information is added, the priority processing information is provided by the server. A priority control method for communication, characterized in that it is set for each content to be processed and only the transmission data flow to which priority processing information set for each content is added is preferentially processed among the transmission data. The communication priority control method according to claim 1, wherein priority is given to a flow of transmission data to which priority processing information set for each content is added among transmission data for a data transfer request from the client. A priority control method for communication. 3. The communication priority control method according to claim 1, wherein the server that properly receives the priority processing information transmits transmission data to which the priority processing information is added. The priority processing information is added to the transmission data requested to be transferred back to the server, and the transmission data flow to which the priority processing information is added among the transmission data for reply from the server is preferentially processed. A communication priority control method. The communication priority control method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the priority processing information is set stepwise or as a continuous value to give priority, and the priority is higher. A communication priority control method, wherein processing is performed with priority over a flow of transmission data to which processing information is added. The communication priority control method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein presence or absence of the priority processing information is determined for a plurality of the transmission data, and the transmission data to which the priority processing information is added is determined. A communication priority control method characterized in that processing is performed with priority over a flow. 6. The communication priority control method according to claim 4, wherein a priority order is determined by comparing the priority processing information for a plurality of the transmission data, and the plurality of the transmission data are determined according to the priority order. A communication priority control method characterized by processing in order of transmission data. The communication priority control method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the communication priority control method is installed between (1) the client, (2) the server, and (3) the client and the server. In the relay node through which the transmission data to which the priority processing information is added passes, determination processing for determining whether or not the priority processing information is present for the plurality of transmission data requested to be received in the reception buffers of (1) to (3) Alternatively, a priority control method for communication, wherein the priority processing information is compared, and reception processing or transmission processing is performed preferentially from transmission data to which the priority processing information to be prioritized is added. The communication priority control method according to claim 7, wherein the transmission data is stored in the reception buffer, or the transmission data is read from the reception buffer or read from the transmission buffer, or A communication priority control method characterized in that, in any combination, a process for determining the presence or absence of the priority process information or a process for comparing the priority process information is performed. The communication priority control method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the priority processing information is transmitted to the transmission data in a relay node installed between the client and the server. A communication priority control method characterized by adding processing information. 10. The communication priority control method according to claim 9, wherein the relay node checks whether the transmission data is from a client having priority processing authority, and determines that the relay node has the priority processing authority. A priority control method for communication, characterized in that the priority processing information is added to the transmission data only when the transmission is performed. The communication priority control method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the priority processing information is added to the transmission data in the client. 12. The communication priority control method according to claim 11, wherein transmission data transmitted from the client is transmission data having priority processing authority in a relay node installed between the client and the server. The communication priority control method is characterized by preferentially processing the transmission data to which the priority processing information is added only when it is determined that the relay node has the priority processing authority. The communication priority control method according to any one of claims 3 to 12, wherein the priority processing information is added to the transmission data at the server. Priority control method. 14. The communication priority control method according to claim 1, wherein the priority processing information is numerical data. A priority processing information adding means for adding priority processing information to transmission data transmitted between the server and the client, the client including a client and a server connected to the client; In a communication priority control system having priority control means for preferentially processing a flow of transmission data, the priority processing information adding means transmits the priority processing information set for each content provided by the server. The priority control system adds to data, and the priority control means preferentially processes only a flow of transmission data to which priority processing information set for each content is added in the transmission data. 16. The communication priority control system according to claim 15, wherein the priority control means is attached with priority processing information set for each content among transmission data for a data transfer request from the client. A communication priority control system that preferentially processes only a flow of transmission data. 17. The communication priority control system according to claim 15, wherein the priority information adding means is configured such that the server that has properly received the priority processing information is given the priority processing information. The priority processing information is added to the transmission data requested to be transferred to reply to the client that transmitted the transmission data, and the priority control means adds the priority processing information among the transmission data for reply from the server. A priority control system for communication, wherein the flow of transmitted data is processed with priority. The communication priority control system according to any one of claims 15 to 17, wherein the priority processing information adding means stores the priority processing information having a priority set stepwise or as a continuous value. The communication priority control system, wherein the priority control means performs processing in preference to the transmission data to which the priority processing information having a higher priority is added. The communication priority control system according to any one of claims 15 to 18, wherein the priority control means determines presence / absence of the priority processing information for a plurality of the transmission data, and the priority processing information is A communication priority control system which performs processing in preference to a flow of added transmission data. The communication priority control system according to any one of claims 18 and 19, wherein the priority control means determines priority by comparing the priority processing information for a plurality of the transmission data, and A communication priority control system which processes a plurality of transmission data in order according to a priority. The communication priority control system according to any one of claims 15 to 20, wherein the priority control means includes (1) the client, (2) the server, and (3) the client and the server. And a plurality of transmission data requested to be received in each reception buffer of (1) to (3), installed in a relay node through which transmission data to which the priority processing information is added is passed. A process of determining whether or not priority processing information is present or performing a comparison process of the priority processing information, and performing reception processing or transmission processing preferentially from transmission data to which the priority processing information to be prioritized is added Priority control system. The communication priority control system according to claim 21, wherein the priority control means is configured to store the transmission data in the reception buffer, or to read the transmission data from the reception buffer, or from the transmission buffer. A communication priority control system that performs a process for determining the presence or absence of the priority process information or a process for comparing the priority process information in any or any combination at the time of reading. The communication priority control system according to any one of claims 15 to 22, wherein the priority processing information adding unit is set in a relay node installed between the client and the server, A communication priority control system, wherein the priority processing information is added to the transmission data in a relay node. 24. The communication priority control system according to claim 23, wherein the relay node checks whether the data is transmission data from a client having priority processing authority, and the priority processing information adding means includes the relay node. The communication priority control system according to claim 1, wherein the priority processing information is added to the transmission data at the relay node only when it is determined that the priority processing authority is obtained. 23. The communication priority control system according to claim 15, wherein the priority processing information adding means is set in the client, and the client adds the priority processing information to the transmission data. A communication priority control system. 26. The communication priority control system according to claim 25, wherein in the relay node installed between the client and the server, transmission data transmitted from the client is transmission data having priority processing authority. The priority control means preferentially processes the transmission data to which the priority processing information is added in the relay processing node only when the relay node determines that the priority processing authority is granted. A communication priority control system. 27. The communication priority control system according to claim 17, wherein the priority processing information adding unit adds the priority processing information to the transmission data in the server. The present invention provides a communication priority control system. 28. The communication priority control system according to any one of claims 15 to 27, wherein the priority processing information is numerical data. A communication priority control device having priority processing information adding means for adding priority processing information to data when receiving and transmitting data, wherein the priority processing information adding means is provided for each content provided by a server. A communication priority control apparatus, wherein the set priority processing information is added to the transmission data. 30. The communication priority control apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the priority processing information adding means adds the priority processing information having a priority set stepwise or as a continuous value to the transmission data. A communication priority control device. A communication priority control device having priority control means for preferentially processing the data flow to which priority processing information is added when receiving and transmitting data, wherein the priority control means includes: A priority control apparatus that preferentially processes only a data flow to which priority processing information set for each content provided by a server is added. 32. The communication priority control apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the priority control means determines priority by comparing the priority processing information for a plurality of the transmission data, and the plurality of transmissions according to the priority. A communication priority control device that processes data in order. 33. The communication priority control device according to claim 29, wherein the communication priority control device processes the transmission data transmitted between a server and a client, the client, A communication priority control apparatus, which is installed in a relay node installed between the server and the client.

Images