JP4772757B2 - COMMUNICATION DEVICE, COMMUNICATION DEVICE CONTROL METHOD, CONTROL PROGRAM, AND COMPUTER-READABLE RECORDING MEDIUM - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication apparatus that performs QoS setting in a communication network.

  Conventionally, in a computer network, packets are transmitted and received by a communication method called a packet communication method. In recent years, for example, in a home LAN (Local Area Network), there is an increasing demand for constructing a LAN using PLC (Power Line Communication).

  Compared with wired LAN, PLC LAN does not require a dedicated LAN cable, and can be constructed by simply connecting the power cable of the device to an outlet. Has the advantage of increasing.

  In such a PLC LAN or the like, when a plurality of slave stations are connected to a network in which the master station performs bandwidth management, one network medium is shared by a plurality of slave stations in a time division manner for packet transmission / reception. In such a system, the efficiency of bandwidth utilization varies greatly depending on the transmission right management method of each slave station.

<QoS technology>
By the way, in the transmission of non-real-time data such as Web contents, mail, and FTP, even if a certain amount of transmission delay or jitter occurs, it does not become a big problem for the user. On the other hand, in transmission of real-time data such as video and audio, transmission delay and jitter lead to disturbance of video and audio, and thus must be within a certain range.

  A technique for simultaneously and efficiently realizing a plurality of data transmissions while ensuring appropriate quality according to the type of data transmitted in this way is called a QoS (Quality of Service) technique. The QoS technology is roughly classified into prioritized QoS and parameterized QoS.

<Prioritized QoS>
In Prioritized QoS, a communication device that transmits data gives priority to the data packet according to the type of data and the nature of the communication device that transmits and receives data, and performs priority control on transmission according to the priority assigned to the packet. This is a method for realizing QoS.

  Generally, a field for storing priority is provided in the header portion of the packet, and the priority is stored as a numerical value therein.

  For example, since real-time data requires higher transmission quality than non-real-time data, the priority field of the header of real-time data is a numerical value indicating a higher priority than the priority field of the header of non-real-time data. Is stored, and is transmitted with the priority according to the numerical value, thereby realizing QoS.

<Parameterized QoS>
Parameterized QoS provides a master station that manages the bandwidth of the entire network, and the master station manages the bandwidth usage schedule in the entire network according to the QoS parameters requested from the slave stations, and the transmission count and transmission of all slave stations. This is a method for realizing QoS by centrally managing time.

  When performing transmission with guaranteed QoS, the slave station transmits a QoS transmission request signal to the parent station in advance. The request signal includes a QoS parameter, and the master station interprets the QoS parameter and determines whether QoS can be realized from the current network usage status. If feasible, QoS transmission is permitted, and if not feasible, it is rejected.

  For example, when another child station has already performed QoS transmission and a sufficient band does not remain, the parent station rejects QoS transmission.

  The master station always manages the bandwidth allocation schedule so that the QoS for each slave station is guaranteed, and transmits a transmission permission signal to each slave station according to the schedule. The slave station transmits data only during the period notified by the transmission permission signal.

  With such a mechanism, there is no access contention in the entire network, and QoS is realized.

  In Parameterized QoS, QoS is managed for each flow. A flow refers to a series of data that needs to be transmitted continuously, such as one video content or audio content, and a plurality of packets belong to this series of data.

  When transmitting a plurality of contents at the same time, it is necessary to perform different QoS control for each content. For example, when one communication apparatus transmits video content and audio content at the same time, QoS requirements required for each content are different.

  Since the master station needs to determine a bandwidth use schedule for each flow during data transmission, it is necessary to know the flow to which the packet belongs and the required QoS parameters when transmitting the packet. is there.

  In order to realize QoS for each flow, the slave station notifies the master station with the flow identification information when reporting the QoS parameter. The master station manages a bandwidth allocation schedule for each flow, and when transmitting a transmission permission signal, notifies the master station including the flow identification information in order to indicate which flow is permitted to be transmitted. The communication device that performs transmission can perform QoS control for each flow by transmitting only packets that match the notified flow identification information.

  As the flow identification information, the destination MAC address and source MAC address in the MAC header, the destination IP address and source IP address in the IP header, the destination port number and source port number in the TCP header (or UDP header), Some or all combinations of the Flow Label field in the IPv6 header and the VID (VLAN Identifier) field of the VLAN tag in the Ethernet (registered trademark) frame header correspond to this.

  Note that it is common to use the VID field of a VLAN tag for the purpose of identifying a flow, rather than for the purpose of virtually dividing the original LAN.

  For example, when separating IP phone data and normal data (Web or FTP), it is conceivable to separate from physical connection, but since it is practically difficult, it is virtually separated by VLAN ( It is common to use a physically connected cable that is the same but handled as a separate network. For example, VID No. 1 is assigned for IP telephone data transmission, and VID No. 2 is assigned for normal data transmission.

<QoS setting method>
In general, QoS is realized in layer 2 or layer 3 in the OSI reference model. Hereinafter, a layer that realizes and controls QoS is referred to as a QoS control layer.

  In order to realize QoS in both prioritized QoS and parameterized QoS, the QoS control layer needs to know the transmission quality required for the data to be transmitted. However, in general, such information is managed in a layer higher than the QoS control layer.

  For example, bandwidth control in the PLC is realized in the MAC layer (sublayer of layer 2 in the OSI reference model), but what kind of data is actually transmitted depends on the application layer (layer in the OSI reference model). It can only be found in 7).

  For example, in layer 7, the program selects the content and prepares for transmission, and then passes the data to the lower layer. For the lower layer, the data passed from the upper layer is just data, You can't know the contents, and you can't know what program the data originates from.

  Therefore, originally, the QoS control layer before the start of transmission from the upper layer is added with information on what kind of program the data is generated and for what purpose, and QoS. Should be required. However, since the QoS mechanism is not yet widespread, the upper layer is not designed assuming QoS and the present situation is that the notification mechanism is not implemented in most systems.

<About QoS setting from the terminal connected to the bridge device>
Further, in order to use a device (referred to as an Ethernet terminal) equipped with an Ethernet interface connected to the PLC network, it is necessary to connect a bridge device to the Ethernet terminal and connect to the PLC network via the bridge device. . When the Ethernet terminal intends to perform data transmission in which the QoS is ensured in the PLC network section for the received flow, the Ethernet terminal sends some instruction to the bridge apparatus. Perform QoS settings for the PLC network. For example, the control is generally performed by transmitting an Ethernet packet indicating such an instruction from the Ethernet terminal to the bridge device.

<Regarding Patent Document 1>
Patent Document 1 describes a mechanism for a user to specify the priority of prioritized QoS in order to solve such a problem.

  In the home network connected to the CATV network, the user inputs the MAC address of the information communication device connected to the home network and the transmission priority for the information communication device to the cable modem device in advance. The MAC address is to be investigated by the user by referring to the instruction manual.

The cable modem device stores the input information as a control table, and when transmitting and receiving packets, the MAC address in the home network that is the destination and the transmission source, and the MAC address stored in the control table By comparing these, the priority of the packet is derived, and the order of processing is changed according to the priority to realize the prioritized QoS for each information communication device.
JP 2003-153221 A (published May 23, 2003)

  However, according to the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, the user needs to input the MAC address and transmission priority of the information communication device to the cable modem device in advance, and the user can easily set the transmission quality. There is a problem that cannot be done.

  Specifically, the MAC address is a 48-bit address unique to the information communication device, but it takes much time for the user to manually input the MAC address. In addition, due to an input error or the like, there is a possibility that the priority setting is not performed as intended by the user. Furthermore, although it is necessary to check and input the MAC address of each device from the instruction manual etc., it is very difficult for general users to investigate the MAC address concept itself because it is difficult to understand. is there.

  In addition, when setting for Parameterized QoS, it is necessary to set many items of QoS parameters in addition to the MAC address, and there is a possibility that appropriate settings cannot be made due to a user input error or the like. Higher than

  When Parameterized QoS is set using conventional technology, the user must understand the meaning of each QoS parameter and input them one by one.

  Therefore, there is a high possibility that the transmission quality in the network is not properly set and the QoS control does not function effectively.

  In addition, when the Ethernet terminal tries to perform data transmission with QoS secured in the PLC network section for the received flow, it is necessary to send some instruction from the Ethernet terminal to the bridge device. If the Ethernet terminal that receives the message does not have a function for transmitting the instruction, the bridge device cannot receive the instruction and cannot execute the QoS setting process. Therefore, for such a flow received by such an Ethernet terminal, data transmission with QoS secured in the PLC network section cannot be performed.

  In addition, when devices such as televisions, HDD recorders, STBs, and game machines are connected to a network using Ethernet or the like, devices that are related to each other are often installed in the same place. For example, since HDD recorders, STBs, and game machines are basically connected to a television for use, the television and these devices are often installed together in one place.

  In such a case, if only one device can be connected to one PLC adapter, the same number of PLC adapters as the devices connected to the network are required. In order to save the place where the PLC adapter is installed and the cost of the PLC adapter, it is preferable that a plurality of devices can be connected to one PLC adapter.

  Even in a state where a plurality of devices are connected to one PLC adapter, it is preferable that QoS control of data transmitted to each device is performed efficiently.

  Such a problem is not solved by the conventional configuration.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to enable a user to easily set transmission quality in a network and to perform QoS control effectively (to perform QoS control efficiently). It is possible to provide a communication device.

  In order to solve the above problems, a communication device according to the present invention is a communication device that receives data from a network and outputs the received data to a device that is communicably connected to the device. A plurality of output ports for outputting data and any one of the plurality of output ports is set as a QoS target output port, and QoS control in the network is performed on data output from the QoS target output port. And a QoS setting request generating means for generating a QoS setting request for requesting.

  In order to solve the above problems, a communication device according to the present invention is a method for controlling a communication device that receives data from a network and outputs the received data to a device that is communicably connected to the device. The communication apparatus includes a plurality of output ports for outputting data to the device, and any of the plurality of output ports is a QoS target output port, and data output from the QoS target output port And a QoS setting request generating step for generating a QoS setting request for requesting to perform QoS control in the network.

  According to said structure, a QoS setting request | requirement production | generation means is QoS for request | requiring performing the QoS control in a network about the data output from the QoS object output port which is either of several output ports. Generate a configuration request.

  Therefore, even when a communication device that receives data from a network and transmits the received data to a device connected to be communicable with the own device has a plurality of output ports, QoS control in the network can be set for data transmitted to at least one connected device. In other words, even if the device is connected to the communication device, if QoS control is not required, it is possible to prevent the QoS control for data transmitted to the device. Therefore, QoS control can be performed efficiently.

  Further, since the QoS target output port is provided in a communication device to which a device used by the user is connected, the user can easily set the transmission quality in the network.

  The QoS setting request generated by the QoS setting request generating means is finally transmitted (directly or indirectly) to a control device (communication device or master station on the data transmission side) that performs QoS control, or When the control device is built in the own device, the QoS setting request is output to the built-in control device.

  In order to solve the above problems, a communication apparatus according to the present invention is a communication apparatus that receives data from a network and transmits the received data to a device that is communicably connected to the own device. Identification information acquisition means for acquiring identification information for identification, and QoS for requesting to perform QoS control in the network for data transmitted to the device indicated by the identification information acquired by the identification information acquisition means QoS setting request generation means for generating a setting request is provided.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, a communication device control method according to the present invention receives data from a network and outputs the received data to a device connected to the device so as to be communicable. An identification information acquisition step for acquiring identification information for identifying the device, and QoS control in the network for data transmitted to the device indicated by the identification information acquired in the identification information acquisition step And a QoS setting request generation step for generating a QoS setting request for requesting that.

  According to said structure, an identification information acquisition means acquires the identification information for identifying the apparatus connected to the own apparatus. The QoS setting request generating unit generates a QoS setting request for requesting to perform QoS control in the network for data to be transmitted to the device indicated by the identification information acquired by the identification information acquiring unit.

  Therefore, even when a plurality of devices are connected to a communication device that receives data from the network and transmits the received data to a device that is communicably connected to the own device, a QoS control request is required for each device. It can be performed. Accordingly, since QoS control is not performed in data transmission that does not require QoS control, QoS control in data transmission that requires other QoS control (in other words, QoS control of the entire network) can be performed efficiently. .

  Further, since the identification information acquisition means acquires the device identification information, the user does not need to input the identification information, and the user can easily set the transmission quality in the network.

  The communication apparatus further includes a QoS type storage unit that stores QoS type information indicating a type of QoS control, and the QoS setting request generation unit stores the QoS type information stored in the QoS type storage unit. It is preferable to include the QoS setting request as information for defining the content of the QoS control requested by the apparatus.

  According to the above configuration, the QoS type storage unit stores the QoS type information indicating the type of QoS control, and the QoS setting request generation unit requests the QoS type information stored in the QoS type storage unit by the own apparatus. It is included in the QoS setting request as information for defining the content of the QoS control.

  Therefore, the QoS control in the network for the data output from the QoS target port can be performed with the control content corresponding to the QoS type information stored in the QoS type storage unit.

  If the QoS type information is stored in the QoS type storage means in advance (for example, at the time of manufacturing the communication device), it is possible to save the trouble of inputting the QoS type information every time the communication device is used. Can be improved.

  The communication apparatus further includes a QoS type specifying unit for a user to specify QoS type information indicating a type of QoS control, and the QoS setting request generating unit includes the QoS type specified by the QoS type specifying unit. It is preferable that the information is included in the QoS setting request as information for defining the content of the QoS control requested by the own device.

  According to the above configuration, the QoS setting request generation unit converts the QoS type information specified by the user via the QoS type specifying unit into the QoS setting request as information for defining the content of the QoS control requested by the own device. include.

  Therefore, the QoS control in the network for the data output from the QoS target port can be performed with the control content corresponding to the QoS type designated by the user.

  Further, since the QoS type designation means is provided in a communication apparatus to which a device used by the user is connected, the user can easily set the transmission quality in the network.

  Moreover, it is preferable that the said communication apparatus is further provided with the QoS classification | presentation means which presents the said QoS classification | category information.

  With the above configuration, the QoS type presentation unit can present QoS type information stored in the QoS type storage unit or designated by the user.

  The QoS type presentation means is, for example, a printed material (for example, a seal), an LED (light emitting diode), a liquid crystal display panel, or the like on which the QoS type is printed.

  In the communication apparatus, it is preferable that which output port of the plurality of output ports is the QoS target output port is determined in advance.

  With the above configuration, the configuration of the communication device can be simplified.

  Moreover, it is preferable that the said communication apparatus is further provided with the QoS object selection means for a user to select either of these output ports as said QoS object output port.

  With the configuration described above, the user can select any of the plurality of output ports as the QoS target output port via the QoS target selection unit.

  Therefore, the user can change the device subject to QoS control without changing the output port to which the device is connected (without changing the cable).

  Moreover, it is preferable that the said communication apparatus is further provided with the QoS target presentation means for a user to identify the said QoS target output port and other output ports.

  With the above configuration, it is possible to present which of the plurality of output ports is a QoS target output port. Therefore, user convenience can be improved.

  The QoS target presentation unit is, for example, a printed matter (for example, a sticker), an LED, a liquid crystal display panel, or the like that indicates the QoS target output port.

  The communication apparatus further includes period information storage means for storing period information indicating a period during which the identification information acquisition means acquires the identification information, and the identification information acquisition means includes the period information storage means. It is preferable that the identification information is acquired in a period indicated by the stored period information.

  According to said structure, a period information storage means memorize | stores the period information which shows the period when an identification information acquisition means acquires identification information, and an identification information acquisition means acquires identification information in the period which the said period information shows To do.

  Therefore, the period during which the identification information acquisition unit acquires the identification information can be limited, and it is desirable that the identification information acquisition unit acquire the identification information even when the identification information is supplied to the identification information acquisition unit irregularly. In the period when the identification information is supplied, the identification information can be acquired by the identification information acquisition means.

  The communication apparatus further includes a period information specifying unit for the user to specify a period during which the identification information acquiring unit acquires the identification information, and the identification information acquiring unit is configured to pass through the period information specifying unit. It is preferable to acquire the identification information in a designated period.

  According to said structure, an identification information acquisition means acquires identification information in the period designated by the user via the period information designation | designated means. In other words, the period information specifying means accepts period information indicating a period specified by the user and indicating that the identification information acquiring means acquires the identification information, and the identification information acquiring means indicates the period information received by the period information specifying means. In the period, the identification information is acquired.

  Therefore, the user can specify the period during which the identification information acquisition unit acquires the identification information, and the user can perform an operation for supplying the identification information to the identification information acquisition unit during the period specified by the user. it can.

  Moreover, it is preferable that the said communication apparatus is further provided with the period information presentation means which shows that it is in the period when the said identification information acquisition means acquires the said identification information.

  According to said structure, a period information presentation means presents that it is in the period when an identification information acquisition means acquires identification information.

  Therefore, it is possible to notify the user whether or not the identification information acquisition unit is in a state where the identification information can be acquired.

  Moreover, it is preferable that the said communication apparatus is further provided with the transmission means which transmits the QoS setting request | requirement which the said QoS setting request generation means produced | generated to the control apparatus which performs the said QoS control.

  According to said structure, a transmission means transmits the QoS setting request | requirement which the QoS setting request generation means produced | generated to the control apparatus which performs QoS control.

  Therefore, even when the communication device does not include a control device that performs QoS control, a QoS setting request can be transmitted to the control device.

  The network is preferably a communication network using a power line.

  By using the power line for the communication network, it is not necessary to wire a dedicated LAN cable, and the network can be constructed simply by connecting the power cable of the device to the outlet, increasing the freedom of movement of the terminal be able to.

  Also included in the technical scope of the present invention are a control program for operating the communication apparatus, a control program for causing a computer to function as each of the means, and a computer-readable recording medium on which the control program is recorded. .

  As described above, the communication device according to the present invention uses a plurality of output ports for outputting data to a device and any one of the plurality of output ports as a QoS target output port, and the QoS target output port It is a structure provided with the QoS setting request | requirement production | generation means which produces | generates the QoS setting request | requirement for request | requiring performing QoS control in a network about the data output.

  In the communication device control method according to the present invention, as described above, the communication device includes a plurality of output ports for outputting data to a device, and any one of the plurality of output ports is set as a QoS. And a QoS setting request generating step for generating a QoS setting request for requesting to perform QoS control in the network for data output from the QoS target output port.

  Therefore, even if the device connected to the communication device does not require QoS control, it is possible to prevent the QoS control for the data transmitted to the device. The effect that it can perform efficiently is produced.

  Further, since the QoS target output port is provided in a communication device to which a device used by the user is connected, the user can easily set the transmission quality in the network.

  As described above, the communication device according to the present invention relates to identification information acquisition means for acquiring identification information for identifying a device, and data transmitted to the device indicated by the identification information acquired by the identification information acquisition means. And a QoS setting request generating means for generating a QoS setting request for requesting to perform QoS control in the network.

  As described above, the control method for a communication device according to the present invention acquires an identification information acquisition step for acquiring identification information for identifying a device, and transmits the identification information acquired in the identification information acquisition step to the device And a QoS setting request generating step for generating a QoS setting request for requesting to perform QoS control in the network for the data to be performed.

  Therefore, even when a plurality of devices are connected to a communication device that receives data from the network and transmits the received data to a device that is communicably connected to the own device, a QoS control request is required for each device. Since the QoS control is not performed in the data transmission that does not require the QoS control, there is an effect that the QoS control of the entire network can be performed efficiently.

  Further, since the identification information acquisition means acquires the device identification information, the user does not need to input the identification information, and the user can easily set the transmission quality in the network.

[First Embodiment]
In the first embodiment, the user designates the reception priority for each communication device as the QoS type for the communication device on the content receiving side, and the entire network is QoS controlled by Prioritized QoS according to the designation. Will be described. The overall processing flow is shown in FIG.

<Network configuration>
In FIG. 2, the network block diagram in this embodiment is shown. In the present embodiment, data transmission from the communication device 10 to the communication device 20, data transmission from the communication device 10 to the communication device 30, and data transmission from the communication device 10 to the communication device 40 are performed. Each communication device has a function of performing data transmission with another communication device via a network. As a network, in addition to a wired LAN such as Ethernet, a network such as a PLC or a wireless LAN is assumed. In this embodiment, it is assumed that each communication device is connected by a PLC network.

  In the implementation of the present invention, an arbitrary device that transmits and receives data is assumed as a communication device. When data transmission is performed, a communication device is stored with contents such as text, music, still images, and moving images.

  For example, a home server, a personal computer (PC), a server computer, an HDD recorder, a DVD player, a portable music player, and the like are considered as communication devices.

  Further, it is conceivable that content transmitted from another communication device is relayed instead of directly transmitting data.

  For example, it is conceivable that a router, a modem, a home gateway, and the like that relay content transmitted from a server on the Internet are communication devices.

  An apparatus for receiving data corresponds to an apparatus for displaying / reproducing / recording content such as a document, video, music, and image.

  For example, a television receiver, an STB (Set Top Box) for receiving VoD (Video on Demand), a tuner, a PC, a PDA, a VoIP phone, a mobile phone, a portable music player, an HDD recorder, and the like can be considered.

  In addition, it is conceivable that content received by another communication device is relayed instead of directly receiving data.

  For example, it is conceivable that a router, a modem, a home gateway, and the like that relay content transmitted from a server on the Internet are communication devices.

  One communication apparatus may perform both data transmission and data reception.

  In the present embodiment, the communication device 10 is a home server, and is in MPEG format or H.264. It is assumed that video data such as H.264 format, audio data such as MP3 format and ATRAC3 format, and text data such as HTML format and XML format are stored. Further, a PLC network interface is built in, and these contents can be transmitted to other communication devices via the PLC network.

  The communication device 20 is a music player that incorporates a PLC network interface, and can reproduce audio data received via the PLC.

  The communication device 30 is a television receiver with a built-in PLC network interface, and can reproduce video data received via the PLC.

  The communication device 40 is a PC with a built-in PLC network interface, and can display text data received via the PLC.

  In the present embodiment, the communication device 20 receives audio data, the communication device 30 receives video data, and the communication device 40 receives text data. The user recognizes the type of received data of each communication device, and when receiving the data, the communication device 20, the communication device 30, and the communication device 40 are given priority in the order of reception. And Each communication device on the receiving side may be used by a different user, or a single user may be using a plurality of communication devices.

<Configuration of communication device>
In FIG. 1, the functional block diagram of communication apparatus 10,20,30,40 is shown. The communication devices 10, 20, 30, and 40 all have the same configuration, but there are functional blocks that are not used depending on the transmission / reception role of the communication device. When implementing with a limited role, it may be implemented by omitting unused functional blocks.

  The communication devices 10, 20, 30, and 40 include a QoS type reception unit 11, 21, 31, 41 (QoS type reception unit) and a QoS type management unit 12, 22, 32, 42 (QoS control information conversion unit, QoS setting). Control means, QoS type request means, QoS type notification means, QoS control information request means, QoS control information notification means), data transmission / reception units 13, 23, 33, 43, QoS control units 14, 24, 34, 44 ( QoS setting control means) and communication units 15, 25, 35, and 45.

  The QoS type accepting units 11, 21, 31, and 41 accept which QoS type is used for QoS data transmission from the user in the QoS type accepting process. The data transmission / reception units 13, 23, 33, and 43 perform transmission / reception of content data in the reception data determination process, and create and transmit a data transmission request packet in the data transmission request process. The QoS type management units 12, 22, 32, and 42 convert the QoS type information into the transmission priority in the PLC network in the QoS control information conversion process, and create and transmit the QoS setting request packet in the QoS setting process. , QoS control units 14, 24, 34 and 44 are set. The QoS control units 14, 24, 34, and 44 perform priority control of packets to be transmitted. The communication units 15, 25, 35, and 45 transmit and receive packets to and from the PLC network.

  In other words, the QoS type management unit (QoS setting control means) 12 and 22 performs the QoS setting process for the data received by the communication device 20 based on the transmission priority (QoS control information) converted in the QoS control information conversion process. I do.

<About QoS type acceptance processing>
The procedure until the communication device 20 performs QoS setting with the communication device 10 and performs data transmission of content, that is, QoS type reception processing, received data determination processing, QoS control information conversion processing, and QoS setting. The process and the data transmission request process will be described below.

  Regarding the communication device 20, the user intends to receive data with the highest priority among the communication devices 20, 30, and 40 on the content receiving side, so the QoS type reception unit 21 sets “high priority”. specify. Specifically, it is conceivable to set a slide-type changeover switch as shown in FIG. 3 to a position indicating “high priority”.

<Received data determination process>
After the QoS type is set, the data transmitter / receiver 23 of the communication device 20 determines the content data to be received at an arbitrary timing. When a plurality of contents are stored in the communication device 10 and there are a plurality of candidates as contents to be received, it is necessary to determine which contents are to be received. Since the content determination method is not related to the essence of the present invention, the method is arbitrary.

  For example, it is conceivable that the communication device 10 creates a list of stored contents, and the content reception-side communication device 20 receives and displays the list via the PLC. The user selects desired content from the displayed list. It is assumed that the data transmission / reception units 13 and 23 have a communication protocol and a user interface for performing such processing. The content data received by the user may be determined instead of the content data received by the user. Here, it is assumed that some music content is determined as the content to be received.

<About QoS control information conversion processing>
When the data transmission / reception unit 23 of the communication device 20 determines the content data to be received, the data transmission / reception unit 23 instructs the QoS type management unit 22 to perform the QoS control information conversion process. The QoS type management unit 22 acquires the input QoS type information from the QoS type reception unit 21. Here, since information of “high priority” is obtained, this QoS type information is converted into transmission priority in the PLC network.

  For example, in Home Plug AV Specification 1.0.00, which is a PLC standard, a value called PLID (Priority Link ID) that can specify an integer of 0 to 3 is defined as a packet transmission priority.

  When the communication device 10 transmits a packet to the communication device 20, the transmission priority is determined with reference to this PLID. Therefore, the QoS type management unit 22 derives the PLID from the QoS type information, and the content What is necessary is just to notify PLID which the local station requests | requires with respect to the communication apparatus 10 of a transmission side.

  In this embodiment, if “high priority” is specified as the QoS type information, the PLID value is 3, and if “medium priority” is specified as the QoS type information, the PLID value is 2. Assume that all communication devices 10, 20, 30, and 40 implement a conversion method in which the PLID value is 1 if "low priority" is specified as the type information.

  Since “high priority” is designated in the communication device 20, 3 is derived as the PLID value.

  In the present embodiment, a PLC is assumed as the network. However, the present invention is not limited to the PLC, and can be implemented as long as the network has a similar prioritized QoS mechanism. For example, the present invention can also be implemented in an IEEE802.11e standard wireless LAN or Ethernet.

<About the QoS setting process>
The QoS type management unit 22 of the communication device 20 creates a QoS setting request packet including the PLID value, and transmits the created QoS setting request packet to the communication device 10 via the communication unit 25.

  That is, the QoS type management unit (QoS setting control means) 22 transmits a QoS setting request including QoS control information to a communication apparatus that transmits data.

  In Prioritized QoS, generally, the priority is determined by the communication device 10 on the content transmission side, and the priority is notified from the communication device 20 on the content reception side to the communication device 10 on the content transmission side. There is no way to do it. Therefore, in the QoS setting process, some new protocol is separately provided, and the communication device 20 notifies the communication device 10 of the QoS type information using the protocol.

  The communication unit 25 adds header information defined in the communication protocol of the PLC network to the QoS setting request packet and transmits it on the network. The header information includes the address of the local station and the address of the communication device 10 that is the destination.

  Since the PLC header of the QoS setting request packet includes the address of the communication device 10 as a destination, the communication unit 15 of the communication device 10 receives the QoS setting request packet. The communication unit 15 notifies the QoS type management unit 12 of the QoS setting request packet.

  The QoS type management unit 12 extracts the address of the communication device 20 and the PLID value 3 from the QoS setting request packet, and is assigned the specified PLID when the data addressed to the communication device 20 is actually transmitted. As described above, the QoS control unit 14 is set.

  In other words, the QoS type management unit (QoS setting control means) 12 outputs the QoS control information to the QoS control unit 14, and the QoS control unit 14 performs processing for content data received by the communication device 20 based on the QoS control information. Perform QoS control.

  In the present embodiment, the case where the communication device 20 on the content receiving side performs conversion from the QoS type information to the PLID value and transmits the PLID value to the communication device 10 has been described. However, the communication device 20 may transmit the QoS type information as it is to the communication device 10 without performing conversion, and the communication device 10 may convert the value into a PLID value.

<About QoS setting notification packet>
When the communication device 20 transmits a QoS setting request packet to the communication device 10, the communication device 10 may refuse this QoS setting request. This is due to the limit of the capacity of the priority control buffer included in the communication device 10. The processing flow in this case will be described below.

  When the communication device 10 receives the QoS setting request packet, the QoS control unit 14 determines whether or not the QoS setting request indicated by the QoS setting request packet can be accepted.

  When the QoS control unit 14 determines that the QoS setting request is acceptable, the QoS control unit 14 transmits a QoS setting notification packet including information (Result Code) indicating the fact to the communication device 20 via the communication unit 15.

  When receiving the QoS setting notification packet indicating that the QoS setting request is acceptable, the communication device 20 transmits a data transmission request packet to the communication device 10.

  Even when the QoS setting request is acceptable, the communication device 10 sends a QoS setting notification packet to change the status presentation unit 26 of the receiving communication device 20 to a display indicating that the QoS request is satisfied. It is preferable to transmit.

  On the other hand, when the QoS control unit 14 determines that the QoS setting request is not acceptable, the QoS control unit 14 transmits a QoS setting notification packet including information (Result Code) indicating the fact to the communication device 20 via the communication unit 15. .

  Upon receiving the Result Code, the communication device 20 notifies the user that the request has not been accepted. As a notification method, an LED (light emitting diode) is installed as a state presentation unit 26 beside the switch of the QoS type reception unit 21, and the LED is blinked when the designated QoS request is not satisfied. Thus, it may be possible to present the result of the QoS request to the user.

<Data transmission request processing>
In the communication device 20, after the QoS setting request packet is transmitted, the data transmission / reception unit 23 executes a data transmission request process for the data transmission / reception unit 13 of the communication device 10.

  In the data transmission request process, a data transmission request packet is transmitted from the data transmission / reception unit 23 of the communication device 20 to the communication device 10 via the communication unit 25. Then, the communication unit 15 of the communication device 10 receives the data transmission request packet and passes the received data transmission request packet to the data transmission / reception unit 13.

  Since the data transmission request packet includes information determined in advance for identifying the content to be received, the data transmitting / receiving unit 13 of the communication device 10 knows the content to be transmitted to the communication device 20. I can do things.

  For example, when a list of music contents possessed by the communication device 10 is transmitted from the communication device 10 to the communication device 20 during the reception data determination process, the music content is uniquely identified along with text information for explaining the title and contents. IDs that can be identified are set for each content and notified. The communication device 20 may notify the communication device 10 of the ID of the music content selected from the list by the data transmission request packet.

  Note that the method for notifying the content to be transmitted to the communication device 10 has nothing to do with the essence of the present invention, and may be configured to notify the communication device 10 of a data transmission request by some other method.

  When receiving the data transmission request packet, the data transmitting / receiving unit 13 of the communication apparatus 10 starts transmitting the content notified by the data transmission request packet.

  Data of the content to be transmitted is packetized and sequentially transferred to the QoS control unit 14 together with the destination information. The QoS control unit 14 assigns the previously set PLID value to the packet according to the data destination. The packet is preferentially controlled according to the PLID value and transmitted.

  For example, if a transmission queue is provided for each PLID value and packets remain in the high-priority queue, the transmission is completed and the lower-priority queue is used until the queue is empty. Priority control is enabled by the process of not transmitting queue packets.

  Since the method of implementing transmission control based on priority is not related to the essence of the present invention, any method may be used as long as priority control according to the value of PLID is performed.

  Data packets addressed to the communication device 20 (including any other data packets other than the selected content, including the data packets) continue to be transmitted with a PLID value of 3 after the priority setting. .

  Since the QoS type is specified for all the received data of the communication device 20 on the content receiving side, unless the user changes the specification of the QoS type by the QoS type receiving unit 21 of the communication device 20, the content transmitting side The data packet is transmitted from the communication device 10 using the same PLID. That is, when the transmission of the selected content is completed and another content is transmitted next, the same PLID is used.

  In the present embodiment, the method for separately transmitting the QoS setting request packet and the data transmission request packet has been described. However, the communication device 20 has the notification function of these two packets, It is also conceivable to send only that one packet.

<About processing in communication device 30>
Similarly to the communication device 20, the other communication devices 30 and 40 execute the QoS type reception process, the received data determination process, the QoS control information conversion process, the QoS setting process, and the data transmission request process. .

A procedure until the video content is QoS-transmitted between the communication device 30 as a TV receiver and the communication device 10 as a home server will be described below.
In the communication device 30, the user intends to receive data with the second priority among the communication devices 20, 30, and 40 on the content receiving side, so that the “medium priority” in the QoS type reception unit 31. Is specified. Specifically, a slide type changeover switch as shown in FIG. 3 is set to a position indicating “medium priority”.

  At an arbitrary timing after the QoS type is set, the data transmitting / receiving unit 33 of the communication device 30 determines the content data to be received. Here, it is assumed that some video content is selected.

  When the data transmission / reception unit 33 of the communication device 30 determines the content data to be received, the data transmission / reception unit 33 instructs the QoS type management unit 32 to perform the QoS control information conversion process. Since “medium priority” is specified as the QoS type information, the QoS type management unit 32 derives 2 as the value of the PLID, creates a QoS setting request packet including the value of the PLID, and the communication unit 35. To the communication device 10.

  The QoS type management unit 12 of the communication device 10 extracts the address of the communication device 30 and the PLID value 2 from the QoS setting request packet, and is specified when the data addressed to the communication device 30 is actually transmitted. The QoS control unit 14 is set so that the PLID is assigned.

  In the communication device 30, after the QoS setting request packet is transmitted, the data transmission / reception unit 33 executes a data transmission request process for the data transmission / reception unit 13 of the communication device 10. Thereby, the data transmitting / receiving unit 13 of the communication device 10 can know the content to be transmitted to the communication device 30.

  When receiving the data transmission request packet, the data transmitting / receiving unit 13 of the communication apparatus 10 starts transmitting the content notified by the data transmission request packet.

  Data packets addressed to the communication device 30 (including data packets other than the selected content) continue to be transmitted with a PLID value of 2 after the priority setting.

  Since the QoS type is specified for all the received data of the communication device 30 on the content receiving side, unless the user changes the specification of the QoS type by the QoS type receiving unit 31 of the communication device 30, the content transmitting side The data packet is transmitted from the communication device 10 using the same PLID.

<About processing in communication device 40>
In the communication device 40, the user intends to receive data with the lowest priority among the communication devices 20, 30, and 40 on the content receiving side, so the QoS type reception unit 41 sets “low priority”. specify. Specifically, a slide type changeover switch as shown in FIG. 3 is set to a position indicating “low priority”.

  At an arbitrary timing after the QoS type is set, the data transmitting / receiving unit 43 of the communication device 40 determines the content data to be received.

  When the data transmission / reception unit 43 of the communication device 40 determines the content data to be received, the data transmission / reception unit 43 instructs the QoS type management unit 42 to perform the QoS control information conversion process. Since “low priority” is designated as the QoS type information, the QoS type management unit 42 derives 1 as the PLID value, creates a QoS setting request packet including the PLID value, and the communication unit 45. To the communication device 10.

  The QoS type management unit 12 of the communication device 10 extracts the address of the communication device 40 and the PLID value 1 from the QoS setting request packet, and is specified when the data addressed to the communication device 40 is actually transmitted. The QoS control unit 14 is set so that the PLID is assigned.

  In the communication device 40, after the QoS setting request packet is transmitted, the data transmission / reception unit 43 executes a data transmission request process for the data transmission / reception unit 13 of the communication device 10. Thereby, the data transmitting / receiving unit 13 of the communication device 10 can know the content to be transmitted to the communication device 40.

  When receiving the data transmission request packet, the data transmitting / receiving unit 13 of the communication apparatus 10 starts transmitting the content notified by the data transmission request packet.

  Data packets addressed to the communication device 40 continue to be transmitted with a PLID value of 1 after the priority setting.

  Since the QoS type is specified for all the received data of the communication device 40 on the content receiving side, unless the user changes the specification of the QoS type by the QoS type receiving unit 41 of the communication device 40, the content transmitting side The data packet is transmitted from the communication device 10 using the same PLID.

  The communication apparatus 10 determines that it is sufficient to perform data transmission using the lowest priority for a communication apparatus that does not request QoS setting, that is, does not transmit a QoS setting request packet, and always sets the PLID value to 1. If it is decided to transmit data as follows, the communication device 40 does not need to transmit a QoS setting request packet. Therefore, in the above process in the communication device 40, the transmission process of the QoS setting request packet may be omitted.

  The setting of the QoS type in the communication devices 20, 30 and 40 may be executed by the same user or may be executed by different users. However, when different users execute the setting, it is assumed that an agreement is obtained in advance between the users as to which communication device is given high priority.

<Subsequent data transmission in each communication device>
Although not shown in FIG. 4, finally, the communication apparatus 10 performs data transmission to each of the communication apparatuses 20, 30, and 40 in parallel.

  At this time, the PLID value of each packet is transmitted as 3 for a packet addressed to the communication device 20, 2 for a packet addressed to the communication device 30, and 1 for a packet addressed to the communication device 40.

  Therefore, the packet addressed to the communication device 20 for which “high priority” is designated by the QoS type acceptance unit 21 is transmitted using the highest priority, and the communication for which “medium priority” is designated by the QoS type acceptance unit 31. The packet addressed to the device 30 is transmitted using the second highest priority, and the packet addressed to the communication device 40 for which “low priority” is specified in the QoS type acceptance unit 41 is transmitted using the lowest priority. . Thereby, the QoS control of the network is performed with the setting as intended by the user.

<About QoS release processing>
The QoS release processing in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of QoS release processing in this embodiment. The QoS release process in the PLC network in which Prioritized QoS control is performed is a process for canceling the QoS setting for the receiving-side communication apparatus that is the target of the QoS setting.

The QoS release process is executed when the QoS type is changed by the user and it is specified that QoS setting is unnecessary. For example, the change-over switch shown in FIG. 3 has three levels of “high priority”, “medium priority”, and “low priority”, but an option for turning off the priority setting is added. For example, an option of “normal transmission” may be added.
When the QoS type management unit 22 receives information indicating that “normal transmission” has been selected from the QoS type reception unit 21, the communication unit 25 sends a QoS release request packet for requesting to release the QoS setting. To the communication device 10 on the transmission side. This QoS cancellation request packet includes the address of the communication device 20 that is the transmission source and the address of the communication device 10 that is the destination.

  That is, when the QoS type received by the QoS type receiving unit 21 indicates that the QoS control is not required, the QoS type managing unit (QoS setting control unit) 22 performs processing for the data received by the own device. Perform QoS release processing.

  When the QoS type management unit 12 of the communication device 10 receives the QoS cancellation request packet via the communication unit 15, the QoS type management unit 12 is set for the data received by the communication device 20 indicated by the address included in the QoS setting request packet. A command for canceling the previously set QoS is output to the QoS control unit 14. Furthermore, the QoS type management unit 12 transmits to the communication device 20 via the communication unit 15 a QoS release notification packet notifying that the QoS setting set for the data received by the communication device 20 has been canceled. .

  That is, the QoS type management unit (QoS setting control means, QoS type request means, QoS control information request means) 12 indicates that the QoS type or QoS control information acquired from the communication device 20 does not require QoS control. If it is, the QoS control unit 14 is notified that the QoS control for the data received by the communication device 20 is stopped, and the QoS control unit 14 stops the QoS control for the data upon receiving the notification.

  Upon receiving the QoS cancellation notification packet, the QoS type management unit 22 of the communication device 20 notifies the user that the QoS setting has been canceled via a status presentation unit (not shown) such as an LED.

  When the priority setting is turned off, the priority setting of the data is turned off with a transmission quality at a level that does not affect the QoS control of other communication devices subject to QoS control. It may be transmitted to the communication device. Packets are transmitted with the default priority ("0" as the PLID) for communication devices that have not performed QoS setting processing. Therefore, even if the priority setting is changed to off, the default priority is set. It is only necessary to return to the state of being transmitted at a time.

<When there are multiple communication devices on the content transmission side>
In the present embodiment, the case where only one communication device 10 exists on the content transmission side has been described, but the present invention can also be applied to the case where there are a plurality of communication devices on the content transmission side. In this case, if the communication device on the content receiving side transmits a QoS setting request packet or a data transmission request packet to all the communication devices on the content transmitting side, the communication device on the content transmitting side The PLID value for the communication device can be known, and QoS data control can be performed.

  In this case, when transmitting a QoS setting request packet and a data transmission request packet, a plurality of packets are not transmitted to each of a plurality of communication devices using unicast (addressed to a single communication device). It is also conceivable to transmit by one packet using multicast (addressed to a plurality of communication devices) or broadcast (addressed to all communication devices) and collectively notify. As a result, the number of packet transmissions can be reduced.

<When there is a communication apparatus that does not implement the present invention>
If a communication device that does not implement the present invention exists in the network and the communication device receives content data, it is possible to perform data transmission using the lowest priority for the communication device. .

  A communication device that does not implement the present invention does not transmit a QoS setting request packet, that is, does not notify the content transmission-side communication device 10 of the PLID value used during data transmission. Therefore, when the communication device 10 on the content transmission side transmits content data, the QoS control unit 14 determines that there is no clear request for QoS from the communication device, and uses the lowest priority to transmit the content data. Send it.

<About Parameterized QoS>
In the present embodiment, a method for realizing QoS by prioritized QoS has been described. However, QoS may be realized by using parameterized QoS.

  Specifically, when the QoS type accepting unit 11, 21, 31, 41 has a higher priority than a specific value, the transmission bandwidth is secured by the Parameterized QoS mechanism, If a lower priority is set, it is conceivable to transmit data on a best effort basis without securing a transmission band. It is also conceivable to change the size of the transmission band to be secured according to the set priority.

<Application of the present invention to other protocols>
In this embodiment, it is assumed that the network protocol to be used is PLC (specified by Home Plug AV Specification 1.0.00) which is a MAC layer protocol. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention is not limited to this. It can also be implemented in network protocols that have a Parameterized QoS mechanism.

  For example, the present invention can also be implemented in an IEEE802.11e standard wireless LAN or Ethernet. The present invention can be easily used by changing the value corresponding to the PLID in the PLC to a value defined by each protocol. As a thing corresponding to PLID, this corresponds to a TID field in IEEE802.11e, and a user priority field in a VLAN tag in Ethernet. Further, although not a MAC layer protocol, it is also conceivable to use a ToS (Type of Service) field in the IPv4 header. Even when the network protocol is changed, the layer for performing priority control at the time of data transmission in the protocol stack is only changed, so that the invention can be carried out in the same manner and the effect is almost the same.

<Other configuration examples of the QoS type reception unit>
In the present embodiment, the three-stage slide type changeover switch has been described as the QoS type receiving unit 11, 21, 31, 41. However, the QoS type receiving unit 11, 21, 31, 41 may have other configurations.

  The number of stages that can be switched may be any number, but the number of stages that can be accepted by the QoS type accepting units 11, 21, 31, and 41 is larger than the number of stages of transmission priority supported in the network. ,meaningless.

  For example, PLID can only take values in four stages from 0 to 3, so it is meaningless to use a switching switch having more stages. Further, if the number of selectable stages is increased too much, there is a problem that it becomes difficult for the user to understand.

  Further, a display device may be provided separately from the switch, and the state of the switch may be displayed on the display device. For example, displaying the state of the switch on the liquid crystal screen can be considered. This display device may be shared with a display device for displaying other states in the communication device.

  Note that the switch selection state is preferably visually confirmed by the user, but this is not essential. For example, only one push switch may be provided, and the QoS type information may be switched cyclically each time the switch is pressed. For example, every time the push switch is pressed, the QoS type information may be switched in the order of “high priority”, “medium priority”, “low priority”, and “high priority”.

  If the QoS of the reserved transmission band is not sufficient with respect to the bit rate of the content to be transmitted, in the communication device on the content reception side, video and audio are disturbed as a result. In the present embodiment, since there is data transmitted with a priority higher than the priority set by the switch, it is considered that the data transmission is prioritized and a sufficient band is not obtained. Therefore, when disturbance occurs, the user may operate the switch, repeatedly try to change the priority setting, and end the switch operation when the content reproduction state is most improved.

  Further, an LED or the like may be installed near the switch, and the QoS type may be distinguished by turning on and off the LED. For example, a configuration in which “high priority” is indicated when the LED is turned on and “low priority” is indicated when the LED is turned off is conceivable.

<About other examples of QoS type information>
As the QoS type information, a category other than the categories of “high priority”, “medium priority”, and “low priority” described so far in the present embodiment is also conceivable.

  For example, it may be a classification indicating the type of received data, such as “video”, “sound”, “other”.

  Since audio is more prone to degradation due to transmission delays and errors than video, when transmitting audio, it is necessary to ensure QoS using higher priority than video transmission. For data transmission such as FTP and Web content, even if there is some transmission delay or error, the user's operation is not affected, so it may be a lower priority than other data. In other words, the priority can be determined according to the type of data to be received.

  In this case, for example, at the time of QoS control information conversion processing, PLID is set to 3 if “audio” is designated as the QoS type information, 2 is converted to “video”, and 1 is converted to “other”. It is done.

  Further, the QoS type information may be a category indicating the type of communication device, such as “TV”, “phone”, “others”, and the like. In this case, although the internal processing is the same as the case of designating “video”, “sound”, and “others”, it is easier to understand the designation method of what is connected from the user's point of view. If the communication device that receives the content has a plurality of functions (such as a TV having a built-in PC function), it is possible to use this classification.

  Further, the QoS type information may be a category indicating a display screen size when the communication apparatus is a TV receiver or the like, such as “20 inches”, “37 inches”, and “45 inches”. A communication device with a larger display screen size is more likely to request a video with a higher bit rate. Therefore, it is conceivable to increase the transmission priority in order to secure a larger transmission band.

  In addition, the QoS type information is information when the communication device is a TV receiver or the like, such as “1920 × 1080 (full-spec high-definition)”, “1366 × 768 (high-definition)”, “640 × 480 (non-high-definition)”, etc. A section indicating the display resolution may be used. A communication device with a higher display resolution is more likely to request a video with a higher bit rate, so it is conceivable to increase the transmission priority in order to secure a larger transmission band.

  Further, the QoS type information may be a classification indicating the bit rate of the received content, such as “6 Mbps”, “12 Mbps”, “24 Mbps”, or the like. The higher the bit rate, the higher the transmission priority.

  Further, the QoS type information may be a classification indicating whether the received content is paid, such as “paid content” or “free content”.

  In the VoD service, there are paid contents and free contents as contents to be viewed. For example, the latest movies are charged, but news programs and programs including commercials are free.

  In such a case, whether the content to be received from now is paid or free is specified by a switch provided in the communication device, and when “paid content” is specified, the transmission priority is set. It is possible to increase the transmission priority when “free content” is specified.

  When the usage fee varies depending on the bit rate of the content, not only whether the content is paid or free, but also according to the price of the content using the categories of “high price content”, “low price content”, and “free content” It may be possible to specify the priority.

  In addition, the switch is a two-step switching type, and “QoS is required” and “QoS is not required” are used as classifications of QoS type information so that the user can specify information on whether or not QoS is required in the communication device. Also good.

  If “QoS is necessary” is designated, the priority may be set high, and if “QoS is not required” is designated, the priority may be set low.

  When setting “QoS Required” and “QoS Not Required”, the user comprehensively determines the necessity of QoS in the communication device from the above conditions (the type of data to be received and the type of connected device, etc.). It can be set.

  In addition, you may use combining the classification of said QoS classification information. For example, it is conceivable to specify a combination of “video”, “sound”, “other” categories and “high priority”, “medium priority”, and “low priority” categories. In that case, when using a network that can specify 9 or more transmission priorities corresponding to PLID, if “voice” + “high priority” is specified, the priority is 9 (highest priority), “voice” ”+“ Medium priority ”is specified, the priority is 8, and“ audio ”+“ low priority ”is specified, 7,“ video ”+“ high priority ”is specified. More detailed priority setting is possible, such as 6 when “sound” + “medium priority” is specified, and so on.

  In this case, a plurality of switches may be provided so that a plurality of QoS types can be designated (two three-stage switches are provided), or all QoS types can be designated with one switch (one nine-stage switch is assigned). May be provided).

  Further, both a switch for designating whether QoS is necessary and a switch for designating a QoS type may be used in combination.

  For example, it is conceivable to combine a switch for switching between “QoS is required” and “QoS is not required” and a switch for switching the priority. In this case, the user basically operates only a switch for switching between “QoS required” and “QoS unnecessary”. It is possible to change the priority setting only when you want to make finer settings.

  With this configuration, it is not necessary to change the priority setting, so a light user who wants to use it easily is provided with a simple operation method in which only the necessity of QoS is specified, and finer settings are made. It is possible to provide detailed operation methods for heavy users.

  In addition, a switch for switching between “QoS is required” and “QoS is not required” may be installed, and priority setting when “QoS is required” is set by means other than the switch. For example, a PC may be connected to a communication device so that priority can be input from a setting screen of the PC.

  Also, if the QoS switch is installed on the front of the communication device and the priority switch is installed on the back, the priority setting will be changed unintentionally by the light user. It can prevent the situation that the environment that had been destroyed is destroyed.

  In the above description, the association between the classification of the QoS type information and the priority by the switch is an example, and another combination may be used. For example, in the above description, the audio content is set to have a higher transmission priority than the video content, but this correspondence may be reversed.

[Second Embodiment]
In the second embodiment, the user designates the type of content received by each PLC adapter as the QoS type for the PLC adapter on the content receiving side, and the entire network is subjected to QoS control by parameterized QoS according to the designation. The form to be performed will be described. The overall processing flow is shown in FIG.

<Network configuration>
In FIG. 6, the network block diagram in this Embodiment is shown. The present embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that a PLC adapter connected to and communicating with a PLC network is separated from an apparatus that actually transmits and receives content data.

  In this embodiment, Parameterized QoS is used. In Parameterized QoS, a single master station is installed in the network, and the master station needs to manage the QoS of the entire network. In the present embodiment, the PLC adapter 50 has the function of the master station, but is not limited to this, and other PLC adapters 60, 70, and 80 may have the function of the master station instead.

  The PLC adapters 50, 60, 70, and 80 correspond to the communication functions of the communication devices 10, 20, 30, and 40 in the first embodiment, and are devices that perform data transmission with other PLC adapters through the PLC network. Packets input from the Ethernet side are converted to PLC packets and then output to the PLC network side. Conversely, packets input from the PLC network side are converted to Ethernet packets and output to the Ethernet side. . That is, the PLC adapters 50, 60, 70, and 80 are devices that perform relay between the PLC network and the Ethernet.

  The STB 90 and the STB 100 are VoD STBs and correspond to the data transmission / reception units 23 and 33 of the communication devices 20 and 30 on the content reception side in the first embodiment. This is an apparatus for decoding and displaying video content data. The STBs 90 and 100 are not configured assuming QoS data transmission, and cannot instruct the PLC adapters 60 and 70 to perform QoS setting in the PLC network.

  Although not shown, a display device such as a TV monitor is connected to each of the STBs 90 and 100, and the STBs 90 and 100 output the decoded video as a video signal to the TV monitor. The STB 90/100 may be built in the TV receiver. The video display method is omitted because it is not related to the essence of the present invention. The video data input to the STB 90/100 is presented to the user by some method.

  The PC 110 also corresponds to the data transmission / reception unit 43 of the communication device 40 on the content reception side in the first embodiment. In the present embodiment, the PC 110 displays Web content received from the Internet. The PC 110 is not configured assuming QoS data transmission, and cannot instruct the PLC adapter 80 to perform QoS setting in the PLC network.

  A combination of the router 120, the VoD server 130, and the Web server 140 corresponds to the data transmission / reception unit 13 of the communication device 10 on the content transmission side in the first embodiment.

  The VoD server 130 sends data of HD (High Definition) video content (16 Mbps video) and SD (Standard Definition) video content (6 Mbps video) to the router 120 via the Internet in response to a data transmission request from the STB 90/100. Send.

  In response to a data transmission request from the PC 110, the Web server 140 transmits Web content data to the router 120 via the Internet.

  The router 120 outputs data received from the Internet to the Ethernet. The data output to the Ethernet is transmitted to the STB 90/100 and the PC 110 via the PLC network.

  That is, in the present embodiment, the STB 90, STB 100, which are Ethernet terminals that are not capable of giving a QoS setting instruction to the PLC adapter by the PLC adapter 60, 70, 80, which is a communication device that relays the PLC network and Ethernet. Instead of the PC 110, the QoS setting is performed for the flows received by the STB 90, the STB 100, and the PC 110.

  Normally, the STB 90/100 is directly connected to the router 120 using Ethernet, but in this embodiment, a PLC network is provided between the router 120 and the STB 90/100. This is because, for example, the router 120 is installed on the first floor of the house because of the place where optical fibers and telephone lines are drawn from outside the house, but the STB 90/100 is used in the living room on the second floor of the house. This is a network configuration created in some cases.

  In this embodiment, the STB 90 receives HD video content from the VoD server 130, the STB 100 receives SD video from the VoD server 130, and the PC 110 receives Web content from the Web server 140.

  The STB 90/100 and the PC 110 may be used by different users, or all devices may be used by one user.

<PLC adapter configuration>
In FIG. 7, the functional block diagram of PLC adapter 50 * 60 * 70 * 80 is shown. The PLC adapters 50, 60, 70, and 80 all have the same configuration, but there are function blocks that are not used depending on the transmission / reception roles of the PLC adapter. When implementing with a limited role, it may be implemented by omitting unused functional blocks.

  The PLC adapters 50, 60, 70, and 80 include QoS type reception units 51, 61, 71, and 81 (QoS type reception unit) and QoS type management units 52, 62, 72, and 82 (QoS control information conversion unit, QoS setting). Control means, QoS type request means, QoS type notification means, QoS control information request means, QoS control information notification means), QoS control sections 54, 64, 74, 84 (QoS setting control means), and PLC communication section 55a. 65a / 75a / 85a, Ethernet communication unit 55b / 65b / 75b / 85b, bridge unit 58/68/78/88 (QoS setting control unit, bridge information acquisition unit, flow identification information acquisition unit), trigger detection unit 59, 69, 79, 89 (trigger detection means, trigger detection notification means, QoS setting control means, flow identification information acquisition means), status Radical 113 configured 56, 66, 76, 86 comprise (status presentation means).

  The QoS type accepting units 51, 61, 71, and 81 accept which QoS type is used for QoS data transmission from a user or a device connected to the Ethernet side in the QoS type accepting process. The QoS type management units 52, 62, 72, and 82 create a QoS parameter based on the QoS type information in the QoS control information conversion process, create and transmit a QoS setting request packet in the QoS setting process, and perform QoS control. Set the sections 54, 64, 74, and 84. The QoS control units 54, 64, 74, and 84 perform bandwidth allocation scheduling based on the QoS parameters included in the QoS setting request packet. The PLC communication units 55a, 65a, 75a, and 85a transmit and receive packets to and from the PLC network. The Ethernet communication units 55b, 65b, 75b, and 85b perform packet transmission / reception with respect to the Ethernet. The bridge units 58, 68, 78, and 88 are used for bridging packets between the PLC communication units 55a, 65a, 75a, and 85a and the Ethernet communication units 55b, 65b, 75b, and 85b, and the PLC communication units 55a, 65a, and 75a. Notification of the packet received from 85a to the trigger detection units 59, 69, 79, and 89 is performed. The trigger detection units 59, 69, 79, and 89 instruct the packet analysis and start the QoS setting process to the QoS type management units 52, 62, 72, and 82. The status presentation units 56, 66, 76, and 86 present the QoS setting status and processing results to the user.

<About QoS type acceptance processing>
A procedure until the VoD server 130 performs QoS transmission of HD video content to the STB 90 via the PLC adapter 50 and the PLC adapter 60 will be described below.

  When receiving the HD video content in the STB 90, the user designates “HD video” as the QoS type information by the QoS type receiving unit 61 in the PLC adapter 60 to which the STB 90 is connected. Specifically, it is conceivable to set a slide-type changeover switch as shown in FIG. 8 to a position indicating “HD video”.

  The switch setting status is notified to the QoS type management unit 62. As a notification method, a numerical value that can uniquely identify the switch setting state is determined in advance (for example, “0” for “OFF”, “1” for “SD video”, “2” for “HD video”). It is conceivable that only the numerical value is notified from the QoS type accepting unit 61 to the QoS type managing unit 62. Since the notification method is not the essence of the present invention, any notification method may be used.

  Further, a device connected to the PLC adapter 60 via Ethernet may specify the QoS type. Details will be described later.

  Here, the state presentation unit 66 may present to the user that a series of processes for QoS setting has been started. Specifically, it is conceivable to install an LED near the QoS type reception unit 61 and blink the LED. Then, when a series of processing for QoS setting is finally completed, the LED is turned on.

  A series of processes for QoS setting may take time. In this case, even if the switch state is changed, QoS data transmission is not started immediately, and normal data transmission is performed. Since normal data transmission is performed, sound and video are disturbed during transmission of audio content and video content.

  In this case, the user determines that the sound and the video remain distorted even though the switch is changed due to the QoS setting.

  If the user is informed that the QoS setting has not yet been completed in order not to invite such an erroneous determination result, the user will not make an incorrect determination, and the state of the QoS setting will be easier to understand. Therefore, the PLC adapter can be used more comfortably.

  In addition, the LED emission color may be changed in stages, and the user may be shown how much time has passed before the QoS setting is completed. For example, it is conceivable to change in steps of red, yellow and green.

  In addition, when a liquid crystal screen or the like is used as the state presentation units 56, 66, 76, and 86, it is possible to display the time until the setting is completed on the screen by numbers. Similarly, a progress bar whose length changes according to the remaining time may be displayed.

  In addition, characters and icons indicating that the switch state of the QoS type accepting unit 61 has been changed are displayed on the STB 90 where the user is actually viewing the content, and the remaining time until the QoS setting is completed and a progress bar are displayed. Or may be displayed.

<About bridge information acquisition processing>
The PLC adapter 50 on the content transmission side acquires bridge information from the PLC adapter 60 in advance in order to transfer the data packet received from the router 120 to the PLC adapter 60.

  The PLC adapter 50 transfers the data packet received from the router 120 connected by Ethernet to the other PLC adapters 60, 70, and 80 at the time of data transmission. At that time, the packet is not the address on the PLC network of the PLC adapters 60, 70, 80 (hereinafter referred to as the PLC address), but on the Ethernet of the STB 90, STB 100, or PC 110 connected to the end of the PLC adapter by Ethernet. The address is indicated by an address (hereinafter referred to as an Ethernet address).

  Therefore, for each PLC adapter 60, 70, 80 in the PLC network, the packet received from the router 120 by the PLC adapter 50 on the content transmission side knowing in advance the information of the Ethernet address of the STB 90, STB 100, or PC 110. Therefore, it is necessary to determine which PLC adapter the destination device is connected to, and transfer the packet via the PLC network using the PLC adapter as a transfer destination.

  Therefore, the PLC adapter 50 on the content transmission side transmits a bridge information request packet to the PLC adapter 60 in order to obtain information on the Ethernet address of the STB 90. Specifically, the bridge unit 58 of the PLC adapter 50 creates a bridge information request packet and sends it to the PLC communication unit 55a. The PLC communication unit 55a adds a PLC header including the address of the PLC adapter 60 as a destination to the bridge information request packet, and transmits the packet to the PLC network.

  The PLC adapters 50, 60, 70, and 80 can know the addresses of other PLC adapters in advance by exchanging specific packets, but the details are not described here.

  As the PLC address, an identifier assigned to each PLC adapter at the time of network participation is used. However, since it is not related to the essence of the present invention, the details are omitted, and simply described as a PLC address.

  When receiving the bridge information request packet, the PLC communication unit 65a of the PLC adapter 60 notifies the bridge unit 68 of the reception. The bridge unit 68 creates a bridge information notification packet including the Ethernet address of the device connected via the Ethernet communication unit 65b of the local station.

  Here, it is assumed that the bridge unit 68 has acquired the Ethernet address of the connected STB 90 in advance, but this method of acquiring in advance is not related to the essence of the present invention, and may be any method. Description is omitted.

  In the present embodiment, since the STB 90 is connected to the PLC adapter 60, the bridge information notification packet includes the Ethernet address of the STB 90. When a plurality of devices are connected to one PLC adapter, all the Ethernet addresses are included in the bridge information notification packet.

  The bridge unit 68 sends the created bridge information notification packet to the PLC communication unit 65a. The PLC communication unit 65a adds a PLC header to the bridge information notification packet and transmits the packet to the PLC network.

  The PLC communication unit 55a of the PLC adapter 50 notifies the bridge unit 58 when receiving this packet. The bridge unit 58 stores the PLC address of the PLC adapter 60 and the Ethernet address of the STB 90 connected to the end of the PLC adapter 60 included in the bridge information notification packet as a set. Such information is called a bridge table.

  Note that the bridge information acquisition process described above may be executed at an arbitrary timing as long as the PLC adapter 50 does not start transmission of data packets.

  For example, it may be executed before the designation of the QoS type, or the bridge information acquisition process may be executed periodically after the PLC adapter 50 is turned on.

  In the present embodiment, since the PLC adapter 50 also transmits data to the PLC adapter 70 and the PLC adapter 80, bridge information acquisition processing is performed for all the PLC adapters 60, 70, 80 at the first time point. You may keep going. At that time, a bridge information request packet may be transmitted by multicast or broadcast, and each PLC adapter 60, 70, 80 may return a bridge information notification packet. In this case, the bandwidth utilization efficiency is better than when a plurality of bridge information request packets are transmitted to each PLC adapter 60, 70, 80 by unicast.

  Moreover, the PLC adapters 60, 70, and 80 on the content receiving side may independently transmit a bridge information notification packet to the PLC adapter 50 regardless of whether or not a bridge information request packet is received. This may be transmitted by multicast or broadcast.

<Received data determination process>
After the QoS type is set, the STB 90 determines content data to be received at an arbitrary timing. When a plurality of contents are stored in the VoD server 130 and there are a plurality of candidates as contents to be received, it is necessary to determine which contents are to be received. Since the content determination method is not related to the essence of the present invention, the method is arbitrary.

  In the present embodiment, a processing procedure in a general STB and VoD server will be described below.

  The VoD server 130 sets content identification information that can uniquely identify the content together with the stored content title and description text for each content, and notifies the STB 90 of the list. The STB 90 sends the list to the user. The user selects a desired content from the presented list by operating a remote control attached to the STB 90 or the like.

  In addition to determining the content data received by the user, the content received by the STB 90 itself may be automatically determined. Here, it is assumed that some HD video content is selected.

<Data transmission request processing>
In the first embodiment, since the data transmitting / receiving units 13, 23, 33, and 43 are built in the communication devices 10, 20, 30, and 40, the data transmitting / receiving units 13, 23, 33, and 43 receive the received content. After determining the data, it was possible to directly instruct the QoS type management units 12, 22, 32, and 42 to start the QoS control information conversion process.

  On the other hand, in this embodiment, the PLC adapter 60 and the STB 90 are separated, and even if the content data received by the STB 90 is determined, the QoS control information conversion process is started to the QoS type management unit 62. It cannot be directed directly.

  Therefore, the STB 90 performs a data transmission request process for the VoD server 130 immediately after determining the content data to be received.

  The data transmission request processing method is not related to the essence of the present invention, and the method is arbitrary. In the present embodiment, a processing procedure in a general STB and VoD server will be described below.

  First, the STB 90 creates a data transmission request packet. This packet includes content identification information for identifying the previously selected content. As the content identification information, a value that can be uniquely determined between the VoD server 130 and the STB 90 is determined in advance, and the STB 90 has received the content list in advance. Since the data transmission request packet needs to be finally transmitted to the VoD server 130 on the Internet, the IP address of the VoD server 130 is also included.

  Next, the STB 90 transmits the created packet to the PLC adapter 60 via Ethernet. Next, the PLC adapter 60 transmits the received packet to the PLC adapter 50 via the PLC network. Next, the PLC adapter 50 transmits the received packet to the router 120 via Ethernet. Next, the router 120 transmits the received packet to the VoD server 130 via the Internet.

  Here, the PLC adapter 60 has completed the bridge information acquisition processing in the same manner as the PLC adapter 50, and derives the PLC address of the PLC adapter 50 from the Ethernet address of the router 120 included as a destination in the packet received from the Ethernet. Suppose that the address is included in the PLC header for transmission. Note that the data transmission request packet may be notified to the PLC adapter 50 by another method.

<About trigger detection processing>
After receiving the data transmission request packet, the VoD server 130 starts transmitting the content specified by the packet. The stored content data is packetized and sequentially transmitted to the router 120 via the Internet together with the destination information. The router 120 sequentially transmits the received data packet to the PLC adapter 50 via Ethernet.

  Since this data packet is a packet of video content transmitted from the VoD server 130 to the STB 90, the IP address of the STB 90 is included as a destination.

  The router 120 retrieves an Ethernet address from the IP address by routing processing. Since this routing process is a general process and there is no point to be noted, detailed description thereof is omitted.

  As a result of the routing process, when the data packet is transferred from the router 120 to the PLC adapter 50, the data packet includes the Ethernet address of the STB 90 as the destination address.

  The Ethernet communication unit 55 b of the PLC adapter 50 passes the received data packet to the bridge unit 58. Since the bridge table acquired in advance includes the PLC address of the PLC adapter 60 and the Ethernet address of the STB 90, the data packet can be obtained by comparing the bridge table with the destination Ethernet address of the data packet. It can be seen that the destination on the PLC network is the PLC adapter 60.

  Therefore, the bridge unit 58 adds a PLC header including the PLC address of the PLC adapter 60 as the destination address of the data packet to the data packet and passes it to the QoS control unit 54.

  At this time, since the QoS setting is not executed for the flow to which the data packet belongs, the QoS control unit 54 does not do anything with respect to the QoS control and passes the data packet as a normal packet to the PLC communication unit 55a. The PLC communication unit 55a transmits the data packet to the PLC adapter 60.

  The PLC communication unit 65 a of the PLC adapter 60 passes the received data packet to the bridge unit 68. The bridge unit 68 passes the data packet to the Ethernet communication unit 65b to transfer the data packet to the Ethernet, and notifies the trigger detection unit 69 that the data packet has been received.

  By this notification, the trigger detection unit 69 knows that data transmission has started, recognizes that the QoS setting process is necessary, and instructs the QoS type management unit 62 to start the QoS setting process.

  That is, the trigger detection unit 69 detects the timing for performing the QoS setting process by analyzing the reception history regarding the data received by the own device. In other words, the trigger detection unit 69 determines whether or not to perform the QoS setting process by analyzing the reception history regarding the data received by the own device. The QoS type management unit 62 performs the QoS setting process at the timing detected by the trigger detection unit 69. In other words, the QoS type management unit 62 performs the QoS setting process when it is determined that the trigger detection unit 69 performs the QoS setting process.

  When the trigger detection process is performed by the PLC adapter on the transmission side, the trigger detection unit detects the timing for performing the QoS setting process by analyzing the transmission history regarding the data transmitted by the own apparatus. The reception history or transmission history may be stored in a storage unit (not shown) provided in the PLC adapter.

  Further, the QoS type management unit included in the PLC adapter on the transmission side or the reception side may perform the QoS setting process according to the timing notified from the partner station of data communication. Conversely, the QoS type management unit may notify the other station of data communication of the timing detected by the trigger detection unit via the PLC communication unit.

<About the case where one PLC adapter receives data packets from a plurality of PLC adapters>
A process when one receiving side PLC adapter receives data packets from a plurality of transmitting side PLC adapters will be described below.

  The receiving-side PLC adapter may distinguish the packet received when the trigger is detected for each transmitting-side PLC adapter, and may make a QoS setting request for each transmitting-side PLC adapter. With this configuration, QoS settings can be individually made for each PLC adapter on the transmission side.

  The data packet received by the PLC adapter on the receiving side includes the source Ethernet address (address of the router, etc.). Therefore, if the bridge information received from the PLC adapter on the transmission side is compared with the Ethernet address, the PLC address of the PLC adapter on the transmission side of the data packet can be known. Therefore, as described above, the received packet can be distinguished for each PLC adapter on the transmission side.

<Starting time of QoS setting process>
In the above description, the trigger detection unit 69 instructs the start of the QoS setting process when only one data packet is received, but the QoS setting process is started only when a specific condition is satisfied. May be instructed. Examples of the specific condition include a case where a predetermined number of packets are received and a case where packets are received at a specific frequency.

  In addition, when notifying that the data packet has been received, the bridge unit 68 may pass the contents of the data packet to the trigger detection unit 69 in addition to the reception notification. The trigger detection unit 69 may analyze the passed data packet and instruct the QoS type management unit 62 to start the QoS setting process only when a specific condition is satisfied. The specific condition here may be, for example, when a packet is received from a specific IP address, PLC address, or Ethernet address, or when a packet including a specific TCP port number or UDP port number is received. .

  If the QoS setting process is not started upon reception of the data packet as described above, the PLC adapter 60 performs the QoS setting process when the power is turned on or when the switch of the QoS type accepting unit 61 is operated. To start.

  In that case, a band for the transmission is secured even though the content data is not transmitted from the time when the QoS setting process is started until the reception data determination process is performed in the STB 90. Since the other PLC adapters 70 and 80 cannot use the reserved bandwidth, the use efficiency of the bandwidth of the entire network is lowered.

  On the other hand, in this embodiment, since the QoS setting process is executed for the first time when data transmission is started, there is an advantage that the bandwidth utilization efficiency is good.

  In addition, when the PLC adapter 60 is simultaneously receiving data that does not require QoS, such as Web content, separately from data that requires QoS, such as moving image content, QoS setting processing is performed at the time of simply receiving a packet. In the configuration in which the QoS is set, the QoS setting process is executed even when data that does not require QoS is received.

  However, when only data that does not require QoS is received, it is desirable not to use the bandwidth without setting the QoS.

  For this purpose, it is conceivable that the received packet is analyzed, it is determined whether or not the packet is data that requires QoS, and QoS setting is performed only when it is determined that the data requires QoS.

  As a determination method for determining whether QoS is necessary, it is conceivable to analyze a packet header and determine which protocol is used by the packet.

  For example, as the transport layer protocol in the OSI reference model, TCP and UDP are generally used. Among these, UDP has a characteristic of low reliability but high transmission speed. Often used for transmission. Therefore, if QoS setting is executed when a packet using UDP is received, it is possible to perform control to secure a band only when there is a high possibility that QoS is required.

  In order to determine whether a packet is UDP, it is conceivable to refer to the Protocol field in the IP header. Since the value of this field indicates what is used as the upper protocol, it is possible to distinguish between UDP and TCP.

  Further, the same determination may be performed depending on whether another protocol is used. For example, RTP (Real-time Transport Protocol) can be considered as a similar protocol. RTP is often used for data transmission in streaming.

  Further, it is conceivable to analyze the contents of the packet and execute QoS setting when the packet is voice or moving image. For example, the RTP header includes a field called a PT field, which indicates what codec data is included in the RTP packet. That is, by analyzing the PT field, it is possible to know whether the packet is video or audio. If a value indicating video or audio is included in the PT field, QoS setting may be started.

  As will be described later, when “video” or “audio” is specified as the QoS type, “video” is specified as the QoS type, and the PT field includes a value indicating video. It can be considered that only QoS setting is executed. When “Video” is specified as the QoS type but an audio packet is received, it can be determined that the user is not the target of securing the QoS. In such a case, the QoS setting is executed. It is desirable not to.

  In addition, since some kind of negotiation may be performed between the transmission side and the reception side before data transmission, it is conceivable that QoS setting is performed when a packet of the negotiation is detected. For example, when performing video transmission by streaming, RTSP (Real Time Streaming Protocol) may be used.

  In RTSP, before starting transmission of data packets, several packets are exchanged for negotiation for communication between a transmitting station and a receiving station. It is conceivable to perform QoS setting when this packet is detected. Similarly, since the packet is exchanged when the transmission of the data packet is finished, it is considered that the QoS release process is executed when this packet is detected.

  Note that in the process of analyzing what protocol a packet belongs to, analyzing all packets results in a load on the CPU and pressure on CPU resources for other processes. It is possible to analyze this. For example, it is conceivable to analyze every 100 packets. It is also conceivable to make a time interval instead of the number. For example, it is conceivable to analyze only the last packet received at that time once every 100 ms.

  In addition, when transmitting real-time data such as moving image content, generally, the packets are often transmitted continuously and in bursts, rather than being transmitted one by one. Therefore, it is conceivable that the QoS setting is performed only when the PLC adapters 60, 70, and 80 receive a specified number of packets within a specified period, not at the time of receiving only one packet. For example, when 100 or more packets are received in a period of 100 ms, it is considered that real-time data is received and QoS setting is executed.

  It is also conceivable to count only when packets that are expected to be real-time data, such as the above-mentioned UDP packets, are continuously received. That is, it may be determined that QoS setting is executed when 100 or more UDP packets are received during a period of 100 ms.

  With these configurations, it is possible to reduce the possibility of securing a bandwidth for data transmission that does not require QoS setting.

  Note that while the receiving PLC adapter is excluded from the QoS control target, the transmitting PLC adapter has the remaining data other than the data transmission band assigned to the other PLC adapter that is the QoS control target. Data may be transmitted to the receiving PLC adapter using at least a part of the transmission band.

<About the packet field used for trigger detection>
Since the header of the IP packet or Ethernet packet may contain information indicating the transmission priority of the packet, it is conceivable to use these fields for trigger detection. This corresponds to the ToS (Type of Service) field in the IPv4 header, the user priority field in the VLAN tag in the Ethernet header, and the like.

  For example, in the case of transmitting real-time data from the VoD server 130 or the PLC adapter 50 on the content transmission side and in the case of transmitting non-real-time data, the header of the packet of real-time data includes a value indicating high priority and is not real-time. A value indicating low priority is included in the header of the data packet. In this case, the PLC adapters 60, 70, and 80 on the content receiving side can determine whether the received packet is real-time data by analyzing these fields included in the received packet.

  It is conceivable that the PLC adapters 60, 70, and 80 on the content receiving side use this mechanism and perform QoS setting only when receiving real-time data.

  When a plurality of fields indicating transmission priorities are included in the received packet, which of these fields is used for trigger detection is set in advance by some method. This setting may be changed by the user, or may be implemented by determining which field is used in advance.

  For example, in the PLC, since the PLC adapter 50 on the content transmission side adds the PLC MAC header to the packet received from the Ethernet side and transmits the packet as it is, the packet received by the PLC adapters 60, 70, and 80 on the content reception side. Includes both the User Priority field and the ToS field.

  In a network other than the PLC, the content transmission side may delete the Ethernet header and add a MAC header for transmission. In this case, since the packet received by the content receiving side includes only the ToS field, the ToS field may be used for trigger detection.

  Further, since the IP protocol or Ethernet header may contain information (flow identification information) for identifying the flow of the packet, it is conceivable to use these fields for trigger detection.

  The Flow Label field in the IPv6 header and the VID (VLAN Identifier) field of the VLAN tag in the Ethernet header correspond to this.

  For example, different values are set in these fields depending on whether real-time data is transmitted or non-real-time data is transmitted from the PLC adapter 50 on the content transmission side. Then, an agreement as to which field value represents real-time data is notified to the PLC adapter 60, 70, 80 on the content receiving side in advance by some method. With this mechanism, the PLC adapters 60, 70, and 80 on the content receiving side can determine whether or not the received packet is real-time data.

  It is conceivable to perform QoS setting only when real-time data is received using this mechanism.

  That is, whether the QoS type management unit (QoS setting control means) 61, 71, 81 performs the QoS setting process based on the result of collating the bridge information acquired by the bridge units 68.78, 88 with the flow identification information. It may be determined whether or not.

  When a plurality of fields for identifying a flow are included in a received packet, which field is used for trigger detection is set in advance by some method. This setting may be changed by the user, or it may be implemented by determining which field is used in advance.

  Further, since the IP protocol or Ethernet header may contain information for defining the transmission quality of the packet, it is conceivable to use these fields for trigger detection. The ToS field or the like in the IPv4 header corresponds to this. The ToS field includes information such as delay, throughput, reliability, and monetary cost.

  For example, a different value is set in this field depending on whether real-time data is transmitted or non-real-time data is transmitted from the PLC adapter 50 on the content transmission side. Then, an agreement as to which field value represents real-time data is notified to the PLC adapter 60, 70, 80 on the content receiving side in advance by some method. With this mechanism, the PLC adapters 60, 70, and 80 on the content receiving side can determine whether or not the received packet is real-time data.

  It is conceivable to perform QoS setting only when real-time data is received using this mechanism.

<About QoS control information conversion processing>
When the QoS type management unit 62 is instructed by the trigger detection unit 69 to start the QoS setting process, the QoS type management unit 62 first performs a QoS control information conversion process. Specifically, the QoS type management unit 62 determines a QoS parameter to be notified to the PLC adapter 50 serving as a master station based on the QoS type information specified by the QoS type reception unit 61.

  Since the QoS type information specified in the PLC adapter 60 is “HD video”, the QoS type management unit 62 creates a QoS parameter such that a QoS suitable for HD video transmission is secured.

  Specifically, for example, the QoS type management unit 62 may derive a QoS parameter by referring to a table in which QoS type information and values of QoS parameters are stored.

  The necessary QoS parameters vary depending on the protocol used in the network, and the specific QoS configuration parameters are not relevant to the essence of the present invention and are arbitrary.

  As an example of the QoS parameter, in the case of PLC, the bit rate necessary for data transmission, the allowable transmission delay, the fluctuation of the allowable transmission delay, the average value of the size of the transmitted packet, the minimum value, the maximum value, etc. A combination of a plurality of values is a QoS parameter.

  When transmitting HD video, the bit rate may be 16 Mbps or a value with a margin added thereto. For other parameters, it is conceivable to store in advance optimum values obtained by experiments.

<About the QoS setting process>
The PLC adapter 60 on the content receiving side first inquires of the communication partner PLC adapter 50 whether or not connection is possible, and then executes the QoS setting process for the master station.

  In the present embodiment, since the PLC adapter 50 is both a transmitting station and a parent station, the PLC adapter 60 performs both the inquiry about whether connection is possible and the QoS setting process to the PLC adapter 50.

  The QoS type management unit 62 creates a connection request packet including the previously determined QoS parameter and sends it to the PLC communication unit 65a. The PLC communication unit 65a transmits the connection request packet to the PLC adapter 50 on the content transmission side.

  The PLC communication unit 55 a of the PLC adapter 50 receives this packet and sends it to the QoS type management unit 52. The QoS type management unit 52 determines whether or not data transmission is possible from information included in the connection request packet. Although this criterion varies depending on the implementation, for example, the acceptance may be rejected due to a limitation of a packet transmission buffer in the PLC adapter 50.

  The QoS type management unit 52 creates a connection notification packet including information (Result Code) indicating whether or not to accept a data transmission request, and sends the connection notification packet to the PLC communication unit 55a. The PLC communication unit 55a transmits a connection notification packet to the PLC adapter 60.

  The PLC communication unit 65 a of the PLC adapter 60 receives this packet and sends it to the QoS type management unit 62. The QoS type management unit 62 knows whether a data transmission request has been accepted from the Result Code included in the packet.

  At this time, if the Result Code is information indicating acceptance refusal, the QoS setting process is stopped, and the status presenting unit 66 presents to the user that the QoS request has not been satisfied, as will be described later.

  When the Result Code indicates that it can be accepted, the QoS type management unit 62 creates a QoS setting request packet including the same QoS parameters as those included in the connection request packet, and sends the QoS setting request packet to the PLC communication unit 65a. The PLC communication unit 65a transmits the QoS setting request packet to the PLC adapter 50 serving as a master station. The slave station in the PLC network can know the address of the master station in advance by exchanging specific packets, but a detailed description thereof is omitted. If another PLC adapter is the master station, the information is transmitted to that PLC adapter.

  The PLC communication unit 55 a of the PLC adapter 50 receives this QoS setting request packet and sends it to the QoS control unit 54. The QoS control unit 54 determines whether or not the request can be accepted based on the QoS parameter included in the QoS setting request packet. If the number of flows requiring QoS increases, the bandwidth of the usable PLC network may be insufficient, and it may not be possible to satisfy the QoS requirements for all flows. In such a case, QoS is secured only for some flows according to some rules.

  For example, it is conceivable to perform control such that requests are accepted in the order in which QoS setting request packets are transmitted, and the requests are rejected when the bandwidth becomes insufficient. A specific determination method is implementation-dependent and is not related to the essence of the present invention, and thus description thereof is omitted.

  When it is determined that the QoS parameter included in the QoS setting request packet is acceptable, the QoS control unit 54 assigns an identifier called GLID (Global Link ID) for uniquely identifying the flow in the PLC network, and the QoS parameter Based on, scheduling of bandwidth allocation for the GLID is performed.

  Although a specific scheduling algorithm is not related to the essence of the present invention, it will be omitted. However, the QoS control unit 54 of the master station 50 is arranged so as to satisfy the QoS request notified from the slave station 60, the frequency of bandwidth allocation, Determine the duration and order.

  Thereafter, the QoS control unit 54 generates a QoS setting notification packet including information (Result Code) indicating whether or not the QoS request can be accepted and a GLID if the Result Code is a value indicating success, and sends the QoS setting notification packet to the PLC communication unit 55a. . The PLC communication unit 55a transmits a QoS setting notification packet to the PLC adapter 60. The PLC communication unit 65 a of the PLC adapter 60 receives this packet and sends it to the QoS type management unit 62.

  Note that only the QoS setting request may be made without performing the connection processing to the PLC adapter 50 on the content transmission side. For example, in IEEE802.11e, what corresponds to the connection process for the communication device on the content transmission side is not defined, so only the QoS setting process for the master station is performed.

<Regarding Control Processing of State Presentation Unit 66>
The QoS type management unit 62 of the PLC adapter 60 knows that the QoS setting request has been accepted from the Result Code included in the QoS setting notification packet. The QoS type management unit 62 controls the state presentation unit 66 to indicate to the user that the request has been accepted.

  As a specific configuration of the status presentation unit 66, an LED is installed near the switch of the QoS type reception unit 61, and when the specified QoS request is satisfied, that is, the Result Code in the QoS setting notification packet is successful. If the QoS request is not satisfied, that is, if the Result Code is a value indicating failure, the LED is blinked to indicate the QoS request to the user. It is possible to present the results.

  Here, since it can be seen from the Result Code that the QoS request has been accepted, the LED is turned on to indicate to the user that the QoS setting has been successful.

  If the QoS setting request is not accepted here, the requested QoS is not secured even though the user sets the switch to “HD video” in the PLC adapter 60.

  If the request set by the switch is not satisfied, for example, when video transmission is performed, video disturbance may occur. At this time, if it is not shown to the user that the request set by the switch is not satisfied, the user must identify the cause of the video disturbance even though the QoS is set by the switch. Is difficult.

  However, if the user is informed that the request set by the switch is not satisfied, the user knows that the video is disturbed because QoS is not guaranteed and the bandwidth is insufficient. Therefore, it is possible to take measures for mediation of the entire network.

  For example, the bit rate of the content to be viewed can be changed to a lower bit rate and the switch of the PLC adapter 60 can be switched from “HD video” to “SD video”.

  For example, an LED is installed beside the QoS type reception unit 61, 71, 81, and when the specified request is satisfied, the LED is turned on. When the request is not satisfied, the LED is not turned on. Thus, it is possible to present processing result information to the user. Conversely, it may indicate that the request is not satisfied when the LED is lit, and may indicate that the request is satisfied when the LED is turned off.

  In addition, when the PLC adapter already includes some display device, it is possible to display the processing result information using the display device. For example, if the PLC adapter is provided with a liquid crystal screen, the success or failure of QoS setting may be displayed there.

  In addition to the success or failure of the QoS setting, some other state may be displayed. For example, it may be possible to display why the QoS setting has failed.

  For example, depending on the state of the PLC network, even if a QoS setting request packet or a QoS setting notification packet is transmitted from the PLC adapter 60 or the PLC adapter 50, the other station may fail to receive due to a communication error.

  In such a case, transmission / reception of the QoS setting request packet or QoS setting notification packet was successful, but the request was rejected by the master station due to insufficient bandwidth, or transmission of the QoS setting request packet or QoS setting notification packet itself was It can be considered to be configured so that it can be determined whether the failure has occurred. As a configuration for displaying these distinctions, it is conceivable to change the blinking pattern or emission color of the LED or to display an error message on the liquid crystal screen.

  The above description is for the case where the PLC adapter 60 receives a QoS setting notification packet, but the same operation may be performed when a connection notification packet is received.

  When the QoS connection request or the QoS setting request is not accepted, the PLC adapter 60 transmits information indicating that to the STB 90 connected to the own station, and the STB 90 transmits the information to the own device. You may display on the display apparatus (for example, television monitor) connected to.

<About QoS data transmission>
After the data transmission request processing in the STB 90, data packets are sequentially transmitted from the VoD server 130 to the PLC adapter 50 via the router 120. As described above, the IP address of the STB 90 is included as the destination of the data packet. The router 120 retrieves the Ethernet address from the IP address by routing processing, and transmits it to the PLC adapter 50 via the Ethernet. The Ethernet communication unit 55 b of the PLC adapter 50 passes the received packet to the bridge unit 58. The bridge unit 58 collates the bridge table with the destination Ethernet address of the data packet, adds a PLC header including the PLC address of the PLC adapter 60 as the destination address of the data packet to the data packet, and passes it to the QoS control unit 54.

  By the way, when actually transmitting a data packet, the beacon packet transmitted from the master station includes the GLID determined at the time of the QoS setting process, the transmission right grant start time, and the transmission right grant end time. Each slave station knows to which flow the transmission right is given by this beacon packet.

  Therefore, the PLC adapter 50 on the content transmission side needs to determine which flow each data packet belongs to and know its GLID. Therefore, the QoS control unit 54 analyzes the contents of the packet and derives a GLID. In general, the GLID is derived by exchanging some packets between the PLC adapter 50 and the PLC adapter 60 in advance, understanding the correspondence between the flow identification information and the GLID, and deriving the GLID based on the mutual understanding.

  The protocol for exchanging flow identification information and GLID is not defined in the PLC standard, and is uniquely performed in a higher layer than the PLC. The upper layer knows which flow uses which MAC address, IP address, and port number, and can acquire the GLID value obtained as a result of the QoS setting process from the QoS control unit 54. Therefore, it is possible to know the correspondence between the MAC address, IP address, port number, and GLID.

  A rule for deriving a GLID from such flow identification information is called a classify rule. Analyzing the contents of the data packet, if the MAC address, IP address, and port number described in the classify rule are included in the packet, it can be determined that the packet is a GLID packet described in the classify rule is there.

  In this embodiment, instead of exchanging packets in the upper layer and acquiring flow identification information, bridge information is used. The bridge information is information necessary for another use as described above, but it is also used as flow identification information.

  As the bridge information, the Ethernet address of the STB 90 and the PLC address of the PLC adapter 60 are included. The QoS setting notification packet includes a GLID, a PLC address of the PLC adapter 50 as a flow source, and an address of the PLC adapter 60 as a flow destination.

  Therefore, the PLC adapter 50 on the flow transmission side can derive the PLC address of the PLC adapter 60 from the Ethernet address of the STB 90 and further derive the GLID from the PLC address of the PLC adapter 60. That is, when the Ethernet address of the STB 90 is included as a destination, a Classify rule for deriving the GLID notified by the QoS setting notification packet can be created.

  In the present embodiment, the bridge information obtained by the bridge information notification packet is configured to be also notified to the QoS type management unit 52, and the QoS type management unit 52 performs the above-described method when the QoS setting process is completed. The Classify rule is created by the above and set in the QoS control unit 54.

  When the PLC adapter 50 receives a data packet from the router 120 and the destination is the STB 90, the GLID of the flow to which the packet belongs is derived by the Classify rule.

  Since the master station 50 sets a transmission period for each flow, the flow cannot be transmitted except for a flow to which the transmission period is given. For packets that are not included in the flow for performing QoS data transmission, transmission opportunities are basically given evenly in a period in which the transmission right is not granted to any flow by the master station 50. Not guaranteed.

  The master station transmits a beacon packet including the GLID, the transmission right grant start time, and the transmission right grant end time according to the previously determined schedule. A transmission right is granted to a flow that matches the GLID described in the beacon packet during a period indicated by the transmission right grant start time and the transmission right grant end time. Since all PLC adapters receive the beacon packet, each PLC adapter can identify a flow to which a transmission right is currently assigned.

  The PLC adapter 50 derives the GLID of the data packet according to the previous Classify rule, and when receiving the beacon packet that matches the GLID, the PLC adapter 50 transmits the data packet during the period indicated by the transmission right grant start time and the transmission right grant end time. Send.

  Actually, the data packet received from the router 120 is buffered until the transmission right grant start time is reached in the QoS control unit 54 of the PLC adapter 50, but the detailed description thereof is omitted.

  In this embodiment, since the master station and the PLC adapter that transmits the data packet are the same, the transmission right grant packet is not transmitted, and the PLC adapter 50 is granted the transmission right without receiving the beacon packet. The processing period can be known, but the process is the same.

  Note that the destination Ethernet address of the data packet needs to be verified both in the bridge process and in the Classify rule verification process, but these may be processed at a time.

<About QoS release processing>
The QoS release process in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the flow of QoS release processing in this embodiment. The QoS release process in the PLC network that is subjected to QoS control by Parameterized QoS is a process for canceling the QoS setting of the receiving PLC adapter that is the target of the QoS setting.

  As shown in FIG. 10, when the trigger detection unit 69 of the PLC adapter 60 on the receiving side detects that the QoS setting is no longer necessary, or the QoS type reception unit 61 has received an instruction to cancel the QoS setting. In this case, the QoS type management unit 62 receives the information and transmits a QoS cancellation request packet for requesting cancellation of the QoS setting to the PLC adapter 50 as the master station via the PLC communication unit 65a. This QoS cancellation request packet includes the address of the PLC adapter 60 that is the transmission source and the address of the PLC adapter 50 that is the transmission destination.

  That is, the trigger detection unit 69 detects the timing of performing QoS release processing on the data received by the own device (determines timing), and the QoS type management unit (QoS setting control means) 62 is detected by the trigger detection unit 69. QoS release processing is performed at the determined timing (timing determined by the trigger detection unit 69). In addition, when the acquired QoS type indicates that QoS control is not required, the QoS type management unit 62 performs a QoS release process on data received by the PLC adapter 60.

  In addition, the QoS type management unit provided in the PLC adapter on the transmission side or the reception side may perform the QoS release processing according to the timing notified from the data communication partner station. Conversely, the QoS type management unit may notify the other station of data communication of the timing detected by the trigger detection unit via the PLC communication unit.

  As a method for detecting that the QoS setting is no longer necessary, the trigger detection unit 69 may detect, for example, that the rate of receiving data packets in the PLC adapter 60 is equal to or less than a threshold value. Details will be described later.

  When the QoS type management unit 52 of the PLC adapter 50 receives the QoS cancellation request packet via the PLC communication unit 55a, the QoS type management unit 52 responds to the data transmitted to the PLC adapter 60 indicated by the address included in the QoS cancellation request packet. The command to cancel the QoS setting that has been set is output to the QoS control unit 54. Further, the QoS type management unit 52 transmits a QoS cancellation notification packet notifying that the QoS setting set for the data received by the PLC adapter 60 has been canceled to the PLC adapter 60 via the PLC communication unit 55a. To do.

  When the QoS cancellation notification packet is received, the QoS type management unit 62 of the PLC adapter 60 notifies the user that the QoS cancellation has been performed via the status presentation unit 66.

  When the QoS type management unit 62 receives information indicating that the QoS setting has been turned off from the QoS type reception unit 61 (in this embodiment, “OFF” is selected in the slide switch of FIG. 8). The QoS release process may be performed.

  In addition, when the data transmission is continued after the QoS setting is turned off (the device is excluded from the QoS control target), the QoS type management unit 62 sets the other QoS control target other Data transmission is performed using the remaining transmission band other than the transmission bands allocated to the PLC adapters (PLC adapters 70 and 80).

  As described above, when transmitting a data packet, each slave station knows to which flow the transmission right is given by the beacon packet transmitted from the master station. When the slave station is excluded from the QoS control target, the band assignment of the slave station is lost in the beacon packet. Therefore, the transmitting station transmits data to the slave station at a time other than the band assigned to the other slave station. Send.

<About processing in the PLC adapter 70>
A procedure until the SD video content is QoS-transmitted from the VoD server 130 to the STB 100 via the PLC adapter 50 and the PLC adapter 70 will be described below. In addition, the process similar to the PLC adapter 60 among the processes in the PLC adapter 70 is abbreviate | omitting description.

  The STB 100 is connected to the PLC adapter 70. Since the user intends to receive SD video content in the STB 100, the user designates “SD video” by the QoS type reception unit 71 of the PLC adapter 70. Specifically, a slide-type changeover switch as shown in FIG. 8 is set to a position indicating “SD video”. Here, the state presentation unit 76 may present to the user that a series of processes for QoS setting has been started. Specifically, the LED is blinked.

  The content transmission side PLC adapter 50 transmits a bridge information request packet to the PLC adapter 70 in order to obtain an Ethernet address of a device connected to the content reception side PLC adapter 70 via Ethernet.

  The PLC adapter 70 returns a bridge information notification packet including the Ethernet address of the device connected via the Ethernet communication unit 75b of the local station. Since the STB 100 is connected to the PLC adapter 70, the Ethernet address of the STB 100 is included in the bridge information notification packet.

  After the QoS type is set, the STB 100 determines content data to be received at an arbitrary timing. The VoD server 130 notifies the STB 100 of a list of contents it has, and the STB 100 presents the content list to the user, and the user supplies a desired content from the presented content list to a remote controller attached to the STB 100, etc. Select by the operation.

  After the content is selected, the STB 100 creates a data transmission request packet and transmits it to the VoD server 130. This packet includes information for identifying the previously selected content.

  After receiving the data transmission request packet, the VoD server 130 starts transmitting the content specified by the packet. The VoD server 130 packetizes the stored content data, transmits it to the STB 100, and the PLC adapter 70 on the path also receives the packet.

  The PLC communication unit 75 a of the PLC adapter 70 passes the received data packet to the bridge unit 78. The bridge unit 78 passes the data packet to the Ethernet communication unit 75b in order to transfer the data packet to the Ethernet, and notifies the trigger detection unit 79 that the data packet has been received. Thereby, the trigger detection unit 79 knows that the data transmission has started, recognizes that the QoS setting process is necessary, and instructs the QoS type management unit 72 to start the QoS setting process.

  When instructed to start the QoS setting process, the QoS type management unit 72 first performs the QoS control information conversion process. Since the QoS type information specified in the PLC adapter 70 is “SD video”, a QoS parameter that secures a QoS suitable for transmission of SD video content is created. Since SD video content is transmitted, it is conceivable to set a bit rate of 6 Mbps or a value with a margin added thereto. For other parameters, it is conceivable to store optimum values obtained by experiments.

  The QoS type management unit 72 creates a connection request packet including the QoS parameters determined in the QoS control information conversion process, and transmits the connection request packet to the PLC adapter 50. When the PLC adapter 50 accepts a request for data transmission, the PLC adapter 50 creates a connection notification packet including information indicating acceptance of the request, and returns it to the PLC adapter 70. Thereby, the QoS type management unit 72 of the PLC adapter 70 knows that the data transmission request has been accepted.

  Further, the QoS type management unit 72 creates a QoS setting request packet based on the same QoS parameters included in the connection request packet, and passes the QoS setting request packet to the PLC communication unit 75a. The PLC communication unit 75a transmits a QoS setting request packet to the PLC adapter 50.

  The PLC communication unit 55 a of the PLC adapter 50 receives this packet and passes it to the QoS control unit 54. The QoS control unit 54 determines whether or not the request can be accepted based on the QoS parameter included in the QoS setting request packet. Here, it is assumed that the request has been accepted, a GLID is allocated, the frequency, period, and order of bandwidth allocation for the GLID are determined, and the information is set in the QoS control unit 54. A value different from the flow received by the PLC adapter 60 is assigned as the GLID.

  Further, the QoS control unit 54 creates a QoS setting notification packet including information indicating that the QoS request has been accepted, and transmits the QoS setting notification packet to the PLC adapter 70. Thereby, the QoS type management unit 72 of the PLC adapter 70 knows that the QoS request has been accepted.

  The QoS type management unit 72 controls the state presentation unit 76 to indicate to the user that the request has been accepted. Specifically, the LED is turned on.

  After the data transmission request process in the STB 100, data packets are sequentially transmitted from the VoD server 130 to the PLC adapter 50 via the router 120. The Ethernet communication unit 55 b of the PLC adapter 50 passes the received packet to the bridge unit 58. The bridge unit 58 compares the Ethernet address of the STB 100 included in the data packet with the bridge table, and derives the PLC address of the PLC adapter 70 as a destination. The bridge unit 58 attaches a PLC header including the destination address to the packet and passes it to the QoS control unit 54.

  The QoS type management unit 52 creates a Classify rule for deriving the GLID notified by the QoS setting notification packet when the data packet includes the Ethernet address of the STB 100 as the destination, and the QoS control unit 54 in advance. Set to. When the PLC adapter 50 receives a data packet from the router 120 and the destination is the STB 100, the GLID of the flow to which the packet belongs is derived by the Classify rule.

  Thereafter, QoS data transmission is performed by transmitting a data packet to the PLC adapter 70 during a period in which a transmission right is granted to a flow that matches the GLID.

<About processing in the PLC adapter 80>
Similar processing to the PLC adapter 60 is performed in the PLC adapter 80. However, the PLC adapter 80 is different in that QoS setting is not performed.

  A PC 110 is connected to the PLC adapter 80. The user intends to receive Web content on the PC 110. That is, since the user intends not to use the QoS function for receiving video content, the user designates “OFF” by the QoS type reception unit 81 of the PLC adapter 80. Specifically, a slide type changeover switch as shown in FIG. 8 is set to a position indicating “OFF”. Here, the state presentation unit may present to the user that a series of processes for QoS setting has been started. Specifically, the LED is blinked.

  The PLC adapter 50 on the content transmission side transmits a bridge information request packet to the PLC adapter 80 in order to obtain the Ethernet address of the device connected to the PLC adapter 80 on the content reception side via Ethernet.

  The PLC adapter 80 returns a bridge information notification packet including the Ethernet address of the device connected via the Ethernet communication unit 85b of the local station. Since the PC 110 is connected to the PLC adapter 80, the Ethernet address of the PC 110 is included in the bridge information notification packet.

  After the QoS type is set, the PC 110 determines Web content data to be received at an arbitrary timing. Specifically, it is conceivable that the user operates a PC browser software to access a specific URL.

  After the content is selected, the PC 110 creates a data transmission request packet and transmits it to the Web server 140. This packet includes information for identifying data to be received.

  After receiving the data transmission request packet, the Web server 140 starts transmitting the content specified by the packet. The Web server 140 packetizes the stored content data, transmits it to the PC 110, and the packet is received also by the PLC adapter 80 on the path.

  The PLC communication unit 85 a of the PLC adapter 80 passes the received data packet to the bridge unit 88. The bridge unit 88 passes the data packet to the Ethernet communication unit 85b to transfer the data packet to the Ethernet, and notifies the trigger detection unit 89 that the data packet has been received. Thereby, the trigger detection unit 89 knows that the data transmission has started, recognizes that the QoS setting process is necessary, and instructs the QoS type management unit 82 to start the QoS setting process.

  When instructed to start the QoS setting process, the QoS type management unit 82 first performs the QoS control information conversion process. Since the QoS type information specified in the PLC adapter 80 is “OFF”, it is understood that QoS setting is unnecessary. Therefore, no processing is performed in the QoS control information conversion processing.

  After the data transmission request processing in the PC 110, data packets are sequentially transmitted from the Web server 140 to the PLC adapter 50 via the router 120. The Ethernet communication unit 55 b of the PLC adapter 50 passes the received packet to the bridge unit 58. As described above, the bridge unit 58 compares the Ethernet address of the PC 110 included in the data packet with the bridge table, and derives the address of the PLC adapter 80 as a destination. The bridge unit 58 adds a PLC header including the destination PLC address to the packet and passes the packet to the QoS control unit 54.

  The QoS control unit 54 does not set a new Classify rule because QoS setting is not performed. Therefore, a data packet is transmitted and normal data transmission is performed in a period in which no transmission right is given to any PLC adapter.

  The setting of the QoS type in the PLC adapters 60, 70, 80 may be executed by the same user or may be executed by different users. However, when different users execute the setting, it is assumed that an agreement is obtained in advance between which PLC adapter is given high priority.

<Subsequent data transmission in each communication device>
Although not shown in FIG. 9, once the data transmission is started, the transmission of the data packet from the PLC adapter 50 to the PLC adapter 80 is performed by other packets (data transmission request packet, QoS setting request packet, other PLCs). This is performed intermittently between transmissions of data packets addressed to the adapters 60 and 70.

  Therefore, after data transmission to each of the PLC adapters 60, 70, 80 is started, the PLC adapter 50 performs data transmission to each of the PLC adapters 60, 70, 80 in parallel. The PLC adapter 50 determines a bandwidth allocation schedule for data transmission to the PLC adapters 60, 70, and 80, and performs packet transmission according to the schedule.

  An example of a specific schedule is shown in FIG. In this example, the period for transmitting the HD video content to the PLC adapter 60, the period for transmitting the SD video content to the PLC adapter 70, and the period for other transmissions are set as one set schedule period. Allocation is performed by repeating.

  The schedule period and the transmission period given to each PLC adapter 60, 70, 80 are calculated and determined so as to satisfy the QoS parameters requested during the QoS setting process.

  The PLC adapter 60 and the PLC adapter 70 are provided with a dedicated transmission period, and during this period, other PLC adapters cannot perform transmission, so that the bandwidth of the size as planned can be exclusively used. . That is, QoS is guaranteed.

  On the other hand, since the QoS setting process is not performed for the PLC adapter 80, a transmission period is not provided, and transmission is performed in the “other transmission” period. During this period, since the PLC adapters 60 and 70 other than the PLC adapter 80 can also perform communication, QoS is not guaranteed.

[Third Embodiment]
In the third embodiment, the user designates the type of content received by each PLC adapter as the QoS type for the content-receiving PLC adapter, and the entire network is QoS controlled by Parameterized QoS accordingly. The flow will be described. The overall processing flow is shown in FIG.

<About network configuration>
FIG. 12 shows a network configuration of the present embodiment. The parameterized QoS master station 50 exists separately from the content data transmitting station 60 and the receiving stations 70 and 80, and the device connected to the PLC adapter 50 on the content transmitting side is not the router 120 but the hard disk. The difference is that it is a recorder 170.

  The basic flow of QoS control is the same as that of the second embodiment. In the second embodiment, the QoS setting request packet is transmitted by the PLC adapter 60 on the content receiving side. In the embodiment, the greatest difference is that the QoS setting request packet is transmitted by the PLC adapter 60 on the content transmission side.

  In this embodiment, Parameterized QoS is used. In Parameterized QoS, there is one master station in the network, and that station manages the QoS of the entire network.

  In the present embodiment, the PLC adapter 50 has a master station function, but the present invention is not limited to this, and other PLC adapters 60, 70, and 80 may have a master station function.

  In response to a request from the TV receivers 150 and 160, the hard disk recorder 170 outputs HD video content and SD video content data via Ethernet. The content to be output is assumed to be received and recorded in advance by radio wave broadcasting or Internet broadcasting. However, it is conceivable that the hard disk recorder 170 is connected to the Internet and streaming data received from the Internet is transferred.

  In either case, the content is encoded and output as digital data such as MPEG. The output data is transmitted to the TV receivers 150 and 160 via the content transmitting side and receiving side PLC adapters. The TV receivers 150 and 160 decode and display the digital data. The TV receivers 150 and 160 are not configured assuming QoS data transmission, and cannot instruct the PLC adapters 70 and 80 to perform QoS setting in the PLC network.

  In other words, in the present embodiment, the TV adapter 150, which is an Ethernet terminal in which the PLC adapter 70, 80, which is a communication device that relays the PLC network and Ethernet, cannot issue a QoS setting instruction to the PLC adapter 70, 80. In place of 160, the QoS setting is made for the flow received by the TV receiver 150/160.

  In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the TV receiver 150 receives HD video content from the hard disk recorder 170 and the TV receiver 160 receives SD video from the hard disk recorder 170. The TV receivers 150 and 160 may be used by different users or may be used by one user.

  Hereinafter, a procedure until HD video content is QoS-transmitted from the hard disk recorder 170 to the TV receiver 150 will be described.

<PLC adapter configuration>
The configurations of the PLC adapters 50, 60, 70, and 80 are the same as those in the second embodiment, and thus description thereof is omitted.

<About QoS type acceptance processing>
A TV receiver 150 is connected to the PLC adapter 70, and the user intends to receive HD video content at the TV receiver 150. Therefore, the user designates “HD video” in the QoS type reception unit 71 of the PLC adapter 70. The configuration of the QoS type reception unit 71 is the same as that of the second embodiment. Here, a slide-type changeover switch as shown in FIG. 8 is set to a position indicating “HD video”.

  Alternatively, the TV receiver 150 connected to the content-receiving PLC adapter 70 via Ethernet may be configured to specify the QoS type. Details will be described later.

  Here, as in the second embodiment, the state presentation unit 76 may present to the user that a series of QoS setting processes has been started.

<About bridge information acquisition processing>
The bridge information acquisition process is the same as the process in the second embodiment.

  The content transmitting PLC adapter 60 transmits a bridge information request packet to the PLC adapter 70 in order to obtain an Ethernet address of the TV receiver 150 connected to the content receiving PLC adapter 70 via Ethernet.

  The PLC adapter 70 returns a bridge information notification packet including the Ethernet address of the TV receiver 150 connected via the Ethernet communication unit 75b of the local station. Since the TV receiver 150 is connected to the PLC adapter 70, the Ethernet address of the TV receiver 150 is included in the bridge information notification packet.

<Received data determination process>
The reception data determination process is the same as the process in the second embodiment.

  The data received by the TV receiver 150 is determined at an arbitrary timing after the QoS type is set. The hard disk recorder 170 notifies the TV receiver 150 of a list of contents that it has, and the TV receiver 150 presents the content list to the user, and the user receives the desired content from the displayed list. Select by operating the remote control attached to the.

<About QoS type notification processing>
The QoS type notification process is a process that is not performed in the second embodiment.

  In the second embodiment, the QoS type is received from the user and the QoS setting process is performed by the PLC adapter 60, 70, 80 on the content reception side. There was no need to notify the PLC adapter 50 of the QoS type.

  However, in the present embodiment, the QoS type is received by the PLC adapter 70/80 on the content receiving side, and the QoS setting processing is performed by the PLC adapter 60 on the content transmitting side. It is necessary to notify the PLC adapter 60 of the QoS type designated by the user or the like.

  The QoS type management unit 62 of the PLC adapter 60 creates a QoS type request packet addressed to the PLC adapter 70 and sends it to the PLC communication unit 65a. The PLC communication unit 65 a transmits a QoS type request packet to the PLC adapter 70.

  Upon receiving this packet, the PLC communication unit 75a of the PLC adapter 70 sends the packet to the QoS type management unit 72. The QoS type management unit 72 acquires the QoS type received from the QoS type reception unit 71, creates a QoS type notification packet including the QoS type, and sends the QoS type notification packet to the PLC communication unit 75a.

  That is, the QoS type management unit (QoS type notification unit) 72 notifies the PLC adapter 60 of the QoS type received by the QoS type reception unit 71.

  Here, as information to be included in the QoS type notification packet, a numerical value that can uniquely identify the setting state of the switch that is the QoS type reception unit 71 is determined in advance (for example, “0” for “OFF”, “SD” It is conceivable to include this numerical value in the packet if it is “1” for “video”, “2” for “HD video”, etc.

  The PLC communication unit 75 a transmits a packet to the PLC adapter 60. When receiving the QoS type notification packet, the PLC communication unit 65a of the PLC adapter 60 sends the QoS type notification packet to the QoS type management unit 62.

  The QoS type notification packet may include QoS type set information indicating what information is used as the QoS type. For example, if the QoS type is a category of “OFF”, “SD video”, and “HD video”, the QoS type set information is set to a value of “0”, and if the QoS type is a category of “video”, “audio”, and “other”, It is conceivable to set the QoS type set information to a value “1”.

  When all communication devices know the correspondence between the value of the QoS type set information and its meaning in advance, for example, the QoS type set information is set to “0”, the QoS type is set to “1”, and included in the QoS type notification packet. In this case, the communication apparatus that has received the QoS type notification packet can know that the QoS type is set to “SD video” in the communication apparatus that has transmitted the QoS type notification packet. Therefore, communication devices using different QoS types can be mixed in one network.

  Note that the timing at which the content transmission side PLC adapter 60 transmits the QoS type request packet to the content reception side PLC adapter 70 may be after the data transmission destination is determined, that is, after the data transmission request packet is received.

  Further, the PLC adapter 60 on the content transmission side may transmit the QoS type request packet to all the PLC adapters existing in the PLC network. In this case, for example, it is conceivable that the PLC adapter 60 on the content transmission side transmits a QoS type request packet to all the PLC adapters when it detects participation of another PLC adapter in the PLC network.

  Further, when the content-receiving PLC adapters 70 and 80 participate in the PLC network, the QoS type notification packet may be voluntarily transmitted to other PLC adapters. In this case, it is also possible to transmit the data to a plurality of PLC adapters collectively using multicast or broadcast instead of individually transmitting by unicast.

<About QoS control information conversion processing>
The QoS control information conversion process is different from the process in the second embodiment.

  The QoS type management unit 62 determines a QoS parameter to be notified to the PLC adapter 50 serving as a master station based on the QoS type notified from the PLC adapter 70 in the QoS type notification packet.

  In the present embodiment, since the “HD video” is notified as the QoS type by the QoS type notification packet from the PLC adapter 70, the QoS type management unit 62 seems to ensure the QoS suitable for HD video transmission. Create QoS parameters.

  As a specific QoS parameter creation method, a bridge table may be used as in the second embodiment. The QoS parameters created here are used later in the QoS setting process.

  Note that the QoS control information conversion process may be performed in the PLC adapter 70 on the content receiving side. In this case, the QoS type management unit 72 of the PLC adapter 70 that has received the QoS control information request packet from the PLC adapter 60 creates a QoS parameter from the QoS type obtained from the QoS type reception unit 71, and uses the QoS parameter itself as the QoS control information. It is included in the notification packet and notified to the PLC adapter 50. The QoS type management unit 52 of the PLC adapter 50 only needs to store the notified QoS parameters, and does not need to perform QoS control information conversion processing.

  That is, the QoS type management unit (QoS control information notification unit) 72 may notify the PLC adapter 60 of the QoS control information.

<Data transmission request processing>
The data transmission request process is the same as the process in the second embodiment.

  The TV receiver 150 creates a data transmission request packet and transmits it to the hard disk recorder 170. This data transmission request packet includes information for identifying the previously selected content.

  In the above description, the method for selecting content between the hard disk recorder 170 and the TV receiver 150 is not related to the essence of the present invention and will not be described, but is defined by the DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance). It is conceivable to use one that complies with the guidelines.

<About trigger detection processing>
The trigger detection process is the same as the process in the second embodiment.

  When the hard disk recorder 170 receives the data transmission request packet, the hard disk recorder 170 starts transmitting the content designated there. The stored content data is packetized, destination address information is added, and the data is sequentially transmitted to the PLC adapter 60 via Ethernet.

  The Ethernet communication unit 65 b of the PLC adapter 60 passes the received data packet to the bridge unit 68. Since this data packet is a packet for transmitting video content transmitted from the hard disk recorder 170 to the TV receiver 150, the destination includes the Ethernet address of the TV receiver 150. The bridge unit 68 compares the Ethernet address of the TV receiver 150 included in the data packet with the bridge table for the received data packet, derives the address of the PLC adapter 70 as the destination, and includes the destination address in the data packet. After adding the PLC header, it is sent to the QoS control unit 64.

  At this time, since the QoS setting has not been completed for this data packet, the QoS control unit 64 does nothing and passes it to the PLC communication unit 65a as a normal data packet. The PLC communication unit 65 a transmits the data packet to the PLC adapter 70.

<Starting time of QoS setting process>
The data packet received by the PLC communication unit 75 a of the PLC adapter 70 is sent to the trigger detection unit 79 via the bridge unit 78. Thereby, the trigger detection unit 79 determines that the QoS setting process is necessary because the data transmission is started. Various determination methods may be used as in the second embodiment.

<About trigger detection notification processing>
The trigger detection notification process is a process that is not performed in the second embodiment.

  In this embodiment, the QoS setting process is started by the PLC adapter 60 on the content transmission side, and the trigger detection is performed by the PLC adapter 70 on the content reception side. To the PLC adapter 60.

  In the trigger detection process, when the trigger detection unit 79 determines that the QoS setting process is necessary, the trigger detection unit 79 creates a trigger detection notification packet and transmits it to the PLC adapter 60. The trigger detection notification packet includes its own PLC address.

  Note that transmission of the QoS type notification packet may be omitted and the trigger detection notification packet including the QoS type may be transmitted. Since the QoS type is required in the PLC adapter 60 on the content transmission side when the QoS setting request packet is transmitted, there is no problem even if notification is made when the trigger detection process is completed.

  In addition, when the QoS type management unit 70 transmits the trigger detection notification packet created by the trigger detection unit 79 to the partner station for data communication, the flow identification detected by the trigger detection unit 79 in the trigger detection notification packet is transmitted. Information may be included.

<About the QoS setting process>
Unlike the second embodiment, in this embodiment, a QoS setting request packet is transmitted from the PLC adapter 60 on the content transmission side.

  When the QoS type management unit 62 of the PLC adapter 60 on the content transmission side receives the trigger detection notification packet and finds that QoS setting is necessary, it first asks the communication partner PLC adapter 70 whether or not connection is possible. Above, the QoS setting process for the master station 50 is executed. In this embodiment, a connection request packet is transmitted to the PLC adapter 70 on the content receiving side, and a QoS setting request packet is transmitted to the PLC adapter 50 which is a master station.

  The QoS type management unit 62 of the PLC adapter 60 creates a connection request packet including the QoS parameters stored during the QoS control information conversion process, and transmits the connection request packet to the PLC adapter 70 on the content receiving side.

  The QoS type management unit 72 of the PLC adapter 70 determines whether data transmission is possible from information included in the connection request packet. If the data cannot be received due to the limitation of the reception buffer in the PLC adapter 70, the request may not be accepted.

  The QoS type management unit 72 creates a connection notification packet including information (Result Code) indicating whether or not a data transmission request can be accepted, and transmits the packet to the PLC adapter 60. The QoS type management unit 62 of the PLC adapter 60 knows whether the data transmission request has been accepted from the Result Code included in the packet.

  At this time, if the Result Code is information indicating acceptance rejection, the QoS setting process is stopped, and the status presenting unit 66 presents to the user that the QoS request has not been satisfied, as will be described later.

  When the Result Code indicates that it can be accepted, the QoS type management unit 62 creates a QoS setting request packet including the same QoS parameter as that included in the connection request packet, and transmits the QoS setting request packet to the PLC adapter 50.

  That is, the QoS type management unit (QoS setting control means) 62 transmits a QoS setting request including QoS control information to the PLC adapter 50 which is a communication device that performs QoS control of the network.

  The QoS control unit 54 of the PLC adapter 50 determines whether the request can be accepted based on the QoS parameter included in the QoS setting request packet. A specific determination method is the same as in the second embodiment. Here, it is assumed that the bandwidth allocation request is accepted.

  Further, the QoS control unit 54 assigns a GLID for uniquely identifying the flow within the PLC network, and performs scheduling of bandwidth allocation for the GLID based on the QoS parameter. The specific method is the same as in the second embodiment. The QoS control unit 54 creates a QoS setting notification packet including information (Result Code) indicating whether or not the QoS request can be accepted and a GLID, and sends it to both the PLC adapter 60 on the content transmission side and the PLC adapter 70 on the content reception side. Send.

  That is, the QoS control unit (control unit) 54 performs QoS control by transmitting a QoS control content notification for notifying the content of QoS control to another communication apparatus. The QoS type management unit (QoS setting control unit) 51 outputs the QoS control information to the QoS control unit 54, and the QoS control unit 54 performs QoS control on the content data based on the QoS control information.

  Note that the QoS setting request may be made without performing the connection process to the PLC adapter 60 on the content transmission side.

  The trigger detection process may be executed not by the content receiving side PLC adapter 70 but by the content transmitting side PLC adapter 60. In this case, there is no need to transmit a trigger detection notification packet, and when the PLC adapter 60 detects a trigger, the PLC adapter 60 creates a QoS setting request packet based on a previously stored QoS parameter and transmits it to the PLC adapter 50. The PLC adapter 50 transmits the QoS setting notification packet to the PLC adapter 60 and the PLC adapter 70 in this case as well.

<About the case where one PLC adapter receives data packets from a plurality of PLC adapters>
Processing when one receiving side PLC adapter (receiving station) receives data packets from a plurality of transmitting side PLC adapters (transmitting stations) will be described below.

  In this case, all the sending PLC adapters need to know the QoS type in the receiving PLC adapter.

  When each transmitting station transmits a QoS type request packet to the receiving station, if the receiving station is configured to return a QoS type notification packet to the transmitting station, each PLC adapter is connected to another network existing in the network. A QoS type request packet is transmitted to all the PLC adapters. The PLC adapter that has received this returns the QoS type information, so that the PLC adapter on the transmission side can know the QoS type in the PLC adapter on the reception side.

  When the receiving station is configured to voluntarily send the QoS type notification packet to the transmitting station, each PLC adapter transmits the QoS type notification packet to all other PLC adapters existing in the network. This QoS type notification packet may be transmitted periodically, or may be transmitted whenever the designation of the QoS type is changed. At this time, the QoS type notification packet may be transmitted to each transmitting station by broadcast. Thereby, the QoS type can be notified to a plurality of PLC adapters by one transmission.

  The transmitting-side PLC adapter may perform the same QoS setting as when the transmitting station and the receiving station have a one-to-one relationship based on the received QoS type.

<Regarding the control process of the state presentation unit>
In the present embodiment, it is the PLC adapter 60 on the content transmission side that makes the QoS setting request. The result of the QoS setting is also notified to the receiving side PLC adapter 70 by the QoS setting notification packet. The result notified at this time is set based on the QoS type specified in the PLC adapter 70. The PLC adapter 70 cannot determine whether or not.

  For example, when the PLC adapter 70 on the receiving side spontaneously performs QoS setting with the PLC adapter 60 by some other mechanism, the PLC adapter 70 receives a plurality of QoS setting notification packets. Therefore, the PLC adapter 70 cannot determine which QoS setting notification packet indicates the GLID set based on the QoS type designation in the PLC adapter 70.

  Therefore, the PLC adapter 60 controls the state presentation unit 76 of the PLC adapter 70 using the state presentation unit control packet.

  In the flow chart shown in FIG. 13, the QoS setting notification packet is transmitted from the master station 50 to the PLC adapter 60 on the content transmission side and the PLC adapter 70 on the content reception side. However, when the QoS setting is not accepted in the PLC adapter 50 and the process fails, the QoS setting notification packet is not transmitted to the PLC adapter 70.

  Therefore, also in this case, the PLC adapter 60 needs to transmit the status presentation unit control packet in order to present the QoS setting failure to the user in the PLC adapter 70 on the content receiving side.

  The QoS type management unit 62 of the PLC adapter 60 knows whether or not a QoS setting request has been accepted from the QoS setting notification packet. The QoS type management unit 62 generates control information for controlling the state presentation unit 66 corresponding to the Result Code included in the QoS setting notification packet, generates a state presentation unit control packet including the control information, The data is sent to the PLC communication unit 65a. The PLC communication unit 65 a transmits this packet to the PLC adapter 70.

  When the PLC communication unit 75a of the PLC adapter 70 receives the packet, it notifies the QoS type management unit 72 of the packet. The QoS type management unit 72 controls the state presentation unit 76 to indicate to the user that the request has been accepted. The specific control method is the same as that of the second embodiment, and the control information defines values for turning on the LED, blinking the LED, and turning off the LED, respectively. It is conceivable that the value is included in the state presentation unit control packet and transmitted.

  When the PLC adapter 60 on the transmission side transmits the state presentation unit control packet to turn on the LED and then the power to the PLC adapter 60 is turned off without turning off the LED, the reception side Although the PLC adapter 70 does not perform QoS data transmission, the LED remains on.

  In order to prevent such a situation, the PLC adapter 60 preferably includes information indicating the timeout time in the state presentation unit control packet. The time-out time is a time indicating the limit of the time during which the receiving side PLC adapter 70 continues to wait for the reception of the state presentation unit control packet.

  If the timeout time is, for example, 10 seconds, the QoS type management unit 62 of the PLC adapter 60 transmits a state presentation unit control packet to the PLC adapter 70 at intervals shorter than 10 seconds. If the QoS type management unit 72 of the PLC adapter 70 does not perform the QoS control for the data received by the own device when 10 seconds or more have elapsed since the last reception of the state presentation unit control packet. It determines, and LED as the state presentation part 76 is made into a light extinction state (state which shows that the QoS setting for the own apparatus is not made). Such processing can solve the above problem. When realizing the above configuration, it is preferable that the PLC adapter 60 includes a timer unit for measuring the timeout time.

<Reception of a state presentation unit control packet when one PLC adapter receives data packets from a plurality of PLC adapters>
When the receiving-side PLC adapter 70 receives QoS transmission data in accordance with the QoS type designation from a plurality of transmitting-side PLC adapters, it receives a plurality of state presentation unit control packets. In this case, the state is managed for each PLC adapter of each transmission source, and the LED is turned on only when all the transmission side PLC adapters are instructed to turn on the LED, and the LED is blinked. If there is at least one PLC adapter on the transmission side, the LED may blink, and the LED may be turned off only when all the transmitting stations are instructed to turn off the LED.

<About QoS data transmission>
Thereafter, data packets are sequentially transmitted from the hard disk recorder 170 to the PLC adapter 60 via the Ethernet. The method by which the bridge unit 68 of the PLC adapter 60 relays Ethernet-PLC communication is the same as in the second embodiment.

  That is, the bridge unit 68 of the PLC adapter 60 collates the bridge table with the destination Ethernet address of the data packet, derives the PLC address of the PLC adapter 70 as the destination address of the packet, attaches a PLC header, and gives the QoS control unit 64. To pass.

  The bridge information is used in the same manner as in the second embodiment instead of acquiring the flow identification information by exchanging packets in the upper layer. That is, the Ethernet address of the TV receiver 150 is compared with the bridge table, the PLC address of the PLC adapter 70 is derived, and the GLID notified by the QoS setting notification packet is derived from the PLC address of the PLC adapter 70.

  As a result, when the Ethernet address of the TV receiver 150 is included in the data packet as a destination, a Classify rule for deriving the GLID notified by the QoS setting notification packet can be created. Classify rules are set in the QoS control unit 64 in advance.

  When the PLC adapter 60 finally receives a data packet from the hard disk recorder 170 and the destination is the TV receiver 150, the GLID of the flow to which the packet belongs is derived according to the Classify rule.

  In the second embodiment, since the master station and the PLC adapter that transmits data are the same, the PLC adapter 50 on the content transmission side does not need to refer to the beacon packet, but in this embodiment, Unlike this, since the master station 50 and the PLC adapter 60 that transmits data are different, the PLC adapter 60 refers to the beacon packet transmitted by the master station 50 and transmits the data packet.

  The PLC adapter 60 derives the GLID of the data packet according to the previous Classify rule, and when receiving the beacon packet that matches the GLID, the PLC adapter 60 transmits the data packet in the period indicated by the transmission right grant start time and the transmission right grant end time. Send. Actually, the data packet is buffered in the QoS controller 64 of the PLC adapter 60 until the transmission right grant start time is reached.

<About QoS release processing>
The QoS release process in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the flow of QoS release processing in the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 14, when the trigger detection unit 79 of the PLC adapter 70 on the receiving side detects that the QoS setting is no longer necessary, the QoS type management unit 72 receives the detection result and cancels the QoS setting. A QoS cancellation request packet for requesting to be transmitted is transmitted to the PLC adapter 50 serving as a master station via the PLC communication unit 75a. This QoS cancellation request packet includes the address of the PLC adapter 70 that is the transmission source and the address of the PLC adapter 50 that is the transmission destination.

  That is, the trigger detection unit 79 detects the timing for performing the QoS release process on the received data by analyzing the reception history regarding the received data. The QoS type management unit (QoS setting control unit) 72 performs QoS release processing at the timing detected by the trigger detection unit 79.

  Note that when the QoS type input to the PLC adapter 70 indicates that the QoS control is to be turned off, the QoS release process may be performed. That is, when the QoS type acquired by the QoS type accepting unit 71 indicates that QoS control is not required, the QoS type management unit 72 sends the information to the PLC adapter 50 that is a communication device that performs QoS control of the network. On the other hand, a QoS release request for releasing the QoS control is transmitted.

  As a method for detecting that the QoS setting is no longer necessary, the trigger detection unit 79 may detect, for example, that the rate of receiving data packets in the PLC adapter 70 is equal to or less than a threshold value. Details will be described later.

  When receiving the QoS cancellation request packet via the PLC communication unit 55a, the QoS type management unit 52 of the PLC adapter 50 sets the data received by the PLC adapter 70 indicated by the address included in the QoS cancellation request packet. A command to cancel the QoS setting that has been made is output to the QoS control unit 54. Further, the QoS type management unit 52 sends a QoS cancellation notification packet for notifying that the QoS setting set for the data received by the PLC adapter 70 has been canceled, to the PLC adapter 70 and the data via the PLC communication unit 55a. Transmit to the PLC adapter 60 on the transmission side.

  The QoS type management unit 62 of the PLC adapter 60 on the transmission side knows whether or not the QoS setting request has been accepted from the QoS setting notification packet. As in the case of generating a state presentation unit control packet including control information for controlling the state presentation unit 66 corresponding to the Result Code included in the QoS setting notification packet, the QoS type management unit 62 performs QoS cancellation notification. A state presentation unit control packet including control information for controlling the state presentation unit 66 corresponding to the Result Code included in the packet is generated. Then, the QoS type management unit 62 includes the information indicating the timeout time in the status presentation unit control packet, and transmits the status presentation unit control packet to the PLC adapter 70 at an interval shorter than the timeout time.

  Further, when the receiving PLC adapter 70 receives the QoS cancellation notification packet, the QoS type management unit 72 of the PLC adapter 70 notifies the user via the status presentation unit 76 that the QoS has been canceled. Good.

  Note that the PLC adapter 70 may transmit a trigger detection notification packet to the PLC adapter 60, and the PLC adapter 60 may transmit a QoS release request packet to the PLC adapter 50. When the QoS control information conversion process is performed in the PLC adapter 70 on the content receiving side, the QoS type management unit (QoS control information requesting means) 62 receives the QoS control information acquired from the PLC adapter 70 by the PLC adapter 70. If it is indicated that the QoS control for the data to be performed is unnecessary, the QoS release processing for the data is performed. In addition, when the QoS type received by the QoS type receiving unit 71 indicates that the QoS control for the data received by the PLC adapter 70 is unnecessary, the QoS type managing unit (QoS control information notifying unit) 72. Notifies the PLC adapter 60 of the QoS control information including the information to that effect.

  Further, the QoS release process may be performed in the PLC adapter 50 which is the master station. That is, the PLC adapter 50 includes a QoS control unit (control unit) 54 that performs QoS control, and the QoS type management unit 52 stops the QoS control for data to be transmitted to the PLC adapter on the receiving side. When the QoS control unit 54 receives the notification, the QoS control unit 54 stops the QoS control for the data.

<About processing in the PLC adapter 80>
In the PLC adapter 80, the same processing as that of the PLC adapter 70 is executed.

  The difference from the PLC adapter 70 is that “SD video” is designated in the QoS type reception unit 81, and a QoS parameter is created so that QoS suitable for transmission of SD video is ensured in the QoS control information conversion processing. Since only the differences are described, a detailed description is omitted.

  The QoS type setting in the PLC adapter 70 and the PLC adapter 80 may be executed by the same user or may be executed by different users. When another user executes, it is assumed that there is an agreement between users regarding what kind of QoS setting is performed in each PLC adapter.

<Supplementary explanation common to each embodiment>
Supplementary explanation common to the embodiments will be described below.

<About QoS release timing>
In order to effectively use the transmission band of the network, it is desirable to release the band by performing a QoS release process after data transmission requiring QoS is completed. As a result of this release processing, the allocated bandwidth is unused while QoS data transmission is not performed, so that the bandwidth can be used for other flows, and the bandwidth utilization efficiency of the entire network is improved.

  For the determination of the timing for performing the QoS release process, a determination method opposite to that in the QoS setting process may be used. That is, it is conceivable to perform the QoS release process when the PLC adapters 60, 70, and 80 no longer receive data.

  For example, it is conceivable to perform the QoS release processing when a certain time has elapsed after the PLC adapters 60, 70, and 80 no longer receive data packets. However, depending on the bandwidth allocation schedule in the above-mentioned PLC network, the packet transmission interval may be changed even during the content data transmission so that the QoS release process is not mistakenly performed when determining the elapse of a certain time. It is necessary to consider the case of opening.

  Therefore, for example, it is desirable to determine using a relatively long time such as about 1 minute.

  As in the case of QoS setting, it is also possible to perform QoS release processing when a state in which a packet that is highly likely to be real-time data is not received, such as a UDP packet, continues for a certain period.

<When QoS type is changed during data transmission>
If the QoS type is changed while the QoS setting process is completed and QoS data transmission is being executed, the same process as that performed when the QoS setting was performed first may be repeated.

  In this case, when the QoS setting process is performed for the master station, in the case of the flow in which the QoS setting has already been performed, the band already acquired is not changed by the QoS setting process, but the band already acquired is changed. Therefore, the master station changes the originally reserved bandwidth according to the newly requested QoS parameter.

  At this time, if the request after the change requires a larger bandwidth than before the change, that is, if it is a request for expanding the bandwidth, the bandwidth has already been allocated for other flows. May not be enlarged.

  In such a case, the status presentation units 56, 66, 76, and 86 indicate to the user that the QoS request is not satisfied, so the user can consider returning the QoS type to the original.

  In such a case, if the original bandwidth is released, the bandwidth that was originally secured may be acquired for transmission of another flow. In this case, the user may change the QoS type. Even if it is restored, the acquired bandwidth will not be restored. In order to prevent such a situation, it is desirable not to release the originally reserved bandwidth even if a bandwidth change request is made.

  Also, assuming that the user has accidentally operated the switch, it is conceivable that the QoS setting process is performed after a certain time has elapsed after the switch is switched. If the user accidentally changes the switch, the user can immediately return the switch to its original state.

  When QoS setting processing is performed, depending on the implementation of the master station, the bandwidth may be temporarily released, or internal processing may be delayed and data transmission may be delayed. In such a case, video and audio are disturbed. Will occur. Therefore, it is desirable that the QoS setting process is not performed wastefully.

  Do not perform the QoS setting process if the QoS setting process is performed after a certain period of time has elapsed since the switch was switched, and if the switch is changed and then returned to the original setting. In this case, when the user mistakenly switches the switch and immediately restores it, the QoS setting process is not performed, and it is possible to avoid the data transmission from being delayed.

  That is, the QoS type accepting unit has a predetermined time since the last QoS type was accepted, and a QoS type different from the QoS type designated when the QoS type was last accepted is designated. Only in this case, the QoS type may be accepted.

  Also, until the switch setting is changed and the QoS setting is started, the state presenting units 56, 66, 76, and 86 may be set to a different state from that during normal QoS data transmission. Specifically, it is possible to change the emission color of the LED. As a result, if the switch is changed unintentionally by the user, the LED emits light in a color different from the normal color, so that it is easy to recognize that the switch setting has been changed. A user who recognizes that the switch setting has been changed unintentionally is likely to perform an operation of immediately returning the switch to the original state, and thus the above problem can be avoided.

  Similarly to the time when a series of processes are being performed for QoS setting, it may be displayed by the LED emission color, numbers, or progress bar how long the process will start.

  The above-described configuration for performing QoS setting processing after a certain time has elapsed after switch switching may be applied when the bandwidth is changed, or may be applied when the bandwidth is released. The present invention may be applied to one embodiment (that is, when priority control is performed). When this configuration is applied to the first embodiment, an effect that generation of unnecessary traffic can be suppressed is obtained.

  The fixed time after switching the switch is generally a time required for the user to notice an error and restore the switch, and is, for example, 2 to 5 seconds. The fixed time is not particularly limited and may be set as appropriate.

  It is also preferable to notify the user that the switch has been switched. For example, when the QoS type reception unit 61 receives the QoS type, the QoS type management unit 62 may notify the user of the received QoS type or the received QoS type via the status presentation unit 66. . Alternatively, the QoS type management unit 62 transmits reception information indicating that the QoS type reception unit 61 has received the QoS type or the received QoS type to the STB 90 via the Ethernet communication unit 65b, and the STB 90 receives the reception information. Alternatively, the QoS type may be displayed on a display device connected to the own device.

  That is, the QoS type management unit 62 is communicably connected to its own device such as a status display unit 66, a display device (not shown) or a speaker (not shown) provided in the PLC adapter 60, and a TV monitor connected to the STB 90. The user is notified through the notification device (notification means) that the QoS type has been accepted.

  Such notification of the QoS type may be performed every time the QoS type reception unit 61 receives the QoS type, or the QoS type (second QoS type) received by the QoS type reception unit 61 was received last time. It may be performed only when different from the QoS type (first QoS type).

  As described above, when the QoS type accepting unit 61 accepts the QoS type, the QoS type managing unit 62 informs the user that the QoS type has been accepted via the notification device connected to be communicable with the own device. Inform.

<Example of changing Ethernet device connected to PLC adapter>
The Ethernet device connected to the PLC adapter that is a slave station may be a telephone, a recording device, an image playback device, or a device (for example, STB) that receives a paid service. In addition, the names of these Ethernet devices are displayed as switch options for selecting the QoS type, and when these QoS types are selected, the priority and QoS parameters suitable for the data received by the Ethernet device are set as QoS. It may be used in the setting process. By providing such a display, a QoS type preferable for the Ethernet device used by the user can be easily set.

<When there are multiple PLCs on the content transmission side>
In the second and third embodiments, the case where only one PLC adapter 50 exists on the content transmission side has been described. However, the present invention can also be applied to the case where there are a plurality of PLC adapters on the content transmission side. is there. The PLC adapter 50 serving as a master station manages the bandwidth of the entire PLC network, and also manages the bandwidth of flows that are not transmitted from the PLC adapter 50. When the master station allocates a bandwidth to a PLC adapter other than its own station, the master station transmits a beacon packet to all the slave stations. Since the GLID is included in the beacon packet, it is possible to know the flow to which the current bandwidth is assigned. Therefore, even when a plurality of PLC adapters transmit content, there is no need to perform special processing.

<When the content receiving PLC adapter receives a plurality of flows>
In the second and third embodiments, it is assumed that only one device is connected to the Ethernet side of the PLC adapters 60, 70, and 80 on the content receiving side, and only one flow is transmitted. .

  However, when one device connected to the Ethernet side receives a plurality of flows simultaneously, or when a plurality of devices are connected to the Ethernet side and each device receives a different flow, the PLC adapter 60. A plurality of flows are received at 70 and 80.

  In the second and third embodiments, the flow is identified by the Classify rule created from the bridge information. When a plurality of devices are connected to the content receiving side PLC adapter via Ethernet, the Ethernet addresses of all the devices are included in the bridge information.

  Therefore, as a final Classify rule, packets addressed to the Ethernet addresses of all devices connected to the PLC adapter on the content receiving side are distributed to the same GLID. That is, one flow is assigned to all devices connected to the PLC adapter on the content receiving side. Therefore, only one QoS type reception unit is sufficient.

  Unlike the second and third embodiments, when the flow identification information is exchanged in the upper layer, it can be identified from the IP address and port number information. Even when flows are received, they can be distinguished. That is, it is possible to distinguish a flow for each device connected to the PLC adapter and execute QoS setting for each of the devices. If the trigger detection unit 69, 79, 89 makes a determination to start QoS setting for a flow that has not been set with QoS among the identified flows, the flow is received. QoS settings for all flows can be performed.

  In this case, it is conceivable that only one QoS type accepting unit 61, 71, 81 is provided for the PLC adapter, and the QoS parameter corresponding to the QoS type designated there is applied to all the flows.

  It is also conceivable to provide a plurality of QoS type accepting units 61, 71, 81 and perform QoS setting using different QoS parameters. In such a case, it is necessary to select a target to which the QoS type designated by the QoS type accepting units 61, 71, 81 is applied.

  For example, when three QoS type reception units 61, 71, 81 are provided in one PLC adapter and four flows are received, it is necessary to select any three flows. In such a case, it is possible to select the target flow in the order in which reception started, or to configure the PLC adapter so that the user can select which flow to apply, and only the selected flow. It is conceivable to target only a flow designated by a device connected to the Ethernet side of the PLC adapter, or only a flow having predetermined flow identification information.

  In addition, a plurality of Ethernet connection terminals are provided in the PLC adapters 60, 70, and 80 so that a user can distinguish between a QoS communication terminal and a normal communication terminal, and a device connected to the QoS communication terminal is connected. It is conceivable to perform QoS setting only for the flow.

  However, if multiple devices are connected to the QoS communication terminal via an Ethernet hub, it will be the same as when multiple devices are connected, so only one device is connected to the QoS communication terminal. It may be possible to inform the user of the connection by describing it in a manual or the like.

<About the case where there is a PLC adapter not implementing the present invention>
If a PLC adapter that does not implement the present invention exists in the network and the PLC adapter transmits and receives content data, a QoS setting request packet is not transmitted for the flow transmitted and received by such a PLC adapter, The QoS setting is not performed in the PLC adapter 50 which is the master station.

  Therefore, the data packet transmitted from the content-side PLC adapter to the PLC adapter that does not implement the present invention does not match the Classify rule, and therefore, the GLID is not assigned and is transmitted as normal data.

  Note that, as described above, the packet may include information indicating the transmission priority, such as a ToS (Type of Service) field in the IPv4 header and a user priority field in the VLAN tag in the Ethernet header. is there. In that case, priority control is performed in the PLC adapter on the content transmission side according to the information indicating the priority for the PLC adapter not implementing the present invention or the PLC adapter in which “OFF” is specified as the QoS type. You can do it.

  However, transmission of packets including these transmission priorities can be performed only in the remaining band other than the band secured by the QoS setting process. Therefore, the amount of packets that can be transmitted varies depending on the amount of bandwidth secured by the QoS setting process. The transmission priority here is a relative transmission priority in the remaining band other than the QoS guaranteed band.

<About another method of Parameterized QoS>
In the second and third embodiments, as a parameterized QoS method, a method in which a master station grants a transmission right (referred to as an HCCA method in IEEE802.11e, which is a wireless LAN standard) has been described. May be used.

  For example, IEEE802.11e defines a method called EDCA with admission control. In this system, each slave station transmits a QoS parameter to the master station when QoS data transmission is desired. The master station accepts the request if it determines that the requested QoS can be secured, and rejects the request if it determines that the requested QoS cannot be secured.

  When the request is accepted, the slave station that has requested QoS is notified of the time (Medium Time) during which transmission is permitted. Each slave station is equally granted the right to transmit, but each time a slave station sends a packet, it subtracts the time used to transmit the packet from the Medium Time, and the slave station can transmit when the Medium Time reaches zero. Disappear. As a result, a slave station given a lot of Medium Time can allocate more bandwidth.

  Even when this method is used, since the QoS setting request packet itself transmitted to the master station is the same, the present invention can be implemented as it is.

<Prioritized QoS>
In the second and third embodiments, the method for realizing QoS by Parameterized QoS has been described. However, QoS may be realized by using Prioritized QoS.

  Specifically, it is conceivable to change the transmission priority of a packet in accordance with the QoS type designated by the QoS type accepting units 61, 71, 81.

  For example, the QoS type and flow identification information set in the content-receiving PLC adapters 60, 70, and 80 are notified to the content transmitting-side PLC adapter 50 using the QoS setting request packet. The QoS type information notified by the setting request packet is converted into the transmission priority of the packet. For conversion, a conversion table created in advance may be stored, and conversion may be performed based on the table at the time of conversion.

  When the content transmission side PLC adapter 50 receives the data packet from the router 120, the flow identification information obtained by analyzing the data packet and the flow identification information notified from the content reception side PLC adapter 60, 70, 80. And match. When the flow identification information matches, the data packet is transmitted according to the transmission priority notified from the PLC adapter 60, 70, 80 on the content receiving side.

  By such a method, it is possible to change the transmission priority of the packet according to the QoS type received by the QoS type receiving units 61, 71, 81.

<Other configuration examples of the QoS type reception unit>
In the second and third embodiments, the three-stage slide type changeover switch has been described as the QoS type receiving units 61, 71, 81. However, the QoS type receiving units 61, 71, 81 may have other configurations.

  The number of steps that can be switched may be any number, but if the number of selectable steps is increased too much, there is a problem that it becomes difficult for the user to understand.

  Note that the selection state of the switch is desirable if it can be visually confirmed by the user because the setting state is easier for the user to understand, but this is not essential. For example, only one push switch may be provided, and the QoS type information may be switched cyclically each time the switch is pressed. For example, every time the push switch is pressed, the QoS type information may be switched in the order of “HD video”, “SD video”, “OFF”, “HD video”.

  If the QoS of the reserved transmission band is not sufficient with respect to the bit rate of the content to be transmitted, the content receiving side PLC adapter results in video disturbance. Therefore, when disturbance occurs, the user may operate the switch, repeatedly try to change the priority setting, and end the switch operation when the content reproduction state is most improved.

  Further, a display device may be provided separately from the switch, and the state of the switch may be displayed on the display device. For example, it is conceivable to display the state of the switch on the liquid crystal screen. It is conceivable that this display device is shared with another device for displaying other states in the PLC adapter. For example, it is conceivable to switch the display of the QoS type on the display device each time the above push switch is pressed.

<Other examples of QoS types>
Categories other than those described above can be considered as the QoS type. For example, it may be a classification indicating the type of received data, such as “video”, “sound”, “other”.

  If the type of data such as video and audio is determined, the QoS parameters can be predicted to some extent. Therefore, parameters such as bandwidth allocation frequency, period, order, etc. may be held as a table or the like in the PLC adapter 60, 70, 80 on the content receiving side and specified by the QoS setting request packet. It is conceivable that the optimum value is calculated in advance by experiments or the like.

  Further, the classification of the QoS type may be a classification indicating the type of device connected to the Ethernet side of the PLC adapter 60/70/80, such as “TV”, “telephone”, “others”, and the like. In this category, the internal processing is the same as when “Video”, “Audio”, and “Other” are specified, but from the viewpoint of the setting user, the specification method of what to connect is easier to understand. .

  Further, the display screen size of a device (TV or the like) connected to the Ethernet side of the PLC adapter 60/70/80, such as “20 inch”, “37 inch”, “45 inch”, or the like may be used. A device with a larger display screen size is more likely to transmit a video with a larger bit rate, so it is conceivable to secure a larger bandwidth.

  Also, devices connected to the Ethernet side of the PLC adapters 60, 70, and 80, such as “1920 × 1080 (full-spec high-definition)”, “1366 × 768 (high-definition)”, “640 × 480 (non-high-definition)”, etc. (TV etc.) may be a category indicating the display resolution. A device with a higher display resolution is more likely to transmit a video with a larger bit rate, and thus it is conceivable to secure a larger band.

  Further, it may be a classification indicating the bit rate of content received via the PLC adapter 60/70/80, such as “6 Mbps”, “12 Mbps”, “24 Mbps”, or the like. Of the QoS parameters, the most important value is the bit rate, and other parameters often do not affect the transmission quality even if there is a mismatch with the characteristics of the actually transmitted data. Therefore, it is possible to secure a certain level of QoS even by a method in which values other than the bit rate are fixed values and only the bit rate is switched by a switch.

  Also, it may indicate whether the content received via the PLC adapter 60/70/80 is charged, such as “paid content” or “free content”.

  In the VoD service, there are paid contents and free contents as contents to be viewed. For example, the latest movies are charged, but news programs and programs including commercials are free.

  In such a case, when the user is to specify whether the content to be received from now is charged or free by the switch provided in the PLC adapter 60/70/80, and “paid content” is specified When QoS is secured and high quality transmission is performed and “free content” is designated, it is conceivable to perform normal transmission without securing QoS.

  When the usage fee varies depending on the bit rate of the content, not only whether the content is paid or free, but also according to the price of the content using the categories of “high price content”, “low price content”, and “free content” It may be possible to specify the QoS.

  Further, the switch may be switched in two steps, and the user may be able to specify information on whether or not QoS is required in the PLC adapter by using “QoS required” and “QoS unnecessary” as the QoS type classification. .

  It is conceivable that QoS is secured when “QoS is required” is designated, and QoS is not secured when “QoS is not required” is designated.

  When setting “QoS Required” and “QoS Not Required”, the user determines whether or not the QoS is required when receiving data in the device connected to the PLC adapter according to the above conditions (the type of data to be received and the device to be connected). It is conceivable to set and judge comprehensively from the type).

  In addition, you may use combining the classification of said QoS classification. For example, a combination of “video” and “24 Mbps” or a combination of “audio” and “6 Mbps” can be considered.

  In this case, a plurality of switches may be provided so that a plurality of QoS types can be designated (two three-stage switches are provided), or a more complicated QoS type can be designated with one switch (a nine-stage switch is provided). One may be provided).

  Further, both a switch for designating whether QoS is necessary and a switch for designating a QoS type may be used in combination.

  For example, it is conceivable to combine a switch for switching between “QoS required” and “QoS unnecessary” and a switch for switching between “SD video” and “HD video”. In this case, the user basically operates only a switch for switching between “QoS required” and “QoS unnecessary”. It is conceivable to change the QoS type setting only when a finer setting is desired.

  For the light user who wants to use "SD video" and "HD video" settings simply because they do not need to be changed, it provides a simple operation to specify only the necessity of QoS, and more detailed settings. It is possible to provide a detailed operation method to a heavy user who wants to perform the operation.

  Also, if the QoS necessity switch is installed on the front of the PLC adapter and the QoS type switch is installed on the back, the light user unintentionally changes the QoS type setting and operates without problems. It can prevent the situation that the environment that had been destroyed is destroyed.

  Further, it may be a category indicating how much delay is allowed for the content received via the PLC adapters 60, 70, 80, such as “low allowable delay”, “during allowable delay”, and “high allowable delay”. . It is conceivable that the QoS setting is performed using the QoS parameter that allows the transmission right to be given more frequently as the allowable delay is smaller.

  Further, it may be a classification indicating how much error is allowed for the content received via the PLC adapter 60/70/80, such as “low allowable error”, “during allowable error”, and “high allowable error”. . For content with a low allowable error rate, it is conceivable to perform QoS setting by specifying a QoS parameter that reduces the error rate by giving many retransmission opportunities.

  Further, it may be a category indicating how much jitter is allowed for the content received via the PLC adapter 60, 70, 80, such as “low allowable jitter”, “medium allowable jitter”, “high allowable jitter”. . Jitter is a fluctuation in transmission delay. For content with a low allowable jitter, it is conceivable to perform QoS setting by specifying a QoS parameter such that the time intervals at which retransmission opportunities are given are as equal as possible.

<Another method of specifying the QoS type>
The above-described classification of the QoS type may be specified by a device connected to the Ethernet side of the PLC adapters 60, 70, and 80 in addition to being directly specified by the user.

  At present, devices connected to the Ethernet side are often not implemented assuming QoS data transmission. However, it is considered that these devices will become more sophisticated in the future, and the QoS type can be determined according to the type of data received by the local station. In this case, instead of the user specifying the QoS type by the switch, it is conceivable that these devices specify the QoS type by giving some instruction to the PLC adapters 60, 70, and 80.

  For example, it is conceivable that a device connected to the PLC adapter 60/70/80 issues an instruction using Ethernet communication. Assuming such a case, the PLC adapters 60, 70, and 80 can both accept the designation of the QoS type by the switch and accept the designation of the QoS type by a device connected to the Ethernet side. May be implemented.

  Alternatively, a configuration may be adopted in which only one of the reception of the designation of the QoS type from the apparatus connected to the Ethernet side or the reception of the designation of the QoS type by the user is performed. In this case, the user may be allowed to select which setting is to be valid, or a reception method to be valid may be determined in advance.

  A configuration in which a device connected to the Ethernet side performs control that can invalidate a QoS type designated by a user may be employed.

<Configuration when multiple devices are connected to the PLC adapter via a hub>
A plurality of Ethernet devices (for example, STB, PC, etc.) may be connected to the PLC adapters 70 and 80 on the content receiving side via an Ethernet hub. The contents of processing in such a connection form will be described below. Below, as shown in FIG. 15, the case where the TV receiver 150 and PC110 are connected to the PLC adapter 70 via the hub 77 is demonstrated. The connection form may be applied to the second embodiment.

  The PLC adapter 60 on the content transmission side transmits a bridge information request packet to the PLC adapter 70 in order to obtain the Ethernet address of the TV receiver 150PC110 connected to the PLC adapter 70 on the content reception side by Ethernet.

  The bridge unit 78 of the PLC adapter 70 creates a bridge information notification packet including the addresses of all Ethernet devices connected to the local station (that is, the addresses of the TV receiver 150 and the PC 110), and passes through the PLC communication unit 65a. To the PLC adapter 60.

  The bridge unit 68 of the PLC adapter 60 associates the address of the PLC adapter 70 with the addresses of the TV receiver 150 and the PC 110 and stores them in a bridge table stored in a storage unit (not shown) that can be used by itself. .

  When receiving the data packet, the trigger detection unit 79 of the PLC adapter 70 determines the number of data packets or the frequency of receiving the data packets for each address of the Ethernet device connected to the local station as a trigger detection process. Is stored in an available storage unit (not shown).

  When the trigger detection unit 79 detects that the number or frequency is equal to or greater than the threshold, the trigger detection unit 79 instructs the QoS type management unit 72 to start the QoS setting process. The QoS type management unit 72 generates a connection request packet and transmits it to the PLC adapter 60 via the PLC communication unit 75a.

  The QoS type management unit 62 of the PLC adapter 60 creates a QoS setting request packet including the same QoS parameters as those included in the connection request packet, and transmits the QoS setting request packet to the PLC adapter 50.

  When the QoS setting request packet is received, the QoS control unit 54 of the PLC adapter 50 assigns a GLID to the flow, and performs bandwidth assignment scheduling for the GLID based on the QoS parameter. The QoS control unit 54 generates a QoS setting notification packet including information (Result Code) indicating whether or not the QoS request can be accepted and the GLID, and sends it to both the PLC adapter 60 (transmitting station) and the PLC adapter 70 (receiving station). Send. The QoS setting notification packet also includes the address of the PLC adapter 70.

  Upon receiving the QoS setting notification packet, the bridge unit 68 of the PLC adapter 60 searches the bridge table for the address of the PLC adapter 70 included in the QoS setting notification packet, and searches for all the Ethernet devices connected to the PLC adapter 70. Get the address. The bridge unit 68 outputs the acquired address to the QoS type management unit 62.

  The QoS type management unit 62 creates a Classify rule (correspondence table) by associating these addresses with the GLID included in the QoS setting notification packet, and outputs the created Classify rule to the QoS control unit 64.

  When the PLC adapter 60 receives a data packet from the hard disk recorder 170, when the QoS control unit 64 detects in the Classify rule that a plurality of Ethernet addresses are registered for the PLC adapter 70, all registered addresses are registered. Is determined whether it matches the destination address of the received data packet. When the addresses match, the QoS control unit 64 determines that the GLID registered in the Classify rule is the GLID of the data packet.

  The PLC adapter 50 transmits a beacon packet including the GLID, the transmission right grant start time, and the transmission right grant end time to the PLC adapters 60, 70, and 80 in accordance with the bandwidth allocation schedule.

  The QoS controller 64 of the PLC adapter 60 derives the GLID of the data packet based on the previous Classify rule, receives the beacon packet, and transmits the transmission right grant start time and the transmission right grant end time corresponding to the corresponding GLID. The data packet is transmitted to the PLC adapter 70 via the PLC communication unit 65a during the period indicated by.

<When trigger detection is performed by the PLC adapter on the transmission side>
The trigger detection may be performed by a PLC adapter on the transmission side. That is, the PLC adapter 50 may perform trigger detection in the second embodiment, and the PLC adapter 60 may perform trigger detection in the third embodiment.

  When the bridge unit of the PLC adapter on the transmission side receives a packet from the Ethernet side (router 120 or hard disk recorder 170), it refers to the bridge table to identify the address of the destination PLC adapter regardless of whether a trigger is detected. To do. At this time, the trigger detection unit can detect the trigger for each destination PLC adapter by storing the number of packets or the frequency of packet reception in the storage unit. The trigger detection method is the same as that performed by the receiving PLC adapter.

<About change examples of the status presentation unit>
The status presentation units 56, 66, 76, and 86 that present the QoS status may be shared with the presentation unit for presenting other information. With this configuration, it is possible to reduce the number of LEDs and the like mounted as the state presentation unit. The other information is, for example, information on a power supply state, a link state or communication speed between communication terminals, and whether the PLC adapter is a master station or a slave station.

  In addition, the state presentation units 56, 66, 76, and 86 may present the user with the QoS setting state derived from the results of the QoS setting process and the QoS release process. For example, the QoS type management unit may control the state presentation unit so that the LED as the state presentation unit is turned on when QoS is set, and the LED is turned off when QoS is released. When the status of the QoS setting process is notified from the data communication partner station, the QoS type management unit presents the status based on the status of the QoS setting process in the partner station notified from the data communication partner station. Control part. In other words, the state presenting unit presents based on the state of the QoS setting process in the partner station notified from the partner station of data communication. On the other hand, the QoS type management unit of the PLC adapter that notifies the partner station of the data communication of the state of the QoS setting process sends the QoS setting state derived from the results of the QoS setting process and the QoS release process to the partner station of the data communication. Is notified via the PLC communication unit.

<Example of QoS type change>
A classification corresponding to the resolution of the TV 150 may be provided as the QoS type. For example, a QoS type corresponding to the number of scanning lines (1080, 750, 525) may be provided, a QoS type corresponding to an interlace method or a progressive method may be provided, or a combination thereof may be provided. . Note that as the number of scanning lines increases, the preferred QoS level increases, and the preferred QoS level is higher in the progressive method than in the interlace method.

<How to show the QoS setting completion time>
When the LED emission color is changed step by step and the user is informed of how much time has passed to complete the QoS setting, it may be changed step by step in the order of red, yellow, and green. You may shorten the blinking interval of LED gradually.

  Further, the time until the QoS setting is completed may be displayed on a television monitor connected to the STB. In this case, the remaining time may be displayed, or a progress bar or the like may be displayed.

  In order to realize such a configuration, the Ethernet communication unit 75b of the PLC adapter 70 outputs time information indicating the time until the QoS setting is completed to the STB 100, and the STB 100 superimposes the time information on the video. Then, it may be transmitted to the television connected to the own device.

<Configuration example of QoS type reception unit>
When the QoS type accepting unit is a push switch, a multicolor light emitting LED may be provided in the vicinity of the QoS type accepting unit, and the setting state of the QoS type may be indicated by the emission color. For example, “high priority” in the first embodiment may be indicated in green, “medium priority” in orange, and “low priority” in red. Further, in the second and third embodiments, “HD” video may be indicated in green, “SD video” may be indicated in orange, and “OFF” may be indicated in red. Further, the push switch itself may emit light.

  The input QoS type may be changed by changing the time for which the push switch is pressed. For example, the longer the time for which the push switch is pressed, the higher the priority or the more bandwidth may be secured. For example, if the pressing time is within 1 second, a low priority may be input, and if it is 5 seconds or more and less than 10 seconds, a medium priority may be input, and if it is 10 seconds or more, a high priority may be input.

  Moreover, you may use the push switch as a QoS classification reception part as a switch for inputting another operation command. For example, if the push switch is pressed for less than 1 second, a command for “pairing operation” is input, and if it is 1 second or longer, a command for specifying the QoS type is input. You may do it. The “pairing operation” is an initial setting for causing the PLC adapters to be recognized as one network.

  Further, the QoS type setting state may be displayed on the television monitor with the same configuration as the case where the time until the QoS setting is completed is displayed on the television monitor connected to the STB.

<About changes related to trigger detection processing>
The trigger detection unit may be configured to allow the user to change the condition for detecting the trigger. For example, the configuration may be such that the user can change the number of received packets, the reception frequency, the bit rate threshold, the packet analysis frequency, or the protocol for detecting the trigger. In order to change the above conditions, a computer can be connected to the PLC adapter and settings can be changed directly using dedicated utility software, or the HTTP server function is built into the PLC adapter and the setting screen provided by the HTTP server The setting of the PLC adapter can be changed with (description in HTML etc.), and the condition can be changed by accessing the above setting screen with a Web browser from the PLC adapter connected to the PLC adapter. In addition, an input unit for changing the above condition may be provided.

<About the QoS switch>
A device connected to the Ethernet side (an Ethernet device connected to the PLC adapter, that is, an STB or a PC in the second embodiment, a TV in the third embodiment, etc.) is provided with a QoS switch. It is good also as a structure which transmits a setting state to a PLC adapter and performs subsequent QoS setting process.

<Specifying QoS type at the time of transmission in each embodiment>
In the first to third embodiments, the method of specifying the QoS type when the communication device (PLC adapter) receives data has been described. However, when the communication device (PLC adapter) transmits data, The QoS type may be designated.

  When one communication device (PLC adapter) performs both transmission and reception, a QoS type reception unit for transmission and a QoS type reception unit for reception may be provided, and transmission and reception are performed by one QoS type reception unit. Both QoS types may be accepted.

  In addition, when the QoS type is specified on both the transmission side and the reception side, the QoS setting may be performed assuming that the QoS type obtained by averaging the QoS types is specified. Alternatively, it is also possible to refer to only one QoS type on the receiving side and ignore the setting of the other QoS type.

  If such a policy is not known to the user, it is considered that the operation will be hindered, so it may be possible to write the policy in a manual.

  In the second and third embodiments, the QoS type accepting units 51, 61, 71, and 81 may not be provided, and the QoS setting may be performed using a predetermined QoS type and QoS parameters. In this case, the PLC adapters 50, 60, 70, and 80 automatically perform QoS setting without inputting information, so that the QoS setting instructions of the STB 90/100, PC 110, TV receiver 150/160, etc. With respect to the flow received by the Ethernet terminal that cannot be transmitted, it is possible to perform data transmission in which QoS is ensured.

  In addition, a QoS switch as a QoS type accepting unit can be configured to select a setting for guaranteeing a transmission band (Parameterized QoS), a setting for performing priority control (Prioritized QoS), and a setting for not performing QoS setting. Good. That is, the QoS type accepting unit, as the QoS type, the priority of data reception of the own device and the bit rate (transmission band) of data transmitted to the own station with respect to the PLC adapter other than the PLC adapter under the same QoS control. May be selectively received. With respect to processing when such a configuration is realized, an example in which the receiving PLC adapter transmits a QoS setting request packet and a QoS cancellation request packet (corresponding to the second embodiment) will be described below. Since the same is true when the sending PLC adapter transmits the QoS setting request packet and the QoS cancellation request packet (corresponding to the third embodiment), the description thereof is omitted.

<Change from bandwidth guarantee to priority control>
When the QoS switch is changed from the bandwidth guarantee to the priority control, the QoS type management unit of the PLC adapter on the receiving side transmits a QoS setting request packet requesting the change to the priority control to the PLC adapter on the transmitting side. However, since there is a possibility that the change to the priority control may fail, immediately, the QoS cancellation request packet requesting to release the transmission band that has been secured is not transmitted to the PLC adapter that is the master station. By receiving the QoS setting notification packet as a response to the QoS setting request packet, it can be determined whether or not the change to the priority control has succeeded.

  When the change to the priority control is successful, the QoS type management unit of the PLC adapter on the receiving side transmits the QoS cancellation request packet to the PLC adapter that is the master station. As a result, the reserved bandwidth is released.

  In addition, the QoS type management unit of the PLC adapter on the receiving side notifies the user that the QoS setting has been successful via the state presentation unit.

  On the other hand, when the change to the priority control fails, the QoS type management unit of the receiving PLC adapter does not transmit the QoS cancellation request packet to the master station PLC adapter (that is, without releasing the data transmission band). ) And continue receiving bandwidth-guaranteed data. In this case, the QoS type management unit of the PLC adapter on the receiving side notifies the user that the QoS setting has failed via the state presentation unit. Further, although the QoS type is set to the priority control, the user may be notified that the data is in a state where the bandwidth is guaranteed.

<Change from priority control to bandwidth guarantee>
When the QoS switch is changed from the priority control to the bandwidth guarantee, the QoS type management unit of the PLC adapter on the receiving side transmits a QoS setting request packet for requesting the change to the bandwidth guarantee to the PLC adapter which is the master station. By receiving the QoS setting notification packet as a response to the QoS setting request packet, it can be determined whether or not the change to the bandwidth guarantee has succeeded.

  When the change to the bandwidth guarantee is successful, the QoS type management unit of the receiving PLC adapter transmits the QoS cancellation request packet to the transmitting PLC adapter. As a result, the priority given to the data packet returns to the default value.

  In addition, the QoS type management unit of the PLC adapter on the receiving side notifies the user that the QoS setting has been successful via the state presentation unit.

  On the other hand, when the change to the priority control fails, the QoS type management unit of the receiving PLC adapter does not transmit the QoS cancellation request packet to the transmitting PLC adapter (that is, does not turn off the priority setting). And) continue to receive priority controlled data. In this case, the QoS type management unit of the PLC adapter on the receiving side notifies the user that the QoS setting has failed via the state presentation unit. Further, although the QoS type is set to the bandwidth guarantee, the user may be notified that the data is in the state of priority control transmission.

[Fourth Embodiment]
In this embodiment, a connection form in which a plurality of output ports for connecting Ethernet devices are provided in the PLC adapter 300 on the receiving side and a plurality of Ethernet devices are connected to the PLC adapter 300 will be described. In addition, about the process already demonstrated in the 1st-3rd embodiment, the description is abbreviate | omitted or simplified. In the present embodiment, an example in which QoS control is performed by parameterized QoS (bandwidth guarantee) will be mainly described. However, as described later, prioritized QoS (priority control) may be applied to the present embodiment.

<Configuration of communication network 400>
FIG. 16 is a configuration diagram of the communication network 400 in the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, the communication network 400 has a connection form similar to the communication network in the second embodiment shown in FIG. 6, but unlike the second embodiment, the communication network 400 is replaced with the PLC adapter 50. The PLC adapter 200 is connected to the PLC network. The PLC adapter 200 is a data transmission-side communication device having a function as a master station, like the PLC adapter 50 in the second embodiment. Although a TV is connected to the STB 100, it is not shown because it is not related to the essence of the invention.

  A PLC adapter 300 is connected to the PLC network as a receiving-side communication device that receives data from the PLC adapter 200. A PLC adapter other than the PLC adapter 300 may be connected to the PLC network as a communication device on the receiving side, but the PLC adapter is not illustrated.

  The PLC adapter 300 includes three input / output ports (first port 331, second port 332, and third port 333). The first port 331 has the STB 100, and the third port 333 has the PC 110. It is connected.

  That is, the PLC adapter 300 is a communication device that receives a data packet from the PLC network and outputs the received data packet to an Ethernet device that is communicably connected to the own device, and outputs data to the Ethernet device. A plurality of input / output ports (output ports) are provided.

  The PLC adapter 200 also includes three input / output ports (first port 231, second port 232, and third port 233), and the router 120 is connected to the second port 232. However, the PLC adapter 200 is not necessarily provided with three input / output ports, and the PLC adapter 200 only needs to include at least one input / output port.

<Configuration of PLC adapter 300>
FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the PLC adapter 300. As shown in the figure, the PLC adapter 300 includes a housing 350, a power plug 351, and a cord 352. By inserting the power plug 351 into the outlet, the PLC adapter 300 can be connected to the PLC network.

  In addition, the PLC adapter 300 includes a power state presenting unit 341 that indicates the power state of its own device, a PLC state presenting unit 342 that indicates a connection state to the PLC network, a QoS state presenting unit 305 that indicates a state of QoS control, and a user that has QoS QoS type designation unit (QoS type designation means) 301 which is a slide type switch for inputting.

  The QoS state presentation unit 305 is made up of LEDs, for example, as with the state presentation units 56, 66, 76, and 86. The lighting operation of the QoS state presentation unit 305 is the same as that of the state presentation units 56, 66, 76, and 86. For example, when the QoS control request is satisfied, it lights in green, when it is not satisfied, it lights in yellow, and when QoS control is off, it lights in red.

  The QoS type designation unit 301 is the same as the QoS type reception unit 51, 61, 71, 81 shown in FIG. That is, the QoS type designation unit 301 is for the user to designate QoS type information indicating the type of QoS control. Also, “HD (High Definition) video” and “SD (Standard Definition) video” which are QoS types input by operating the QoS type designation unit 301 are the same as those described above.

  As shown in FIG. 17, the display units “HD”, “SD”, and “OFF” provided in the vicinity of the QoS type designation unit 301 are QoS type presentation means for presenting the QoS type to the user. Note that the QoS type specified by the user may be presented by changing the lighting state or emission color of the LED.

  Of the three output ports provided in the PLC adapter 300, only the first port 331 is a QoS control target (QoS control target input / output port), and an Ethernet device is connected to the second port 332 and the third port 333. However, QoS control is not performed on data transmitted to the Ethernet device. That is, it is determined in advance which input / output port of the PLC adapter 300 is the QoS control target input / output port (QoS target output port).

  It is not necessary to limit the number of QoS control target input / output ports to one, and a plurality of QoS control target input / output ports may be provided. Further, the number of input / output ports provided in the PLC adapter 300 is not limited to three, and may be two or four or more.

  FIG. 18 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the PLC adapter 300. As shown in the figure, in addition to the above-described configuration, the PLC adapter 300 includes a type information acquisition unit 302, a storage unit (QoS type storage means) 320, a QoS control unit 310, a trigger detection unit 306, a bridge unit 307, a PLC. A communication unit (transmission means) 308 and an Ethernet communication unit 330 are provided.

  The storage unit 320 stores a QoS type table 321, a QoS control information conversion table 322, a port table 323, and a trigger detection table 324. Information indicating which input / output port is the QoS control target input / output port is also stored in the storage unit 320 as the initial setting information 325.

  The type information acquisition unit 302 acquires the QoS type input by the user via the QoS type designation unit 301 and records the QoS type in the QoS type table 321 for recording the QoS type. The type information acquisition unit 302 stores the QoS type table 321 in which the QoS type is recorded in the storage unit 320. That is, the storage unit 320 stores QoS type information indicating the type of QoS control.

  FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating an example of the QoS type table 321. As shown in the figure, the QoS type table 321 is a table in which an input / output port is associated with a QoS type of QoS control for data output from the input / output port. In this embodiment, since the only input / output port that is subject to QoS control is the first port 331, the QoS type of QoS control for data output from the first port 331 (in the example shown in FIG. 19, “HD”) is recorded in the QoS type table 321.

  The QoS control unit 310 includes a controller 311, a QoS setting request generation unit (QoS setting request generation unit) 312 that generates a QoS setting request packet, a connection request generation unit 313 that generates a connection request packet, and a QoS control information conversion unit 314. ing.

  The QoS control information conversion unit 314 converts the QoS type indicated in the QoS type table 321 into a QoS parameter (QoS control information) used when the PLC adapter 200 performs QoS control. The QoS control information conversion unit 314 performs this conversion by referring to the QoS control information conversion table 322.

  FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating an example of the QoS control information conversion table 322. As shown in the figure, the QoS control information conversion table 322 is a table showing the correspondence between the QoS type and the QoS parameter. In the example shown in the figure, QoS types “SD” and “HD” are associated with bandwidths (necessary bandwidths) secured in QoS control. Note that a parameter other than the necessary bandwidth may be registered in the QoS control information conversion table 322 as the QoS parameter. As an example of the QoS parameter, there may be a plurality of values such as an allowable transmission delay, an allowable transmission delay fluctuation, an average value, a minimum value, and a maximum value of the size of a transmitted packet.

  The controller 311 controls each functional block of the QoS control unit 310.

  The trigger detection unit 306 uses the trigger detection table 324 to determine whether or not QoS control corresponding to data output from the first port 331 is necessary. Details of processing in the trigger detection unit 306 will be described later.

  The PLC communication unit 308 is the same as the PLC communication units 55a, 65a, 75a, and 85a described above, and transmits the QoS setting request packet generated by the QoS setting request generating unit 312 to the PLC adapter 200 that performs QoS control. To do.

  The Ethernet communication unit 330 transmits / receives a packet to / from an Ethernet device connected to its own device via Ethernet. The Ethernet communication unit 330 stores a port table 323 in which the source address of the packet received from Ethernet (the address of the Ethernet device that transmitted the packet (Ethernet address)) is associated with the input / output port that received the packet. The generated port table 323 is stored in the storage unit 320. The Ethernet address can be acquired by detecting a transmission source address given to some packet (any kind) transmitted from the Ethernet device to the own apparatus.

  FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating an example of the port table 323. As shown in the figure, the port table 323 is a table in which an Ethernet address (identification information) of an Ethernet device is associated with an input / output port to which the Ethernet device is connected. In the figure, the first port 331 and the Ethernet address (E1) of the STB 100 are associated with each other, and the third port 333 and the Ethernet address (E2) of the PC 110 are associated with each other.

  The bridge unit 307 performs bridging of packets between the PLC communication unit 308 and the Ethernet communication unit 330 as well as the bridge units 68, 78, and 88, and sets the destination address of the packet received by the PLC communication unit 308. The trigger detection unit 306 is notified. The bridge unit 307 performs bridging by referring to the port table 323. In addition, the bridge unit 307 generates a bridge information notification packet and transmits it to the PLC adapter 200 via the PLC communication unit 308.

<Regarding Processing in Trigger Detection Unit 306>
The trigger detection unit 306 generates the trigger detection table 324 using the initial setting information 325, the QoS parameters output from the QoS control information conversion unit 314, and the Ethernet address indicated in the port table 323 generated by the Ethernet communication unit 330. To do. FIG. 22 is a diagram illustrating an example of the trigger detection table 324. As shown in the figure, the trigger detection table 324 includes an Ethernet address of the Ethernet device connected to the QoS control target input / output port, a QoS parameter of QoS control for the data packet transmitted to the Ethernet device, and the data packet. This is a table in which the reception history information is associated with each other. Although the total packet size of the data packets received as the reception history is shown in the figure, the number of packets may be recorded in the trigger detection table 324 as another reception history. What information is stored as the reception history differs depending on the trigger detection algorithm.

  When the PLC communication unit 308 receives the data packet, the bridge unit 307 notifies the trigger detection unit 306 of the data packet.

  When the trigger detection unit 306 receives a data packet from the bridge unit 307, the trigger detection unit 306 extracts a transmission destination address from the data packet, and checks whether there is an entry having an address field that matches the extracted address in the trigger detection table 324. In addition, the destination address and the address of the trigger detection table 324 are collated. If there is a matching entry, information necessary for the reception history (packet size, number of packets, etc.) is further extracted and recorded in the reception history field of the trigger detection table 324.

  Then, when a specific condition (for example, when the total data size is equal to or larger than a specific value or when a predetermined number of packets are received) is satisfied, the trigger detection unit 306 displays the trigger detection information indicating that to the QoS. Output to the controller 310.

  In the present embodiment, the trigger detection table 324 includes only an entry for the STB 100 that is an Ethernet device connected to the first port 331 that is the QoS control target input / output port, and the address field of the entry is E1. ing. Therefore, when a data packet having a destination address of E1 is received, the packet size is further extracted from the data packet, and the extracted packet size is added to the history information field of the STB 100 entry in the trigger detection table 324. When the reception history field exceeds a specific value, trigger detection information is output to the QoS control unit 310. Also, a measurement interval is determined, and the total packet size is checked for each measurement interval. When the check is completed, the total packet size is set to zero. Thus, when the packet size is checked, the reception bit rate is calculated by calculating (total packet size / measurement interval). When the reception bit rate exceeds a certain threshold, trigger detection information is output to the QoS control unit 310.

  At the time of data transmission, a control packet is transmitted in addition to the content data packet. For example, program information and character data such as HTML are transmitted to the STB 100 in addition to video data. At the stage where only the program information packet is transmitted, the user has not yet watched the video, so it is desirable not to secure the band so that other terminals can use the band at this point. If only the total packet size is simply measured, even if program information is transmitted, the band will be acquired as time passes. Packet information such as program information has a lower bit rate than video data (that is, only small packets are transmitted less frequently). If trigger detection is performed as the bit rate, the bandwidth will not increase until video data is transmitted. It will not be secured. Further, trigger detection may be performed when a state exceeding a specific bit rate continues for a certain period of time. As a result, it is possible to prevent a trigger from being erroneously detected when the bit rate temporarily increases due to file download or the like and then decreases immediately.

  The threshold for trigger detection may be the same value for all ports, or the threshold for trigger detection may be changed according to the QoS type. For example, when HD is specified as the QoS type, the required bandwidth is 16 Mbps, and when SD is specified, the required bandwidth is 6 Mbps. Therefore, the threshold is also proportional to the required bandwidth. The threshold value may be 8 Mbps, and 3 Mbps for SD. Further, these threshold values may be changed by the user. In that case, it can be changed for each port, or a common threshold value can be changed for all ports.

  When receiving the trigger detection information, the QoS control unit 310 generates a connection request packet and transmits it to the PLC adapter 200.

<About the configuration of the PLC adapter 200>
FIG. 23 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the PLC adapter 200. As shown in the figure, the PLC adapter 200 includes a storage unit 220, a QoS control unit 210, a trigger detection unit 206, a bridge unit 207, a PLC communication unit 208, an Ethernet communication unit 230, a power supply state presentation unit 241, and a PLC state presentation unit. 242 is provided. The configuration of the PLC adapter 200 and the configuration of the PLC adapter 300 may be the same. However, in order to facilitate understanding of the functions of the transmission side and the reception side PLC adapters, Are described separately.

  The storage unit 220 stores a bridge table 223.

  The QoS control unit 210 includes functional blocks of a QoS setting notification generation unit 212 that generates a QoS setting notification packet, a connection notification generation unit 213 that generates a connection notification packet, a QoS setting unit (control device) 214, and a QoS control unit 210. A controller 211 for controlling is provided.

  The QoS setting unit 214 determines a bandwidth allocation schedule in the PLC network, and transmits a packet according to the schedule via the PLC communication unit 208. That is, the QoS setting unit 214 performs QoS control of a packet to be transmitted to the receiving side PLC adapter. Further, the QoS setting unit 214 derives a GLID from the flow identification information and notifies each PLC adapter of a bandwidth allocation schedule. This process is the same as that in the above-described embodiment. In the embodiment, the transmitting station includes the function of the master station, and the notification of the schedule is performed internally, so that the description thereof is omitted.

  The trigger detection unit 206 is basically the same as the trigger detection unit 306, and the trigger detection table 224 is also the same as the trigger detection table 324. The trigger detection unit 206 is necessary when trigger detection is performed in the PLC adapter on the transmission side, and is not necessary when trigger detection is performed in the PLC adapter 300 on the reception side.

  The bridge unit 207 is substantially the same as the bridge unit 58 in the second embodiment, and is connected to the PLC adapter 300 included in the PLC address of the PLC adapter 300 and the bridge information notification packet transmitted from the PLC adapter 300. A bridge table 223 that associates the STB 100 and the Ethernet address of the PC 110 with each other is generated. A known bridge table 223 may be used, and the format is not particularly limited.

  The Ethernet communication unit 230 transmits and receives packets to and from the router 120.

  The PLC communication unit 208, the power supply state presentation unit 241, and the PLC state presentation unit 242 are the same as the PLC communication unit 308, the power supply state presentation unit 341, and the PLC state presentation unit 342, respectively.

<Processing Flow in Communication Network 400>
Next, the flow of processing in each communication apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing communication between the communication apparatuses in the fourth embodiment.

<Obtain Ethernet device address>
The bridge unit 307 of the PLC adapter 300 acquires the Ethernet addresses of the connected STB 100 and PC 110 in advance. When the PLC adapter 300 receives an arbitrary packet from the STB 100 and the PC 110, the Ethernet communication unit 330 determines the Ethernet address of the Ethernet device (STB 100 or PC 110) that has transmitted the packet and the input / output port that has received the packet. The associated port table 323 is generated, and the generated port table 323 is stored in the storage unit 320 (“address storage” in FIG. 24).

<QoS type acceptance process>
When the STB 100 desires to receive HD video content, the user designates “HD video” as the QoS type information by operating the QoS type designation unit 301 in the PLC adapter 300 to which the STB 100 is connected.

  The type information acquisition unit 302 acquires the QoS type information input by the user from the QoS type designation unit 301. When the type information acquisition unit 302 acquires the QoS type information, the type information acquisition unit 302 records the QoS type information in the QoS type table 321. The type information acquisition unit 302 stores the QoS type table 321 in which the QoS type information is recorded in the storage unit 320 (“QoS type designation” in FIG. 24).

<QoS control information conversion process>
When the QoS type table 321 is stored, the QoS control information conversion unit 314 refers to the QoS control information conversion table 322 and determines a QoS parameter corresponding to the QoS type recorded in the QoS type table 321 (in FIG. 24). “QoS control information determination”). The QoS control information conversion unit 314 outputs the determined QoS parameter to the trigger detection unit 306.

<Generation of trigger detection table 324>
The trigger detection unit 306 generates the trigger detection table 324 using the initial setting information 325, the QoS parameters output from the QoS control information conversion unit 314, and the Ethernet address indicated in the port table 323 generated by the Ethernet communication unit 330. To do.

  Since the fact that the QoS control target input / output port is the first port 331 is known from the initial setting information 325, the STB 100 connected to the first port 331 is a device that receives a data packet subject to QoS control. I understand.

<Bridge information acquisition processing>
The PLC adapter 200 on the content transmission side acquires bridge information (information on the Ethernet addresses of the STB 100 and the PC 110) from the PLC adapter 300 in advance in order to transfer the data packet received from the router 120 to the PLC adapter 300.

  For this purpose, the PLC adapter 200 transmits a bridge information request packet to the PLC adapter 200. Specifically, the bridge unit 207 of the PLC adapter 200 creates a bridge information request packet, and transmits the bridge information request packet to the PLC adapter 300 via the PLC communication unit 208 (“bridge information request” in FIG. 24). ). The configuration of this bridge information request packet is the same as that described in the above embodiment.

  When receiving the bridge information request packet, the PLC communication unit 308 of the PLC adapter 300 notifies the bridge unit 307 of the reception. The bridge unit 307 creates a bridge information notification packet including the Ethernet addresses of the Ethernet devices connected via the Ethernet communication unit 330 of the local station, that is, the STB 100 and the PC 110.

  The bridge unit 307 transmits the created bridge information notification packet to the PLC adapter 200 via the PLC communication unit 308 (“bridge information notification” in FIG. 24).

  When receiving the bridge information notification packet, the PLC communication unit 208 of the PLC adapter 200 notifies the bridge unit 207 of the bridge information notification packet. The bridge unit 207 records the PLC address of the PLC adapter 300 in association with the Ethernet addresses of the STB 100 and the PC 110 included in the bridge information notification packet in the bridge table 223. The bridge unit 207 stores the generated bridge table 223 in the storage unit 220.

  Note that the bridge information acquisition process described above may be executed at an arbitrary timing as long as the PLC adapter 200 has not started transmission of data packets.

<Received data determination processing and data transmission request processing>
After the QoS type is designated, the STB 100 determines the content data to be received (“received data determination” in FIG. 24) at an arbitrary timing. The process for determining the content data to be received is the same as the process in the above-described embodiment.

  When the STB 100 determines content data to be received, the STB 100 generates a transmission request packet including content identification information for identifying the content data, and transmits the transmission request packet to the PLC adapter 300 via the Ethernet. Next, the PLC adapter 300 transmits the received packet to the PLC adapter 200 via the PLC network. Next, the PLC adapter 200 transmits the received packet to the router 120 via Ethernet. Next, the router 120 transmits the received packet to the VoD server 130 via the Internet (“data transmission request (VoD)” in FIG. 24).

<Data transmission processing>
After receiving the data transmission request packet, the VoD server 130 starts transmitting the content specified by the packet. The stored content data is packetized and sequentially transmitted to the router 120 via the Internet together with the destination information. The router 120 sequentially transmits the received data packet to the PLC adapter 200 via Ethernet.

  Since this data packet is a packet of video content transmitted from the VoD server 130 to the STB 100, it includes the IP address of the STB 100 as a destination.

  The router 120 retrieves an Ethernet address from the IP address by routing processing. As a result of the routing process, when the data packet is transferred from the router 120 to the PLC adapter 200, the data packet includes the Ethernet address of the STB 100 as a destination address.

  The Ethernet communication unit 230 of the PLC adapter 200 passes the received data packet to the bridge unit 207. Since the bridge table 223 generated in advance includes the PLC address of the PLC adapter 300 and the Ethernet addresses of the STB 100 and the PC 110, if the bridge table 223 and the destination Ethernet address of the data packet are collated, It can be seen that the destination of this data packet on the PLC network is the PLC adapter 300.

  Therefore, the bridge unit 207 adds a PLC header including the PLC address of the PLC adapter 300 as the destination address of the data packet to the data packet, and transmits the data packet to the PLC adapter 300 via the PLC communication unit 208 ( “Data (VoD)” in FIG.

<Trigger detection process>
The PLC communication unit 308 of the PLC adapter 300 passes the received data packet to the bridge unit 307. The bridge unit 307 passes the data packet to the Ethernet communication unit 330 to transfer the data packet to the STB 100, and also passes the received data packet to the trigger detection unit 306.

  By analyzing the data packet, the trigger detection unit 306 performs the above-described trigger detection processing using the trigger detection table 324 (“QoS trigger detection” in FIG. 24). If the specific condition described above is satisfied, the trigger detection unit 306 outputs trigger detection information indicating that to the QoS control unit 310.

<Connection request processing and connection notification processing>
Upon receiving the trigger detection information, the QoS control unit 310 generates a connection request packet including information (Ethernet address) for identifying the Ethernet device to be QoS controlled and the previously determined QoS parameter, and PLC communication is performed. The connection request packet is transmitted to the PLC adapter 200 on the content transmission side via the unit 308 (“connection request” in FIG. 24).

  The PLC communication unit 208 of the PLC adapter 200 receives this packet and sends it to the QoS control unit 210. The connection notification generation unit 213 of the QoS control unit 210 determines whether data transmission is possible from information included in the connection request packet.

  The connection notification generation unit 213 generates a connection notification packet including information (Result Code) indicating whether or not to accept a data transmission request, and transmits the connection notification packet to the PLC adapter 300 via the PLC communication unit 208. ("Connection notification" in FIG. 24).

<QoS setting request processing>
The PLC communication unit 308 of the PLC adapter 300 receives this connection notification packet and sends it to the QoS control unit 310. The controller 311 of the QoS control unit 310 determines whether or not the data transmission request has been accepted from the Result Code included in the connection notification packet.

  At this time, if the Result Code is information indicating acceptance rejection, the controller 311 stops the QoS setting process and controls the QoS state presentation unit 305 to indicate to the user that the QoS request has not been satisfied. To do.

  When the Result Code indicates that it can be accepted, the controller 311 instructs the QoS setting request generation unit 312 to generate a QoS setting request packet. The QoS setting request generation unit 312 includes the same information for identifying an Ethernet device (Ethernet address indicated in the trigger detection table 324) and QoS parameters (QoS parameters indicated in the trigger detection table 324) as those included in the connection request packet. Are generated, and the QoS setting request packet is transmitted to the PLC adapter 200, which is the master station, via the PLC communication unit 308 (“QoS setting request” in FIG. 24).

  That is, the QoS setting request generation unit 312 includes the QoS type information specified by the QoS type specifying unit 301 in the QoS setting request packet as information for specifying the content of the QoS control requested by the own device.

<QoS setting process and QoS setting notification process>
The PLC communication unit 208 of the PLC adapter 200 receives the QoS setting request packet and sends it to the QoS control unit 210. The QoS setting notification generation unit 212 of the QoS control unit 210 determines whether or not the request can be accepted based on the QoS parameters included in the QoS setting request packet.

  When it is determined that the QoS parameter included in the QoS setting request packet is acceptable, the QoS setting notification generation unit 212 outputs information indicating that to the QoS setting unit 214 via the controller 211.

  The QoS setting unit 214 assigns a GLID (Global Link ID) for uniquely identifying a flow within the PLC network to a flow whose destination is the Ethernet address of the STB 100 included in the QoS setting request packet. Based on the QoS parameter indicated by the setting request packet, the bandwidth allocation for the GLID is scheduled (“QoS setting” in FIG. 24). Then, the QoS setting unit 214 controls the PLC communication unit 208 to perform QoS control corresponding to the QoS type requested by the PLC adapter 300 for the flow of the data packet transmitted to the STB 100 to which the GLID is assigned. To do.

  Thereafter, the QoS setting notification generation unit 212 generates a QoS setting notification packet including information (Result Code) indicating whether or not the QoS request can be accepted and a GLID if the Result Code is a value indicating success, and the QoS setting notification The packet is transmitted to the PLC adapter 300 via the PLC communication unit 208 (“QoS setting notification” in FIG. 24).

<Control processing of state presentation unit>
The PLC communication unit 308 of the PLC adapter 300 receives the QoS setting notification packet and sends it to the QoS control unit 310. The controller 311 of the QoS control unit 310 determines whether a QoS setting request has been accepted from the Result Code included in the QoS setting notification packet. The controller 311 controls the QoS state presentation unit 305 to indicate to the user whether the request has been accepted (“state presentation unit control” in FIG. 24). The control method of the QoS state presentation unit 305 may be the same as the control method in the above-described embodiment.

<Transmission control of data packet transmitted to PC 110>
A data packet transmitted to the PC 110 connected to the third port 333 that is not a QoS control target input / output port is not a target of QoS control. That is, the bandwidth is not allocated to the data packet transmitted to the PC 110, and the PLC adapter 200 which is the transmitting station allocates the bandwidth to the time when the bandwidth is allocated for data transmission to the STB 100 and other slave stations. The data packet is transmitted to the PC 110 via the PLC adapter 300 at a time other than the waiting time.

<When trigger detection processing is performed at the transmitting station>
The above-described trigger detection process may be performed in the PLC adapter 200 which is a transmitting station. FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing in this case. Parts different from the processing flow shown in FIG. 24 will be described below.

  After determining the QoS parameter as described above, the QoS control information conversion unit 314 notifies the QoS control information including the QoS parameter and the Ethernet device connected to the QoS control target input / output port, that is, the Ethernet address of the STB 100. A packet is generated, and the QoS control information notification packet is transmitted to the PLC adapter 200 via the PLC communication unit 308 (“QoS control information notification” in FIG. 25).

  In this embodiment, the QoS control target input / output port is only the first port 331. However, when there are a plurality of QoS control target input / output ports, Ethernet devices connected to the QoS control target input / output ports are used. Are included in the QoS control information notification packet.

  Further, when trigger detection processing is performed at the transmitting station, the function of the connection request generator 313 and the function of the connection notification generator 213 are reversed from those described above.

  When the PLC adapter 200 receives the QoS control information notification packet, the trigger detection unit 206 records the Ethernet address included in the QoS control information notification packet in association with the QoS parameter in the trigger detection table 224. The trigger detection table 224 may be the same as the trigger detection table 324.

  Thereafter, transmission / reception of a bridge information request packet and a bridge information notification packet is performed, and data transmission is started.

  When the PLC adapter 200 receives the data packet, the bridge unit 207 outputs the received data packet to the trigger detection unit 206.

  By analyzing this data packet, the trigger detection unit 206 performs a trigger detection process in the same manner as the trigger detection unit 306 (“QoS trigger detection” in FIG. 25). If the specific condition described above is satisfied, the trigger detection unit 206 outputs trigger detection information indicating that to the QoS control unit 210.

  Upon receiving the trigger detection information, the QoS control unit 210 generates a connection request packet including the previously determined QoS parameter, and the connection request packet is sent to the PLC adapter 300 on the content receiving side via the PLC communication unit 208. (“Connection request” in FIG. 25).

  The PLC communication unit 308 of the PLC adapter 300 receives this packet and sends it to the QoS control unit 310. The connection request generation unit 313 of the QoS control unit 310 determines whether data can be received from the information included in the connection request packet.

  The connection request generation unit 313 generates a connection notification packet including information (Result Code) indicating whether or not data can be received, and transmits the connection notification packet to the PLC adapter 200 via the PLC communication unit 308 (FIG. 25 "Connection notification").

  Thereafter, when the Result Code included in the connection notification packet indicates that data reception is possible, the QoS setting unit 214 of the PLC adapter 200 assigns a GLID to the flow transmitted to the STB 100, and trigger detection is performed. Based on the QoS parameters shown in the table 224, the bandwidth allocation for the GLID is scheduled (“QoS setting” in FIG. 25).

  Also, the QoS setting notification generation unit 212 generates a QoS setting notification packet including a GLID, and transmits the QoS setting notification packet to the PLC adapter 300 via the PLC communication unit 208 (“QoS setting notification” in FIG. 25). .

<When priority control is performed>
When prioritized QoS is applied to the present embodiment, that is, when priority control is performed on a data packet transmitted from the PLC adapter 200 to the PLC adapter 300, priority is given as the QoS type via the QoS type designation unit 301. Information indicating the degree is received, and the priority is recorded in the QoS type table 321.

  FIG. 26 is a diagram illustrating another example of the QoS type table 321. When priority control is performed, the QoS type table 321 associates QoS control target input / output ports with QoS control priorities corresponding to data packets output from the QoS control target input / output ports. The figure shows an example in which “high priority” is selected as the priority.

  The QoS control information conversion unit 314 converts the priority information indicated by the QoS type table 321 into PLID (Priority Link ID). The correspondence relationship between the QoS type and the PLID is indicated by the QoS control information conversion table 322.

  FIG. 27 is a diagram illustrating another example of the QoS control information conversion table 322. In the figure, PLIDs “1”, “2”, and “3” are associated with three levels of priority “normal”, “priority”, and “high priority”, respectively.

  FIG. 28 is a diagram illustrating another example of the trigger detection table 324. As shown in the figure, in the case of this modification, the trigger detection table 324 generated by the trigger detection unit 306 includes the address of the Ethernet device connected to the QoS control target input / output port and the packet transmitted to the Ethernet device. Is a table in which the priority of the packet is associated with the reception history information of the packet.

  The flow of processing in the case of this modification will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 29 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing when priority control is performed in the present embodiment. 24 is different from the flow shown in FIG. 24 in that the connection request packet and the connection notification packet are not transmitted, and the QoS setting request generation unit 312 indicates information indicating the priority as the QoS control information in the QoS setting request packet ( (PLID). When bandwidth guarantee is used, the receiving station transmits a connection request packet to the transmitting station, and transmits a QoS setting request packet to the parent station. In FIG. 24, since the PLC adapter 200 which is a transmitting station has the function of a master station, the receiving station transmits both packets to the PLC adapter 200. When priority control is used, the master station is not involved in QoS control, and the receiving station only requests the transmission station to set the QoS, so there is no need to transmit a connection request packet. Since the other processing is the same as that shown in FIG. 24, the description thereof is omitted.

  Even when priority control is performed, the trigger detection process may be performed by the PLC adapter 300 on the reception side or the PLC adapter 200 on the transmission side. The flow when the trigger detection process is performed in the PLC adapter 200 on the transmission side is the same as that in FIG. 25, and the difference is that the connection request packet and the connection notification packet are not transmitted.

<When multiple Ethernet devices are connected to one port>
In the above description, only one Ethernet device is connected to the QoS control target input / output port, but a plurality of Ethernet devices may be connected to the QoS control target input / output port via a hub. In this case, a plurality of Ethernet addresses are recorded for one port in the port table, and a plurality of entries are created in the trigger detection table accordingly. However, since the QoS type is set for each port, the QoS parameter (or priority) corresponding to the Ethernet address connected to the same port has the same value. Since trigger detection processing is performed for each entry in the trigger detection table, a connection request and a QoS setting request are also performed individually. In other words, when performing band-guaranteed transmission, a band is individually secured for each device. Furthermore, since trigger detection processing is performed on a device-by-device basis, depending on the trigger detection threshold setting, bandwidth-guaranteed transmission (priority control) is performed only for devices with a high data rate being received among connected devices. Transmission), and it is possible to perform control such that band-guaranteed transmission is not performed for a device receiving a low data rate.

  For example, since the reception rate of a device such as a PC that receives only Web content data is smaller than the reception rate of a device such as an STB that is receiving video content data, the trigger detection threshold is set to the PC data. By setting it to a value that is larger than the packet reception rate and smaller than the STB reception rate, it is transmitted to the PC on a best effort basis without bandwidth guarantee transmission (priority control transmission). On the other hand, it is possible to perform control such that band guaranteed transmission (priority control transmission) is performed.

  Further, instead of creating an entry in the trigger detection table individually, an entry may be created for each port. In this case, the entry of the trigger detection table includes a plurality of Ethernet addresses, one QoS control information, and one history information. In the trigger detection process, all of the Ethernet addresses recorded in the entry are checked against the destination address of the received packet, and history information is recorded when it matches any of the recorded Ethernet addresses.

  For example, when the total received packet size is used as history information, the sizes of packets addressed to all Ethernet addresses are summed. In other words, the size of all packets output from a certain port is recorded. Then, in the QoS setting process, the QoS setting request generation unit includes all of the recorded Ethernet addresses in the QoS setting request packet. As a result, when performing bandwidth-guaranteed transmission, the allocated bandwidth is shared between Ethernet devices connected to the same port.

  Note that the above configuration in which a plurality of Ethernet devices are connected to one input / output port may be applied not only to the present embodiment but also to fifth, sixth, and eighth embodiments described later.

<Effects of the present embodiment>
As described above, even when a plurality of devices are connected to the PLC adapter 300, the bandwidth (or priority) designated by the user for the PLC adapter 300 is transmitted to the device connected to the QoS control target input / output port. Data packets are secured on the PLC network. Therefore, even when a plurality of devices are connected to the PLC adapter on the receiving side, QoS control can be performed efficiently.

[Fifth Embodiment]
In the present embodiment, a description will be given of a PLC adapter 500 that can select any one of three input / output ports included in a receiving-side PLC adapter as a QoS control target input / output port. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the member similar to 4th Embodiment, and the description is abbreviate | omitted. Further, the description of the processing that has already been described in the first to fourth embodiments is omitted or simplified. In this embodiment, an example in which QoS control is performed by parameterized QoS (bandwidth guarantee) will be described, but prioritized QoS (priority control) may be applied to this embodiment.

  FIG. 30 is a configuration diagram of the communication network 410 in the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, unlike the communication network 400, the communication network 410 includes a PLC adapter 500 as a receiving-side PLC adapter.

<Configuration of PLC adapter 500>
FIG. 31 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the PLC adapter 500. FIG. As shown in the figure, the PLC adapter 500 selects any one of three input / output ports (first port 331, second port 332, and third port 333) as a QoS control target input / output port. A QoS target designating unit (QoS target selecting means) 503 is provided. The QoS target specifying unit 503 is, for example, a slide switch, but may be any switch that can select one of the three input / output ports. That is, the QoS target designating unit 503 is for the user to select one of a plurality of input / output ports provided in the PLC adapter 500 as a QoS control target output port.

  The PLC adapter 500 is also provided with a QoS type designation unit 301. The QoS type designation unit 301 is a QoS corresponding to a data packet output from an input / output port selected using the QoS target designation unit 503. This is for specifying the type of control.

  FIG. 32 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the PLC adapter 500. As shown in the figure, unlike the PLC adapter 300, the PLC adapter 500 includes the above-described QoS target specifying unit 503, selection information acquisition unit 504, and trigger detection unit 506.

  The selection information acquisition unit 504 acquires selection information indicating the input / output port (QoS control target input / output port) selected by the user via the QoS target specifying unit 503, and stores it in the QoS target table 525 for recording the selection information. The selection information is recorded. The selection information acquisition unit 504 stores the QoS target table 525 in which the selection information is recorded in the storage unit 320.

  FIG. 33 is a diagram illustrating an example of the QoS target table 525. As shown in the figure, the QoS target table 525 is a table indicating which input / output port of the three input / output ports is designated as the QoS control target input / output port. The figure shows an example in which the first port 331 is designated as a QoS control target input / output port. The format of the QoS target table 525 is not particularly limited as long as it can be understood which input / output port is designated as the QoS control target input / output port, and the selection information need not necessarily be shown as a table.

  The trigger detection unit 506 includes 1) information specifying a QoS control target input / output port shown in the QoS target table 525, 2) a QoS parameter output from the QoS control information conversion unit 314, and 3) generated by the Ethernet communication unit 330. The trigger detection table 324 is generated using the Ethernet address indicated in the port table 323. The trigger detection unit 506 uses this trigger detection table 324 to determine whether or not the QoS control corresponding to the data output from the QoS control target input / output port is necessary. The trigger detection process in the trigger detection unit 506 is the same as the process in the trigger detection unit 306.

<Processing Flow in Communication Network 410>
Next, the flow of processing in each communication apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 34 is a flowchart showing communication between the communication apparatuses in the fifth embodiment. Note that description of processing similar to that in the fourth embodiment is omitted.

  When a user selects a QoS control target input / output port by operating the QoS target specifying unit 503, selection information for specifying the selected input / output port is output to the selection information acquisition unit 504.

  The selection information acquisition unit 504 acquires the selection information, records the selection information in the QoS target table 525, and stores the QoS target table 525 in which the selection information is recorded in the storage unit 320 (see “QoS target designation” in FIG. 34). ").

  Thereafter, the bridge unit 307 acquires the address of the Ethernet device connected to the PLC adapter 500, and the type information acquisition unit 302 acquires the QoS type via the QoS type designation unit 301. Note that the order of obtaining the selection information, the address of the Ethernet device, and the QoS type may be any order.

  When the QoS type table 321 is stored, the QoS control information conversion unit 314 refers to the QoS control information conversion table 322 and determines a QoS parameter corresponding to the QoS type recorded in the QoS type table 321. The QoS control information conversion unit 314 outputs the determined QoS parameter to the trigger detection unit 506.

  Thereafter, the trigger detection unit 506 1) information specifying the QoS control target input / output port indicated by the QoS target table 525, 2) the QoS parameter output from the QoS control information conversion unit 314, and 3) the Ethernet communication unit 330. The trigger detection table 324 is generated using the Ethernet address indicated in the generated port table 323. The timing at which the trigger detection unit 506 generates the trigger detection table 324 is not particularly limited, and the trigger detection unit 506 may generate the trigger detection table 324 when the trigger detection table 324 can be generated.

  Since the subsequent processing flow is the same as the processing flow shown in FIG. 24, the description thereof is omitted.

<About a modification example of the QoS target specifying unit 503>
The QoS target specifying unit 503 is not a slide switch but a push button, a push button is provided in the vicinity of each input / output port, and whether to specify the input / output port as a QoS control target input / output port is specified for each input / output port. It may be configured as possible. The external appearance of the PLC adapter 500a in such a configuration is shown in FIG.

  As shown in the figure, a push button 503 a is provided near the first port 331, a push button 503 b is provided near the second port 332, and a push button 503 c is provided near the third port 333. Each time each push button is pressed, the setting and release of the QoS control target input / output port are switched.

  Even when a plurality of QoS control target input / output ports are specified, the QoS type specified by operating the QoS type specifying unit 301 is applied to all the QoS control target input / output ports.

  Each input / output port is provided with an LED as a QoS state presentation unit 305a-c. The PLC adapter 500a controls these LEDs to indicate whether the QoS setting is successful for each input / output port. Present. For example, when the bandwidth of the first port 331 can be secured but the bandwidth of the second port 332 cannot be secured, such a presentation method becomes significant.

  Further, it may be possible to determine whether each input / output port is designated as a QoS control target input / output port. For example, the LED may be turned off when the QoS control target input / output port is not designated, and may be turned on when designated. The success or failure of the QoS setting may be indicated at the same time by the light emission frequency and / or the light emission color when the LED is turned on. For example, if an I / O port is not designated as a QoS control target I / O port, the LED is turned off, the LED is blinked when the QoS setting fails, and the LED is always turned on when the QoS setting is successful. Can be considered.

  That is, the QoS state presentation units 305a to 305c may function as a QoS target presentation unit for the user to identify (distinguish) a QoS target output port from other output ports.

  Further, only one LED as the QoS state presentation unit 305 may be provided so that the state of QoS control can be determined by the color of the LED. For example, if the QoS setting is successful for all of the flows subject to QoS control, the LED is lit in green, and if the QoS setting for one or more flows is unsuccessful, the LED is lit in yellow If the QoS setting for all the flows fails or if there is no port designated as the QoS control target input / output port, the LED may be lit in red. The QoS control unit 310 performs such LED control.

  In addition, you may implement | achieve QoS state presentation part by methods other than providing LED, for example, a liquid crystal screen etc.

<Effects of the present embodiment>
As described above, since the PLC adapter 500 includes the QoS target specifying unit 503 (or 503a to 503c), any of the plurality of input / output ports can be specified as the QoS control target input / output port. Therefore, it is possible to easily specify a specific Ethernet device as a QoS control target without changing the input / output port to be connected in a state where the Ethernet device is connected to a plurality of input / output ports. .

[Sixth Embodiment]
In the present embodiment, a description will be given of a PLC adapter 600 including a QoS type designation unit corresponding to each of a plurality of QoS control target input / output ports. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the member similar to 4th and 5th embodiment, and the description is abbreviate | omitted. Further, the description of the processes already described in the first to fifth embodiments is omitted or simplified. In this embodiment, an example in which QoS control is performed by parameterized QoS (bandwidth guarantee) will be described, but prioritized QoS (priority control) may be applied to this embodiment.

  FIG. 36 is a configuration diagram of the communication network 420 in the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, unlike the communication network 400, the communication network 420 includes a PLC adapter 600 as a receiving-side PLC adapter.

  FIG. 37 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the PLC adapter 600. FIG. As shown in the figure, the PLC adapter 600 includes a QoS type designation unit 301a, a QoS type designation unit 301b, and a QoS type designation unit 301c for the first port 331, the second port 332, and the third port 333, respectively. A sliding switch is provided. Each input / output port is provided with an LED as a QoS state presentation unit 305a-c. As described above, only one LED serving as the QoS state presentation unit 305 may be provided so that the state of QoS control can be determined by the color of the LED.

  FIG. 38 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the PLC adapter 600. As shown in the figure, the PLC adapter 600 includes a type information acquisition unit 602, a QoS control information conversion unit 614, and a trigger detection unit 606.

  The type information acquisition unit 602 acquires the QoS type input by the user via the QoS type designation units 301a to 301c and records each QoS type in the QoS type table 621. The type information acquisition unit 602 stores the QoS type table 621 in which the QoS type is recorded in the storage unit 320.

  FIG. 39 is a diagram illustrating an example of the QoS type table 621. As shown in the figure, the QoS type table 621 includes a QoS control corresponding to each input / output port (first port 331, second port 332, third port 333) and a data packet output from the input / output port. This is a table in which the QoS types are associated with each other. In the example shown in FIG. 39, “HD” (HD video) is designated as the QoS type related to the first port 331, and QoS control is not designated for the second port 332 and the third port 333 (“ OFF ") state.

  The QoS control information conversion unit 614 converts the QoS type indicated in the QoS type table 621 into a QoS parameter used when the PLC adapter 200 performs QoS control by referring to the QoS control information conversion table 322. The QoS control information conversion unit 614 performs this conversion for all QoS types shown in the QoS type table 621 (that is, QoS types corresponding to each input / output port). The QoS control information conversion unit 614 associates the converted QoS parameter with the input / output port to which the QoS parameter is applied, and outputs it to the trigger detection unit 606.

  The trigger detection unit 606 uses a combination of input / output ports and QoS parameters output from the QoS control information conversion unit 614 and the Ethernet address indicated in the port table 323 generated by the Ethernet communication unit 330 to detect the trigger detection table. 624 is generated.

  FIG. 40 is a diagram illustrating an example of the trigger detection table 624. As shown in the figure, the trigger detection table 624 includes an address of an Ethernet device connected to each QoS control target input / output port, a QoS parameter corresponding to a data packet transmitted to the Ethernet device, and reception of the packet. It is a table in which history information is associated. This figure shows an example in which the QoS type related to the first port 331 is “HD” and the QoS control related to the second port 332 and the third port 333 is turned off.

  When the QoS type related to the third port 333 is, for example, “SD”, the Ethernet address (E2) of the PC 110 connected to the third port 333 and the QoS parameter for the data packet transmitted to the Ethernet device ( 6 Mbps) and the reception history information of the packet are added to the trigger detection table 624.

  The trigger detection unit 606 uses this trigger detection table 624 to determine whether or not the QoS control corresponding to the data packet output from the QoS control target input / output port is necessary. The trigger detection process in the trigger detection unit 606 is basically the same as the process in the trigger detection unit 306. However, the trigger detection unit 606 performs a trigger detection process for each QoS control target input / output port, more precisely, for each Ethernet device connected to the QoS control target input / output port.

<Processing Flow in Communication Network 420>
The processing flow in the communication network 420 is the same as that shown in FIG. However, as described above, the difference is that the trigger detection unit 606 performs trigger detection processing for each QoS control target input / output port. That is, when the reception of the data packet starts, the trigger detection unit 606 determines whether the above-described specific condition is satisfied for each QoS control target input / output port, and specifies the specific condition when the specific condition is satisfied. Trigger detection information including information specifying the QoS control target input / output port that satisfies the above condition is output to the QoS control unit 310.

  Upon receiving this trigger detection information, the connection request generation unit 313 generates a connection request packet related to a data packet output from the QoS control target input / output port indicated by the trigger detection information, and the PLC adapter 200 via the PLC communication unit 308. Send to. Further, the QoS setting request generation unit 312 generates a QoS setting request packet related to the data packet output from the QoS control target input / output port indicated by the trigger detection information, and transmits the QoS setting request packet to the PLC adapter 200 via the PLC communication unit 308.

<Effects of the present embodiment>
As described above, since the PLC adapter 600 includes the QoS type designation units respectively corresponding to the plurality of QoS control target input / output ports, even when there are a plurality of QoS control target input / output ports, the QoS control target input / output ports are provided. QoS control can be set every time. Therefore, it is possible to make the user more finely set the QoS control.

<When connecting multiple devices to a QoS control target I / O port via a hub>
A plurality of Ethernet devices such as the STB 100 and the PC 110 may be connected to one QoS control target input / output port via a hub. In this case, when priority control is performed only on data packets transmitted to the STB 100, since the reception rate of data packets received by the PC 110 is small, the trigger detection threshold is set higher than the reception rate of data packets received by the PC 110. If the reception rate of the data packet received by the STB 100 is set to be smaller than the reception rate of the data packet received by the STB 100, control is performed such that priority control is performed only on the data packet to the STB 100 without priority control on the data packet to the PC 110 be able to. In addition, when priority control is performed on both of the data packets transmitted to the STB 100 and the PC 110, the bandwidth is not compressed when the data packet is not transmitted. Therefore, when the QoS type is selected, the reception side The PLC adapter may perform processing for requesting priority control.

[Seventh Embodiment]
In the present embodiment, a description will be given of a PLC adapter 700 that recognizes an Ethernet device connected to a receiving-side PLC adapter as a QoS control target during the QoS control target selection mode. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the member similar to 4th Embodiment, and the description is abbreviate | omitted. Further, the description of the processing that has already been described in the first to sixth embodiments is omitted or simplified. In this embodiment, an example in which QoS control is performed by parameterized QoS (bandwidth guarantee) will be described, but prioritized QoS (priority control) may be applied to this embodiment.

  FIG. 41 is a configuration diagram of the communication network 430 in the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, unlike the communication network 400, the communication network 430 includes a PLC adapter 700 as a receiving-side PLC adapter.

  FIG. 42 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the PLC adapter 700. FIG. As shown in the figure, the PLC adapter 700 includes a push button as a mode switching unit (period information specifying means) 703. The mode switching unit 703 is a switch for switching between the normal mode and the QoS selection mode. The QoS selection mode is a mode for recognizing an Ethernet device subject to QoS control, and an Ethernet device connected to the PLC adapter 700 is recognized as a QoS control target during the QoS selection mode. In other words, the mode switching unit 703 is for the user to specify a period during which the Ethernet communication unit 730 described later acquires the address of the Ethernet device.

  The mode switching unit 703 only needs to allow the user to specify a period for recognizing the Ethernet device that is the target of QoS control, and may be a switch other than a push button, for example, a slide switch.

  The PLC adapter 700 is provided with a single QoS type designation unit 301. The QoS type designation unit 301 is provided for data packets transmitted to one or more Ethernet devices that are recognized as QoS control targets. This is for specifying a common QoS control type.

  FIG. 43 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the PLC adapter 700. As shown in the figure, the PLC adapter 700 includes the above-described mode switching unit 703, QoS selection period information acquisition unit 704, trigger detection unit 706, and Ethernet communication unit (identification information acquisition unit) 730.

  The QoS selection period information acquisition unit 704 acquires the QoS selection period information input by the user operating the mode switching unit 703, and outputs the QoS selection period information to the Ethernet communication unit 730. The QoS selection period information is information indicating a period for recognizing an Ethernet device to be subjected to QoS control. The Ethernet communication unit 730 acquires an Ethernet address (identification information) for identifying the Ethernet device connected to the PLC adapter 700 in the period indicated by the QoS selection period information.

  The QoS selection period information acquisition unit 704 may sequentially output information indicating the QoS selection mode or the normal mode to the Ethernet communication unit 730 as the QoS selection period information, or the QoS selection mode is designated. Only in such a case, information indicating that may be output to the Ethernet communication unit 730 as QoS selection period information.

  In addition, the QoS selection mode time (for example, 1 minute) is determined in advance, and the QoS selection period information acquisition unit 704 transmits information indicating that the QoS selection mode is selected to the Ethernet communication unit 730 as the QoS selection period information. It may be output. In this configuration, when a predetermined time elapses after the QoS selection mode is selected, the mode is switched from the QoS selection mode to the normal mode.

  Further, the QoS selection period information acquisition unit 704 sends information indicating that the QoS selection mode is selected while the user is pressing the push button as the mode switching unit 703 to the Ethernet communication unit 730 as the QoS selection period information. It may be output.

  In addition, a period during which the QoS selection mode is set may be determined in advance. For example, the QoS selection mode may be set for a certain time (for example, 30 seconds) after the power supply of the PLC adapter 700 is turned on. Information indicating the period of such a QoS selection mode may be stored in the storage unit 320. That is, the storage unit (period information storage unit) 320 stores period information indicating a period during which the Ethernet communication unit 730 acquires an Ethernet address. Then, the Ethernet communication unit 730 acquires the Ethernet address in the period indicated by the period information stored in the storage unit 320.

  In the following explanation, when the QoS selection mode is selected, the QoS selection period information acquisition unit 704 outputs QoS selection start information indicating that to the Ethernet communication unit 730, and when the QoS selection mode is canceled ( In other words, when the mode is changed to the normal mode), the QoS selection end information indicating that is output to the Ethernet communication unit 730.

  Note that during the QoS selection mode, it is preferable that the LED as the QoS state presentation unit 305 or the PLC state presentation unit 342 is lit in a specific color so that it can be distinguished from the normal mode. That is, the QoS state presentation unit 305 or the PLC state presentation unit 342 may function as a period information presentation unit that presents that it is in the QoS selection mode.

  Further, as described above, the LEDs as the QoS state presentation unit 305 may be integrated into one.

  The Ethernet communication unit 730 acquires the Ethernet address of the Ethernet device connected to the PLC adapter 700 after receiving the QoS selection start information from the QoS selection period information acquisition unit 704 until receiving the QoS selection end information. The acquired address is recorded in the address table 723. That is, the Ethernet communication unit 730 acquires the Ethernet address in a period specified via the mode switching unit 703.

  FIG. 44 is a diagram illustrating an example of the address table 723. As shown in the figure, the address table 723 includes the address of the Ethernet device and the QoS target specifying information that specifies which address of the Ethernet device connected to the input / output port during the QoS selection mode. It is a table. In the figure, the STB 100 having the Ethernet address “E1” is connected to the PLC adapter 700 during the QoS selection mode, and the PC 110 having the Ethernet address “E2” is connected to the PLC adapter 700 during the normal mode. An example is shown.

  Also, in the figure, the information “necessary” indicating that QoS control is necessary is given to the Ethernet address of the Ethernet device connected during the QoS selection mode. The information “unnecessary” indicating that QoS control is unnecessary is assigned to the Ethernet address of the Ethernet device that has not been connected. These pieces of information are the QoS target specifying information. The QoS target specifying information may be any information that can specify the Ethernet device connected to the own apparatus during the QoS selection mode.

  The trigger detection unit 706 uses the QoS parameter output from the QoS control information conversion unit 314 and the Ethernet address of the Ethernet device targeted for QoS control shown in the address table 723 generated by the Ethernet communication unit 730 to generate the trigger detection table 724. Generate. The trigger detection unit 706 uses this trigger detection table 724 to determine whether or not the QoS control corresponding to the data transmitted to the Ethernet device that is the QoS control target is necessary. The trigger detection process in the trigger detection unit 706 is the same as the process in the trigger detection unit 606.

<Processing Flow in Communication Network 430>
Next, the flow of processing in each communication apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 45 is a flowchart showing communication between the communication apparatuses in the seventh embodiment. Note that description of processing similar to that in the fourth embodiment is omitted.

  First, when the user selects the QoS selection mode by operating the mode switching unit 703 with the STB 100 connected to the first port 331 (“QoS target designation start operation” in FIG. 45), the information (QoS) is selected. (Selection period information) is output to the QoS selection period information acquisition unit 704.

  When receiving the information, the QoS selection period information acquisition unit 704 outputs QoS selection start information to the Ethernet communication unit 730.

  When receiving the QoS selection start information, the Ethernet communication unit 730 acquires the Ethernet address of the Ethernet device connected to the device at that time. This Ethernet address can be acquired by detecting the address of the transmission source given to some packet transmitted from the Ethernet device to the own device. Since the Ethernet device voluntarily transmits some packet for address discovery etc., the Ethernet address of each device can be acquired, but in order to acquire the address more reliably, from the PLC adapter to the Ethernet device, Any packet that requires a response may be sent. For example, it is conceivable to transmit an ARP packet.

  In the present embodiment, only the STB 100 is connected during the QoS selection mode, and the Ethernet communication unit 730 uses the source address (E1) of the packet received from the STB 100 during the QoS selection mode as the QoS control target Ethernet. It is recorded in the address table 723 as the device address. That is, the Ethernet communication unit 730 records the necessity of QoS as “necessary” for the Ethernet address E1 of the STB 100 (“address storage” in FIG. 45).

  Thereafter, when the user cancels the QoS selection mode by operating the mode switching unit 703 (“QoS target designation end operation” in FIG. 45), the information is output to the QoS selection period information acquisition unit 704 to select the QoS. The period information acquisition unit 704 outputs QoS selection end information to the Ethernet communication unit 730.

  When receiving the QoS selection end information, the Ethernet communication unit 730 ends the recognition of the Ethernet device subject to QoS control. That is, after receiving the QoS selection end information, the Ethernet communication unit 730 does not add the Ethernet device to the QoS control target even if it receives any packet from the Ethernet device connected to the own device.

  Therefore, when the PC 110 is connected to the third port 333 after the user cancels the QoS selection mode, the Ethernet communication unit 730 adds the Ethernet address (E2) of the PC 110 to the address table 723. , “QoS necessity” is recorded as “unnecessary”.

  Thereafter, the type information acquisition unit 302 acquires the QoS type via the QoS type designation unit 301. In addition, the trigger detection unit 706 uses the QoS parameter output from the QoS control information conversion unit 314 and the Ethernet address of the Ethernet device targeted for QoS control indicated in the address table 723 generated by the Ethernet communication unit 730. 724 is generated. When there are a plurality of Ethernet devices subject to QoS control, the same value is used for the QoS parameters for data packets transmitted to the Ethernet devices.

  The subsequent processing flow is basically the same as that shown in FIG. However, as described above, the difference is that the trigger detection unit 706 performs trigger detection processing for each Ethernet device to be QoS controlled.

  That is, when reception of a data packet starts, the trigger detection unit 706 determines whether or not the above-described specific condition is satisfied for each Ethernet device, and when the specific condition is satisfied, the specific condition is satisfied. The trigger detection information including the Ethernet address of the selected Ethernet device is output to the QoS control unit 310.

  Upon receiving this trigger detection information, the connection request generation unit 313 generates a connection request packet regarding a data packet transmitted to the Ethernet device having the Ethernet address included in the trigger detection information, and the PLC adapter via the PLC communication unit 308. 200. Further, the QoS setting request generation unit 312 generates a QoS setting request packet related to a data packet transmitted to the Ethernet device having the Ethernet address included in the trigger detection information, and transmits the QoS setting request packet to the PLC adapter 200 via the PLC communication unit 308. .

  That is, the QoS setting request generation unit 312 generates a QoS setting request packet for requesting to perform QoS control in the PLC network for data to be transmitted to the Ethernet device indicated by the Ethernet address acquired by the Ethernet communication unit 730. To do.

  Note that whichever comes first in the order of acquiring the Ethernet device address and QoS type.

<When multiple Ethernet devices are connected to one input / output port via a hub>
A plurality of Ethernet devices may be connected to one input / output port via a hub. In this case, the Ethernet communication unit 730 provides as many entries as the number of Ethernet addresses found in the address table 723, and the trigger detection unit 706 only performs trigger detection processing for each entry. There is no change in general processing.

<Effects of the present embodiment>
As described above, the PLC adapter 700 sets the QoS control for each Ethernet device connected to the self apparatus during the QoS selection mode. Therefore, QoS control can be individually set for each Ethernet device. In particular, even when a plurality of Ethernet devices are connected to one input / output port via a hub, QoS control can be individually set for each Ethernet device.

[Eighth Embodiment]
In the present embodiment, a description will be given of a PLC adapter 800 having a plurality of QoS control target input / output ports whose QoS control settings are determined in advance. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the member similar to 4th Embodiment, and the description is abbreviate | omitted. Further, the description of the processes already described in the first to seventh embodiments is omitted or simplified.

<Configuration of PLC adapter 800>
FIG. 46 is a configuration diagram of the communication network 440 in the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, unlike the communication network 400, the communication network 440 includes a PLC adapter 800 as a receiving-side PLC adapter. A VoIP server 180 is connected to the router 120 via the Internet, and a VoIP adapter 190 is connected to the PLC adapter 800. Although a telephone is connected to the VoIP adapter 190, it is not shown because it is not related to the essence of the invention. In addition, two VoIP adapters originally exchange data via a VoIP server, but FIG. 46 shows only one VoIP adapter.

  FIG. 47 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the PLC adapter 800. FIG. As shown in the figure, the PLC adapter 800 includes a first port 331 and a second port 332 as QoS control target input / output ports, and a third port 333 for performing normal data transmission. The first port 331 is an input / output port for STB, and the second port 332 is an input / output port for VoIP. The third port 333 is an input / output port for a device that performs normal transmission such as a PC.

  That is, in the three input / output ports of the PLC adapter 800, the presence / absence of QoS control corresponding to the data packet output therefrom and the type (setting contents) of the QoS control are determined in advance. Each input / output port is controlled so that the QoS control corresponding to the data packet output from each input / output port is the QoS control suitable for the Ethernet device assumed to be connected to the input / output port. On the other hand, the setting contents of QoS control are defined.

  The setting contents of the QoS control are stored in the storage unit 320. That is, the storage unit 320 stores QoS type information indicating the type of QoS control. Then, the QoS setting request generation unit 312 includes the QoS type information stored in the storage unit 320 as information for defining the content of the QoS control requested by the own device in the QoS setting request packet.

  Specifically, the STB connected to the first port 331 is assumed to receive streaming HD video, and the data packet output from the first port 331 has a bandwidth guarantee of 16 Mbps in the PLC section. It is stipulated that In addition, it is assumed that the VoIP adapter connected to the second port 332 performs bidirectional transmission of audio data of about 200 kbps from the VoIP server by streaming. It is specified that priority control is performed with high priority in the section. This is because a large bandwidth is not necessary when transmitting telephone voice data, but the data delay needs to be reduced.

  In addition, as a device connected to the third port 333, a PC or the like that receives data at a relatively low rate such as Web content from a Web server is assumed. Regarding data packets output from the third port 333, It is specified that normal transmission is performed in the PLC section. In addition to the PC, it is conceivable to connect a device having a Web browser function such as a game machine or TV.

  Note that the PLC adapter 800 may include a plurality of input / output ports of the same type.

  In addition, the QoS status presentation units 305a and 305b display the success or failure of the QoS setting as described above.

  FIG. 48 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the PLC adapter 800. As shown in the figure, the PLC adapter 800 includes a trigger detection unit 806, and a QoS control information table 821 is stored in the storage unit 320. In addition, the QoS control unit 310 does not include the QoS control information conversion unit 314.

  FIG. 49 is a diagram showing an example of the QoS control information table 821. The QoS control information table 821 is a table in which three input / output ports are associated with the presence / absence of QoS control corresponding to the data packet output therefrom and the type of QoS control.

  In the example shown in the figure, as the QoS control information, the QoS control method (bandwidth guarantee or priority control), the priority, and the bandwidth secured in the QoS control are defined for each input / output port. . The QoS control information defined in the QoS control information table 821 is not limited to that shown in FIG.

  The trigger detection unit 806 generates a trigger detection table 824 using the QoS control information for each input / output port shown in the QoS control information table 821 and the Ethernet address shown in the port table 323 generated by the Ethernet communication unit 330. Generate.

  FIG. 50 is a diagram illustrating an example of the trigger detection table 824. As shown in the figure, the trigger detection table 824 is a table in which the QoS control information for each input / output port shown in the QoS control information table 821 is associated with the Ethernet address of the Ethernet device. The STB 100 having the Ethernet address “E1” is connected to the first port 331, and the VoIP adapter 190 having the Ethernet address “E2” is connected to the second port 332. The QoS control information related to the first port 331 is associated, and “E2” is associated with the QoS control information related to the second port 332. Further, since the third port 333 is not subject to QoS control, the address (“E3”) of the PC 110 connected to the third port 333 is not registered in the trigger detection table 824.

  The trigger detection unit 806 uses this trigger detection table 824 to determine whether or not the QoS control corresponding to the data output from the QoS control target input / output port is necessary. The trigger detection process in the trigger detection unit 806 is the same as the process in the trigger detection unit 606.

<Processing Flow in Communication Network 440>
Next, the flow of processing in each communication apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 51 is a flowchart showing communication between communication devices in the eighth embodiment. Note that description of processing similar to that in the fourth embodiment is omitted.

  The Ethernet communication unit 330 acquires the Ethernet address of the Ethernet device by detecting the source address given to any packet transmitted from the Ethernet device to the own device, and stores the acquired Ethernet address in the port table 323. Record ("address storage" in FIG. 51).

  Thereafter, the trigger detection unit 806 uses the QoS control information for each input / output port indicated in the QoS control information table 821 and the Ethernet detection address generated in the port table 323 generated by the Ethernet communication unit 330 to detect the trigger detection table. 824 is generated.

  The subsequent processing flow is basically the same as that shown in FIG. However, as described above, the difference is that the trigger detection unit 806 performs trigger detection processing for each QoS control target input / output port.

  That is, when reception of a data packet starts, the trigger detection unit 806 determines whether or not the above-described specific condition is satisfied for each QoS control target input / output port, and specifies the specific condition when the specific condition is satisfied. Trigger detection information including information specifying the QoS control target input / output port that satisfies the above condition is output to the QoS control unit 310.

  Upon receiving this trigger detection information, the connection request generation unit 313 refers to the QoS control information table 821, and when requesting bandwidth guarantee, the data output from the QoS control target input / output port indicated by the trigger detection information. A connection request packet related to the packet is generated and transmitted to the PLC adapter 200 via the PLC communication unit 308. When requesting priority control, a connection request packet is not generated. Further, the QoS setting request generation unit 312 generates a QoS setting request packet related to the data packet output from the QoS control target input / output port indicated by the trigger detection information, and transmits the QoS setting request packet to the PLC adapter 200 via the PLC communication unit 308. At this time, the QoS setting request generation unit 312 refers to the QoS control information table 821 and requests a priority control by including the QoS parameter of the requested QoS control in the QoS setting request packet when requesting bandwidth guarantee. In this case, the priority is included in the QoS setting request packet.

  Further, as described above, in any case, the QoS setting request generation unit 312 includes the Ethernet address of the Ethernet device that is the QoS control target in the QoS setting request packet. In addition, since the VoIP adapter 190 also transmits a packet in the reverse direction to the VoIP server 180, the QoS setting request generation unit 312 internally issues an instruction to the PLC communication unit 308 so that the packet is subjected to priority control transmission. .

  Further, since data control transmitted to an Ethernet device that is not subject to QoS control does not require QoS control, normal data transmission is performed.

  In FIG. 51, the data transmitted from the VoIP server to the VoIP adapter is telephone voice data, and is transmitted and received in both directions. However, only one direction is shown to simplify the drawing. . In FIG. 51, “reception data determination” of data related to the VoIP adapter means an action of making or receiving a call.

<Effects of the present embodiment>
As described above, the PLC adapter 800 sets QoS control suitable for the Ethernet device that is assumed to be connected. Therefore, the user does not need to set QoS control suitable for the Ethernet device. Also, it is possible to perform appropriate QoS control settings for a plurality of Ethernet devices connected to the PLC adapter on the receiving side.

<Supplementary items common to each embodiment>
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope shown in the claims, and embodiments obtained by appropriately combining technical means disclosed in different embodiments. Is also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

  For example, various modifications described in the first to third embodiments may be applied to the fourth to eighth embodiments. Specifically, for example, in the fourth to eighth embodiments, the PLC adapter 200 may be separated into a PLC adapter as a master station and a PLC adapter as a transmission station as in the third embodiment. . Further, QoS release processing may be performed in the fourth to eighth embodiments. Since the contents of the processing when such a combination is performed are obvious to those skilled in the art from the above description, the description is omitted.

  Finally, each block of the communication device 10/20/30/40 and the PLC adapter 50/60/70/80/200/300/500/600/700/800, in particular, the QoS type management unit 12, 22, 32, 42. The 52, 62, 72, 82 and the QoS control unit 14, 24, 34, 44, 54, 64, 74, 84, 210, 310 may be configured by hardware logic, or the CPU may be configured as follows. And may be realized by software.

  That is, the communication devices 10, 20, 30, 40 and the PLC adapters 50, 60, 70, 80, 200, 300, 500, 600, 700, and 800 are CPUs (centralized CPUs) that execute instructions of a control program that realizes each function. processing unit), a ROM (read only memory) storing the program, a RAM (random access memory) for expanding the program, and a storage device (recording medium) such as a memory for storing the program and various data. . The object of the present invention is to control the communication devices 10, 20, 30, 40 and the PLC adapters 50, 60, 70, 80, 200, 300, 500, 600, 700, and 800, which are software that realizes the functions described above. A recording medium in which the program code (execution format program, intermediate code program, source program) of the program is recorded so as to be readable by a computer is supplied to the communication device 10, and the computer (or CPU or MPU) is recorded on the recording medium. This can also be achieved by reading and executing the program code.

  Examples of the recording medium include a tape system such as a magnetic tape and a cassette tape, a magnetic disk such as a floppy (registered trademark) disk / hard disk, and an optical disk such as a CD-ROM / MO / MD / DVD / CD-R. Card system such as IC card, IC card (including memory card) / optical card, or semiconductor memory system such as mask ROM / EPROM / EEPROM / flash ROM.

  Further, the communication devices 10, 20, 30, 40 and the PLC adapters 50, 60, 70, 80, 200, 300, 500, 600, 700, and 800 are configured to be connectable to a communication network, and the program code is connected to the communication network. You may supply via. The communication network is not particularly limited. For example, the Internet, intranet, extranet, LAN, ISDN, VAN, CATV communication network, virtual private network, telephone line network, mobile communication network, satellite communication. A net or the like is available. Further, the transmission medium constituting the communication network is not particularly limited. For example, even in the case of wired such as IEEE 1394, USB, power line carrier, cable TV line, telephone line, ADSL line, etc., infrared rays such as IrDA and remote control, Bluetooth ( (Registered trademark), 802.11 wireless, HDR, mobile phone network, satellite line, terrestrial digital network, and the like can also be used. The present invention can also be realized in the form of a computer data signal embedded in a carrier wave in which the program code is embodied by electronic transmission.

<About another expression of the present invention>
The present invention can also be expressed as follows.

  That is, the communication device of the present invention is a communication device as a reception-side communication device that receives data from a transmission-side communication device that transmits data, and the transmission-side communication when receiving data from the transmission-side communication device Includes QoS type reception unit that receives QoS type information indicating the priority of data reception for other receiving side communication devices that receive data from the device, QoS type information received by the QoS type reception unit, and the address of the own device A PLC communication unit that transmits the QoS setting request packet to the transmission side communication device.

  The communication apparatus of the present invention is a communication apparatus as a transmission side communication apparatus that transmits data to the reception side communication apparatus, and is a QoS setting request transmitted from the reception side communication apparatus, and is transmitted by the reception side communication apparatus. When receiving data from the side communication device, a QoS setting request including QoS type information indicating the priority of data reception with respect to another receiving side communication device and the address of the receiving side communication device that transmits the QoS setting request is received. The PLC communication unit to be received and the transmission priority corresponding to the priority indicated by the QoS type information included in the QoS setting request received by the PLC communication unit are transmitted to the receiving side communication device indicated by the address included in the QoS setting request. The QoS control unit to be assigned to the data to be transmitted and the data to which the transmission priority is assigned by the QoS control unit are included in the QoS setting request according to the transmission priority. And a PLC communication unit that transmits to the reception side communication apparatus indicated by the address.

  The communication device of the present invention includes a QoS type reception unit that receives QoS type information indicating the size of a transmission band when receiving data transmitted by the transmission side communication device, and QoS type information received by the QoS type reception unit. Includes a QoS type management unit that generates a QoS notification packet including information indicating the size of the transmission band indicated by, and a PLC communication unit that transmits the QoS notification packet generated by the QoS type management unit to the transmission side communication device. .

  Further, the communication device of the present invention includes at least one transmission side communication device that transmits data, at least one reception side communication device that receives data from the transmission side communication device, and a transmission side communication device according to a QoS setting request. A communication apparatus as a transmission side communication apparatus in a communication network including a control unit (master station) including a control unit that performs QoS control of data transmitted to the reception side communication apparatus, and a single reception side communication apparatus The PLC communication unit that receives the trigger detection notification for notifying the start of QoS control for the data received by the receiver, and the data received by the receiving communication device when the PLC communication unit receives the trigger detection notification And a QoS type management unit that transmits a QoS setting request for requesting the start of QoS control to the control device.

  In addition, the communication device of the present invention is a transmission-side communication device in a communication network including at least one transmission-side communication device that transmits data and at least one reception-side communication device that receives data from the transmission-side communication device. The communication device includes a QoS control unit that performs QoS control, and a PLC communication unit that receives a trigger detection notification that notifies the start of QoS control for data received by the reception-side communication device. When receiving the trigger detection notification, the QoS control unit starts QoS control (priority control).

  Moreover, the PLC adapter on the receiving side may have a function as a master station. In this case, the communication apparatus of the present invention is a communication on the receiving side in a communication network including at least one transmitting side communication apparatus that transmits data and at least one receiving side communication apparatus that receives data from the transmitting side communication apparatus. It is a communication device (master station) as a device, and includes a QoS control unit that performs QoS control. The QoS control unit receives data from the transmission side communication device (a condition for trigger detection is satisfied). In the case), QoS control is started.

  The communication device of the present invention is a PLC adapter (communication device) that relays data transmission between Ethernet (first network) and a PLC network (second network). The device on the receiving side connected to the PLC adapter sets the QoS in the PLC network for the flow received from the device on the transmitting side connected to the PLC adapter (via the PLC network) by the PLC network. A QoS type management unit (QoS setting control unit) is provided.

  In the communication apparatus according to the present invention, the trigger detection for detecting the timing for starting the QoS setting process and the QoS releasing process for generating the QoS releasing request by analyzing the transmission history or the receiving history of one or more packets. The QoS setting control means performs the QoS setting process at the timing at which the detected QoS setting process is started, and performs the QoS release process at the timing at which the detected QoS release process is started. Features.

  In this configuration, the trigger detection unit determines the start of the QoS setting process for performing the QoS control based on the packet transmission / reception history that the data transmission packet communication is started. Further, the trigger detection means determines the start of processing for releasing the transmission band reserved for QoS transmission based on the packet transmission / reception history that data transmission packet communication is no longer performed.

  The generated QoS release request is transmitted to the packet transmission source in the case of prioritized QoS, and is transmitted to the master station in the case of parameterized QoS.

  According to the above configuration, since the QoS setting is performed after the communication that should actually secure the QoS transmission band is started, the network of the network is uselessly before the communication that should still secure the QoS band is started. There is an effect that it is possible to prevent waste of securing the bandwidth. In addition, there is also an effect that it is possible to prevent waste that the QoS transmission band remains secured even though the actual QoS transmission is completed.

  Further, in the communication apparatus according to the present invention, in addition to the above configuration, the QoS setting control means starts the QoS setting process in accordance with the timing for starting the QoS setting process notified from the counterpart station of the packet communication, The QoS release process is started in accordance with the timing of starting the QoS release process for generating the QoS release request notified from the communication partner station.

  In this configuration, when the QoS setting control unit receives a packet indicating the timing for starting the QoS setting process from the partner station for packet communication, the QoS setting control unit starts the QoS setting process and starts the QoS release process from the partner station for packet communication. Is received, a QoS release process is started.

  According to the above configuration, the QoS setting is performed at the timing notified from the partner station of the packet communication. Therefore, before the timing for starting the QoS setting processing is notified, the network bandwidth is secured unnecessarily. This has the effect of preventing waste. In addition, there is an effect that it is possible to prevent waste that the QoS transmission band remains secured even after the timing for starting the QoS release process is notified.

  In addition to the above configuration, the communication device according to the present invention generates a QoS setting request and a QoS release request by generating a QoS setting request by analyzing a transmission history or a reception history of one or more packets. Trigger detection means for detecting the timing for starting the QoS release processing to be performed, and trigger detection notification means for notifying the other end of the packet communication of the detected timing.

  In this configuration, the trigger detection means determines the start of the QoS setting process for performing QoS control based on the packet transmission / reception history that the packet communication of the data transmission has been started, and starts the QoS setting process. Notify the communication partner station. The trigger detection means determines the start of processing for releasing the transmission band reserved for QoS transmission based on the packet transmission / reception history indicating that data transmission packet communication is no longer performed, and performs QoS release processing. Is notified to the other station of the packet communication.

  According to the above configuration, since the QoS setting is performed after the communication that should actually secure the QoS transmission band is started, the network of the network is uselessly before the communication that should still secure the QoS band is started. There is an effect that it is possible to prevent waste of securing the bandwidth. In addition, there is also an effect that it is possible to prevent waste that the QoS transmission band remains secured even though the actual QoS transmission is completed.

  In the communication apparatus according to the present invention, in addition to the above configuration, the QoS setting control means may be configured such that a predetermined time has elapsed since the QoS setting process was last successful, and the QoS setting process is not performed. Only when QoS control information different from the QoS control information used at the last success is specified, the QoS setting process is newly executed.

  In this configuration, for example, if the user designates an unintended QoS type by an incorrect operation and cancels the operation immediately, the state of the last successful QoS setting process is not changed.

  According to the above configuration, it is possible to prevent the QoS setting from being changed due to a user's erroneous operation or the like, so that it is possible to prevent the playback video and playback audio from being disturbed due to an unintended change in the QoS setting.

  In addition to the above-described configuration, the communication device according to the present invention further includes a storage unit that stores the first QoS type and the notification time immediately notified to the communication device that is transmitting a packet to the local station. The QoS type notification means includes a first time that has passed a predetermined time from the notification time, and a second QoS type newly received by the QoS type reception means. Only when they are different, the second QoS type is notified to the communication apparatus.

  In this configuration, for example, when the user designates an unintended QoS type due to an erroneous operation and cancels the operation immediately, the second QoS type is used for the communication device that is transmitting a packet to the local station. Not notified.

  According to the above configuration, it is possible to prevent the QoS setting from being changed due to a user's erroneous operation or the like, so that it is possible to prevent the playback video and playback audio from being disturbed due to an unintended change in the QoS setting.

  Further, in the communication apparatus according to the present invention, in addition to the above configuration, storage means for storing the first QoS control information notified immediately before to the communication apparatus transmitting the packet to the own station and the notification time thereof The QoS control information notifying means includes a first QoS control information and a second QoS newly accepted by the QoS type accepting means and a predetermined time has elapsed from the notice time. The second QoS control information is notified to the communication device only when the second QoS control information converted from the type by the QoS control information converting means is different.

  In this configuration, for example, when the user designates an unintended QoS type due to an erroneous operation and immediately cancels the operation, the second QoS control information is sent to the communication device that is transmitting the packet to the local station. Not notified.

  According to the above configuration, it is possible to prevent the QoS setting from being changed due to a user's erroneous operation or the like, so that it is possible to prevent the playback video and playback audio from being disturbed due to an unintended change in the QoS setting.

  In addition to the above configuration, the communication apparatus according to the present invention is further characterized by further comprising a state presentation unit that presents the state of the QoS setting process to the user.

  In this configuration, the status presenting means presents the status to the user, such as whether the QoS setting designated by the user has been started, being processed, succeeded, or failed.

  According to the above configuration, since the state of the QoS setting process is presented to the user, there is an effect that the user can correctly grasp the state of the QoS setting process for the operation for specifying the QoS type performed by the user. .

  In addition to the above-described configuration, the communication apparatus according to the present invention further includes a state presentation unit that presents the state of the QoS setting process to the user, and the QoS type reception unit is notified from a partner station of data communication communication. Further, the state of the QoS setting process in the partner station is passed to the state presenting means.

  In this configuration, the data communication partner station is notified of whether the QoS setting has been started at the data communication partner station, whether it is being processed, whether it has succeeded, or has failed. The status presentation means presents the notified status of the QoS setting process to the user.

  According to the above configuration, since the state of the QoS setting process being performed at the data communication partner station is presented to the user, there is an effect that the user can correctly grasp the state of the QoS setting process. .

  In addition to the above configuration, the communication apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that the QoS setting control means notifies the status of the QoS setting process to a partner station for data communication.

  In this configuration, the status is notified to the partner station of data communication, such as whether the QoS setting has been started, is being processed, has succeeded, or has failed.

  According to the above configuration, since the status of the QoS setting process is notified to the partner station of the data communication, there is an effect that the partner station of the data communication can correctly grasp the status of the QoS setting process.

  A communication apparatus according to the present invention, in a communication apparatus that receives a packet from a first network and outputs the packet to a second network, a QoS type receiving unit that receives a QoS control type of the packet, Among the output ports, QoS target port selection means for selecting an output port to be subjected to QoS setting processing, and QoS for converting the QoS type accepted by the QoS type acceptance means into QoS control information of the packet QoS setting control for performing QoS setting processing for generating a QoS setting request based on the converted QoS control information for the packet output to the output port selected by the control information converting unit and the QoS target port selecting unit Means.

  The communication apparatus according to the present invention is a communication apparatus that receives a packet from a first network and outputs the packet to a second network, a QoS type reception unit that receives a QoS control type of the packet, a normal communication mode, and a QoS target Means for switching between selection modes; QoS target device selection means for selecting a communication device in the second network connected to the local station as a QoS target during the QoS target selection mode; and the QoS type acceptance means QoS control information conversion means for converting the QoS type received by the QoS control information of the packet, and the QoS control information converted for the packet output to the communication apparatus selected by the QoS target apparatus selection means QoS to perform QoS setting processing to generate a QoS setting request based on And a constant means.

  The communication apparatus according to the present invention can easily set transmission quality in a network by a user and can effectively make QoS control function. Therefore, the communication apparatus can be applied to all network devices that require QoS setting by a user.

It is a functional block diagram of the communication apparatus in 1st Embodiment. It is a network block diagram in 1st Embodiment. It is an external view of the QoS classification reception part in 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows communication between each communication apparatus in 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the QoS releasing process in 1st Embodiment. It is a network block diagram in 2nd Embodiment. It is a functional block diagram of the PLC adapter in 2nd Embodiment. It is an external view of the QoS type reception part in 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows communication between each apparatus in 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the QoS releasing process in 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of the bandwidth allocation schedule of QoS in 2nd Embodiment. It is a network block diagram in 3rd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows communication between each apparatus in 3rd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the QoS releasing process in 3rd Embodiment. It is a network block diagram which shows the structure by which the some apparatus was connected to the PLC adapter via the hub. It is a figure which shows the structure of the communication network in 4th Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of the PLC adapter in 4th Embodiment. It is a functional block diagram which shows the structure of the receiving side PLC adapter in 4th Embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the QoS classification table which the said receiving side PLC adapter utilizes. It is a figure which shows an example of the QoS control information conversion table which the said receiving side PLC adapter utilizes. It is a figure which shows an example of the port table which the said receiving side PLC adapter utilizes. It is a figure which shows an example of the trigger detection table which the said receiving side PLC adapter utilizes. It is a functional block diagram which shows the structure of the transmission side PLC adapter in 4th Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows communication between each communication apparatus in 4th Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a process in the case of performing a trigger detection process in a transmission side PLC adapter. It is a figure which shows another example of a QoS classification table. It is a figure which shows another example of a QoS control information conversion table. It is a figure which shows another example of a trigger detection table. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a process in the case of performing priority control in 4th Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structure of the communication network in 5th Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of the PLC adapter in 5th Embodiment. It is a functional block diagram which shows the structure of the receiving side PLC adapter in 5th Embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the QoS object table which the said receiving side PLC adapter utilizes. It is a flowchart which shows communication between each communication apparatus in 5th Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows another external appearance of the PLC adapter in 5th Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structure of the communication network in 6th Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of the PLC adapter in 6th Embodiment. It is a functional block diagram which shows the structure of the receiving side PLC adapter in 6th Embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the QoS classification table which the said receiving side PLC adapter utilizes. It is a figure which shows an example of the trigger detection table which the said receiving side PLC adapter utilizes. It is a figure which shows the structure of the communication network in 7th Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of the PLC adapter in 7th Embodiment. It is a functional block diagram which shows the structure of the receiving side PLC adapter in 7th Embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the address table which the said receiving side PLC adapter utilizes. It is a flowchart which shows communication between each communication apparatus in 7th Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structure of the communication network in 8th Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of the PLC adapter in 8th Embodiment. It is a functional block diagram which shows the structure of the receiving side PLC adapter in 8th Embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the QoS control information table which the said receiving side PLC adapter utilizes. It is a figure which shows an example of the trigger detection table which the said receiving side PLC adapter utilizes. It is a flowchart which shows communication between each communication apparatus in 8th Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

10, 20, 30, 40 Communication device 11, 21, 31, 41 QoS type accepting unit (QoS type accepting means)
12, 22, 32, 42 QoS type management unit (QoS control information conversion means, QoS setting control means, QoS type request means, QoS type notification means, QoS control information request means, QoS control information notification means, QoS type management means)
14, 24, 34, 44 QoS control unit (QoS setting control means, QoS control means)
15, 25, 35, 45 Communication unit (reception means, data transmission means, communication means)
50, 60, 70, 80 PLC adapter 51, 61, 71, 81 QoS type reception unit (QoS type reception unit)
52, 62, 72, 82 QoS type management unit (QoS control information conversion means, QoS setting control means, QoS type request means, QoS type notification means, QoS control information request means, QoS control information notification means, QoS type management means)
54, 64, 74, 84 QoS control unit (QoS setting control means, QoS control means)
55a, 65a, 75a, 85a PLC communication unit (reception means, data transmission means, communication means)
56, 66, 76, 86 Status presentation unit (status presentation means)
58, 68, 78, 88 Bridge unit (QoS setting control means, bridge information acquisition means, flow identification information acquisition means)
59, 69, 79, 89 Trigger detection unit (trigger detection means, trigger detection notification means, QoS setting control means, flow identification information acquisition means)
100 STB (Ethernet equipment)
110 PC (Ethernet equipment)
190 VoIP adapter (Ethernet equipment)
200 PLC adapter (communication device)
208 PLC communication unit (transmission means)
214 QoS Setting Unit (Control Device)
232 Second port (output port)
300 PLC adapter (communication device)
301 QoS type designation unit (QoS type designation unit)
301a, 301b, 301c QoS type designation unit (QoS type designation unit)
305a, 305b, 305c QoS status presentation unit (QoS target presentation means)
308 PLC communication unit (transmission means)
312 QoS setting request generation unit (QoS setting request generation means)
320 storage unit (QoS type storage means, period information storage means)
331 1st port (output port)
332 Second port (output port)
333 3rd port (output port)
342 PLC status presentation unit (period information presentation means)
500 PLC adapter (communication device)
500a PLC adapter (communication device)
503 QoS target designation unit (QoS target selection means)
503a, 503b, 503c push buttons (QoS target selection means)
600 PLC adapter (communication device)
700 PLC adapter (communication device)
703 Mode switching unit (period information specifying means)
800 PLC adapter (communication device)

Claims (17)

A communication device that receives data from a network and outputs the received data to a device that is communicably connected to the device,
A plurality of output ports for outputting data to the device;
Any one of the plurality of output ports is set as a QoS target output port, and a QoS setting request for requesting to perform QoS control in the network for data output from the QoS target output port is generated. A communication apparatus comprising: a setting request generation unit. A communication device that receives data from a network and transmits the received data to a device that is communicably connected to the device,
Identification information acquisition means for acquiring identification information for identifying the device;
QoS setting request generating means for generating a QoS setting request for requesting to perform QoS control in the network for data to be transmitted to the device indicated by the identification information acquired by the identification information acquiring means. A communication device. A QoS type storage means for storing QoS type information indicating a type of QoS control;
The QoS setting request generation unit includes the QoS type information stored in the QoS type storage unit as information for specifying the content of the QoS control requested by the own device in the QoS setting request. The communication device according to claim 1 or 2. A QoS type specifying means for the user to specify QoS type information indicating the type of QoS control;
The QoS setting request generating unit includes the QoS type information specified by the QoS type specifying unit as information for defining the content of the QoS control requested by the own device in the QoS setting request. Item 3. The communication device according to Item 1 or 2.   The communication apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a QoS type presenting unit that presents the QoS type information.   The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein which output port of the plurality of output ports is the QoS target output port is determined in advance. .   The QoS target selection means for a user to select any one of the plurality of output ports as the QoS target output port is further provided, according to any one of claims 1 and 3-5. Communication equipment.   The communication apparatus according to any one of claims 1 and 3 to 7, further comprising a QoS target presentation unit for a user to identify the QoS target output port and other output ports. A period information storage unit for storing period information indicating a period during which the identification information acquisition unit acquires the identification information;
The communication apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the identification information acquisition unit acquires the identification information in a period indicated by the period information stored in the period information storage unit. A period information specifying unit for the user to specify a period during which the identification information acquiring unit acquires the identification information;
The communication apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the identification information acquisition unit acquires the identification information in a period designated via the period information designation unit.   11. The communication apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a period information presentation unit that presents that the identification information acquisition unit is in a period of acquiring the identification information. .   The communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a transmission unit that transmits the QoS setting request generated by the QoS setting request generation unit to a control device that performs the QoS control.   The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the network is a communication network using a power line.   A control program for operating the communication device according to claim 1, wherein the computer functions as each of the means.   The computer-readable recording medium which recorded the control program of Claim 14. A method for controlling a communication device that receives data from a network and outputs the received data to a device that is communicably connected to the device,
The communication device includes a plurality of output ports for outputting data to the device,
Any one of the plurality of output ports is set as a QoS target output port, and a QoS setting request for requesting to perform QoS control in the network for data output from the QoS target output port is generated. A control method for a communication apparatus, comprising a setting request generation step. A method for controlling a communication device that receives data from a network and outputs the received data to a device that is communicably connected to the device,
An identification information acquisition step of acquiring identification information for identifying the device;
A QoS setting request generating step for generating a QoS setting request for requesting to perform QoS control in the network for data to be transmitted to the device indicated by the identification information acquired in the identification information acquiring step. A method for controlling a communication device, which is characterized.

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