JP6098283B2 - COMMUNICATION SPEED LIMITATION PROGRAM, COMMUNICATION SPEED LIMITATION DEVICE, AND COMMUNICATION SPEED LIMITATION METHOD - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication speed restriction program, a communication speed restriction device, and a communication speed restriction method.

  As a charge plan for data communication related to mobile devices capable of high-speed communication such as mobile Wi-Fi routers and smartphones, a fixed monthly fee system according to the upper limit speed is used.

JP 2004-48356 A JP 2012-29159 A

  However, the user does not always use data communication at the upper limit speed according to the charge plan. For example, there are users who rarely use high-speed communication but use high-speed communication only in specific cases.

  Therefore, the inventor of the present application examined the possibility of immediate change of the upper limit of the speed of data communication via, for example, a network.

  However, if an immediate change is allowed freely, there is a possibility that the network bandwidth is insufficient due to temporary concentration of high-speed communication.

  In view of this, an object of one aspect is to ensure flexibility with respect to communication speed limitations.

  In one plan, the communication speed restriction program includes identification information of each of the plurality of communication devices transmitted from any of the plurality of communication devices to a communication speed restriction device that restricts the communication speed of the communication device. In response to one request, the upper limit of the communication speed of any one of the plurality of communication devices is increased from the value set for the identification information of the communication device, and communication of other communication devices is performed. The upper limit of the speed is lowered from a value set in advance for each identification information of the other communication device, and the speed of communication by the communication device is limited within the range of the increased or decreased upper limit. Execute the process.

  According to one aspect, it is possible to ensure flexibility with regard to communication speed limitation.

It is a figure which shows the structural example of the communication system in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the hardware structural example of the carrier server in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the outline | summary of embodiment of this invention. It is a sequence diagram for demonstrating an example of the process sequence performed in a communication system. It is a figure which shows the structural example of an authentication information storage part. It is a figure which shows the structural example of a contract information storage part. It is a figure which shows the structural example of a restriction | limiting information storage part. It is a sequence diagram for demonstrating an example of the process sequence of a pairing process. It is a flowchart for demonstrating an example of the process sequence of the determination process of the speed after relaxation. It is a sequence diagram for demonstrating the 1st example of the process sequence of a parent-child relationship cancellation process. It is a sequence diagram for demonstrating the 2nd example of the process sequence of a parent-child relationship cancellation process.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the communication system 1 shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of mobile routers 20 such as a mobile router 20a and a mobile router 20b can communicate with the carrier server 10 via a mobile communication network N1 or the like.

  The mobile router 20 is a communication device such as a mobile Wi-Fi router or a smartphone having a tethering function. The tethering function refers to a function that behaves like an external modem and connects another communication terminal to the mobile communication network N1. A fixed communication device having the same function as a mobile Wi-Fi router or a smartphone having a tethering function may be used instead of the mobile router 20.

  Each mobile router 20 mediates connection of one or more communication terminals to the mobile communication network N1. The communication terminal is, for example, a mobile phone, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, or a PC (Personal Computer). The upper limit value of the communication speed by each communication terminal via the mobile communication network N1 is the upper limit value of the communication speed of the mobile router 20 through which the communication terminal passes. For communication between the mobile router 20 and the communication terminal, for example, Wi-Fi compliant wireless LAN (Local Area Network) communication is used. However, the communication does not necessarily conform to Wi-Fi.

  The upper limit value of the communication speed (communication band) of each mobile router 20 is concluded between the user of the mobile router 20 and a communication carrier (carrier) that provides communication services for the mobile router 20. It is defined in the contract.

  The carrier server 10 is, for example, a computer managed by a telecommunications carrier, and controls communication via the mobile communication network N1. 1, the carrier server 10 includes a contract management unit 11, an authentication unit 12, a gateway unit 13, a contract information storage unit 121, an authentication information storage unit 122, a restriction information storage unit 123, and the like.

  The contract management unit 11 manages information indicating contract contents of each mobile router 20 (hereinafter referred to as “contract information”). The contract information includes an upper limit value of communication speed. The contract information storage unit 121 stores contract information for each mobile router 20. The carrier server 10 controls the communication of various communication devices such as a mobile phone and an in-vehicle device in addition to the mobile router 20, but in the present embodiment, for convenience, the description will be given focusing on the mobile router 20. Do.

  The authentication unit 12 authenticates each mobile router 20. The mobile router 20 authenticated by the authentication unit 12 is allowed to communicate via the mobile communication network N1. The authentication unit 12 also temporarily changes the upper limit value of the communication speed set in advance (fixed by contract) for each mobile router 20. The upper limit value after the change is notified to the gateway unit 13. The authentication information storage unit 122 stores an ID, a password, and the like, which are examples of information for authenticating each mobile router 20. The authentication unit 12 authenticates the mobile router 20 by comparing the ID and password presented by the mobile router 20 with the ID and password stored in the authentication information storage unit 122.

  The gateway unit 13 limits the communication speed of mobile communication by each mobile router 20. That is, the communication speed of each mobile router 20 is limited by the gateway unit 13 within the range of the upper limit value set in advance based on the contract or the upper limit value changed by the authentication unit 12. The restriction information storage unit 123 stores information including the upper limit value of the communication speed for each mobile router 20.

  Note that the contract management unit 11, the authentication unit 12, and the gateway unit 13 may be realized on different computers. That is, the carrier server 10 may be a computer system including a plurality of computers.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of the carrier server according to the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the carrier server 10 includes a drive device 100, an auxiliary storage device 102, a memory device 103, a CPU 104, and an interface device 105 that are connected to each other via a bus B.

  A program for realizing processing in the carrier server 10 is provided by the recording medium 101. When the recording medium 101 on which the program is recorded is set in the drive device 100, the program is installed from the recording medium 101 to the auxiliary storage device 102 via the drive device 100. However, the program need not be installed from the recording medium 101 and may be downloaded from another computer via a network. The auxiliary storage device 102 stores the installed program and also stores necessary files and data.

  The memory device 103 reads the program from the auxiliary storage device 102 and stores it when there is an instruction to start the program. The CPU 104 implements each unit (contract management unit 11, authentication unit 12, gateway unit 13) related to the carrier server 10 in accordance with a program stored in the memory device 103. The interface device 105 is used as an interface for connecting to a network.

  An example of the recording medium 101 is a portable recording medium such as a CD-ROM, a DVD disk, or a USB memory. An example of the auxiliary storage device 102 is an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or a flash memory. Both the recording medium 101 and the auxiliary storage device 102 correspond to computer-readable recording media. The contract information storage unit 121, the authentication information storage unit 122, and the restriction information storage unit 123 may be realized using the auxiliary storage device 102.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the outline of the embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, when a plurality of mobile routers 20 are aggregated and a parent-child relationship with one of them as a parent is formed, communication via the mobile communication network N1 (hereinafter, referred to as the parent mobile router 20). "Mobile communication") is performed centrally. That is, after the parent-child relationship is formed, the child mobile router 20 is in a state where mobile communication is not permitted. Instead, the parent mobile router 20 is allowed to communicate exceeding the contracted communication speed limit.

  In FIG. 3, (1) indicates that the contractual upper limit value of the communication speed of each of the mobile routers 20a and 20b is 3 Mbps.

  (2) is an example in which a parent-child relationship is formed between the mobile routers 20a and 20b, and the upper limit value of the communication speed of the parent mobile router 20a (hereinafter referred to as “master unit 20a”) is changed to 20 Mbps. It is shown. In this case, the child mobile router 20b (hereinafter referred to as "child device 20b") is in a state where communication is not possible (that is, a state where the upper limit value is 0 Mbps). Therefore, in (1), the communication terminal that has performed communication via the slave unit 20b performs communication via the master unit 20a.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, a plurality of mobile routers 20 are aggregated, so that a communication speed higher than the contract is permitted for base unit 20a. As a result, a temporary plan change can be realized substantially. Each communication terminal that has been performing mobile communication via the mobile router 20a or 20b can use higher-speed mobile communication via the parent device 20a.

  The upper limit value of the communication speed of the parent device 20a may be determined according to the number of mobile routers 20 that have formed a parent-child relationship, contract information of each mobile router 20 that has formed a parent-child relationship, and the like. For example, the upper limit value of the communication speed of the parent device 20a may be increased as a large number of mobile routers 20 are gathered.

  In addition, the state as shown in (2) of FIG. 3 is, for example, in a place where acquaintances gather temporarily such as a temporary opening office, a work site, a conference room, a meeting place, or a university lounge. This is useful when you want to share high-speed communications on the Internet.

  It is also effective in avoiding exhaustion of radio resources by aggregating each person's communication in places where people who do not know each other gather, such as at an event venue.

  A state as shown in (2) of FIG. 3 may be applied to situations other than the above.

  Hereinafter, a processing procedure executed in the communication system 1 will be described. FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram for explaining an example of a processing procedure executed in the communication system. In FIG. 4, only one slave unit 20b is shown, but a plurality of slave units 20b may exist for one master unit 20a. Therefore, the axis | shaft of the subunit | mobile_unit 20b in FIG. 4 may respond | correspond to the some subunit | mobile_unit 20b.

  Steps S101 to S107 are connection processes executed at the start of mobile communication, such as when the mobile router 20 is started. Therefore, in FIG. 4, steps S101 to S107 are shown only for the parent device 20a, but the processing similar to steps S101 to S107 is also executed for the child device 20b at the time of activation or the like.

  In step S <b> 101, the mobile router 20 specifies the ID and password set in the mobile router 20 and transmits a connection request to the gateway unit 13. The gateway unit 13 requests the authentication unit 12 to perform authentication based on the ID and password (S102). The authentication unit 12 performs authentication processing by comparing the ID and password with the ID and password stored in the authentication information storage unit 122.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the authentication information storage unit. In FIG. 5, the authentication information storage unit 122 stores an ID, a password, a telephone number, a contract speed, etc. for each mobile router 20. The ID, password, and telephone number are the ID, password, and telephone number of the mobile router 20 and are stored in the authentication information storage unit 122 in advance. The contract speed is an upper limit value of the communication speed corresponding to the plan contracted with the mobile router 20, and is an item for caching the value stored in the contract information storage unit 121.

  In the authentication process by the authentication unit 12, if a record including a pair of ID and password to be authenticated is stored in the authentication information storage unit 122, it is determined that the authentication is successful. On the other hand, when the record including the set is not stored in the authentication information storage unit 122, it is determined that the authentication has failed. If authentication fails, the subsequent processing is not executed. Therefore, in this case, the mobile router 20 cannot perform mobile communication.

  If the authentication is successful, the authentication unit 12 requests the contract management unit 11 to inquire about contract information (S103). In the request, for example, a telephone number (hereinafter referred to as “target telephone number”) stored in the authentication information storage unit 122 in association with the authenticated ID and password is designated. The contract management unit 11 acquires the contract information corresponding to the target telephone number from the contract information storage unit 121.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the contract information storage unit. In FIG. 6, the contract information storage unit 121 stores contract information including a telephone number, a contract plan name, a fee, an upper limit speed, and the like for each mobile router 20. The contract plan name is the name of a communication service plan (contract plan) contracted for the mobile router 20. The fee is, for example, a monthly fee for a contract plan. The upper limit speed is an upper limit value of the communication speed of the contract plan.

  The contract management unit 11 returns a response including the contract information acquired from the contract information storage unit 121 to the authentication unit 12 (S104). The authentication unit 12 sends back to the gateway unit 13 a response including successful authentication, an ID corresponding to the target telephone number, and an upper limit speed corresponding to the target telephone number (S105). The gateway unit 13 stores the upper limit speed in the restriction information storage unit 123 in association with the ID corresponding to the target telephone number.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the restriction information storage unit. In FIG. 7, the restriction information storage unit 123 stores an ID, an upper limit speed, and the like for each mobile router 20 that has started communication. In the upper limit speed, the value of the upper limit speed returned from the authentication unit 12 in step S105 is stored.

  Subsequently, the gateway unit 13 returns a response indicating permission of connection to the mobile router 20 (S106). When receiving the response, the mobile router 20 starts mobile communication (S107). The gateway unit 13 performs control so that the communication speed of mobile communication of the mobile router 20 is within the range of the upper limit speed stored in the restriction information storage unit 123 for the ID of the mobile router 20.

  Regarding the parent device 20a and the child device 20b, step S111 and subsequent steps are executed in a state where the processing of steps S101 to S107 is being executed. Step S111 and subsequent steps are processing for realizing the state described in FIG.

  In step S111, a pairing process is executed between the parent device 20a and the child device 20b. The pairing process is a process for forming a parent-child relationship between the parent device 20a and the child device 20b. Details of the pairing process will be described later. Note that short-distance wireless communication such as BlueTooth (registered trademark) or infrared communication may be used for communication between the parent device 20a and the child device 20b. As a result of the pairing process, the parent device 20a stores the telephone number of the child device 20b and identification information for identifying the child device 20b in short-range wireless communication. The subunit | mobile_unit 20b memorize | stores the identification information for identifying the main | base station 20a in near field communication.

  When the pairing process is completed, the parent device 20a obtains the telephone number of the parent device 20a (hereinafter referred to as “parent phone number”) and the telephone number of the child device 20b (hereinafter referred to as “child phone number”). The restriction relaxation request is transmitted to the gateway unit 13 (S112). The restriction relaxation request is a message for requesting relaxation (increase) of the restriction (upper limit value) of the communication speed contracted with the parent device 20a.

  When receiving the restriction relaxation request, the gateway unit 13 transfers the restriction relaxation request to the authentication unit 12 (S113). The authentication unit 12 requests the contract management unit 11 to inquire about the contract information corresponding to the parent phone number and the child phone number specified in the restriction relaxation request (S114). The contract management unit 11 acquires the contract information corresponding to each of the parent phone number and the child phone number from the contract information storage unit 121 and returns it to the authentication unit 12 (S115). In step S115, only the upper limit speed in the contract information may be returned. The authentication unit 12 determines the upper limit speed included in the contract information of each of the parent device 20a and the child device 20b in the authentication information storage unit 122 of the contract speed of each record corresponding to the parent phone number or the child phone number. Remember to item.

  Subsequently, the authentication unit 12 executes a process for determining an upper limit speed after restriction relaxation related to the parent device 20a (hereinafter referred to as “relieved speed”) (S116). In the example of (2) of FIG. 3, it is determined that the upper limit value of the communication speed of the parent device 20a is 20 Mbps by the determination process. Details of the determination process will be described later. Subsequently, the authentication unit 12 returns a response including the post-relaxation speed determined for the parent device 20a and the closing instruction of the child device 20b to the gateway unit 13 (S117). Blocking means prohibiting or stopping communication by the slave unit 20b. The relaxed speed is returned to the gateway unit 13 in association with the ID of the parent device 20a, and the closing instruction of the child device 20b is returned in association with the ID of the child device 20b.

  Subsequently, the gateway unit 13 reflects the response from the authentication unit 12 in the restriction information storage unit 123 (S118). Specifically, the gateway unit 13 changes the value of the upper limit speed corresponding to the ID of the parent device 20a to the post-relaxation speed. Further, the gateway unit 13 changes the value of the upper limit speed corresponding to the ID of the child device 20b to a value (for example, 0) indicating blockage.

  Subsequently, the gateway unit 13 transmits a notification indicating that the upper limit speed has been relaxed to the parent device 20a (S119). Further, the gateway unit 13 transmits a notification indicating that communication is blocked to the slave unit 20b (S120). The subunit | mobile_unit 20b which received the said response stops mobile communication.

  On the other hand, base unit 20a continues the mobile communication (S121). At this time, the communication speed by the base unit 20a is limited based on the upper limit speed stored for the base unit 20a in the limit information storage unit 123 of the gateway unit 13. Therefore, the base unit 20a can perform communication at a higher speed than before the restriction relaxation. That is, the state shown in (2) of FIG. 3 is realized. As a result, each communication terminal can perform mobile communication at a speed higher than the contracted communication speed via the parent device 20a.

  Subsequently, the parent device 20a periodically performs communication for confirming the presence of the child device 20b via short-range wireless communication (S131). For example, when the parent device 20a transmits a presence confirmation message to the child device 20b, the child device 20b sends back a response to the message, thereby confirming the existence of the child device 20b.

  Thereafter, when the parent-child relationship cancellation processing is executed (S132), the parent device 20a designates the parent phone number and the child phone number, and transmits a restriction relaxation release request to the gateway unit 13 (S133). The restriction relaxation release request is a message for requesting release or termination of communication speed restriction relaxation. That is, the restriction relaxation release request is a message requesting that the communication speed limit be returned to the upper limit value in the contract.

  Upon receiving the restriction relaxation release request, the gateway unit 13 transfers the restriction relaxation release request to the authentication unit 12 (S134). The authentication unit 12 acquires the contract speed for each of the parent phone number and the child phone number specified in the restriction relaxation release request from the authentication information storage unit 122. Subsequently, the authentication unit 12 sends a response including the contract speed acquired for each of the parent device 20a and the child device 20b to the gateway unit 13 in association with each ID of the parent device 20a and the child device 20b. A reply is made (S135).

  Subsequently, the gateway unit 13 reflects the response from the authentication unit 12 in the restriction information storage unit 123 (S135). Specifically, the gateway unit 13 changes the value of the upper limit speed corresponding to the ID of the parent device 20a to the contract speed for the parent device 20a. Further, the gateway unit 13 changes the value of the upper limit speed corresponding to the ID of the child device 20b to the contract speed for the child device 20b.

  Subsequently, the gateway unit 13 transmits a notification indicating that the relaxation of the upper limit speed has been canceled to the parent device 20a (S137). In addition, the gateway unit 13 transmits a notification indicating that the blockage has been released to the child device 20b (S138).

  As a result, the communication speed related to the parent device 20a is limited by the gateway unit 13 within the contract speed range of the parent device 20a (S139). Moreover, the subunit | mobile_unit 20b restarts mobile communication (S140). At this time, the communication speed related to the slave unit 20b is limited by the gateway unit 13 within the contract speed range of the slave unit 20b.

  In FIG. 4, the restriction relaxation request in step S112 and the restriction relaxation release request in step S133 may be transmitted not from the parent device 20a but from the child device 20b. When there are a plurality of slave units 20b and it is not possible to identify which is the master unit 20a, which of the phone numbers specified in these requests is the phone number of the master unit 20a, or the phone number of the slave unit 20b May be added to the request.

  Next, details of step S111 will be described. FIG. 8 is a sequence diagram for explaining an example of the processing procedure of the pairing process. The process in FIG. 8 is executed, for example, under an agreement for pairing between the user of the parent device 20a and the user of the child device 20b. Note that the user of the parent device 20a and the user of the child device 20b may be the same person.

  For example, the base unit 20a starts waiting for reception of a pairing request from another mobile router 20 in response to an operation by the user (S201). The standby for receiving the pairing request is performed for a predetermined time, for example. Then, the subunit | mobile_unit 20b transmits a pairing request | requirement via near field communication according to operation by a user (S202). When receiving the pairing request within a predetermined time from the start of reception of the pairing request, the parent device 20a recognizes the presence of the child device 20b based on the pairing request (S203). If a pairing request is received from the plurality of slave units 20b within the predetermined time, steps S204 and S205 are executed for the plurality of slave units 20b.

  Subsequently, the parent device 20a requests the child device 20b to notify the telephone number (S204). In response to the request, the slave unit 20b responds with the telephone number of the slave unit 20b (S205). Subsequently, base unit 20a transmits the restriction relaxation request described in step S112 of FIG.

  Before transmitting the restriction relaxation request in step S112, the parent device 20a may display a list of telephone numbers of the child device 20b related to the received pairing request. The base unit 20a may transmit a restriction relaxation request when a user who has confirmed the list inputs a restriction relaxation request transmission instruction. When an unexpected telephone number is included in the list, the user of the parent device 20a can avoid the formation of an unexpected parent-child relationship with another mobile router 20 that happened to be in a short distance. For example, it is possible to prevent the piggyback of the restriction relaxation by a malicious person.

  Next, details of the process of step S116 will be described. FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the processing procedure of the post-relaxation speed determination process.

  In step S301, the authentication unit 12 determines whether there is an upper limit for the communication speed of the parent device 20a based on the contract information of the parent device 20a returned from the contract management unit 11 (S301). This determination takes into consideration the possibility that a plan having no upper limit on the communication speed is contracted. When there is no upper limit to the communication speed of the parent device 20a (No in S302), the authentication unit 12 determines to reject the restriction relaxation request. This is because when there is no upper limit to the communication speed, the significance of relaxing the restriction is not recognized. Therefore, in this case, a response indicating rejection of the restriction relaxation request is returned to the gateway unit 13 and the restriction information storage unit 123 is not updated.

  When there is an upper limit in the communication speed of the parent device 20a (Yes in S301), the authentication unit 12 determines whether there is an upper limit for the communication speed of the child device 20b based on the contract information of the child device 20b returned from the contract management unit 11 Is determined (S303). When there is no upper limit on the communication speed of the slave unit 20b (No in S303), the authentication unit 12 switches the upper limit rate of the master unit 20a and the upper limit rate of the slave unit 20b (S304). That is, the upper limit speed of the slave unit 20b is set as the post-relaxation speed of the master unit 20a. In this case, the upper limit speed of the child device 20b is returned to the gateway unit 13 in association with the ID of the parent device 20a. Further, the upper limit speed of the parent device 20a is returned to the gateway unit 13 in association with the ID of the child device 20b. When there are a plurality of slave units 20b, step S304 may be executed when there is no upper limit to the communication speed of any slave unit 20b. In this case, the slave device 20b having no upper limit on the communication speed may be a target for replacement with the upper limit speed of the master device 20a. In addition, when step S304 is performed, communication of the subunit | mobile_unit 20b may be maintained with the upper limit speed replaced with the main | base station 20a, or the upper limit speed (contractually) from the beginning, without being obstruct | occluded. . That is, the relaxation of the upper limit speed of the parent device 20a may be compensated by lowering the upper limit speed of the child device 20b whose upper limit speed is replaced with the parent device 20a.

  On the other hand, when the communication speed of the slave unit 20b also has an upper limit (Yes in S303), the authentication unit 12 performs communication in a plan that is less than the sum of the charge of the master unit 20a and the charge of the slave unit 20b. The communication speed of the plan with the highest speed is set as the post-relaxation speed of the parent device 20a (S305). The charge here is a charge in the contract information. For example, it is assumed that there are an A plan and a B plan as communication service plans. When each of the parent device 20a and the child device 20b has an A plan of 3000 yen per month with an upper limit speed of 3 Mbps, the combined fee of the parent device 20a and the child device 20b is 6000 yen. Here, when the monthly fee for the B plan is 6000 yen and the upper limit speed is 20 Mbps, 20 Mbps is set as the post-relaxation speed of the parent device 20a. Thus, when the post-relaxation speed of base unit 20a is determined based on the sum of charges, carrier server 10 may have a storage unit that stores information indicating the charges for each plan.

  In step S305, for example, the sum of the upper limit speed of the parent device 20a and the upper limit speed of the child device 20b may be the post-relaxation speed of the parent device 20a. Further, based on other rules, the post-relaxation speed of base unit 20a may be determined.

  Next, details of step S132 will be described. FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram for explaining a first example of the processing procedure of the parent-child relationship cancellation processing.

  When the response to the existence confirmation message (S401) that the parent device 20a periodically transmits to the child device 20b is not received even after the response period has elapsed (S402), the parent device 20a It is determined that it does not exist within the range where short-range wireless communication is possible. Therefore, base unit 20a transmits the restriction relaxation release request described in step S132.

  According to the processing of FIG. 10, the parent-child relationship can be automatically canceled when short-range wireless communication becomes impossible between the parent device 20a and the child device 20b.

  FIG. 11 is a sequence diagram for explaining a second example of the processing procedure of the parent-child relationship elimination processing.

  For example, when a user inputs a parent-child relationship cancellation instruction to the child device 20b, the child device 20b transmits a parent-child relationship cancellation request to the parent device 20a (S411). In response to the cancellation request, base unit 20a transmits the restriction relaxation release request described in step S132. The parent-child relationship cancellation instruction may be input to the parent device 20a.

  According to the process of FIG. 11, the parent-child relationship can be canceled at any timing of the user.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the upper limit speed of base unit 20a is relaxed in response to the restriction relaxation request, and the upper limit speed of base unit 20a is restored to the original in response to the restriction relaxation release request. it can. As a result, the upper limit speed for the base unit 20a can be temporarily increased. That is, it is possible to ensure flexibility with respect to the restriction on the communication speed. Therefore, the user can temporarily use high-speed communication without performing complicated work such as plan change.

  Moreover, since the communication of the subunit | mobile_unit 20b is restrict | limited as the price which the upper limit speed | rate of the main | base station 20a is eased, the possibility of the network bandwidth shortage can be reduced.

  In addition, for the communication service provider, the communication using the mobile communication network N1 is integrated into the base unit 20a, so that it is possible to efficiently operate by saving radio resources and to suppress the capital investment. Can receive.

  In the present embodiment, any one mobile router 20 or all the mobile routers 20 are devices that do not mediate communication of the communication terminal, but that the mobile router 20 itself communicates according to a user operation. There may be. For example, a smartphone having a tethering function can correspond to the device. Further, a communication device that behaves as a slave unit does not necessarily have a tethering function.

  In the present embodiment, carrier server 10 is an example of a communication speed limiting device. The authentication unit 12 is an example of a changing unit. The gateway unit 13 is an example of a limiting unit. The restriction relaxation request is an example of a first request. The restriction relaxation release request is an example of a second request.

  As mentioned above, although the Example of this invention was explained in full detail, this invention is not limited to such specific embodiment, In the range of the summary of this invention described in the claim, various deformation | transformation・ Change is possible.

Regarding the above description, the following items are further disclosed.
(Appendix 1)
To the communication speed limit device that limits the communication speed of communication equipment,
In response to a first request including identification information of each of the plurality of communication devices transmitted from any of the plurality of communication devices, an upper limit of the communication speed of any one of the plurality of communication devices, A value that is set higher than the value set in advance for the identification information of the communication device and the upper limit of the communication speed of the other communication device is set in advance for the identification information of the other communication device. Lower than
Limiting the speed of communication by the communication device within an increased or decreased upper limit range;
A communication speed limit program that executes processing.
(Appendix 2)
In response to a second request that includes the identification information of each of the plurality of communication devices transmitted from any of the plurality of communication devices, an upper limit that is increased or decreased is set in advance for the respective identification information. The communication speed limiting program according to supplementary note 1, which causes the communication speed limiting device to execute a process for returning to a set value.
(Appendix 3)
A communication speed limiting device for limiting a communication speed of a communication device,
In response to a first request including identification information of each of the plurality of communication devices transmitted from any of the plurality of communication devices, an upper limit of the communication speed of any one of the plurality of communication devices, A value that is set higher than the value set in advance for the identification information of the communication device and the upper limit of the communication speed of the other communication device is set in advance for the identification information of the other communication device. Change part to lower than,
A communication speed limiting device having a limiting unit that limits a communication speed by the communication device within a range of an increased or decreased upper limit.
(Appendix 4)
The changing unit sets an upper limit that is increased or decreased according to a second request that includes identification information of each of the plurality of communication devices, transmitted from any of the plurality of communication devices. The communication speed limiting device according to supplementary note 3, which returns to a preset value.
(Appendix 5)
A communication speed limiting device that limits the communication speed of a communication device
In response to a first request including identification information of each of the plurality of communication devices transmitted from any of the plurality of communication devices, an upper limit of the communication speed of any one of the plurality of communication devices, A value that is set higher than the value set in advance for the identification information of the communication device and the upper limit of the communication speed of the other communication device is set in advance for the identification information of the other communication device. Lower than
Limiting the speed of communication by the communication device within an increased or decreased upper limit range;
A communication speed limit method for executing processing.
(Appendix 6)
In response to a second request including identification information of each of the plurality of communication devices transmitted from any of the plurality of communication devices, an upper limit increased or decreased is set for the respective identification information. 6. The communication speed limiting method according to appendix 5, which causes the communication speed limiting device to execute a process for returning to a predetermined value.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Communication system 10 Carrier server 11 Contract management part 12 Authentication part 13 Gateway part 20a Mobile router 20b Mobile router 100 Drive apparatus 101 Recording medium 102 Auxiliary storage apparatus 103 Memory apparatus 104 CPU
105 Interface Device 121 Contract Information Storage Unit 122 Authentication Information Storage Unit 123 Restriction Information Storage Unit B Bus

Claims (4)

To the communication speed limit device that limits the communication speed of communication equipment,
In response to a first request including identification information of each of the plurality of communication devices transmitted from any of the plurality of communication devices, an upper limit of the communication speed of any one of the plurality of communication devices, Increased within the range of the communication speed corresponding to the charge below the sum of the charges stored in the storage unit associated with the identification information of each of the plurality of communication devices, the upper limit of the communication speed of other communication devices , Lower than a preset value for the identification information of each of the other communication devices,
Limiting the speed of communication by the communication device within an increased or decreased upper limit range;
A communication speed limit program that executes processing.   In response to a second request that includes the identification information of each of the plurality of communication devices transmitted from any of the plurality of communication devices, an upper limit that is increased or decreased is set in advance for the respective identification information. The communication speed limiting program according to claim 1, wherein the communication speed limiting device causes the communication speed limiting device to execute a process of returning to the set value. A communication speed limiting device for limiting a communication speed of a communication device,
In response to a first request including identification information of each of the plurality of communication devices transmitted from any of the plurality of communication devices, an upper limit of the communication speed of any one of the plurality of communication devices, Increased within the range of the communication speed corresponding to the charge below the sum of the charges stored in the storage unit associated with the identification information of each of the plurality of communication devices, the upper limit of the communication speed of other communication devices A changing unit that lowers a value set in advance for each piece of identification information of the other communication device;
A communication speed limiting device having a limiting unit that limits a communication speed by the communication device within a range of an increased or decreased upper limit. A communication speed limiting device that limits the communication speed of a communication device
In response to a first request including identification information of each of the plurality of communication devices transmitted from any of the plurality of communication devices, an upper limit of the communication speed of any one of the plurality of communication devices, Increased within the range of the communication speed corresponding to the charge below the sum of the charges stored in the storage unit associated with the identification information of each of the plurality of communication devices, the upper limit of the communication speed of other communication devices , Lower than a preset value for the identification information of each of the other communication devices,
Limiting the speed of communication by the communication device within an increased or decreased upper limit range;
A communication speed limit method for executing processing.

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