JP6135393B2 - COMMUNICATION DEVICE, PROGRAM, AND COMMUNICATION METHOD - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for performing wireless communication simultaneously using mutually different wireless communication systems.

  Conventionally, techniques for integrating different wireless media such as a wireless local area network (LAN) and a mobile phone have been proposed. Patent Document 1 discloses a technology for integrating heterogeneous radio systems having different cell sizes such as a pico cell, a micro cell, and a macro cell by using a cognitive base station and a cognitive terminal. The cognitive base station and the cognitive terminal include a switch, a plurality of wireless modules, and a wireless environment recognition unit. The wireless environment recognition unit recognizes the wireless environment, and based on the recognition result, the link frame is transmitted to the switch. Instructs switching of a wireless module as a distribution destination. The link frame is transmitted / received via the designated wireless module.

  In recent years, in a wireless communication system configured in this way, link aggregation by an application is possible. For example, one large data can be divided and each divided data can be downloaded using a plurality of links. The user has an IP (Internet Protocol) address for each interface of the wireless communication system, and designates a part of the data from each IP address using a GET method of HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol). Thereby, it becomes possible to download one data using a plurality of links (a plurality of wireless communication systems).

  Further, instead of dividing the data, a plurality of types of data can be downloaded simultaneously using a plurality of different links. For example, mutually different links are designated for each of a plurality of data having different destinations constituting one WEB (World Wide Web) page. As a result, data necessary for displaying one WEB page can be downloaded simultaneously using a plurality of links.

JP 2008-085759 A

  However, when a plurality of data is downloaded with a plurality of different links, a specific method as to which data should be downloaded from which link has not been proposed. For this reason, large-size data is requested for low-quality links, resulting in worse congestion and longer download times, or smaller sizes for links that require more time to establish a TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) connection. There is a possibility that extra data may be required to complete the download. Since the data download time varies depending on the congestion, quality, and method of the wireless network, it is desirable to request data in consideration of the status of each wireless link.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and by selecting a wireless communication interface based on the time required to complete acquisition after requesting data and the data size of the requested data, It is an object of the present invention to provide a communication device, a program, and a communication method capable of improving download efficiency.

  (1) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention takes the following measures. That is, the communication device of the present invention is a communication device having a plurality of wireless communication interfaces and capable of performing wireless communication using the wireless communication interfaces at the same time. Measures the time required to complete the download of the requested data, including the offset time required from when the download is requested, and shows the relationship between the measured time and the data amount of the downloaded data Based on the quality measurement unit that outputs the information, the data size information of the requested data, and each measurement information, the time required to complete the download of the requested data is estimated for each wireless communication interface, and the estimated DL time estimation unit for outputting time as DL time information, and each DL time information There are, provided with a network selection unit for selecting a wireless communication interface to be used, the, and performs downloading of data requested using the selected wireless communication interface.

  As described above, based on the data size information of the requested data and each measurement information, the time required for downloading the requested data is estimated for each wireless communication interface, and the estimated time is output as DL time information. Since each DL time information is used to select a wireless communication interface to be used, a large-size data is requested for a low-quality link or a small-size data is required for a link that requires a long time to establish a connection. It is possible to improve the efficiency of download by selecting an optimal wireless communication interface.

  (2) In the communication apparatus of the present invention, the network selection unit includes an offset time required from the time when data is requested until the download is started, and the time required until the requested data is completely downloaded. The shortest wireless communication interface is selected.

  As described above, since the wireless communication interface having the shortest time required for completing the download of the requested data is selected, the download can be completed in a short time. In particular, when requesting data of a small size, it is possible to avoid the selection of a wireless communication interface that takes a long time to establish a connection, so that the download efficiency can be improved.

  (3) In the communication apparatus of the present invention, the quality measuring unit acquires load information including a congestion degree of a wireless network for each wireless communication interface, and the network selecting unit is a requested quality of requested data. If the required quality is higher than a predetermined threshold, the wireless communication interface that takes the shortest time to complete downloading the requested data is selected, while the required quality is the predetermined quality. When the value is lower than the threshold value, a wireless communication interface corresponding to a wireless network with a small load is selected based on the load information.

  In this way, information indicating the required quality of the requested data is obtained, and if the required quality is higher than a predetermined threshold, the wireless communication interface that takes the shortest time to complete the required data download is selected. Therefore, it is possible to improve the efficiency of downloading. On the other hand, when the required quality is lower than the predetermined threshold value, the wireless communication interface corresponding to the wireless network with a small load is selected based on the load information, which can contribute to the improvement of the throughput of the entire wireless network.

  (4) In the communication device of the present invention, the quality measurement unit acquires load information including a congestion degree of a wireless network for each wireless communication interface, and the network selection unit receives the required quality of requested data. The wireless communication interface is selected according to the load information and the required quality regardless of the DL time information.

  In this way, information indicating the required quality of the requested data is acquired, and the wireless communication interface is selected according to the load information and the required quality regardless of the DL time information. It is possible to select a wireless communication interface using an index (for example, a traffic situation) other than time.

  (5) In the communication device of the present invention, the quality measurement unit may include, for each wireless communication interface, a total value of time required from the request of data until the download is completed, and the data downloaded in the past. A relationship with the accumulated data amount obtained by accumulating the data amount is output as the measurement information.

  As described above, for each wireless communication interface, measurement information includes the relationship between the total value of the time required from the time when data is requested until the download is completed and the cumulative amount of data obtained by accumulating the amount of data downloaded in the past. Since the data is output, it is possible to quickly select a wireless communication interface that requires the shortest time to download the requested data.

  (6) In the communication apparatus of the present invention, the quality measurement unit may request, for each wireless communication interface, a time required from completion of data download to completion of download and a requested data size of data downloaded in the past. Is output as the measurement information.

  In this way, for each wireless communication interface, since the relationship between the time required from the request of data until the download is completed and the requested data size of the data downloaded in the past is output as measurement information, It is possible to quickly select a wireless communication interface that takes the shortest time to complete the download.

  (7) In addition, the communication device of the present invention holds each output measurement information, and when new measurement information is output from the quality measurement unit, the quality update for updating the held measurement information A measurement section having the largest accumulated data amount or the latest measurement information is output to the DL time estimation section.

  In this way, when each measurement information that has been output is retained and new measurement information is output from the quality measurement unit, the measurement information that is retained is updated, and the measurement information with the largest accumulated data amount or the latest Since the measurement information is output to the DL time estimation unit, it is possible to select a wireless communication interface according to a constantly changing wireless environment.

  (8) In the communication apparatus of the present invention, the network selection unit compares the DL time information used in the past with the latest DL time information, and the time required for completing the download of the requested data is short. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a wireless communication interface is selected.

  As described above, the DL time information used in the past and the latest DL time information are compared, and the wireless communication interface that takes a short time to download the requested data is selected. It can be determined whether to change the wireless communication interface in use.

  (9) A program according to the present invention is a program for a communication apparatus having a plurality of wireless communication interfaces and capable of performing wireless communication using the wireless communication interfaces simultaneously. Each time, including the offset time required from when the data is requested until the download starts, measure the time required to complete the download of the requested data, and determine the relationship between the measured time and the amount of data acquired. Based on the process of outputting the measurement information to be shown, the data size information of the requested data, and each measurement information, the time required for completing the download of the requested data is estimated for each wireless communication interface, and the estimated Using the process of outputting time as DL time information and each DL time information A process of selecting a line communication interface, the processing for downloading of data requested by using the wireless communication interface said selected, a series of processes, characterized in that to be executed by the communication device.

  As described above, based on the data size information of the requested data and each measurement information, the time required for downloading the requested data is estimated for each wireless communication interface, and the estimated time is output as DL time information. Since each DL time information is used to select a wireless communication interface to be used, a large-size data is requested for a low-quality link or a small-size data is required for a link that requires a long time to establish a connection. It is possible to improve the efficiency of download by selecting an optimal wireless communication interface.

  (10) The communication method of the present invention is a communication method for a communication apparatus having a plurality of wireless communication interfaces and capable of performing wireless communication using the wireless communication interfaces simultaneously. For each communication interface, the offset time required from when the data is requested to when the download is started is measured, and the time required for completing the download of the requested data is measured. A step of outputting measurement information indicating a relationship, and based on the data size information of the requested data and each of the measurement information, for each wireless communication interface, to estimate the time required to complete the download of the requested data, The estimated time is output as DL time information, and each DL time information is used. Selecting a wireless communication interface that, characterized in that it comprises at least a step for downloading the data requested, the using the selected wireless communication interface.

  As described above, based on the data size information of the requested data and each measurement information, the time required for downloading the requested data is estimated for each wireless communication interface, and the estimated time is output as DL time information. Since each DL time information is used to select a wireless communication interface to be used, a large-size data is requested for a low-quality link or a small-size data is required for a link that requires a long time to establish a connection. It is possible to improve the efficiency of download by selecting an optimal wireless communication interface.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to avoid a request for a large size data for a link with low quality or a request for a small size data for a link with a long time required to establish a connection. By selecting an interface, it is possible to improve download efficiency.

It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the communication apparatus which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the relationship between accumulation received data amount and elapsed time. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the requested | required data size and average reception completion time. It is a flowchart which shows the outline | summary of operation | movement of a DL time estimation part and a network selection part.

  The present inventors have not proposed a specific method for which data should be downloaded from which link when downloading a plurality of data using a plurality of different links, so the quality is low. By requesting a large size of data from the link, the congestion level will deteriorate and the download will be prolonged, or by requesting a small size of data from the link that takes a long time to establish a TCP connection, the download will be completed. Paying attention to the possibility of spending extra time, requesting data that takes into account the status of each wireless link, such as how busy the wireless network is, the quality, and the method, etc. As a result, the present invention has been found.

  That is, the present invention measures, for each wireless communication interface, the time required to complete the download of the requested data, including the offset time required from when the data is requested until the download is started. Output the measurement information indicating the relationship between the data amount of the downloaded data and the time required to complete the download of the requested data for each wireless communication interface based on the data size information of the requested data and each measurement information. The estimated time is output as DL time information, the DL communication information is selected using the DL time information, and the requested data is downloaded using the selected wireless communication interface. And

  With this configuration, the present inventors have made it possible to select an optimal wireless communication interface and improve download efficiency. Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a communication apparatus according to the present embodiment. This communication apparatus includes a plurality of wireless communication interfaces (for example, LTE, Wi-Fi, WiMAX, etc.), and can perform link aggregation. Here, a case where two wireless communication interfaces are provided will be described, but the present invention is not limited to this. The wireless communication interface 1a performs wireless communication with the wireless network A. On the other hand, the wireless communication interface 1b performs wireless communication with the wireless network B.

  The quality measuring units 3a and 3b output, as measurement information, the time from the start of the TCP connection in each wireless communication interface to the completion of data reception and the relationship between the data amount for each TCP connection.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between the accumulated received data amount and the elapsed time. As shown in FIG. 2, the quality measuring units 3a and 3b create a graph of the accumulated received data amount corresponding to the passage of time for each TCP connection. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between the requested data size and the average reception completion time. The quality measuring units 3a and 3b may create a graph showing the relationship between the requested data size and the average reception completion time, as shown in FIG.

  The quality update units 5a and 5b hold measurement information and output radio quality information corresponding to each radio communication interface from the held measurement information. When the quality updating units 5a and 5b receive, as measurement information, a graph indicating the relationship between the accumulated received data amount and the elapsed time for each TCP connection, the data update amount is the largest among the graphs held in the past fixed period. A graph with a large is output as quality information. Alternatively, an average of graphs having a certain amount of data or more among the graphs held within a certain past period is output as quality information. In addition, the latest data may always be output instead of the graph held in the past certain period. That is, it is a method of judging from the previous transmission result rather than a fixed interval.

  On the other hand, when the quality update units 5a and 5b receive a graph indicating the relationship between the requested data size and the average reception completion time as measurement information, the quality update units 5a and 5b output the latest measurement information as quality information. Alternatively, the average of the same graph held within a certain past period is output as quality information.

  In this specification, the average may be a simple average or a forgetting average. In this specification, the data size means the size of the HTTP message body.

  The DL time estimation units 7a and 7b use the quality information and the data size information to estimate the time required for completing the download when the data is requested, and output the DL time information. Here, the DL time information may include an offset time required from when the data is requested to when the download is started. The offset time is, for example, a time from when a data request (request) occurs until a TCP connection is established and download can be started. For example, it is assumed that the time until the TCP connection is established in the wireless network A is earlier than that in the wireless network B. Even in such a situation, it may be desirable not to connect to the wireless network A in consideration of the load information of the wireless network A. It is also possible to make it difficult to select the wireless network A by adding an offset time.

  The network selection unit 9 determines which wireless network should be connected based on DL time information for each of a plurality of wireless communication interfaces, and outputs the determination result as NW selection information. The network selection unit 9 uses the information indicating the wireless communication network that takes the shortest time to complete the download as NW selection information.

  Note that the quality measuring units 3a and 3b may acquire load information (such as the usage rate of wireless resources, the number of connected users, and presence / absence of access restrictions) indicating how busy the wireless communication network is. Then, the network selection unit 9 may acquire QoS (Quality of Service) of request data and compare a predetermined threshold with QoS. When the QoS is higher than a predetermined threshold, the wireless communication interface corresponding to the wireless communication network that takes the shortest time to complete the download is selected. When the QoS is lower than the predetermined threshold, the load information Based on this, a wireless communication interface corresponding to a wireless network with a small load may be selected. Furthermore, even if any wireless communication interface is selected, the wireless communication interface may be selected based on the load information if the required qualities constituting the QoS are satisfied. As a result, it is possible to select a wireless communication interface using an index (for example, a traffic situation) different from the time required for completing the download.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an outline of operations of the DL time estimation units 7a and 7b and the network selection unit 9. First, the DL time estimation units 7a and 7b acquire quality information for each communicable wireless communication network and acquire information indicating the data size of the request data (step S1). Next, the DL time estimation units 7a and 7b estimate the download time for the data size in each wireless communication network (step S2). The network selection unit 9 selects a wireless communication interface corresponding to the wireless communication network with the shortest download time based on the DL time information output from the DL time estimation units 7a and 7b (step S3).

  The quality information may be updated according to the measurement information, or quality information set in advance may be used. In addition, when the communication is not performed for a certain time or when the communication device is turned on, the quality update units 5a and 5b do not have the past measurement information, and therefore use the previously set quality information. Also good.

  Furthermore, when there is no past measurement information, quality information with a large data size can be acquired by preferentially downloading data with a large requested data size. This makes it possible to calculate the download time based on actual measurement.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, requesting a large size data for a low quality link, or requesting a small size data for a link having a long time required to establish a connection. It is possible to avoid the problem and select an optimal wireless communication interface to improve the download efficiency.

1a, 1b Wireless communication interface 3a, 3b Quality measurement unit 5a, 5b Quality update unit 7a, 7b DL time estimation unit 9 Network selection unit

Claims (9)

A communication device having a plurality of wireless communication interfaces and capable of performing wireless communication using each of the wireless communication interfaces simultaneously,
Wherein for one or more wireless communication interfaces, obtains the offset time required for download from requesting the data is started to measure the time required to download the data requested is completed, the measurement A quality measurement unit that outputs measurement information indicating a relationship between the time and the data amount of the downloaded data, and obtains load information including a congestion degree of a wireless network for the one or more wireless communication interfaces ;
Based on the data size information and the respective measurement information of the data requested, the for the one or more wireless communication interfaces, we estimate the time required to download the data requested to complete, was estimated time DL time DL time estimation unit that outputs as information,
When the information indicating the requested quality of the requested data is acquired and the requested quality is higher than a predetermined threshold, the time required for downloading the requested data is the shortest using the DL time information while selecting the radio communication interface, when the required quality is lower than a predetermined threshold value, based on the load information, the network selection unit for selecting a radio communication interface corresponding to the load is small wireless network, Ru with a A communication device. A communication device having a plurality of wireless communication interfaces and capable of performing wireless communication using each of the wireless communication interfaces simultaneously,
Wherein for one or more wireless communication interfaces, obtains the offset time required for download from requesting the data is started to measure the time required to download the data requested is completed, the measurement A quality measurement unit that outputs measurement information indicating a relationship between the time and the data amount of the downloaded data, and obtains load information including a congestion degree of a wireless network for the one or more wireless communication interfaces ;
Based on the data size information and the respective measurement information of the data requested, the for the one or more wireless communication interfaces, we estimate the time required to download the data requested to complete, was estimated time DL time DL time estimation unit that outputs as information,
Acquires information indicating the required quality of data requested, regardless of the DL time information, and wherein the network selection unit for selecting a wireless communication interface, that Ru provided with in accordance with the load information and the required quality Communication device. Wherein the quality measurement unit for the one or more wireless communication interfaces, cumulative data downloaded from requesting data and a total value of the time required to complete, the cumulative amount of data downloaded in the past The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a relationship with a quantity is output as the measurement information. Wherein the quality measurement unit, the for the one or more wireless communication interfaces, the time required from request data until the download is complete, the measurement information relationships between the required data size of data downloaded in the past The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein Each of the output measurement information is held, and when new measurement information is output from the quality measurement unit, further includes a quality update unit that updates the held measurement information,
The communication apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the quality update unit outputs measurement information having the largest accumulated data amount or latest measurement information to the DL time estimation unit. A program for a communication device having a plurality of wireless communication interfaces and capable of performing wireless communication using each of the wireless communication interfaces simultaneously,
Wherein for one or more wireless communication interfaces, obtains the offset time required for download from requesting the data is started to measure the time required to download the data requested is completed, the measurement A process of outputting measurement information indicating a relationship between the acquired time and the acquired data amount, and acquiring load information including a congestion degree of a wireless network for the one or more wireless communication interfaces ;
Based on the data size information and the respective measurement information of the data requested, the for the one or more wireless communication interfaces, we estimate the time required to download the data requested to complete, was estimated time DL time Processing to output as information,
When the information indicating the requested quality of the requested data is acquired and the requested quality is higher than a predetermined threshold, the time required for downloading the requested data is the shortest using the DL time information While selecting a wireless communication interface, if the required quality is lower than a predetermined threshold , a series of processes of selecting a wireless communication interface corresponding to a wireless network with a low load based on the load information A program for causing the communication apparatus to execute the program. A program for a communication device having a plurality of wireless communication interfaces and capable of performing wireless communication using each of the wireless communication interfaces simultaneously,
Wherein for one or more wireless communication interfaces, obtains the offset time required for download from requesting the data is started to measure the time required to download the data requested is completed, the measurement A process of outputting measurement information indicating a relationship between the acquired time and the acquired data amount, and acquiring load information including a congestion degree of a wireless network for the one or more wireless communication interfaces ;
Based on the data size information and the respective measurement information of the data requested, the for the one or more wireless communication interfaces, we estimate the time required to download the data requested to complete, was estimated time DL time Processing to output as information,
A process of acquiring information indicating the required quality of the requested data and selecting a wireless communication interface according to the load information and the required quality regardless of the DL time information. A program characterized by being executed. A communication method of a communication device having a plurality of wireless communication interfaces and capable of performing wireless communication using the wireless communication interfaces simultaneously,
Wherein for one or more wireless communication interfaces, obtains the offset time required for download from requesting the data is started to measure the time required to download the data requested is completed, the measurement Outputting measurement information indicating a relationship between the acquired time and the acquired data amount, and acquiring load information including a congestion degree of a wireless network for the one or more wireless communication interfaces ;
Based on the data size information and the respective measurement information of the data requested, the for the one or more wireless communication interfaces, we estimate the time required to download the data requested to complete, was estimated time DL time Outputting as information,
When the information indicating the requested quality of the requested data is acquired and the requested quality is higher than a predetermined threshold, the time required for downloading the requested data is the shortest using the DL time information Selecting a wireless communication interface, and, if the required quality is lower than a predetermined threshold , selecting at least a wireless communication interface corresponding to a wireless network with a low load based on the load information. A characteristic communication method. A communication method of a communication device having a plurality of wireless communication interfaces and capable of performing wireless communication using the wireless communication interfaces simultaneously,
Wherein for one or more wireless communication interfaces, obtains the offset time required for download from requesting the data is started to measure the time required to download the data requested is completed, the measurement Outputting measurement information indicating a relationship between the acquired time and the acquired data amount, and acquiring load information including a congestion degree of a wireless network for the one or more wireless communication interfaces ;
Based on the data size information and the respective measurement information of the data requested, the for the one or more wireless communication interfaces, we estimate the time required to download the data requested to complete, was estimated time DL time Outputting as information,
Obtaining at least information indicating the required quality of the requested data, and selecting a radio communication interface according to the load information and the required quality regardless of the DL time information. .

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