JP6650905B2 - Relay server and method for relaying packet communication between portable communication terminal and service providing server - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a relay server and a method for relaying packet communication between a mobile communication terminal and a service providing server. More particularly, the present invention relates to a relay server and a relay server that do not add the traffic between a special user and a special service providing server to the accumulated packet traffic of individual users.

  For example, in Patent Document 1, as a relay server that relays packet communication between a mobile communication terminal and a service providing server, a relay server that controls the band of packet communication between the mobile communication terminal and the service providing server (bandwidth control) Management device). The relay server disclosed in Patent Literature 1 performs bandwidth control of packet communication by a so-called heavy user who performs a large amount of packet communication among users of a plurality of mobile communication terminals, and operates at a lower speed than a normal communication speed. It is configured to transmit packets.

  Specifically, the relay server disclosed in Patent Literature 1 obtains a packet traffic for a predetermined period for each user, determines a user having a packet traffic exceeding a threshold as a heavy user, and determines that the user is a heavy user. An upper band limit is set for packet communication by the user's mobile communication terminal. For example, by adopting the relay server disclosed in Patent Literature 1, a communication service provider or the like may use a large amount of packet communication by some heavy users, thereby causing traffic of a user having less packet communication than the heavy user. Can be reduced.

  By the way, for example, use of services such as uploading and downloading of photo data and streaming reproduction of moving image data increases the amount of packet communication even if the service is used for a short time. Therefore, a user such as a communication carrier employing the relay server disclosed in Patent Literature 1 may be determined as a heavy user by using the above service. As a result, in order to avoid being determined as a heavy user, a user such as a communication carrier employing the relay server disclosed in Patent Literature 1 cannot easily use the service as described above. Can occur.

JP 2014-236482 A

  It is an object of the present invention to provide a relay server and a method that do not add the traffic between a special user and a special service providing server to the cumulative traffic of individual users. Other objects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art by referring to the aspects and preferred embodiments exemplified below and the accompanying drawings.

A first aspect according to the present invention is a relay server that relays packet communication between a plurality of portable communication terminals and a plurality of service providing servers arranged on the Internet,
The user identification information of at least one special user among the plurality of users in the plurality of mobile communication terminals, and at least one of the plurality of service providing servers associated with the special user for each of the special users. A specific information storage unit that stores server specific information of one special service providing server in association with each other;
A user traffic volume storage unit that stores, for each of the plurality of users, a user usage traffic volume that is an accumulated packet traffic volume of the plurality of users during a predetermined period;
When the packet communication is performed between one of the plurality of mobile communication terminals and one of the service providing servers, user identification information of a user of the mobile communication terminal, A specific information acquisition unit that acquires server specific information of the service providing server;
A processing unit that adds a communication amount related to the packet communication to the user usage communication amount in accordance with a result obtained by the specific information obtaining unit,
When the user specified by the user specifying information obtained by the specifying information obtaining unit is not the special user, or
The user specified by the user specifying information obtained by the specifying information obtaining unit is the special user, and the service providing server specified by the server specifying information obtained by the specifying information obtaining unit is , When this special user is not the special service providing server with which it is associated,
The processing unit, while adding the communication amount related to the packet communication to the user use communication amount of the user specified by the user identification information acquired by the identification information acquisition unit,
The user specified by the user specifying information obtained by the specifying information obtaining unit is the special user, and,
When the service providing server specified by the server specifying information obtained by the specifying information obtaining unit is the special service providing server associated with this special user,
The processing unit relates to a relay server that does not add the communication amount related to the packet communication to the user usage communication amount of the user specified by the user specifying information obtained by the specifying information obtaining unit.

  According to the first aspect, when a special user performs a packet communication between his / her own mobile communication terminal and a special service providing server associated with the user, the traffic related to the packet communication is reduced. It is not added to the user's own traffic. Therefore, the special user can use the service provided by the special service providing server associated with the special user without worrying that the user's usage traffic increases.

In a second aspect according to the present invention, in the first aspect,
When the user specified by the user specifying information obtained by the specifying information obtaining unit is not the special user, or
The user specified by the user specifying information obtained by the specifying information obtaining unit is the special user, and the service providing server specified by the server specifying information obtained by the specifying information obtaining unit is , When this special user is not the special service providing server with which it is associated,
The processing unit determines whether the user usage traffic of the user specified by the user specifying information exceeds a first threshold,
When it is determined that this user usage communication amount exceeds the first threshold, the packet is transmitted toward the destination at a lower speed than the normal communication speed,
The user specified by the user specifying information obtained by the specifying information obtaining unit is the special user, and,
When the service providing server specified by the server specifying information obtained by the specifying information obtaining unit is the special service providing server associated with this special user,
The processing unit sends the packet to the destination at the normal communication speed without determining whether the user usage traffic of the user specified by the user specifying information exceeds the first threshold. It may be transmitted to.

  According to the second aspect, when a special user performs packet communication between his or her own mobile communication terminal and a special service providing server associated with the user, the user's own usage traffic has already been reduced. Even if the value exceeds the first threshold, packet communication can be performed at a normal communication speed. Therefore, the convenience of the special user in using the service provided by the special service providing server associated therewith is improved.

In a third aspect according to the present invention, in the first or second aspect,
The special server use traffic which is the accumulated packet traffic for a predetermined period between the special service providing server and the entire special user associated with the special service providing server is calculated for each of the special service providing servers. Further comprises a special server traffic storage unit to store in
The user specified by the user specifying information obtained by the specifying information obtaining unit is the special user, and,
When the service providing server specified by the server specifying information obtained by the specifying information obtaining unit is the special service providing server associated with this special user,
The processing unit may add the communication amount related to the packet communication to the special server use communication amount of the special service providing server specified by the server specifying information acquired by the specific information acquiring unit.

  According to the third aspect, the communication volume related to the special packet communication, which is the packet communication between the special user and the special service providing server associated with the special user, is the packet amount related to the packet communication. Is added to the special server use traffic of the special service providing server of the transmission source or transmission destination (destination). As a result, for each special service providing server, the communication volume related to the special packet communication in which the special service providing server is the transmission source or destination of the packet is accurately stored.

In a fourth aspect according to the present invention, in the third aspect,
The user specified by the user specifying information obtained by the specifying information obtaining unit is the special user, and,
When the service providing server specified by the server specifying information obtained by the specifying information obtaining unit is the special service providing server associated with this special user,
The processing unit determines whether the special server use traffic of the special service providing server specified by the server specifying information acquired by the specific information acquiring unit exceeds a second threshold,
When it is determined that the special server use traffic exceeds the second threshold, while transmitting the packet toward the destination at a lower speed than the normal communication speed,
When it is determined that the special server use traffic does not exceed the second threshold, the packet may be transmitted to the destination at the normal communication speed.

  According to the fourth aspect, it is possible to reduce the influence of the fact that the traffic of the normal packet communication is squeezed due to the large accumulated packet communication amount related to the special packet communication.

A fifth aspect according to the present invention is a method of relaying packet communication in a relay server that relays packet communication between a plurality of mobile communication terminals and a plurality of service providing servers arranged on the Internet,
The user identification information of at least one special user among the plurality of users in the plurality of mobile communication terminals, and at least one of the plurality of service providing servers associated with the special user for each of the special users. Storing in a storage device in the relay server or outside the relay server in association with server identification information of one special service providing server;
Storing, in the storage device, a user usage traffic volume, which is a cumulative packet traffic volume of the plurality of users during a predetermined period, for each of the plurality of users; Acquiring the user identification information of the user of the mobile communication terminal and the server identification information of the service providing server from a packet related to the packet communication when the packet communication is performed with one of the packet communication;
When the user specified by the obtained user specifying information is not the special user, or
The user specified by the obtained user specifying information is the special user, and the service providing server specified by the obtained server specifying information is the special service associated with the special user. When not a providing server,
While adding the communication amount related to the packet communication to the user usage communication amount of the user specified by the obtained user specifying information,
The user specified by the obtained user specifying information is the special user, and
When the service providing server specified by the acquired server specifying information is the special service providing server associated with this special user,
A step of not adding the communication amount related to the packet communication to the user usage communication amount of the user specified by the obtained user specifying information;
A method comprising:

  According to the fifth aspect, when a special user performs packet communication between his or her own mobile communication terminal and a special service providing server associated with the user, the communication volume related to the packet communication is reduced. It is not added to the user's own traffic. Therefore, the special user can use the service provided by the special service providing server associated with the special user without worrying that the user's usage traffic increases.

In a sixth aspect according to the present invention, in the fifth aspect,
When the user specified by the obtained user specifying information is not the special user, or
The user specified by the obtained user specifying information is the special user, and the service providing server specified by the obtained server specifying information is the special service associated with the special user. When not a providing server,
A step of determining whether or not the user usage traffic of the user specified by the user specifying information exceeds a first threshold,
Transmitting a packet to a destination at a lower speed than a normal communication speed when it is determined that the user usage communication amount exceeds the first threshold value;
The user specified by the obtained user specifying information is the special user, and
When the service providing server specified by the acquired server specifying information is the special service providing server associated with this special user,
The packet is transmitted to the destination at the normal communication speed without determining whether the user usage traffic of the user specified by the user specifying information exceeds the first threshold. Steps and
May be further provided.

  According to the sixth aspect, when a special user performs packet communication between his / her own mobile communication terminal and a special service providing server associated with the user, the user's own usage traffic has already been increased. Even if the value exceeds the first threshold, packet communication can be performed at a normal communication speed. Therefore, the convenience of the special user in using the service provided by the special service providing server associated therewith is improved.

In a seventh aspect according to the present invention, in the fifth or sixth aspect,
The special server use traffic which is the accumulated packet traffic for a predetermined period between the special service providing server and the entire special user associated with the special service providing server is calculated for each of the special service providing servers. Storing in the storage device,
The user specified by the obtained user specifying information is the special user, and
When the service providing server specified by the acquired server specifying information is the special service providing server associated with this special user,
Adding the communication amount related to the packet communication to the special server use communication amount of the special service providing server specified by the acquired server specifying information;
May be further provided.

  According to the seventh aspect, the communication volume related to the special packet communication, which is the packet communication between the special user and the special service providing server associated with the special user, is the packet amount related to the packet communication. Is added to the special server use traffic of the special service providing server of the transmission source or transmission destination. As a result, for each special service providing server, the communication volume related to the special packet communication in which the special service providing server is the transmission source or destination of the packet is accurately stored.

In an eighth aspect according to the present invention, in the seventh aspect, there is provided:
The user specified by the obtained user specifying information is the special user, and
When the service providing server specified by the obtained server specifying information is the special service providing server associated with this special user,
The server further includes a step of determining whether or not the special server use traffic of the special service providing server specified by the obtained server specifying information exceeds a second threshold value,
When it is determined that the special server use traffic exceeds the second threshold, while executing transmission of the packet to a destination at a lower speed than the normal communication speed,
When it is determined that the special server use traffic does not exceed the second threshold, the packet may be transmitted toward the destination at the normal communication speed.

  According to the eighth aspect, it is possible to reduce the influence of the fact that the traffic of the normal packet communication is squeezed due to the large accumulated packet communication amount related to the special packet communication.

It is a block diagram showing an example of a situation where a relay server of the present invention is used. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a relay server illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 2B is a diagram illustrating an example of data stored by a specific information storage unit illustrated in FIG. 2A. FIG. 2B is a diagram illustrating an example of data stored by a user traffic storage unit illustrated in FIG. 2A. FIG. 2B is a diagram illustrating an example of data stored by a special server traffic storage unit illustrated in FIG. 2A. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation of the relay server illustrated in FIG. 1. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation of the relay server illustrated in FIG. 1.

  FIG. 1 shows an example of a situation in which a relay server 30 that relays packet communication between a plurality of mobile communication terminals 100 and a plurality of service providing servers 200 arranged on the Internet 50 is used. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the relay server 30 is included in the second communication network 20. In the example shown in FIG. 1, three mobile communication terminals 100 (100-1, 100-2, 100-3) are connected to the first communication network 10. The mobile communication terminal 100 is connected to the first communication network 10. Similarly, in the example shown in FIG. 1, three service providing servers 200 (200-1, 200-2, 200-3) are arranged on the Internet 50, but actually, four or more service providing servers 200 (200-1, 200-2, 200-3) are provided. The providing server 200 is arranged on the Internet 50. Hereinafter, the service providing server 200 is also referred to as an SPS (Service Providing Server) 200 as appropriate.

  The first communication network 10 shown in FIG. 1 includes, for example, at least a part of equipment owned by a mobile communication operator (MNO: Mobile Network Operator). The first communication network 10 includes, for example, a plurality of base stations, a radio network controller (RNC: Radio Network Controller), a subscriber packet switch (SGSN: Serving GPRS Support Node), and subscriber mobility management, all of which are not shown. Information (HLR: Home Location Register), relay packet switch (GGSN: Gateway GPRS Support Node), etc. The first communication network 10 may further include, for example, a data relay device (SGW: Serving Gateway), a packet switch (PGW: Packet Date Network Gateway), etc., all of which are not shown.

  Although the equipment included in the first communication network 10 described above is exemplified assuming equipment used for 3G communication or LTE (Long Term Evolution) communication, the equipment is not limited thereto. That is, equipment required in another communication standard or a next-generation communication standard may be adopted as equipment included in the first communication network 10 instead of or in addition to the above-described equipment.

  The second communication network 20 illustrated in FIG. 1 is, for example, a communication network that includes at least a part of facilities owned by a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO), as described above. , The relay server 30. Further, the second communication network 20 may further include at least one of the facilities included in the first communication network 10 described above, for example, a GGSN, a PGW, or the like. Further, the MNO or the like may have a communication network including the first communication network 10 and the second communication network 20, and in this case, the MNO may include the first communication network 10 and the second communication network 20. The relay server 30 is included in a simple communication network.

  In the example shown in FIG. 1, in the packet communication between the mobile communication terminal 100 and the SPS 200, when a packet is transmitted from the mobile communication terminal 100 to the SPS 200, that is, when the mobile communication terminal 100 Are input in the order of the first communication network 10, the second communication network 20 (that is, the relay server 30), and the SPS 200. Conversely, when a packet is transmitted from the SPS 200 to the mobile communication terminal 100, that is, at the time of downlink communication, the packet transmitted from the SPS 200 is transmitted to the second communication network 20 (that is, the relay server 30). , The first communication network 10, and the mobile communication terminal 100.

  A packet related to the packet communication between the mobile communication terminal 100 and the SPS 200 includes specific information indicating a transmission source of the packet and specific information indicating a transmission destination (destination) of the packet. For example, when the packet communication between the mobile communication terminal 100 and the SPS 200 is an uplink communication, the packet transmission source identification information is user identification information for identifying the user of the mobile communication terminal 100, and the packet transmission destination The specific information is server specific information that specifies the SPS 200. Naturally, when the packet communication between the mobile communication terminal 100 and the SPS 200 is downlink communication, the specific information of the transmission source of the packet and the specific information of the transmission destination of the packet are opposite to those in the uplink communication.

  Here, the user identification information is, for example, user ID information or the like associated with a unique ID number stored in a SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) card (not shown) inserted into the mobile communication terminal 100. The server identification information is, for example, an IP (Internet Protocol) address of the SPS 200, a domain, and the like.

  Only when the mobile communication terminal 100 is associated with the second communication network 20, in the packet communication between the mobile communication terminal 100 and the SPS 200, the packet transmitted from the mobile communication terminal 100 or the SPS 200 uses the second communication network. 20. The mobile communication terminal 100 being associated with the second communication network 20 means that, for example, user identification information stored in a SIM card (not shown) inserted into the mobile communication terminal 100 is associated with the second communication network 20. I mean.

  A configuration example of the relay server 30 will be described with reference to FIG. 2A. The relay server 30 illustrated in FIG. 2A includes at least a specific information storage unit 32, a user traffic storage unit 33, a specific information acquisition unit 35, and a processing unit 36. The relay server 30 may further include, for example, a special server traffic storage unit 34, a packet transmission unit 37, and the like.

  The specific information storage unit 32 stores user specific information of at least one special user and server specific information of at least one special SPS 200 associated with the special user for each special user. I do. The special user is, for example, a user of the mobile communication terminal 100 into which a SIM card (hereinafter, also referred to as a special SIM card) associated with at least one SPS 200 is inserted. The special SPS 200 associated with the special user is, for example, the SPS 200 associated with the special SIM card. FIG. 2B shows an example of correspondence between the user identification information of the special user and the server identification information of the special SPS 200 stored by the specific information storage unit 32.

  A user other than the special user is also referred to as a general user, for example. In addition, the SPS 200 other than the special SPS 200 is also referred to as, for example, a general SPS 200.

  The user traffic storage unit 33 stores user usage traffic for each of a plurality of users. The user communication traffic is the cumulative packet communication traffic of the user of the mobile communication terminal 100 during a predetermined period. The user traffic storage unit 33 stores, for example, user identification information such as a user ID and the amount of user usage traffic for each user in association with each other. The predetermined period is, for example, one month. FIG. 2C shows an example of the association between the user identification information and the user usage traffic for each user stored by the user traffic storage unit 33. It should be noted that the user usage traffic stored by the user traffic storage unit 33 is not distinguished between a special user and another user. That is, the user traffic storage unit 33 stores the user usage traffic for every user associated with the second communication network 20.

  Further, in the example of the association between the user identification information and the user usage traffic for each user shown in FIG. 2C, the user usage traffic in one predetermined period is shown, but the predetermined period is limited to one. Alternatively, two or more may be used. For example, when the number of the predetermined periods is two, one of the predetermined periods may be one month, and the other of the predetermined periods may be three days.

  The special server traffic storage unit 34 stores a special server use traffic for each of at least one special SPS 200. The special server use traffic is the cumulative packet traffic during a predetermined period between the special SPS 200 and the entire special user associated with the special SPS 200. The special server traffic storage unit 34 stores, for example, server identification information such as the IP address of the special SPS 200 and the special server use traffic for each special SPS 200 in association with each other. The predetermined period of the special server use communication amount may be the same period as the user use communication amount or a different period. FIG. 2D shows an example of correspondence between the server identification information of the special SPS 200 and the special server use traffic for each special SPS 200, which is stored by the special server traffic storage unit 34.

  Here, in the example shown in FIG. 2A, the specific information storage unit 32, the user traffic storage unit 33, and the special server traffic storage unit 34 are shown as a part of the storage device 31 in the relay server 30. That is, in the example shown in FIG. 2A, the data stored in the specific information storage unit 32, the user traffic storage unit 33, and the special server traffic storage unit 34 are stored in the storage device 31 in the relay server 30. However, at least one of the specific information storage unit 32, the user communication amount storage unit 33, and the special server communication amount storage unit 34, for example, stores data in a storage device outside the relay server 30 (not shown). It may be a configured element. That is, the relay server 30 does not necessarily need to include the storage device 31 in the relay server 30.

  As shown in FIG. 2A, a packet related to packet communication between the mobile communication terminal 100 and the SPS 200 is first input to the specific information acquisition unit 35 in the relay server 30. When a specific packet is input, the specific information obtaining unit 35 obtains specific information of the transmission source of the packet and specific information of the transmission destination of the packet, which are included in the input packet. That is, the specific information of the transmission source of the packet and the specific information of the transmission destination of the packet acquired by the specific information acquisition unit 35 always include both the user identification information and the server identification information. The specific information acquisition unit 35 outputs the acquired user identification information and server identification information to the processing unit 36. At the same time, the specific information acquisition unit 35 outputs the input packet to the packet transmission unit 37. The specific information acquiring unit 35 and / or the processing unit 36 can grasp the direction of the packet communication based on the specific information of the transmission source of the packet and the specific information of the transmission destination of the packet acquired by the specific information acquiring unit 35. .

  The processing unit 36 selects one of the user use communication amount and the special server use communication amount according to the user specifying information and the server specifying information input from the specifying information obtaining unit 35, and sets the mobile communication terminal 100 and the SPS 200 The communication traffic related to the packet communication during is added. Specifically, the processing unit 36 performs packet communication between the portable communication terminal 100 and the SPS 200 according to the user identification information and the server identification information input from the identification information acquiring unit 35, using special packet communication or normal packet communication. It is determined which of the two is communication. When the processing unit 36 determines that the packet communication is a special packet communication, the packet communication is added to the special server use traffic of the special SPS 200 specified by the server specifying information input from the specific information acquiring unit 35. Is added. On the other hand, when the processing unit 36 determines that the packet communication is a normal packet communication, the processing unit 36 adds the packet usage amount of the user specified by the user specifying information input from the specifying information obtaining unit 35 to the The communication amount related to the communication is added.

  Here, the special packet communication refers to a packet communication between the mobile communication terminal 100 of the special user and the special SPS 200 associated with the special user. That is, the user specified by the user specifying information input from the specific information obtaining unit 35 is stored as a special user in the specific information storage unit 32, and specified by the server specifying information input from the specific information obtaining unit 35. This is the packet communication when the specified SPS 200 is stored in the specific information storage unit 32 as a special SPS 200 associated with this special user.

  Further, normal packet communication refers to packet communication other than special packet communication. That is, packet communication when the user specified by the user specifying information input from the specific information obtaining unit 35 is not stored as a special user by the specific information obtaining unit 35, or stored as a special user, In addition, the packet communication is performed when the SPS 200 specified by the server specifying information input from the specific information acquiring unit 35 is not stored in the specific information storage unit 32 as a special SPS 200 associated with the special user.

  When determining that the normal packet communication has been performed, the processing unit 36 determines whether or not the user usage traffic of the user specified by the user specifying information input from the specifying information obtaining unit 35 exceeds the first threshold. Is determined. When the processing unit 36 determines that the user's usage traffic exceeds the first threshold, the processing unit 36 determines the communication speed of the packet communication to be lower than the normal communication speed. If the processing unit 36 determines that the user's usage traffic does not exceed the first threshold value, the processing unit 36 determines the communication speed of the packet communication to be the normal communication speed.

  On the other hand, when the processing unit 36 determines that the special packet communication has been performed, the user usage communication amount of the user specified by the user specifying information input from the specifying information obtaining unit 35 sets the first threshold to the first threshold. The communication speed of the packet communication is determined to be a normal communication speed without determining whether or not the communication speed is exceeded.

  Here, the first threshold value is set in consideration of, for example, the influence of a so-called heavy user who performs a large amount of packet communication to suppress the traffic of a user having a smaller amount of packet communication than the heavy user. Further, the first threshold value is, for example, the user usage of the mobile communication terminal 100 during a predetermined period in which packet communication can be used at a normal communication speed, which is set by a contract with an MNO operator or an MVNO operator. The upper limit value of the communication amount may be used. As an example, when the predetermined period is one month, the first threshold is set to, for example, 7 GB.

  The packet transmitting unit 37 receives, for example, the communication speed determined by the processing unit 36 and inputs a packet input via the specific information acquiring unit 35 from the processing unit 36 or the specific information acquiring unit 35 at the input communication speed. To the destination of the packet to be transmitted.

  Here, a specific example will be described with reference to FIG. 1 to facilitate understanding of special packet communication and normal packet communication. It is assumed that among the mobile communication terminals 100 shown in FIG. 1, the user of the mobile communication terminal 100-1 and the user of the mobile communication terminal 100-2 are special users. Then, it is assumed that the user of mobile communication terminal 100-3 is a general user. It is also assumed that among the SPSs 200 shown in FIG. 1, the SPS 200-1 is a special SPS 200-1 associated with the user of the mobile communication terminal 100-1. Further, it is assumed that among the SPSs 200 shown in FIG. 1, the SPS 200-2 is a special SPS 200-2 associated with the user of the mobile communication terminal 100-2. Then, it is assumed that the SPS 200-3 is a general SPS 200-3.

  In this specific example, the packet communication between the user (special user) of the portable communication terminal 100-1 and the special SPS 200-1 is a special packet communication. The packet communication between the user (special user) of the portable communication terminal 100-2 and the special SPS 200-2 is a special packet communication. Other packet communication, for example, packet communication between the user of mobile communication terminal 100-1 (special user) and special SPS 200-2, user of mobile communication terminal 100-3 (general user) and special Packet communication with the SPS 200-1 is normal packet communication.

  Therefore, for example, the communication traffic related to the packet communication between the user (special user) of the mobile communication terminal 100-1 and the special SPS 200-1 is equal to the user usage communication traffic of the user of the mobile communication terminal 100-1. It is not added, but is added to the special server use traffic of the special SPS 200-1. At this time, for example, even if the user's usage traffic of the user of the portable communication terminal 100-1 has already exceeded the first threshold, the communication speed of the packet communication is the normal communication speed.

  As described above, when a special user performs packet communication between his or her own portable communication terminal 100 and the special SPS 200 associated with the user, the communication amount related to the packet communication becomes It is not added to the traffic. Therefore, the special user can use the service provided by the special SPS 200 associated with the special user without worrying that the user's usage traffic increases. That is, the special user can use the service provided by the special SPS 200 associated with himself, for example, without having to worry that he is determined to be a so-called heavy user.

  When a special user performs packet communication between his or her own mobile communication terminal 100 and the special SPS 200 associated with the user, the user's own usage traffic has already exceeded the first threshold. Even so, packet communication can be performed at a normal communication speed. Therefore, the convenience of the special user in using the service provided by the special SPS 200 associated with the special user is improved.

  Here, for example, when the relay server 30 does not include the special server traffic storage unit 34, the traffic related to the special packet communication is not added. However, since the relay server 30 includes the special server communication amount storage unit 34, the communication amount related to the special packet communication can be reduced by using the special server of the special SPS 200 that is the source or destination of the packet related to the special packet communication. It is added to the traffic. As a result, for each special SPS 200, the communication volume related to the special packet communication in which the special SPS 200 is the source or destination of the packet is accurately stored.

  An example of the operation of the relay server 30 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. The flowchart illustrated in FIG. 3 is started, for example, when a packet related to packet communication between the mobile communication terminal 100 and the SPS 200 is input to (the specific information acquisition unit 35 of) the relay server 30.

  In step S101, the specific information obtaining unit 35 obtains the specific information of the transmission source of the packet and the specific information of the transmission destination included in the input packet related to the packet communication between the mobile communication terminal 100 and the SPS 200. That is, the specific information acquiring unit 35 acquires both the user specific information and the server specific information. The specific information acquisition unit 35 outputs the acquired user identification information and server identification information to the processing unit 36.

  In step S102, the processing unit 36 determines whether the user specified by the user specifying information input from the specifying information obtaining unit 35 is a special user. When the processing unit 36 determines that the user specified by the user specifying information input from the specifying information obtaining unit 35 is a special user, the flow proceeds to step S103. On the other hand, when the processing unit 36 determines that the user specified by the user specifying information input from the specifying information obtaining unit 35 is not a special user, the flow proceeds to step S106.

  In step S103, the processing unit 36 determines whether the SPS 200 specified by the server specifying information input from the specifying information obtaining unit 35 is a special SPS 200 associated with the user determined to be a special user in step S102. Is determined. When the processing unit 36 determines that the SPS 200 specified by the server specifying information input from the specifying information obtaining unit 35 is a special SPS 200 associated with the user determined to be a special user in step S102, The flow proceeds to step S104. On the other hand, the processing unit 36 has determined that the SPS 200 specified by the server specifying information input from the specifying information obtaining unit 35 is not the special SPS 200 associated with the user determined to be a special user in step S102. If so, the flow proceeds to step S106.

  When the flow proceeds to step S104, the packet communication between the portable communication terminal 100 and the SPS 200 is the above-described special packet communication. On the other hand, when the flow proceeds to step S106, the packet communication between the portable communication terminal 100 and the SPS 200 is the above-described normal packet communication.

  In step S104, the processing unit 36 determines the communication speed of the packet communication to be a normal communication speed, and outputs it to the packet transmitting unit 37. The packet transmitting unit 37 transmits the packet related to the packet communication to the transmission destination of the packet communication at a normal communication speed that is the communication speed input from the processing unit 36.

  In step S105, the processing unit 36 sets the special server use traffic of the special SPS 200 stored in the special server traffic storage 34 and specified by the server specifying information input from the specific information acquiring unit 35, to the packet communication. Is added.

  In step S106, the processing unit 36 determines that the user's usage traffic of the user specified by the user identification information input from the identification information acquisition unit 35 stored in the user traffic storage unit 33 exceeds the first threshold. Is determined. When the processing unit 36 determines that the user's usage traffic exceeds the first threshold, the flow proceeds to step S107. On the other hand, when the processing unit 36 determines that the user's usage traffic does not exceed the first threshold, the flow proceeds to step S108.

  In step S107, the processing unit 36 determines the communication speed of the packet communication to be lower than the normal communication speed, and outputs it to the packet transmitting unit 37. The packet transmitting unit 37 transmits the packet related to the packet communication to the destination of the packet communication at a low communication speed that is the communication speed input from the processing unit 36.

  In step S108, the processing unit 36 determines the communication speed of the packet communication to be a normal communication speed, and outputs it to the packet transmitting unit 37. The packet transmitting unit 37 transmits the packet related to the packet communication to the transmission destination of the packet communication at a normal communication speed that is the communication speed input from the processing unit 36.

  In step S109, the processing unit 36 adds the communication usage amount related to the packet communication to the user usage communication amount stored in the user communication amount storage unit 33 and specified by the user specifying information input from the specifying information obtaining unit 35. Is added. When the processing of any one of steps S105, S107, and S109 is performed, the flowchart illustrated in FIG. 3 ends.

  Here, in the flowchart shown in FIG. 3, when the process of step S107 is performed, the process of adding the communication amount related to the packet communication to the user-used communication amount as in step S109 is not executed. This is because the user's usage traffic for the packet communication has already exceeded the first threshold. However, the flowchart illustrated in FIG. 3 may be modified so that, for example, after the process of step S107 is performed, the process of step S109 is performed.

  As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 3, the relay server 30 uses the special server communication when the special packet communication is performed, although the communication speed of the special server is not related to the communication speed of the special packet communication. The communication amount is added. Therefore, for example, an MVNO or the like having the second communication network 20 transmits packet communication related to the special server use traffic of the special SPS 200 to a service provider having the special SPS 200 in a normal communication. It is conceivable to request a burden for introduction of equipment for realizing at a speed, maintenance management, and the like.

  For example, as services provided by a service provider using a special SPS 200 are used and / or as the number of special users associated with this special SPS 200 increases, The traffic of the special server used by the SPS 200 increases. That is, it is conceivable that as the special server use communication volume of the special SPS 200 increases, the profit obtained by the service provider that provides the service using the special SPS 200 also increases. As described above, there is a reason that the service provider accepts the burden of introducing the above-described facilities and the like, maintenance and management, and the like.

  In the relay server 30 described above, the communication speed used by the special server is not related to the communication speed of the special packet communication. However, as a modified example, when the special server use traffic exceeds the second threshold, for example, the communication speed of the special packet communication related to the special SPS 200 may be lower than the normal communication speed.

  The second threshold value is set, for example, in consideration of the influence of the accumulated packet communication traffic related to special packet communication on normal packet communication. For example, an individual second threshold may be set for each special SPS 200, or the same second threshold may be set for all special SPSs 200. The second threshold value is set higher than the first threshold value because it is a threshold value of the accumulated packet traffic between one special SPS 200 and all special users associated with this special SPS 200. Is preferred.

  An example of the operation of the modification will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. The flowchart shown in FIG. 4 is different from the flowchart shown in FIG. 3 in the processing executed when “YES” is determined in the determination in step S103. Other processes are the same as those in the flowchart shown in FIG. Therefore, in the flowchart shown in FIG. 4, only portions different from those in the flowchart shown in FIG. 3 will be described.

  Step S201 corresponds to step S101 in the flowchart shown in FIG. Step S202 corresponds to step S102 in the flowchart shown in FIG. Step S203 corresponds to step S103 of the flowchart shown in FIG.

  In step S204, the processing unit 36 determines that the special server use traffic of the special SPS 200 stored in the special server traffic storage unit 34 and specified by the server specifying information input from the specific information obtaining unit 35 is equal to the second server. It is determined whether or not the threshold is exceeded. When the processing unit 36 determines that the special server use traffic of the special SPS 200 exceeds the second threshold, the flow proceeds to step S205. On the other hand, when the processing unit 36 determines that the special server use traffic of the special SPS 200 does not exceed the second threshold, the flow proceeds to step S206.

  In step S205, the processing unit 36 determines the communication speed of the packet communication to be lower than the normal communication speed, and outputs it to the packet transmitting unit 37. The packet transmitting unit 37 transmits the packet related to the packet communication to the destination of the packet communication at a low communication speed that is the communication speed input from the processing unit 36.

  Step S206 corresponds to step S104 in the flowchart shown in FIG. When one of the processes in step S205 or S206 is performed, the flow proceeds to step S207. Step S207 corresponds to step S105 in the flowchart shown in FIG.

  Step S208 corresponds to step S106 in the flowchart shown in FIG. Step S209 corresponds to step S107 in the flowchart shown in FIG. Step S210 corresponds to step S108 in the flowchart shown in FIG. Step S211 corresponds to step S109 in the flowchart shown in FIG. When the process of any one of steps S207, S209, and S211 is performed, the flowchart illustrated in FIG. 4 ends.

  In the flowchart of the modification shown in FIG. 4, when it is determined that the special packet communication is performed, it is determined whether the special server use traffic of the special SPS 200 related to the special packet communication exceeds the second threshold value. Is determined. When it is determined that the special server use traffic exceeds the second threshold, the packet is transmitted to the destination at a lower speed than the normal communication speed. On the other hand, when it is determined that the special server use traffic does not exceed the second threshold, the packet is transmitted to the destination at a normal communication speed.

  As a result, it is possible to reduce the influence of the fact that the traffic of the normal packet communication is squeezed due to the large accumulated packet communication amount related to the special packet communication. Further, since the second threshold value is set higher than the first threshold value, the special user needs to be concerned about an increase in the communication amount related to the special packet communication as compared with performing the normal packet communication. Absent.

  In the flowchart of the modification shown in FIG. 4, the communication traffic related to the special packet communication is added to the special server communication traffic regardless of whether the special server traffic exceeds the second threshold value ( Step S207). As a result, for example, when it is necessary to change the second threshold value in a certain special SPS 200, the changed second threshold value can be set in consideration of the special server usage traffic.

  The present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described above, and those skilled in the art will be able to easily modify the exemplary embodiments described above to the scope included in the claims. .

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... 1st communication network, 20 ... 2nd communication network, 30 ... Relay server, 31 ... Storage device, 32 ... Specific information storage part, 33 ... User communication amount storage part , 34: special server communication amount storage unit, 35: specific information acquisition unit, 36: processing unit, 37: packet transmission unit, 50: Internet, 100: portable communication terminal, 200: Service providing server (SPS).

Claims (8)

A relay server that relays packet communication between a plurality of mobile communication terminals and a plurality of service providing servers arranged on the Internet,
The mobile communication terminal stores user identification information including user ID information associated with a unique ID number stored in a SIM card inserted into each of the plurality of mobile communication terminals, and stores the user identification information and the plurality of service providing servers. A specific information storage unit that stores server specific information of at least one of the service providing servers in association with each other in advance;
Associating one of the plurality of mobile communication terminals, into which the SIM card storing the user identification information stored by the identification information storage unit is inserted , and one of the plurality of service providing servers , with the user identification information when the packet communication is performed via the obtained network, identified from the packet according to the packet communication, acquires the user identification information and the server identification information of the service providing server of the user of the mobile communication terminal An information acquisition unit;
Depending on the results obtained by the identification information acquisition unit, a user using the communication amount is the cumulative packet traffic in a predetermined time period of the user, and a processing unit for adding the traffic according to the packet communication,
With
The user specified by the user specifying information obtained by the specifying information obtaining unit is a special user who is a user of a mobile communication terminal into which a SIM card associated with at least one service providing server is inserted, and , when the service providing server specified by the server identification information acquired by the identification information acquisition unit, a special service providing server to which the special user is associated,
The processing unit, the user uses traffic of the user identified by the user identification information acquired by the identification information acquisition unit, the relay server without adding the engaging Ru communication amount in the packet communication. When the user specified by the user specifying information obtained by the specifying information obtaining unit is not the special user, or
The user specified by the user specifying information obtained by the specifying information obtaining unit is the special user, and the service providing server specified by the server specifying information obtained by the specifying information obtaining unit is When the special user is not the special service providing server associated therewith,
The processing unit, the user uses traffic of the user identified by the user identification information acquired by the identification information acquisition unit, adds the engaging Ru communication amount in the packet communication, the user uses a communication amount The relay server according to claim 1, wherein when determining that the packet exceeds the first threshold, the relay server transmits the packet to the destination at a lower speed than a normal communication speed. The user identified by the user identification information acquired by the identification information acquisition unit, wherein a special user, and the service providing server specified by the server identification information acquired by the identification information acquisition unit , When the special user is the special service providing server associated therewith,
Wherein the processing unit, a predetermined period during the entire special user associated with said special service providing server and the special service providing server identified as in has been said server identification information acquired by the identification information acquisition unit 3. The relay server according to claim 1, wherein a communication amount related to the packet communication is added to a special server use communication amount that is an accumulated packet communication amount in the step (c). The user specified by the user specifying information obtained by the specifying information obtaining unit is the special user, and,
When the service providing server specified by the server identification information acquired by the identification information acquisition unit, which is the special service providing server to which the special user is associated,
Wherein the processing unit, the special server using a communication amount of the special service providing server that will be identified by the server identification information acquired by the identification information acquisition unit, it is judged whether or not the exceeds the second threshold ,
4. The relay server according to claim 3, wherein when it is determined that the special server use traffic exceeds the second threshold, the relay server transmits the packet to a destination at a lower speed than a normal communication speed. 5. A method of relaying packet communication in a relay server that relays packet communication between a plurality of mobile communication terminals and a plurality of service providing servers arranged on the Internet,
The mobile communication terminal stores user identification information including user ID information associated with a unique ID number stored in a SIM card inserted into each of the plurality of mobile communication terminals, and stores the user identification information and the plurality of service providing servers. Storing the server identification information of at least one of the service providing servers in association with each other in advance;
Between one of the plurality of mobile communication terminals, into which the SIM card storing the stored user identification information is inserted , and one of the plurality of service providing servers , via a communication network associated with the user identification information when the packet communication is performed, from the packet according to the packet communication, a step of acquiring the user identification information and the server identification information of the service providing server of the user of the mobile communication terminal,
The user identified by the acquired user identification information is a special user is the user of the portable communication terminal SIM card is inserted associated with at least one service providing server, and the acquired the server specifying information When the service providing server specified in is a special service providing server associated with the special user,
The user uses traffic is accumulated packet traffic in a predetermined period of the user identified by the acquired user identification information, a step of not adding the engaging Ru communication amount in the packet communication,
A method that includes When the user specified by the obtained user specifying information is not the special user, or
The user specified by the obtained user specifying information is the special user, and the service providing server specified by the obtained server specifying information is the special service associated with the special user. When not a providing server,
The user uses traffic of the user identified by the acquired user identification information, by adding the engagement Ru communication amount to the packet communication, when the user uses traffic is determined to exceed the first threshold value , steps to be transmitted to the packet to the destination than the normal communication speed at low speed,
The method of claim 5, further comprising: The user specified by the obtained user specifying information is the special user, and
When the service providing server specified by the acquired the server specifying information is the said specialized service providing server to which the special user is associated,
Special server using traffic is accumulated packet traffic in a predetermined time period between the acquired the server specific information across special user associated with said special service providing server and the special service providing server specified by the , the steps of adding the traffic according to the packet communication,
The method according to claim 5, further comprising : The user specified by the obtained user specifying information is the special user, and
When the service providing server specified by the obtained server specifying information is the special service providing server associated with the special user,
Acquired the special server using a communication amount of the server said special service providing server that will be identified with a specific information is, determining whether exceeds the second threshold value,
When the amount of the special server using the communication is determined to be greater than the second threshold value, the steps you send toward said packet at a lower speed than the normal communication speed to the destination,
The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

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