JP7030159B2 - Communication systems, information processing methods and programs - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to communication systems, information processing methods and programs.

Demand for data communication services may increase depending on the time of day and location. For example, demand for data communication services will increase in trains during commuting hours, when events are held at event venues, during disasters, and in residential areas at night. When the demand for data communication services increases, congestion may occur and communication may be interrupted, communication data may be lost in the middle, or communication may be temporarily disabled.
The band reservation device described in Patent Document 1 responds to a reservation by accepting a reservation in advance for using the communication band in the mobile communication system according to the reservation information transmitted from the communication terminal operated by the user. It is possible to provide data communication services.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2015-156568

However, the demand for communication services does not always occur when reservations can be made in advance. For example, it is difficult to predict in advance the demand that will occur in the event of a disaster. Further, the demand for a service that preferentially communicates with a specific communication terminal (hereinafter, also referred to as priority communication) as provided by the band reservation device described in Patent Document 1 is not necessarily a user who operates the communication terminal. It does not always arise from. For example, a business operator that provides a communication service may want to preferentially communicate with a communication connection that satisfies a specific condition.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a communication system, an information processing method, and a program capable of flexibly performing priority communication in various situations.

(1) The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and one aspect of the present invention is a communication system having an information processing device and a communication device, wherein the information processing device communicates. An acquisition unit that acquires communication data including communication destination identification information for identifying a destination, a priority determination unit that determines a priority for specifying a priority for allocating a communication band based on the communication data, and the priority determination unit. The priority control information generation unit that generates priority control information based on the determination result by the degree determination unit, and the device identification information and the communication destination identification for identifying the device that performs the communication with the communication device that relays the communication. The communication device includes a transmission unit for transmitting information and the priority control information, and the communication device performs priority control of the communication based on the device identification information, the communication destination identification information, and the priority control information. It is a communication system including a unit, the information processing device further includes a detection unit for acquiring detection data indicating a result of detection of communication quality in the communication device, and the priority determination unit is used for the detection data. Based on this, it is a communication system that determines whether or not to perform priority control of communication in the communication device , and the priority determination unit is when the communication quality in the communication device is good based on the detection data. Is a communication system characterized in that it is determined that priority control is not performed in the communication device .
( 2 ) Further, as one aspect of the present invention, the detection data is the communication system according to (1), which indicates the result of detecting the state of the communication traffic amount in the communication device. ..
( 3 ) Further, as one aspect of the present invention, the communication destination identification information is a URL or an IP address associated with the communication destination, which is either (1) or (2) . The communication system according to the above.
( 4 ) Further, as one aspect of the present invention, the priority determination unit excludes communication whose time after the start of priority communication exceeds a predetermined time from the target of priority determination. The communication system according to any one of (1) to ( 3 ).
( 5 ) Further, as one aspect of the present invention, the priority determination unit limits priority communication based on the number of simultaneous connections connected in the communication in the communication device (1). The communication system according to any one of ( 4 ).
( 6 ) Further, as one aspect of the present invention, the device identification information is the content provider server identification information that identifies the content provider server that performs the communication, according to (1) to ( 5 ). It is the communication system described in any one.

( 7 ) Further, one aspect of the present invention is an information processing method for a communication system having an information processing device and a communication device, wherein the information processing device includes communication data including communication destination identification information for identifying a communication destination. The acquisition step for acquiring the above, the priority determination step for the information processing apparatus to determine the priority for specifying the priority of the allocation of the communication band based on the communication data, and the information processing apparatus for determining the priority. Priority control information generation step that generates priority control information based on the determination result by the degree determination step, and device identification information for the information processing apparatus to identify the device that performs the communication with respect to the communication device that relays the communication. And the transmission step of transmitting the communication destination identification information and the priority control information, and the communication device performs priority control of the communication based on the device identification information, the communication destination identification information, and the priority control information. An information processing method including a priority control step, wherein the information processing apparatus acquires detection data indicating a result of detection of communication quality in the communication apparatus, and the information processing apparatus includes the detection data acquisition step. It is an information processing method further including a priority control determination step for determining whether or not to perform priority control of communication in the communication device based on the detection data, and the information processing apparatus is described in the priority control determination step. This is an information processing method for determining that priority control is not performed in the communication device when the communication quality in the communication device is good based on the detection data .
( 8 ) Further, as one aspect of the present invention, acquisition of communication data including communication destination identification information for identifying a communication destination is acquired by a computer of the information processing device of a communication system having an information processing device and a communication device. A priority determination step for determining a priority for specifying a priority for allocating a communication band based on the communication data, and a priority for generating priority control information based on a determination result by the priority determination step. The control information generation step and the transmission step of transmitting the device identification information for identifying the device that performs the communication to the communication device that relays the communication, the communication destination identification information, and the priority control information are executed. , A program for causing a computer of the communication device to execute a priority control step for performing priority control of the communication based on the device identification information, the communication destination identification information, and the priority control information. Whether or not to perform priority control of communication in the communication device based on the detection data acquisition step for acquiring the detection data indicating the result of detecting the communication quality in the communication device and the detection data in the computer of the processing device. The priority control determination step is a program for further executing the priority control determination step , and the priority control determination step is in the communication device when the communication quality in the communication device is good based on the detection data. It is a program that determines that priority control is not performed .

According to the present invention, priority communication can be flexibly performed in various situations.

It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the network configuration of the communication system which concerns on this embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the functional structure of the communication control device in the communication system which concerns on this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the operation of the communication system which concerns on this embodiment.

(Embodiment)
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
(Communication system configuration)
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a network configuration of a communication system according to the present embodiment.
The communication system 1 according to the present embodiment is a system that controls communication performed between a CP (Contents Provider) server and a terminal. The communication system 1 is configured to include, for example, an LTE (Long Term Evolution) type wireless communication radio access network whose specifications are defined by the 3GPP (Third Generation Partnership Project), a standardization body for wireless technology.

As shown in FIG. 1, the communication system 1 includes a communication control device 10 (information processing device), an EPC (Evolved Packet Core) 20, a CP server 30-1, a CP server 30-2, and a CP server 31. , The closed network 40, the Internet 50, the radio access network 60, the terminal 70, the terminal 71, the HSS (Home Subscriber Server) 80, and the billing server 90.

The communication control device 10 performs priority control of communication between the CP server and the terminal. The details of the functional configuration of the communication control device 10 will be described later.
The EPC 20 performs authentication, movement control, bearer management, billing, Quality of Service (QoS) control, and the like. The EPC 20 includes a P-GW (Packet Data Network Gateway) 200, an S-GW (Serving Gateway) 201, a PCRF (Policy and Charging Rules Foundation) 202, an MME (Mobile Management) 202, and an MME (Mobile Management) 203. The gateway.

The P-GW 200 is a connection point with an external network of the EPC 20, and is a gateway for assigning an IP (Internet Protocol) address and transferring a packet to the S-GW 201. The S-GW 201 is a gateway that accommodates the LTE wireless communication base station eNodeB 600 and transmits user data.
The PCRF202 (priority control unit) performs QoS control, priority control, and control for billing for communication. Further, the PCRF 202 may perform priority control of communication based on the information transmitted from the communication control device 10. The MME 203 accommodates the eNodeB 600 and performs terminal movement management, terminal authentication (security control), and the like.

The CP server 30-1 and the CP server 30-2 are CP servers that publish a specific website or the like that is the target of priority communication, and are between the CP server and a terminal (for example, a terminal 70 or a terminal 71). Communication may be preferentially performed by priority control by the communication control device 10. Some CP servers, such as the CP server 30-1, communicate with the EPC 20 via the closed network 40, and some CP servers, such as the CP server 30-2, communicate with the EPC 20 via the Internet 50. be.
The CP server 31 is a CP server that publishes a general website that is not the target of priority communication. As will be described later, communication between the CP server 31 and the terminal 71 is not prioritized.

The CP server 30-1, CP server 30-2, and CP server 31 are not limited to websites, but other contents (for example, video data, audio data, and text data) and applications. It may be.
Further, for the sake of brevity, in FIG. 1, only one CP server 30-1, CP server 30-2, and one CP server 31 are shown, but there may be a plurality of each.

The closed network 40 is a "closed" network constructed by a telecommunications carrier as its own service. "Closed" here means that it is not directly accessed from the Internet 50.
The wireless access network 60 is a wireless network that relays communication between the EPC 20 and terminals (terminal 70 and terminal 71). The radio access network 60 is, for example, an E-UTRAN (Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network), which is an access network that realizes wireless communication in the LTE system. The radio access network 60 includes an eNodeB (evolved Node B) 600. The eNodeB 600 is a wireless base station that supports LTE wireless communication.

The terminal 70 is a specific terminal that is the target of priority communication, and the communication between the terminal and the CP server (for example, CP server 30-1, CP server 30-2, or CP server 31) is controlled by communication. It may be preferentially performed by the priority control by the device 10.
The terminal 71 is a general terminal that is not the target of priority communication. Communication between the terminal 71, which is not the target of priority communication, and the CP server 31, which is not the target of priority communication, is not prioritized.

In the above description, the communication performed by the CP server 30-1 and the CP server 30-2 may be preferentially performed, and the communication performed by the CP server 31 may not be preferentially performed. However, it is determined whether or not communication may be preferentially performed for each server, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the configuration may be such that it is determined whether or not communication may be preferentially performed for each site included in each CP server. That is, for example, in the case of communication in which access to a specific site is performed, priority communication is performed, and in the case of communication in which access to a site other than the specific site is performed, priority communication is not performed. It may be configured.

The HSS 80 is a subscriber information database of subscribers (users) who receive communication services provided by the communication system 1, and manages authentication information and local information of terminals (terminal 70 and terminal 71).
The billing server 90 is a system for billing a CP server (CP server 30-1, CP server 30-2, and CP server 31) or a terminal (terminal 70, and terminal 71), and is, for example, online. It is configured to include a billing system (OCS; Online Charging System) or an online billing system (OFCS; Offline Charging System).

(Configuration of communication control device)
Next, the functional configuration of the communication control device 10 will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the communication control device according to the present embodiment.
The communication control device 10 includes an acquisition unit 100, a priority determination unit 101, a priority control information generation unit 102, a transmission unit 103, and a detection unit 104.

The acquisition unit 100 acquires communication data from the EPC 20 (via PCRF202). The communication data referred to here is data indicating incidental information (metadata) related to each communication performed in the EPC 20. The communication data includes information used for determining the priority of communication when priority communication is performed, for example, device identification information for identifying a device for communication (for example, terminal identification for identifying a terminal for communication). Information and CP server identification information that identifies the CP server that performs the communication) and the like are included. The communication data is generated, for example, in a device that performs communication (for example, CP server 30-1, CP server 30-1, or terminal 70, which is a device targeted for priority communication), and is transmitted to the EPC 20. As the device identification information, not only the terminal identification information and the CP server identification information but also the identification information for identifying the communication device may be used.
Other examples of the information included in the communication data will be described later.

The priority determination unit 101 analyzes the communication data acquired by the acquisition unit 100, and specifies the priority of communication (for example, the priority of communication band allocation or the priority of time slot allocation). To judge. The priority is represented by a class indicating the priority, for example, "class 1", "class 2", ..., And "class 9". For example, the communication determined to be "class 1" has the highest priority, and the communication determined to be "class 9" has the lowest priority.
Depending on the analysis result of the communication data, the priority determination unit 101 may not determine the priority for the communication corresponding to the communication data. In that case, the priority of the communication for which the priority is not determined is, for example, the lowest priority.
For example, the communication data is data including a data portion (payload) of the IP packet, and the communication control device 10 is a device having a DPI (Deep Packet Inspection) function for analyzing the payload in the priority determination unit 101. May be good.

The priority control information generation unit 102 generates priority control information based on the result of the determination by the priority determination unit 101. The priority control information includes information indicating the priority content in the priority communication, for example, the allocation amount of the communication band according to the priority determined by the priority determination unit 101, or the allocation amount of the time slot according to the priority. included.
The transmission unit 103 transmits the priority control information and the identification information for identifying the communication subject to the priority control (for example, the terminal identification information or the CP server identification information) to the PCRF 202. As a result, the PCRF202 (priority control unit) performs priority communication according to the priority control information received from the communication control device 10 for the specific communication identified by the identification information received from the communication control device 10. The P-GW 200 (priority execution unit) can be controlled (for example, to allocate the communication band or time slot indicated by the priority control information).
The PCRF202 (priority control unit) has not only the priority control information received from the communication control device 10 (information processing device) but also the failure information of the communication device received from, for example, the P-GW 200 (for example, the EPC20 or the radio access network). In combination with the failure information of the failure that occurred in 60), a determination process of whether or not to perform priority control may be performed.
For example, the failure information of a communication device is a state in which another communication device adjacent to the communication device accommodating the terminal has failed, or a failure has occurred in the communication device constituting the backbone transmission path through which the terminal passes. It is information indicating the state of being present, and since a failure has occurred beyond the communication device accommodating the terminal, it is possible to perform a determination process such as not performing priority control.
In the communication system 1 according to the present embodiment, the communication control device 10 is provided with the priority determination unit 101, and the EPC 20 is provided with the PCRF202 (priority control unit) and the P-GW200 (priority execution unit). Not limited to this. For example, the communication system 1 may be configured to include a priority determination unit 101, a priority control unit, and a priority execution unit in different devices. Alternatively, for example, the communication system 1 may be configured to include a part or all of a priority determination unit 101, a priority control unit, and a priority execution unit in the same device.

The detection unit 104 acquires data (hereinafter, also referred to as detection data) indicating the result of detecting the communication state of the communication in the EPC 20 from the EPC 20 (via PCRF 202). The communication state referred to here is data indicating a communication state (communication quality) indicated by communication traffic, for example, a communication band usage rate or throughput.
The priority determination unit 101 acquires the detection data from the detection unit 104. Note that the priority determination unit 101 may not determine the priority so as not to perform new priority communication depending on the communication state indicated by the acquired detection data. For example, the priority determination unit 101 indicates that the amount of communication traffic is larger than a predetermined amount in the entire communication performed in the EPC 20 (that is, when the communication is congested), or the communication performed in the EPC 20. If the ratio of priority communication in the whole is higher than the predetermined ratio, the priority is not determined. As a result, the priority determination unit 101 can control the EPC 20 so as not to perform new priority communication when it is difficult to secure a communication band for performing new priority communication. can. Or, for example, the priority determination unit 101 determines when the amount of communication traffic is less than a predetermined amount in the entire communication performed in the EPC 20, or the ratio of the priority communication in the entire communication performed in the EPC 20 is predetermined. If it is lower than the ratio, the priority is not determined. As a result, the priority determination unit 101 can control the EPC 20 so that new priority communication is not performed when the communication state is such that a sufficient communication speed can be secured without performing priority communication.
The priority determination unit 101 may be configured to transmit the priority change information indicating the change to a different priority or the priority release information indicating the cancellation of the priority connection to the communication device.

Specifically, in the EPC 20 and the radio access network 60, priority control is executed as follows. The following description is the same in any of the priority control examples described later.
For example, the PCRF 202 outputs a PCC (Police and Charging) rule indicating a rule based on the information for specifying the communication acquired from the communication control device 10 and the data indicating the allocation amount of the communication band to the P-GW 200. Upon receiving the PCC rule, the P-GW 200 requests the S-GW 201 to generate a priority bearer (Dedicated Bearer), and instructs the S-GW 201 to start QoS (Quality of Service) control according to the PCC rule. .. The dedicated bearer is a bearer that is additionally set in QoS units with respect to the default bearer.

When the S-GW 201 starts QoS control according to the PCC rule and the setting of the dedicated bearer between the P-GW 200 and the S-GW 201 is completed, the S-GW 201 is set to the MME 203 of the dedicated bearer. Request settings.
Then, the MME 203 requests the eNodeB 600 to set the E-RAB (E-UTRAN (Evolved Universal Radio Access Network) Radio Access Bearer). The eNodeB 600 transmits an RRC (Radio Resource Control) resetting request to a terminal (for example, a terminal 70 or a terminal 71) in response to the request. The terminal (for example, the terminal 70 or the terminal 71) establishes a communication connection with the eNodeB 600 in response to receiving the RRC resetting request.
When the terminal (for example, the terminal 70 or the terminal 71) establishes a communication connection with the eNodeB 600, the terminal (for example, the terminal 70 or the terminal 71) transmits a completion notification to the eNodeB 600. The eNodeB 600 transmits an E-RAB Setting Response (E-RAB Step Response) to the MME 203 in response to receiving the completion notification.

In response to receiving the E-RAB setting response, the MME 203 transmits a response indicating that the dedicated bearer has been set to the S-GW 201.
The S-GW 201 transmits the response to the P-GW 200 in response to receiving the response indicating that the dedicated bearer has been set.
As described above, the communication connection by the priority communication is established by generating the dedicated bearer, and the information specifying the communication transmitted from the communication control device 10 to the terminal (for example, the terminal 70 or the terminal 71) is transmitted to the terminal (for example, the terminal 70 or the terminal 71). The provision of the service according to the allocation of the communication band based on the data shown and the data indicating the allocation amount of the communication band transmitted from the communication control device 10 is started.

Further details of the procedure for generating a dedicated bearer are described in, for example, the following documents, and the description thereof will be omitted. "3GPP TS 23.402 V13.4.0 (2015-12), 3rd Generation Partnership Project; Technical Specialization Group Services and System Sensors. 86-90, "5.4 Distributed Bearer Procedures for E-UTRAN Access with PMIP-based S5 / S8".

(Operation of communication system)
Next, the operation of the communication system 1 will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the communication system 1 according to the present embodiment.
This flowchart starts when the acquisition unit 100 of the communication control device 10 receives the communication data transmitted from the EPC 20 (via PCRF202). The timing at which the EPC 20 transmits communication data to the communication control device 10 is, for example, the timing when a request for a new communication connection occurs, the timing when a request for changing from general communication that is not priority communication to priority communication occurs, and priority. This is the timing when a request to change the priority occurs in communication.

(Step S001) The acquisition unit 100 of the communication control device 10 acquires communication data (via PCRF202) from the EPC 20. The acquisition unit 100 outputs the communication data acquired from the EPC 20 to the priority determination unit 101. After that, the process proceeds to step S002.

(Step S002) The priority determination unit 101 acquires the communication data output from the acquisition unit 100. The priority determination unit 101 analyzes the acquired communication data, and uses the identification information (for example, terminal identification information or CP server identification information) included in the communication data to identify the communication and the identification information. Extract the associated priority information. The priority determination unit 101 determines the priority based on the extracted priority information. The priority determination unit 101 outputs information indicating the priority determination result and the identification information to the priority control information generation unit 102. After that, the process proceeds to step S003.

(Step S003) The priority control information generation unit 102 acquires information indicating the priority determination result and identification information output from the priority determination unit 101. The priority control information generation unit 102 determines the content of the priority communication according to the priority determination result indicated by the acquired information (for example, the communication band assigned to the priority communication or the time slot according to the priority determination result). Determine the quota). The priority determination result and the content of the priority communication (for example, a table in which the communication band allocated to the priority communication or the allocated amount of the time slot are associated with each other) are stored in the storage unit (FIG. Not shown) is stored in advance. The table may be stored in an external device, and the communication control device 10 acquires data indicating the communication band allocated to the priority communication or the allocated amount of the time slot from the table stored in the external device. It may have such a configuration.
The priority control information generation unit 102 outputs the identification information and the data indicating the communication band allocated to the priority communication or the allocated amount of the time slot to the transmission unit 103. After that, the process proceeds to step S004.

(Step S004) The transmission unit 103 acquires the identification information and the data indicating the communication band allocated to the priority communication or the allocation amount of the time slot output from the priority control information generation unit 102. The transmission unit 103 transmits the identification information and the data indicating the communication band allocated to the priority communication or the allocated amount of the time slot to the PCRF202 (priority control unit) of the EPC 20. After that, the process proceeds to step S005.

(Step S005) The PCRF202 (priority control unit) of the EPC 20 acquires the identification information and the data indicating the communication band allocated to the priority communication or the allocated amount of the time slot, which is output from the transmission unit 103 of the communication control device 10. .. The EPC 20 acquires the communication corresponding to the acquired identification information (for example, the communication performed by the terminal corresponding to the acquired terminal identification information, or the communication performed by the CP server corresponding to the acquired CP server identification information). The P-GW 200 is controlled so as to allocate a communication band or a time slot allocation amount based on the obtained data.
The P-GW 200 (priority execution unit) allocates the specified communication band or time slot to the specified communication according to the instruction from the PCRF202 (priority control unit). As a result, the communication connection by priority communication is established.
It should be noted that the P-GW200 (priority execution unit) is not only between the terminal (for example, the terminal 70 or the terminal 71) and the P-GW200 or the eNodeB 600, but also between the terminal and the CP server (CP server 30-1, CP server 30-). 2. It may be configured to transmit priority control information to all devices in the communication path with the CP server 31) for priority control.
This is the end of this flowchart.

The communication control device 10 according to the present embodiment can perform priority control of communication based on various types of communication data. Some communication data examples will be described below.
(Communication data example 1)
The communication data includes, for example, as described above, priority information indicating the priority or priority of communication. For example, as described above, the priority information includes data indicating a class indicating the priority, such as "class 1", "class 2", and "class 3". In addition, the priority information may be data indicating the priority by a value from 1 to 100, for example, the priority of the communication having the highest priority is set to 100. In that case, the priority determination unit 101 is, for example, "class 1" when the above value is 80 or more, "class 2" when the above value is 40 or more and less than 80, and the above value is 40. If it is less than, the priority may be determined and the priority may be determined by classifying the class into "class 3".

In the above, it is assumed that the priority information indicating the priority or priority of communication is included in the communication data, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the communication data includes identification information such as terminal identification information or CP server identification information, and the priority determination unit 101 identifies the communication (for example, terminal identification information or CP server identification information). ) And a storage unit (not shown) that stores a table in which the priority information is associated in advance, and the priority information associated with the identification information included in the communication data is acquired from the table. You may do it. Alternatively, for example, the priority determination unit 101 may acquire the priority information associated with the identification information included in the communication data from an external device (for example, HSS80).

(Communication data example 2)
The communication data includes, for example, information indicating an operation input by a user in a terminal for communication. The information includes, for example, information indicating that a priority connection is requested, or information for specifying a priority. That is, in this example, for example, a user operates a terminal to make a request for a priority connection, and priority communication is performed based on the request. Further, the communication data includes, for example, a user and a communication carrier (for example, a carrier that provides a communication service using the EPC 20 and a carrier that provides a wireless communication service using the wireless access network 60). Contract details (contract plans subscribed to by the user), or, for example, a user and a content provider (for example, a business operator that provides content using CP server 30-1, CP server 30-2, and CP server 31). ) Contains information indicating the priority according to the contents of the contract.

(Communication data example 3)
The communication data includes, for example, identification information for identifying an application, identification information for identifying a communication connection destination, a URL (Uniform Resource Locator; unified resource location locator) associated with the communication connection destination, or the communication connection. The previously associated IP address is included. Further, the communication data includes, for example, time zone information indicating that the communication data was transmitted or received in a predetermined time zone, location information indicating that the communication data was transmitted from a terminal located at a predetermined location, or location information indicating that the communication data was transmitted or received. , Communication type information indicating that the communication data is a predetermined type of communication data may be included.
Further, the communication data may include, for example, an ID (identifier; identifier) indicating a model number or the like of a specific communication module (for example, an LTE communication module). As a result, the communication system 1 is uniquely used in the IoT (Internet of Things), which is a mechanism in which uniquely identifiable "things" are connected to the Internet or the cloud and mutually controlled by exchanging information. Communication priority control can be performed for any identifiable "thing".
The priority determination unit 101 determines the priority according to the identification information, the URL, the IP address, or the information indicating the configuration of the IP address (for example, the length of the character string of the IP address). That is, for example, on the terminal side, priority communication is performed when an application corresponding to specific identification information (identification information installed in the terminal) communicates. Further, for example, a communication connection destination corresponding to a specific identification information (for example, a specific CP server or a specific site) or a communication connection destination corresponding to a specific IP address (for example, a CP server) communicates. In some cases, priority communication is performed.

The priority determination unit 101 may change (update) the priority of a specific priority communication by re-determining the priority according to the communication state indicated by the acquired detection data. The priority change may change the priority of the priority communication to a higher priority or a lower priority. For example, when the number of terminals performing priority communication with a certain priority exceeds a predetermined number, or when the ratio of the communication band used in the EPC20 (communication device) exceeds a predetermined ratio, a part of the cases. Change (update) the priority of communication performed by the terminal to a higher priority or a lower priority.

The priority determination unit 101 starts the priority determination based on the communication data indicating the priority communication start request. In that case, the priority determination unit 101 may change the priority of another priority communication that is already being executed (for example, change to a lower priority). Further, the priority determination unit 101 ends the priority determination based on the communication data indicating the end request of the priority communication. In that case, the priority determination unit 101 may change the priority of other priority communication being executed (for example, change to a higher priority).

The communication system 1 in the present embodiment can perform various priority controls. Next, some examples of the priority control performed by the communication control device 10 and the PCRF202 (priority control unit) will be described.
(Priority control example 1)
The PCRF202 (priority control unit) includes identification information for identifying communication (for example, terminal identification information or CP server identification information) included in the communication data acquired from the communication control device 10, and communication included in the communication data. Based on the data indicating the allocation amount of the band or the time slot, the P-GW 200 (priority execution unit) is controlled so as to allocate the communication band or the time slot to the communication.
As a result, the PCRF202 (priority control unit) determines the communication band or time slot for each communication based on the terminal identification information that identifies the terminal that performs communication or the CP server identification information that identifies the CP server that performs communication. Priority control can be performed by giving a difference in the allocation amount.

(Priority control example 2)
The detection unit 104 of the communication control device 10 acquires the detection data from the EPC 20 (via PCRF 202). In this example, the detection data includes data indicating the number of communication connections connected in the communication in the EPC 20 (that is, the number of simultaneous connections). The detection unit 104 outputs the acquired detection data to the priority determination unit 101. When the number of simultaneous connections indicated by the acquired detection data exceeds a predetermined number, the priority determination unit 101 does not determine the priority of communication. That is, even when the priority determination unit 101 acquires communication data indicating that a new priority communication is requested from the EPC 20, the number of simultaneous connections indicated by the detection data (for example, the communication indicated by the communication data) can be obtained. If the number of simultaneous connections in the eNodeB 600 to which the terminal to perform communication connection exceeds a predetermined number, the priority is not determined for the request. As a result, the communication control device 10 can perform priority control so that new priority communication is not started when the number of simultaneous connections of communication in the EPC 20 exceeds a predetermined number.

In the above description, the priority determination unit 101 determines whether or not the number of simultaneous connections exceeds a predetermined number, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the PCRF202 (priority control unit) monitors the number of simultaneous connections, and when the number of simultaneous connections reaches a predetermined number, the PCRF202 (priority control unit) does not transmit communication data to the communication control device 10. You may do so. As a result, the PCRF202 (priority control unit) can perform priority control by limiting the number of simultaneous communication connections in the EPC 20.

(Priority control example 3)
The detection unit 104 of the communication control device 10 periodically (for example, every 10 seconds) acquires detection data from the EPC 20 (via PCRF202). In this example, the detection data includes identification information for identifying each priority communication and information indicating the time when each priority communication is started for all the priority communications in the communication connection in the EPC 20. The detection unit 104 outputs the acquired detection data to the priority determination unit 101. In this example, the priority determination unit 101 includes a storage unit (not shown) that temporarily stores the detection data. The detection data stored in the storage unit is overwritten and updated every time the detection unit 104 acquires new detection data.

The priority determination unit 101 is connected based on the information contained in the detection data stored in the storage unit (that is, the identification information for identifying the priority communication and the information indicating the time when each priority communication is started). It is determined that the higher the priority is, the earlier the priority communication is started in the priority communication. As a result, the communication control device 10 preferentially controls the priority communication being connected in the EPC 20 so that the communication that started the priority communication earlier allocates a larger communication band or time slot. Can be done.
In this example, the priority determination unit 101 determines that the priority communication is higher as the priority communication is started earlier than the priority communication being connected, but conversely, the priority is higher. May be determined to be low.

In the above description, the priority determination unit 101 performs priority control based on information indicating the time when each priority communication is started, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, PCRF202 (priority control unit) manages the start time of each priority communication, and for the communication with the earlier priority communication start time among the priority communications being connected, the allocation amount of the communication band or the time slot is assigned. The P-GW 200 may be controlled to be more (or less). As a result, the PCRF202 (priority control unit) performs priority control for the priority communication connected earlier to increase or decrease the allocation amount of the communication band or time slot as compared with the priority communication connected later. It can be carried out.
The priority determination unit 101 or PCRF202 (priority control unit) manages the connection time of each priority communication for each type of identification information (for example, terminal identification information), from a predetermined start time to a predetermined end time. Even if the configuration is such that the allocation of the communication band or the time slot is reduced for the communication in which the continuous communication packet amount or the cumulative communication packet amount by the priority communication is larger than a predetermined value. good. (In that case, the priority determination unit 101 or the PCRF202 (priority control unit) may, for example, reduce the allocation amount of the time slot at the next connection or later for the terminal whose communication has already been disconnected. The priority control unit may be controlled.) Further, for example, a packet in each priority communication in which the predetermined value is managed for each terminal identification information from a predetermined start time to a predetermined end time. By setting the average value of the flow rate, the communication system 1 can perform priority control of a terminal or the like performing priority communication exceeding the overall average of the packet flow rate in each priority communication.

(Priority control example 4)
Similar to the priority control example 3 described above, the detection unit 104 of the communication control device 10 periodically (for example, every 10 seconds) acquires detection data from the EPC 20 (via PCRF 202). In this example, the detection data includes identification information for identifying each priority communication for all priority communications in communication connection in the EPC 20, and the elapsed time (priority connection time) since each priority communication was started. Contains information that indicates. The detection unit 104 outputs the acquired detection data to the priority determination unit 101. In this example, the priority determination unit 101 includes a storage unit (not shown) that temporarily stores the detection data. The detection data stored in the storage unit is overwritten and updated every time the detection unit 104 acquires new detection data.

The priority determination unit 101 is based on the information contained in the detection data stored in the storage unit (that is, the identification information for identifying the priority communication and the information indicating the elapsed time since each priority communication is started). Among the priority communications being connected, the communication in which the time since the priority communication is started exceeds a predetermined time is determined to be excluded from the priority determination (that is, the priority communication is terminated). As a result, the communication control device 10 excludes the priority communication during the communication connection in the EPC 20 from the communication in which the time from the start of the priority communication exceeds a predetermined time. Priority control can be performed.

In the above description, the priority determination unit 101 performs priority control based on information indicating the elapsed time from the start of each priority communication, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the PCRF202 (priority control unit) monitors the elapsed time from the start of each priority communication, and the elapsed time from the start of the priority communication among the priority communications being connected exceeds a predetermined time. Regarding communication, the P-GW 200 may be controlled so as to end the priority communication. As a result, the PCRF202 (priority control unit) can perform priority control based on the elapsed time from the start of each priority communication. For example, the PCRF202 (priority control unit) monitors the elapsed time of each priority communication in the EPC 20, and when the elapsed time of the specific priority communication is longer than the elapsed time of the other priority communication, the specific priority communication is performed. By excluding the target of the priority connection (terminating the priority communication), priority control can be performed so as to increase the allocation amount of the communication band or the time slot for the other priority communication.
(Priority control example 5)
In this example, the priority determination unit 101 of the communication control device 10 is excluded from the priority determination target (that is, the priority communication is terminated) as in the specific communication described in the above priority control example 4. ) A storage unit (not shown) for storing non-target communication identification information for identifying communication for a certain period of time (for example, one hour after being excluded from priority determination). The information may be identification information associated with the communication itself, terminal identification information for identifying the terminal performing the communication, or CP server identification information for identifying the CP server performing the communication. You may.

When the priority determination unit 101 acquires communication data from the EPC 20 via the acquisition unit 100, the priority determination unit 101 collates the identification information for identifying the communication included in the communication data with the non-target communication identification information stored in the storage unit. .. When the identification information matching the identification information for identifying the communication included in the communication data exists in the non-target communication identification information, the priority determination unit 101 determines that the communication indicated by the communication data is not subject to the priority determination. (That is, prevent priority communication). As a result, the communication control device 10 can perform priority control so that the communication changed from the priority communication to the non-priority communication is not changed to the priority communication again for a predetermined period.

In this example, the priority determination unit 101 makes a determination for priority control so that the communication changed from the priority communication to the non-priority communication is not changed to the priority communication again for a predetermined period. However, it is not limited to this. For example, PCRF202 (priority control unit) uses non-target communication identification information for a certain period of time (for example, priority determination) to identify communication that has been changed from priority communication to non-priority communication (excluded from priority determination). It may be configured to include a storage unit (not shown) for storing (1 hour after being excluded from the target). As a result, the PCRF202 (priority control unit) can perform priority control so as not to change the communication changed to the communication without priority connection again to the communication with priority connection for a predetermined period.

As described above, the communication system 1 according to the present embodiment can flexibly perform priority communication in various situations.

The communication system 1 according to the present embodiment is a system that controls a communication network including wireless communication via the wireless access network 60, but is not limited to this. The communication system 1 according to the present embodiment may be, for example, a system that controls a communication network via a wired access network.

Although the embodiments and modifications thereof of the present invention have been described above, these embodiments and modifications thereof are presented as examples, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments and variations thereof can be implemented in various other embodiments, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. These embodiments and variations thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and at the same time, are included in the scope of the invention described in the claims and the equivalent scope thereof.

Each of the above-mentioned devices has a computer inside. The process of each process of each of the above-mentioned devices is stored in a computer-readable recording medium in the form of a program, and the process is performed by the computer reading and executing this program. Here, the computer-readable recording medium means a magnetic disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, a semiconductor memory, or the like. Further, the computer program may be distributed to the computer via a communication line, and the computer receiving the distribution may execute the program.

Further, the above program may be for realizing a part of the above-mentioned functions. Further, it may be a so-called difference file (difference program) that can realize the above-mentioned function in combination with a program already recorded in the computer system.

1 ... Communication system, 10 ... Communication control device (information processing device), 20 ... EPC, 30-1 ... CP server (priority), 30-2 ... CP server (priority), 31 ... CP server (general), 40 ... closed network, 50 ... Internet, 60 ... wireless access network, 70 ... terminal (priority), 71 ... terminal (general), 80 ... HSS, 90 ... Billing server, 100 ... Acquisition unit, 101 ... Priority determination unit, 102 ... Priority control information generation unit, 103 ... Transmission unit, 104 ... Detection Unit, 200 ... P-GW, 201 ... S-GW, 202 ... PCRF (priority control unit), 203 ... MME, 600 ... eNodeB

Claims (8)

A communication system having an information processing device and a communication device.
The information processing device is
An acquisition unit that acquires communication data including communication destination identification information that identifies the communication destination, and
A priority determination unit that determines the priority for specifying the priority of communication band allocation based on the communication data, and
A priority control information generation unit that generates priority control information based on a determination result by the priority determination unit, and a priority control information generation unit.
A transmission unit that transmits device identification information for identifying the device that performs the communication to the communication device that relays communication, the communication destination identification information, and the priority control information.
Equipped with
The communication device is
A priority control unit that performs priority control of the communication based on the device identification information, the communication destination identification information, and the priority control information is provided.
It is a communication system
The information processing device further includes a detection unit that acquires detection data indicating the result of detection of the communication quality in the communication device.
The priority determination unit determines whether or not to perform priority control of communication in the communication device based on the detection data.
It is a communication system
When the communication quality in the communication device is good based on the detection data, the priority determination unit determines that priority control in the communication device is not performed.
A communication system characterized by that. The detection data indicates the result of detecting the state of the communication traffic amount in the communication device.
The communication system according to claim 1 . The communication destination identification information is a URL or IP address associated with the communication destination.
The communication system according to any one of claims 1 or 2 , wherein the communication system is characterized by the above. The priority determination unit excludes communication whose time after the start of priority communication exceeds a predetermined time from the target of priority determination.
The communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the communication system is characterized by the above. The priority determination unit limits priority communication based on the number of simultaneous connections connected in the communication in the communication device.
The communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein the communication system is characterized by the above. The device identification information is content provider server identification information that identifies the content provider server that performs the communication.
The communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 5 , wherein the communication system is characterized by that. An information processing method for a communication system having an information processing device and a communication device.
An acquisition step in which the information processing device acquires communication data including communication destination identification information for identifying the communication destination, and
A priority determination step in which the information processing apparatus determines a priority for specifying a priority for allocating a communication band based on the communication data.
A priority control information generation step in which the information processing apparatus generates priority control information based on the determination result of the priority determination step.
A transmission step in which the information processing device transmits device identification information for identifying the device that performs the communication, the communication destination identification information, and the priority control information to the communication device that relays the communication.
A priority control step in which the communication device performs priority control of the communication based on the device identification information, the communication destination identification information, and the priority control information.
Is an information processing method that includes
A detection data acquisition step in which the information processing device acquires detection data indicating the result of detection of the communication quality in the communication device.
A priority control determination step for determining whether or not the information processing device performs priority control of communication in the communication device based on the detection data.
Is an information processing method that further includes
In the priority control determination step, when the communication quality in the communication device is good based on the detection data, the information processing apparatus determines that the priority control in the communication device is not performed.
Information processing method. To the computer of the information processing device of the communication system having the information processing device and the communication device,
An acquisition step for acquiring communication data including communication destination identification information for identifying a communication destination, and
A priority determination step for determining a priority for specifying a priority for allocating a communication band based on the communication data, and a priority determination step.
A priority control information generation step that generates priority control information based on the determination result of the priority determination step, and
The communication device that relays the communication is made to execute the device identification information for identifying the device that performs the communication, the communication destination identification information, and the transmission step of transmitting the priority control information.
To the computer of the communication device
A priority control step for performing priority control of the communication based on the device identification information, the communication destination identification information, and the priority control information is executed.
Program for
To the computer of the information processing device
A detection data acquisition step for acquiring detection data indicating the result of detecting the communication quality in the communication device, and
A priority control determination step for determining whether or not to perform priority control of communication in the communication device based on the detection data, and a priority control determination step.
It is a program to further execute
The priority control determination step determines that the priority control in the communication device is not performed when the communication quality in the communication device is good based on the detection data.
program.

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