JPH09214554A - Packet charging method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the use will of a user on a packet exchange network, to improve the use frequency of the packet exchange network and to restrict the disordered use of the packet exchange network. SOLUTION: Packet priority showing from which user packet a packet repeating a user packet in the packet exchange network 1A is to be executed is set in the respective user packets which are to be transferred in the packet exchange network 1A, and packet priority which is set in the user packet transmitted to the packet exchange network 1A is referred to. A high transfer unit price is set in the user packet of high priority, which is referred to, and the low transfer unit price is set to the user packet of low packet priority. Thus, the user packet transferred in the packet exchange network 1A is charged by accumulating the transfer unit price, which is set in accordance with the number of the transferred user packets.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a packet charging method for charging a user packet transferred in a packet switching network for transferring a plurality of user packets having different packet priorities, and more particularly to providing a multimedia communication service. The present invention relates to a technique effective when applied to a packet charging method for charging user packets transferred in a packet switching network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As one of data transfer methods for transmitting and receiving data between a plurality of computers connected via a communication line such as a telephone line, data transmitted from a specific computer is divided into a plurality of units called packets. And temporarily store it in a device called a packet switching node.
The output route from the packet switching node is selected according to the destination of the accumulated user packet, each user packet is output to the selected output route, and the data from the specific computer is transmitted to the destination. There is a data transfer method using packet switching for transferring to another computer.

A network comprising a packet switching network for performing the above packet switching executes non-real time communication applications such as data transfer of input / output data by interactive input / output processing and file transfer for uploading or downloading a specific file. It is used for real-time communication applications with a large amount of data such as moving image data and audio data to be transferred by the real-time communication application due to the increase in multimedia processing accompanied by the transfer of large amount of data such as moving image data and audio data. It is also used for media communication.

As described above, in the case of performing multimedia communication for transferring a large amount of data such as moving image data and voice data through the conventional packet switching network for performing packet switching, data accompanying interactive input / output processing is performed. Unlike the case where transfer or file transfer is performed via a packet switching network, each user packet forming moving image data or audio data needs to arrive at the destination within a fixed time.

That is, when performing data transfer or file transfer associated with interactive input / output processing using a conventional packet switching network, the data or file to be transferred is decomposed into a plurality of user packets, and the above-mentioned decomposition is performed. By sending a plurality of user packets to a destination via a packet switching network and assembling the sent plurality of user packets to reconstruct data or files, the entire data or files involved in interactive input / output processing can be obtained. It suffices that the entire transfer file finally arrives at the destination, and when transferring each user packet, even if the transfer interval between each user packet becomes large, it does not cause a big problem.

On the other hand, when moving picture data and audio data are transferred by the conventional packet switching network, the transfer of a specific user packet is delayed and the specific user packet does not reach the destination within a certain time. If so, the video or audio being played may be interrupted in the middle, and the meaning as video data or audio data may be lost, so transfer the video data or audio data using the conventional packet switching network. At this time, it is necessary to prevent the transfer interval between the user packets forming the moving image data and the audio data from increasing.

On the other hand, as described above, in the case of charging the transferred user packets in the packet switching network that transfers data and files, and transfers moving image data and voice data accompanying interactive input / output processing, There are a packet charging method using only the flat-rate system, a packet charging method using only the pay-per-use system, or a packet charging method using both the flat-rate system and the pay-per-use system.

The conventional packet charging method, which is only the fixed-rate system, is a packet charging method that collects a predetermined specific amount of money as a usage fee, and the packet charging method is independent of the amount of user packets to be transferred. Since charging is performed, the usage fee collected is the same even when no user packet is transferred or when a large number of user packets are transferred.

In the packet switching network adopting the conventional packet charging method only for the flat-rate system, there is a difference in usage charge between the case where no user packet is transferred and the case where a large number of user packets are transferred. Since it does not exist, a large amount of user packets are transferred, which tends to increase the load on the packet switching network.

[0010] The conventional packet charging method, which is only the pay-as-you-go system, is a packet charging method in which a usage fee is collected according to the amount of transferred user packets, and a transfer unit price per packet is determined in advance. Since packet charges such as calculating the usage charge in proportion to the amount of transferred user packets are charged, the collected usage charges differ depending on the amount of transferred user packets, and As the amount increases, the usage fee collected increases.

In the packet switching network adopting the conventional packet charging method only for the pay-as-you-go system, the usage charge is large depending on whether a small amount of user packets are transferred or a large amount of user packets are transferred. When a large amount of user packets are transferred due to a difference, the usage fee may be extremely high. Therefore, it is rare that a large number of user packets are transferred, and the use of packet switching networks Efficiency tends to decrease.

In the conventional packet charging method, which is a combination of the flat-rate system and the pay-as-you-go system, the packet charging system is based on the flat-rate system until the amount of transferred user packets reaches a predetermined specific packet transfer amount. And then
After the amount of transferred user packets reaches the above-mentioned predetermined specific packet transfer amount, packet charging is performed on a pay-per-use basis in accordance with the amount of transferred user packets.

In the conventional packet charging method using both the flat-rate system and the pay-as-you-go system, until the amount of transferred user packets reaches a predetermined specific packet transfer amount,
Since packet charging is performed regardless of the amount of user packets to be transferred, the usage fee collected will be the same even if no user packet is transferred or a large number of user packets are transferred. After the amount of transferred user packets reaches the predetermined specific packet transfer amount, packet charging such as calculating a usage charge in proportion to the amount of transferred user packets is performed. The usage fee collected increases as the amount of user packets to be transferred increases.

[0014]

The present inventor has found the following problems as a result of examining the above-mentioned prior art.

That is, when charging is performed by the conventional packet charging method using only the flat-rate system, or in the packet charging method that uses both the conventional flat-rate system and the metered-rate system, the flat-rate system is charged within a fixed limit. If you use the packet charging, packet charging will be performed regardless of the amount of user packets to be transferred. Therefore, the users will randomly use the packet switching network, and a small number of users will be confused by the packet switching network. There has been a problem that a situation may occur that causes a problem and interferes with many other users.

In addition, when charging is performed by the conventional packet charging method only for the metered rate, or when the packet charging method using both the conventional fixed rate and the metered rate is exceeded, the user who exceeds the fixed limit for charging the fixed rate When packet-based charges are charged for the amount of transferred packets according to the amount of communication, packet charges are calculated in proportion to the amount of transferred user packets. There is a problem that the willingness to use the network is reduced, and a situation may occur in which the packet switched network is not used even though it is available.

An object of the present invention is to provide a technique capable of increasing the user's willingness to use the packet switching network, increasing the frequency of use of the packet switching network, and restricting the chaotic use of the packet switching network. is there.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a technique capable of charging a user packet having the lowest packet priority as a packet charging based on a flat rate system.

The above and other objects and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the description of the present specification and the accompanying drawings.

[0020]

Of the inventions disclosed by the present application, a representative one will be briefly described below.
It is as follows.

(1) A packet charging method for charging a user packet transferred in a packet switching network for transferring a plurality of user packets having different packet priorities, wherein the user packet in the packet switching network is relayed. A packet priority indicating from which user packet the packet relay processing is performed is set for each user packet to be transferred in the packet switching network, and a plurality of user packets with the packet priority set are sent to the packet switching network. , Referring to the packet priority set for the user packet sent to the packet switching network, setting a high transfer unit price for the referenced user packet with a high packet priority, and setting a high transfer unit price for a user packet with a low packet priority. Set a low transfer rate, depending on the number of user packets transferred And performs billing of the user packets forwarded by the packet switched network by accumulating transfer bid the set user packet.

In the packet charging method, when a plurality of communication terminals send a plurality of user packets on the packet switching network, a packet priority is set for each user packet sent on the packet switching network.

Here, the packet priority of the user packet means the destination of the accumulated user packet when a plurality of user packets are accumulated in the storage device provided inside the packet switching node. A process for outputting a user packet from the packet switching node onto the selected output route after selecting an output route for outputting the user packet according to It shows which of the user packets is to be executed, and the user packet having a higher packet priority is subjected to the above-described processing before the user packet having a lower packet priority.

As described above, after storing the packet priority in each user packet transmitted from the plurality of communication terminals on the packet switching network of the packet charging method, the plurality of user packets storing the packet priority. Are sent to the packet switching network and the plurality of user packets are sent to the packet switching node.

The packet switching node provided in the packet switching network of the packet charging method inputs a plurality of user packets sent out on the packet switching network by a plurality of communication terminals into the packet switching node, and inputs the user packets. A plurality of user packets are temporarily stored in a storage device provided inside the packet switching node.

The packet switching node of the packet charging method analyzes the header area in each user packet and provides information necessary for packet relay processing such as the source address, the destination address and the packet priority. Extract.

The packet switching node of the packet charging method uses the destination address in the header area of each of the extracted user packets, and a plurality of communication terminals to which the user packet is transmitted are packet switched nodes. Which output route among the plurality of output routes is connected to, and selects a specific output route to be connected to the destination communication terminal from the plurality of output routes Address processing.

Next, the packet switching node of the packet charging method, if there are a plurality of user packets output to the same output route in the output route selected by the address processing, the extraction is performed. Further, referring to the packet priority value in the header area of each user packet, the output order of the user packets so that the plurality of user packets are output to the specific output route in descending order of the packet priority value. A scheduling process for determining is performed.

The packet switching node of the packet charging method checks the transfer unit price per packet of each user packet using the packet priority of each user packet.

In the packet charging method, the higher the packet priority of a user packet, the higher the transfer unit price per packet.

Next, in the packet charging method, after the payee who has transmitted the user packet is specified using the source address of each user packet, the user packet is packetized for each of the specified payees. The total usage required to transmit all the user packets transmitted by the specified payee by accumulating the transfer unit price per packet of the user packet each time it is relayed by the exchange node By calculating the charge, the charge information for each payee of a plurality of user packets sent out on the packet switching network is generated.

Further, the packet switching node of the packet charging method outputs a plurality of user packets in the output order determined by the scheduling process on a specific output route selected by the address process, and performs a plurality of communication. Send multiple user packets to the terminal.

As described above, in the packet charging method,
Since the transfer unit price per packet set according to the packet priority value is accumulated for the payee who has transmitted the user packet, the weighted accounting is performed for each packet using the packet priority value. You will be able to do it.

Therefore, in an environment in which a plurality of user packets are transferred in the packet switching network of the packet charging method, the number of user packets transmitted and the user packets are transmitted to the payee who transmits the user packets. It becomes possible to perform billing on a pay-per-use basis, which is weighted using the packet priority stored in.

As described above, in the packet charging method,
Since charging is performed on a pay-per-use basis, which is weighted according to the packet priority, a large number of user packets with a low packet priority flow into the packet switching network.
A small amount of user packets with high packet priority flow into the packet switching network.

That is, in the packet charging method, when the packet switching network is free, the user packet with the lowest packet priority is used, so that it is possible to carry out low-priced communication and the user's It is possible to increase the willingness to use the packet switching network.

Further, in the packet charging method, even if a large number of user packets having the lowest packet priority are transferred, by transferring user packets having a high packet priority, It is possible to use the packet switching network without being hindered by the user packet having the packet priority of.

Thus, in the packet charging method, when processing such as file transfer is performed by the non-real-time communication application, the user packet having the lowest packet priority is used, and the real-time communication application uses moving image data, voice data, or the like. When a packet is transferred, the user packet with a high packet priority is assigned and transferred so that the traffic that transfers the user packet on the packet-switched network is the video data from the real-time communication application. Since this is a preferable form for multimedia communication in which voice data is preferentially transferred, efficient multimedia communication can be performed even in an internetwork having only a simple priority control function.

As described above, according to the packet charging method, since the charging is performed on a pay-per-use basis, which is weighted according to the packet priority of the user packet, the user of the packet switching network is motivated to use the packet switching. It is possible to increase the frequency of use of the network and limit the chaotic use of the packet switching network.

(2) In the packet charging method described in (1) above, when setting the transfer unit price of the user packet in accordance with the referred packet priority, the transfer unit price of the user packet having the lowest packet priority is set. It is set to zero to charge the user packet.

In the packet switching network of the packet charging method, the transfer unit price per packet is set to zero for the user packet for which the lowest packet priority is set.

That is, in the packet charging method, since the transfer unit price set for the user packet with the lowest packet priority is zero, the user packet transmitted by using the source address of each user packet. After specifying the payer, every time the user packet is relayed by the packet switching node for each of the specified payees,
When accumulating the transfer unit price per packet of the user packet, the user packet with the lowest packet priority is not actually charged by the pay-per-use weighted using the packet priority. The billing information for each payee is generated.

As described above, in the packet charging method, the transfer unit price of the user packet having the lowest packet priority is set to zero, so that the user packet having the lowest packet priority is transmitted. The charging at that time can be changed from a pay-as-you-go charging that is weighted using the packet priority to a fixed charging that does not depend on the number of transmitted user packets.

Therefore, in the packet charging method, fixed charging or metered charging can be performed according to the packet priority value set in the user packet.

As described above, according to the packet charging method, since the transfer unit price per packet when transferring the user packet having the lowest packet priority is set to zero, the user packet having the lowest packet priority is set. It is possible to set the packet charging as a packet charging based on the flat rate system.

[0046]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings together with one embodiment. In all the drawings for describing the embodiments, components having the same function are denoted by the same reference numerals, and a repeated description thereof will be omitted.

In the packet charging method of the present invention, the packet of the transferred user packet is used when charging the user packet transferred in the packet switching network that transfers a plurality of user packets having different packet priorities. A packet charging method according to an embodiment for charging by a pay-as-you-go system that is weighted according to priority will be described.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a network in the packet charging method of this embodiment. In FIG. 1, 1A is a packet switching network, 1B to 1E are communication terminals, and 1F is a packet switching node.

As shown in FIG. 1, the network in the packet charging method of this embodiment is a packet switching network 1A.
And communication terminals 1B to 1E and a packet switching node 1F.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, in the network in the packet charging method of this embodiment, the communication terminal 1 is connected to the packet switching network 1A including the packet switching node 1F.
B, 1C, 1D and 1E are connected, and the communication terminal 1
The data transmitted from B, 1C, 1D or 1E on the packet switching network 1A is divided into a plurality of user packets, and then the packet switching node 1F in the packet switching network 1A.
The packet relay processing is performed by the communication terminals 1B, 1C of the destination addresses specified in the respective user packets,
It is output on the output path connected to 1D or 1E.

The packet switching node 1F provided in the packet switching network 1A of the packet charging method of this embodiment packetizes a plurality of user packets sent out on the packet switching network 1A by the communication terminals 1B, 1C, 1D and 1E. Input to the inside of the switching node 1F and the packet switching node 1
A packet input process for temporarily accumulating on a storage device provided inside F, an output route for outputting the user packet according to a destination address stored in a header area of the temporarily accumulating user packet After performing packet relay processing such as selecting, or packet charging processing for calculating the usage fee of the transfer processing according to the number of accumulated user packets, the accumulated user packets are output as the selected output. This is a device for performing packet output processing for outputting on a route.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the packet switching node 1F in the packet charging method of this embodiment. In FIG. 2, 2A is a packet input processing unit, 2B is a packet output processing unit, 2C is a packet relay processing unit, and 2D.
Is a packet charging processing unit.

As shown in FIG. 2, the packet switching node 1F in the packet charging method of this embodiment includes a packet input processing unit 2A, a packet output processing unit 2B, a packet relay processing unit 2C, and a packet charging processing unit 2D. And have.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, in the packet switching node 1F in the packet charging method of this embodiment, the packet input processing unit 2A is connected to the packet relay processing unit 2C and the packet relay processing unit 2C performs the packet output processing. Part 2B
And the packet charging processing unit 2D.

The packet input processing unit 2A of the packet switching node 1F of the packet charging method of the present embodiment sends a plurality of packets to the packet switching network 1A from a plurality of input routes by the communication terminals 1B, 1C, 1D or 1E. User packets are input into the packet switching node 1F, the input plurality of user packets are temporarily stored in a storage device provided inside the packet switching node 1F, and the plurality of temporarily stored users are stored. It is a processing unit that transfers a packet to the packet relay processing unit 2C.

The packet relay processing unit 2C of the packet switching node 1F of the packet charging method of this embodiment stores a plurality of user packets transferred from the packet input processing unit 2A in the header area of the user packet. Address processing for selecting an output route by referring to a destination address indicating a destination communication terminal device, and scheduling for determining the output order of each user packet when a plurality of user packets are output to the same output route It is a processing unit that performs packet relay processing such as processing and transfers the user packet whose output route is selected to the packet output processing unit 2B.

Further, the packet relay processing unit 2C of the packet switching node 1F of the packet charging method of the present embodiment analyzes the header areas of a plurality of transferred user packets and transmits the user packets to the communication terminal 1B. ,
Information necessary for charging such as a source address indicating a 1C, 1D or 1E address or a packet priority indicating a packet priority for outputting a user packet to a selected output route is extracted and controlled. It also performs a process of transferring the information to the packet charging processing unit 2D.

The packet output processing unit 2B of the packet switching node 1F of the packet charging method of this embodiment processes the plurality of user packets transferred from the packet relay processing unit 2C in the packet relay processing unit 2C for address processing and scheduling. It is a processing unit that outputs from the packet switching node 1F to an output route to which the communication terminal device of the transmission destination is connected according to the result of the processing.

The packet charging processing unit 2D of the packet switching node 1F of the packet charging method of this embodiment uses the packet priority of the user packet based on the control information obtained by the packet relay processing unit 2C. It is a processing unit that performs processing.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the packet charging processing unit 2D in the packet charging method of this embodiment. In FIG. 3, 3A is a charging discipline table, 3B is a payee identification section, 3C and 3D are user-based charge measurement processing sections.

As shown in FIG. 3, the packet charging processing unit 2D in the packet charging method of this embodiment includes a charging discipline table 3A, a payee identification unit 3B, and charge measurement processing units 3C and 3D for each user. have.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, in the packet charging processing unit 2D in the packet charging method of this embodiment, a charging discipline table 3A showing the relationship between the packet priority order of user packets and the transfer unit price per packet is provided. , The charge measurement processing units 3C and 3D in the same number of users as the number of users who use the packet switching network 1A, and the payee identification unit 3B is connected to a plurality of charge measurement processing units 3C and 3D in the unit of users. ing.

The charging regulation table 3A provided in the packet charging processing unit 2D of the packet switching node 1F of the packet charging method according to the present embodiment has a plurality of user packet packets transmitted from the communication terminals 1B, 1C, 1D or 1E. Data having a transfer unit price per packet with respect to the priority order is used, and the transfer unit price per packet of the user packet is calculated using the packet priority order of the user packet in the control information obtained by the packet relay processing unit 2C. This is the table to search.

The payee identification unit 3B of the packet billing processing unit 2D of the packet billing method of the present embodiment identifies the payee by using the source address of the user packet and then becomes the payee. This is an identification unit that transfers information on a transfer unit price per packet of the user packet to the charge measurement processing unit 3C or 3D for each user.

The charge measurement processing unit 3C or 3D for each user of the packet charging processing unit 2D of the packet charging method of the present embodiment determines the transfer unit price per packet of the user packet transferred from the payee identification unit 3B. It is a processing unit that accumulates information and calculates the total of the information to generate charging information for each user of the payee who has sent the user packet to the packet switching network 1A.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an outline of the accounting discipline table 3A in the packet accounting method of this embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 4, in the charging regulation table 3A in the packet charging method of this embodiment, the communication terminal 1
Packet switching network 1A by B, 1C, 1D or 1E
1 and the packet priority of the user packet sent above
The relationship with the transfer unit price per packet is described,
The higher the packet priority of the user packet, the more 1
The transfer unit price per packet is set to be high.

For example, in the charging discipline table 3A of the packet charging method of the present embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the transfer unit price per packet of a user packet having a low packet priority is set low, and the packet priority of the user packet is set. The higher the price, the higher the transfer unit price per packet of the user packet is set in a stepwise manner, and the charging discipline table is set so that the packet priority of the user packet and the transfer unit price per packet are in a substantially proportional relationship. It is set to 3A.

Further, in the charging regulation table 3A provided in the packet charging processing unit 2D of the packet switching node 1F of the packet charging method according to the present embodiment, the user packet with the lowest packet priority has one packet. The transfer unit price is set to "0".

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a processing procedure in the packet charging method of this embodiment.

In the packet charging method of the present embodiment, the transfer is performed when charging a plurality of user packets transferred by the packet switching network 1A that transfers a plurality of user packets having different packet priorities. A processing procedure for performing weighting according to the packet priority of user packets will be described.

First, in the packet switching network 1A of the packet charging method according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the communication terminal 1B, 1C, 1D or 1E is processed in step 501.
When sending a plurality of user packets from the packet switching network 1A to the packet switching network 1A, a packet priority order is set for each user packet sent to the packet switching network 1A.

For example, in the packet switching network 1A of the packet charging method of this embodiment, the communication terminals 1B, 1C, 1
IP (Internet Protocol) is used as a user packet transmitted from D or 1E onto the packet switching network 1A.
When an Ocol) packet is used, TOS (TypeO) in the header area added to the IP packet is used.
The packet priority is stored in the fServices field.

As described above, in the processing of step 501, the packet priority order is stored in each user packet transmitted from the communication terminal 1B, 1C, 1D or 1E on the packet switching network 1A of the packet charging method of this embodiment. After doing
In the process of step 502, a plurality of user packets storing the packet priorities are sent out on the packet switching network 1A, and the plurality of user packets are sent to the packet switching node 1F.

In the process of step 503, the packet switching node 1F provided in the packet switching network 1A of the packet charging method of this embodiment is transmitted to the packet switching network 1A by the communication terminal 1B, 1C, 1D or 1E. A plurality of user packets are input into the packet switching node 1F by the packet input processing unit 2A of the packet switching node 1F, and the input plurality of user packets are temporarily stored in a storage device provided inside the packet switching node 1F. Accumulate in.

In the processing of step 503, a plurality of user packets transmitted from the communication terminals 1B, 1C, 1D or 1E are temporarily stored in the storage device inside the packet switching node 1F of the packet charging method of this embodiment. The packet input processing unit 2A transfers the plurality of temporarily stored user packets to the packet relay processing unit 2C.

In the processing of step 504, the packet relay processing unit 2C of the packet switching node 1F of the packet charging method of this embodiment transfers the plurality of user packets transferred from the packet input processing unit 2A. The header area in each user packet is analyzed,
Extracts information necessary for packet relay processing such as source address, destination address and packet priority,
Among the information necessary for the packet relay processing, the information of the source address and the packet priority order, which are also required when performing the charging processing, is transferred to the packet charging processing unit 2D as control information.

In the processing of step 505, the packet relay processing section 2C of the packet switching node 1F of the packet charging method of the present embodiment, with respect to the plurality of user packets transferred from the packet input processing section 2A, carries out step 50.
Using the destination address in the header area of each user packet extracted in the processing of 4, the communication terminal device such as the communication terminal 1B, 1C, 1D or 1E which is the destination of the user packet is a packet switching node. It is checked which output route among the plurality of output routes connected to 1F exists, and a specific output route to be connected to the communication terminal device of the transmission destination from the plurality of output routes. Address processing for selecting is performed.

Next, in the processing of step 506, the packet relay processing unit 2C of the packet switching node 1F of the packet charging method of the present embodiment, in the output route selected by the address processing which is the processing of step 505, When there are a plurality of user packets output to the same output route, the packet priority value in the header area of each user packet extracted in the process of step 504 is referred to, and the packet priority Scheduling processing is performed to determine the output order of the user packets so that the plurality of user packets are output to the specific output route in the descending order of values, and the plurality of user packets are packet output processing according to the determined output order. Transfer to section 2B.

In the processing of step 507, the packet charging processing unit 2D of the packet switching node 1F of the packet charging method of this embodiment is obtained by the packet relay processing unit 2C in the processing of step 504 as shown in FIG. The charging discipline table 3A is searched using the packet priority of each user packet in the control information, and the transfer unit price per packet of each user packet is checked.

As shown in FIG. 4, in the charging regulation table 3A provided in the packet charging processing unit 2D of the packet switching node 1F of the packet charging method of this embodiment, the packet of the user packet set in the processing of step 501 is used. The higher the priority, the higher the transfer unit price per packet.

Information on the transfer unit price per packet of each user packet obtained by searching the charging regulation table 3A of the packet charging processing unit 2D of the packet charging method of this embodiment is extracted in the processing of step 504. It is transferred to the payee identification unit 3B of the packet charging processing unit 2D together with the information on the transmission source address of each user packet.

Next, in the processing of step 508, the payee identification section 3B of the packet charging processing section 2D of the packet charging method of this embodiment uses the source address of each user packet to communicate with the communication terminals 1B, 1C. After specifying the payee who transmitted the user packet using 1D or 1E, the charge measurement processing unit 3C or 3D for each user assigned to each of the specified payees, step 507.
The information of the transfer unit price per packet of each user packet obtained by the processing of is transferred.

In the processing of step 509, the charge measurement processing unit 3C or 3D for each user of the packet charging processing unit 2D of the packet charging method of the present embodiment, each time the user packet is relayed by the packet switching node 1F, It is necessary to transmit all the user packets sent by the payee identified in step 508 by accumulating the transfer unit price per packet of the user packet transferred from the payee identification unit 3B. By calculating the total usage charge, billing information for each payee of a plurality of user packets sent out on the packet switching network 1A is generated.

In the processing of step 510, the packet output processing unit 2B of the packet switching node 1F of the packet charging method of this embodiment outputs the packet relay processing unit 2C in the output order determined by the scheduling processing of the packet relay processing unit 2C. The plurality of transferred user packets are output to the specific output route selected by the address processing of the packet relay processing unit 2C, and the communication terminals 1B, 1C, 1
A plurality of user packets are transmitted to the communication terminal device of D or 1E.

As described above, in the packet charging method of this embodiment, the payee who has transmitted the user packet is
Since the transfer unit price per packet set according to the value of the packet priority is accumulated, the weighted billing can be performed for each packet using the value of the packet priority.

Therefore, in the packet switching network 1A of the packet charging method according to the present embodiment, in an environment where a plurality of user packets are transferred, the transmitted user packet is transmitted to the payee who transmits the user packet. It becomes possible to perform billing on a pay-per-use basis weighted using the number and the packet priority stored in the user packet.

In the packet switching network 1A of the packet charging method of the present embodiment, the transfer unit price per packet is set to "0" for the user packet having the lowest packet priority. When the user packet with the packet priority is set, the charge is changed from the pay-per-use charge weighted using the packet priority to the fixed charge that does not depend on the number of transmitted user packets. It is possible.

In the packet switching network 1A of the packet charging method according to this embodiment, the user packet with the lowest packet priority is set to a value larger than "0" by 1
Even when the transfer unit price per packet is set and the pay-per-use billing is performed, the transfer unit price per packet is extremely low compared to other user packets to which the packet priority is assigned, so that the sending user It is possible to artificially create a communication environment equivalent to fixed charging that does not depend on the number of packets.

As described above, in the packet charging method of the present embodiment, the user packet to which the lowest packet priority is assigned is not charged by the pay-per-use system, or the pay-per-use system with an extremely low transfer unit price is used. Since the user packet with the lowest packet priority flows into the packet switching network 1A in a large amount, the user packet with the higher packet priority has the set packet priority. Since charging is performed based on the weighted pay-as-you-go system according to the rank value, it is possible to prevent user packets having a high packet priority from flowing into the packet switching network 1A in a chaotic manner.

In the packet charging method of this embodiment, even if a small number of users transfer a large number of user packets with the lowest packet priority and use the packet switching network 1A in a chaotic manner, many other By using the user packet having the high packet priority, the user of can use the packet switching network 1A without being disturbed by the user packet having the lowest packet priority transferred in a large amount. is there.

As a result, in the packet charging method of this embodiment, when processing such as file transfer is performed by the non-real-time communication application, the user packet with the lowest packet priority is used, and the real-time communication application uses moving image data or When voice data or the like is transferred, the user packet having a high packet priority is assigned so that the packet is transferred so that the traffic on the packet switching network 1A for transferring the user packet is real-time communication. This is the preferred mode for multimedia communication in which video data and audio data from applications are transferred with priority, so efficient multimedia communication can be performed even in an internetwork that has only a simple priority control function. Is

As described above, according to the packet charging method of this embodiment, since the charging is performed by the metered system weighted according to the packet priority of the user packet,
It is possible to increase the user's willingness to use the packet switching network, increase the frequency of use of the packet switching network, and restrict disorderly use of the packet switching network.

Further, according to the packet charging method of the present embodiment, the transfer unit price per packet when transferring the user packet having the lowest packet priority is set to zero, so that the user packet having the lowest packet priority is set. It is possible to set the packet charging as a packet charging based on the flat rate system.

Although the present invention has been specifically described based on the above embodiment, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment and can be variously modified without departing from the scope of the invention. Is.

[0096]

The effects obtained by the representative ones of the inventions disclosed in the present application will be briefly described as follows.

(1) Since charging is performed on a pay-per-use basis, which is weighted according to the packet priority of user packets,
It is possible to increase the user's willingness to use the packet switching network, increase the frequency of use of the packet switching network, and restrict disorderly use of the packet switching network.

(2) Since the transfer unit price per packet at the time of transferring the user packet having the lowest packet priority is set to zero, the charging of the user packet having the lowest packet priority is the packet charging by the flat rate system. It is possible.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a network in a packet charging method of the present embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a packet switching node 1F in the packet charging method of the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a packet charging processing unit 2D in the packet charging method of the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an outline of a charging discipline table 3A in the packet charging method of the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a processing procedure in the packet charging method of the present embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1A ... Packet switching network, 1B-1E ... Communication terminal, 1F ...
Packet switching node, 2A ... Packet input processing unit, 2B
... packet output processing unit, 2C ... packet relay processing unit, 2
D ... Packet charging processing unit, 3A ... Charging discipline table, 3
B ... Charged party identification unit, 3C and 3D ... Charge measurement processing unit for each user.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A packet charging method for charging a user packet transferred in a packet switching network for transferring a plurality of user packets having different packet priorities, the packet charging method relaying the user packet in the packet switching network. A packet priority indicating which user packet the relay process is performed from is set for each user packet to be transferred in the packet switching network, and a plurality of user packets with the packet priority set are sent to the packet switching network, By referring to the packet priority set in the user packet sent to the packet switching network, a high transfer unit price is set for the referenced user packet having a high packet priority, and a low transfer rate is set for a user packet having a low packet priority. Set the transfer unit price, and according to the number of transferred user packets, Packet charging method, characterized in that for charging the user packets forwarded by the packet switched network by accumulating the set transfer bid user packets. 2. When setting a transfer unit price of a user packet according to the referred packet priority, the transfer unit price of the user packet having the lowest packet priority is set to zero to charge the user packet. Claim 1
Packet charging method described in.