KR20060133666A - Network control system for mass contents transmission service - Google Patents

Abstract

A network control system for transferring mass contents is provided to harmoniously perform mass content distribution in a current Internet environment by making clients share transfer load of a content provider, and form/efficiently manage the logical network among the clients in an application layer for transferring the contents by using a physical Internet environment through a control server and a client agent. A server side system entity comprises a database server(11), a login server(12), a billing server(13), and the control server(14). A client system comprises multiple clients(21-25) connected to each data channel. A function for controlling the network in the application layer is realized by connecting a network control channel for each client to the control server, and forming the control server and the client agent which is a module linked with the client wanting to use a service requiring mass content transfer. Network control includes synchronization of content registration requests of the content providers, content requests of content transferors/requestors, service termination, and configuration/recovery information for maintaining the network.

Description

NETWORK CONTROL SYSTEM FOR MASS CONTENTS TRANSMISSION SERVICE}

1 is a block diagram showing a network control system for mass content transmission according to an embodiment of the present invention;

2 to 6 each processing sequence for explaining a network control system for mass content delivery of the present invention,

7 is a block diagram of a method for calculating a backup content forwarder (broker) list of a control server using a network control system for mass content transmission of the present invention.

* Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawings

10: server side system

20: client system

The present invention configures a network so that content such as a large file or a video can be transmitted from a content provider (client) to each content requester (client) through a content distributor (client, also a content requester) by a control server. The present invention relates to a network control system for mass content transmission that can be maintained and restored.

The Internet currently in use is based on the Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol (TCP / IP) protocol. Internet Protocol (IP), a Layer 3 protocol, allows applications to be separated from the transport network, allowing users to use their preferred applications on the IP layer, regardless of underlying network technologies. It allows you to use various subnetwork functions below the IP layer.

The most widely used version of IP is version 4, commonly referred to as IPv4. This IPv4 has proven robust, easy to implement, interoperable, and has been tested to extend the internetwork to a global utility for today's Internet scale. The IPv4 addressing system is represented by 32 bits and separated by dots (.) In decimal format.

An IP address is divided into two parts, a network address and a host computer address, and has class A, B, C, D, and Class E ratings depending on the size of the network or the number of host computers. Dual classes A, B, and C are granted to the general user. The class A is assigned to an ultra / large network, and there are 128 usable networks, each consisting of about 16,777,216 addresses. Class B applies to large networks, with approximately 16,000 available networks, each consisting of 65,536 addresses. Class C is designed for small organizations with a small number of computers on one network, with approximately 2,097,152 available networks, each consisting of 256 addresses. Class D is also called a multicast group, and in order to receive a multicast packet, it must join a multicast group. In the multicast method, the destination of data transmission is not one host but all hosts belonging to a multicast group. In other words, data can be delivered to multiple clients in a single data transmission. In a single transmission on the server side, all hosts in the multicast group can receive packets. The router copies the multicast packets and forwards them to the hosts in the multicast group. However, because not all routers on the Internet currently support multicast, IPv4 networks do not provide a complete multicast environment.

Meanwhile, in order to smoothly deliver large content that does not support IP multicast in an IPv4 environment, the content provider must increase server-side equipment such as a content delivery network (CDN) in accordance with the nature of content to be sent at high cost. do. However, it reveals the limitations of not finding a profit model as much as the investment.

Here, the content delivery network is a system in which the same content is copied on the entire network and distributed on a large intranet or the Internet so as to serve as a kind of cache.

To solve the above problems, there are a method of supporting multicast at the network layer and an approach at the application layer. First, the approach to be solved at the network layer is limited to use in the global Internet environment unless all routers are replaced with modules, and can be solved by tunneling multicast packets to routers without replacing modules. There was a problem that only a few clients could be accommodated.

On the other hand, the method of approaching the application layer is more scalable but uses a client system. Therefore, there is a problem in that it is necessary to solve the problem of ensuring reliability in network configuration, efficient maintenance, and data transmission.

The present invention has been invented to solve the above problems, to provide a network control system in the application layer that can facilitate the distribution of large-capacity content in the current Internet environment by the client to share the load of cooperation, content providers The purpose is to.

Another object of the present invention is to configure and efficiently manage a logical network between clients in an application layer for content delivery using a physical Internet environment through a control server and a client agent. To provide an intelligent recovery method and system.

The present invention for achieving the above object comprises a database server (11) which is a server side system (10) entity, a login server (12), a charging server (13), and a control server (14); The client system 20 is composed of a plurality of clients 21-25 each connected with a data channel; A network control channel is connected to each of the clients 21-25 from the control server 14, and a client agent in which a network control algorithm is implemented is a module that is linked to a client that wants to use a service requiring mass content transmission. Its features are that it has a function for network control.

Another specific embodiment of the present invention provides a network including a user in a client system (service client to use the present invention), a client agent, a control server in a server side system, a database server, a login server, and a billing server; A user authentication processing sequence for processing user authentication at the login server and managing an access channel at the control server; A content registration and content provider registration sequence for registering content information and content provider information in the client agent and content channel generation, user information generation / management and content information management in the control server; The control server searches the content channel to generate a channel search result list, searches the channel to create a list of content forwarders (brokers), sets a reservation flag, updates the channel to store network configuration information, creates and manages user information, It includes a content request processing sequence that generates a list of backup content forwarders (brokers).

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a network control system for mass content transmission according to an embodiment of the present invention. The present invention provides a content provider 21 by a control server 14 for content such as a large file or a video. Is a network control system for mass content transmission that can configure, efficiently maintain, and recover a network to be transmitted to each content requester (23-25) through a content delivery (broker) 22.

The main elements of the whole system are largely composed of the control server 14 of the server side entity and the respective client 21-25 systems of the client entity. Although five client computers have been described here as an example, more than one client computer may be arranged on a network for use.

The server side system 10 is composed of a database server 11, a login server 12, a billing server 13 and a control server 14, the client system 20 is a plurality of clients (21-25) The data channel between the clients is connected and maintained by the control of the control server 14. In addition, a network control channel is connected and maintained from the control server 14 to each of the clients 21-25.

The client agent is a part of a client system that serves to prepare and exchange information with a server application in a client / server model from a network perspective.

The present invention is composed of two main algorithms: a method of constructing a logical network between clients 21-25 at the application layer, and a method of efficiently maintaining / recovering the network configured as such. All algorithms are configured in the control server 14 and the client agent in charge of the network control.

The client agent is a module linked to a client who wants to use a service requiring a large amount of content transmission, and has a function for network control (content provider request, content request, service termination, network maintenance information, and recovery information synchronization) at an application layer. Have The control server 14 of the server side system 10 can maintain a control channel with the clients 21-25 and can configure the network, maintain it efficiently, and recover the network in certain situations.

All information necessary for the network control is bidirectionally synchronized between the corresponding client agent and the control server 14 whenever the network situation changes. Accordingly, the client agent may be referred to as an application or a monitoring software state when the client is connected to the control server. For example, a large file or a moving picture will be described as a large content.

In the client system 20, the clients 21-25 equipped with the client agent have three different logical aliases according to the service situation. A client 21 that acts as a content provider is called a content provider or content publisher, and a client 22 that receives content from below and services (routes) to another client is called a content broker. In other words, clients 23-25 that only receive content at the bottom are named content subscribers. The content broker includes the concept of a content subscriber.

2 to 6 are each processing sequence for explaining a network control system for mass content delivery of the present invention, the client and client agent of the client system shown in FIG. 1, the control server of the server side system, database server, login The network consists of a server and a billing server.

2 is a user authentication processing sequence, FIG. 3 is a content registration and content provider registration sequence, FIG. 4 is a content request processing sequence, FIG. 5 is a termination processing sequence of a content provider, and FIG. 6 is a content forwarder (broker). The termination processing sequence is shown.

The user authentication processing sequence shown in Fig. 2 requires a user to receive user authentication (LOGIN) from a login server in order to use the network control system of the present invention. The login server manages a user's access log in a table of a database server and then interworks with a charging system. After the authentication process, the user creates a control channel for transmitting network control information using the control server and the agent on the user's side.

In the user authentication table in the database server, the user authentication log has a client identifier, login / out time information, and login / out status display.

When the client authenticates the user to the login server, the login server processes the user log with the database server, and the client performs the success / failure of the user authentication. The client requests the connection of the control channel to the agent when the user authentication is successful, and the client agent requests the connection of the control channel to the control server. Then, the control server determines whether to approve the channel connection request, manages the access channel, and performs the success / failure of the control channel creation to the client. Thus, user authentication processing is performed.

In the content registration and content provider registration sequence shown in Fig. 3, the content provider (content publisher) client as a client transmits information about the content to the control server and information (routing count) that can serve the other client. Register as a provider.

The control server creates a content channel with this information, and stores and manages content information and content provider information in this channel. The content channel creation information is also managed by a content registration table of a database server and linked with the charging system. After the processing of the control server, the content provider transmits a channel identifier (CID) along with the content registration result, and then becomes a channel search target when another user searches for content.

In the content registration table in the database server, the content registration log has a content provider identifier, a content registration date, a content registration time, a content channel identifier (CID), and a transmission status (start / end).

The content provider client informs the client agent of the registration of the content provider information and the content, and the client agent registers the content information with the control server, registers the content provider information, and maintains a client service count (routing count). Then, the control server generates content information, creates / manages user information, and manages content information. The control server stores content information and a content provider information to a database server. In addition, the content channel identifier (CID) is transmitted to the client, and the registration success / failure result value of the content provider is transmitted.

In the content request processing sequence shown in Fig. 4, the content request processing process of the client starts by transmitting a content keyword to be retrieved by the client to the control server. The control server searches a substring of the content name of the content channel using a keyword, generates a search result as a list mapped with the content channel identifier (CID) and the content information, and transmits the result to the client side.

The content requester client selects one content from the received list and transmits the information (content channel identifier (CID)) to the control server, and the control server searches for the channel based on the transmitted content channel identifier (CID). Creates a list of content forwarders (brokers) to be serviced, and sets a reservation flag for the selected content forwarders to maintain the number of routing counts or less that the corresponding content forwarders (brokers) can serve.

The client agent selects an optimal content forwarder by measuring the response speed with all content forwarders using the received content forwarder (broker) list, and requests a content delivery service from the forwarder. The client agent transmits the service information of the content provider (broker) and the information necessary when the user acts as the content delivery server to the control server to create and manage the information of the user (self), update the network configuration information, and backup the content. Create a list of forwarders (brokers).

The control server stores network configuration information and service status in the channel transaction table of the database server and interworks with the billing system, and transmits the backup content forwarder (broker) list and the transmission result to the client agent and sends the contents to the client. If the forwarder terminates abnormally, it requests the content delivery service to guarantee active and fast response speed.

The channel transaction log in the channel transaction table in the database server is intended to have a client identifier, channel access date, channel access time, content channel identifier (CID), transaction type (send / end / move) and content forwarder (broker) identifier.

In the termination process sequence of the content provider shown in FIG. 5, the request for terminating the content delivery service of the client differs depending on the content provider and the client (including the content deliverer). The server searches for the corresponding content channel, terminates the service, and deletes the channel information.

That is, when the content provider client sends a service termination message to the agent, the client agent sends a service termination message to the control server. The control server then searches for the content channel and processes the service termination, then stores the network configuration information and channel termination information to the database server, and sends the service termination processing result to the client agent.

In the termination sequence of the client (including the content delivery) shown in Fig. 6, when the client (including the content delivery) terminates, if the client sends a service termination message to the control server, the control server searches for the content channel and the channel. If the client is not found (for pure clients), the client terminates and sends a message.

However, for content forwarders (brokers) with service clients, set the shutdown reservation flag to delay the shutdown until the service client moves, and send a move message to the service client (deliver the content forwarder (broker) list) to the appropriate client agent. Push to deliver and handle the end of the content bearer (broker) at the end of the mobile transaction.

That is, the content deliverer (broker) sends a service termination message to the agent, and this client agent sends a service termination message to the control server. The control server then searches for the content channel, schedules termination if there is a service client, and instructs the service client to move (creation / delivery of the content delivery list).

When the control server sends the service termination processing result to the client agent, the client waits for service termination until the service client moves and proceeds with the service. The control server instructs the service client (client 1 of the broker) and the service client (client 2 of the broker) to deliver a list of content distributors (brokers) to move. The service client (client 1 of the broker) and the service client (client 2 of the broker) transmit the movement completion result to the control server (see Fig. 4).

The control server terminates the service of the reserved content delivery service provider, and the client agent proceeds with the service termination process.

7 is a block diagram of a method for calculating a backup content forwarder (broker) list using a network control system for mass content transmission of the present invention. In the present invention, an algorithm for efficiently maintaining a network at a client agent and a control server is implemented. The control server 14 is connected to each client 21-27 via a network control channel, while a data channel is connected between the clients 21-27.

The client 21 is a client ID: A, the client 22 is a client ID: B, the client 24 is a client ID: C, the client 25 is a client ID: D, and the client 23 is Client ID: E, Client 26 represents Client ID: F, and Client 27 represents Client ID: G. The same reference numerals as the configuration diagram shown in FIG. 1 are used, and detailed description of the operation will be omitted.

First, when viewed from the client agent side, when the user informs the control server 14 of the start of the service, all the content forwarders up to the content provider except the content forwarder who is viewing the network configuration of the stored content channel and delivering them to the user are the backup content forwarders. Compute a list, pass it to the client agent, and store it.

For example, client F 26 has content delivery (broker) B 22 and content provider A 21 as backup content delivery information. By using this table, the client can guarantee the fast response speed by proactively recovering by sending a request to the higher content forwarder when the content delivery ends abnormally without the control server passing through the control server.

The client synchronizes its information to the control server 14 whenever there is a change in its system and network conditions, and recalculates the client service count (routing count) in accordance with the change. In this case, when serving more users than the changed service count, the mobile message is pushed and transmitted to some users, and the data channel is maintained below the service count to improve network efficiency.

The control server side transmits a higher content forwarder list in consideration of the client specification and network topology when the user requests content. The network efficiency is maintained by inducing the client to create the data transport layer of the client by filling all the different client service counts (routing counts) according to the client specification from the top of the transmission. In addition, since there is a situation in which the efficiency of the network may be reduced due to service interruption of the client, network optimization is performed periodically for each channel.

Network optimization maintains network efficiency by filling up the service counts of the upstream content forwarders of each channel, and changing the content forwarders (brokers) serving the clients by pushing messages to the client agent. Push messages are sent to higher content bearers of certain sub-networks for delivery to minimal clients.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a network control system in an application layer that allows a client to share the load of cooperation and content providers to facilitate mass content distribution in the current Internet environment. Agents can configure and efficiently manage logical networks between clients in the application layer for content delivery using a physical Internet environment and provide intelligent recovery methods and systems.

Although the technical idea of the network control system for mass content transmission of the present invention has been described with reference to the exemplary drawings, this is illustrative of the best embodiments of the present invention and is not intended to limit the claims of the present invention. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the technical idea of the present invention.

Claims (9)

The server side system entity is comprised of a database server, login server, billing server and control server; The client system consists of a plurality of clients to which each data channel is connected; A network control channel is connected to each client from the control server, and a client agent, which is a module linked to a client that wants to use a service requiring mass content transmission, and a control server to have a function for network control in an application layer. Network control system for large content transmission, characterized in that. The method of claim 1, The network control is a network for mass content transmission, characterized by synchronizing the content registration request of the content provider, the content request of the content forwarder and the content requester, service termination, configuration information and recovery information (backup content forwarder list) for network maintenance. Control system. The method according to claim 1 or 2, When the client agent informs the control server of the start of the content transfer service, the control server looks at the network configuration of the stored content channel, and all the content forwarders (brokers) up to the content provider except the content forwarder (broker) that are delivering the client to the client. ) Is calculated as a backup content forwarder list, forwarded to the client agent and stored, and actively restored on the client side in an abnormal situation. A network consisting of a service client and a client agent for content transmission in a client system, a control server, a database server, a login server and a charging server in a server side system; A user authentication processing sequence for authenticating a user at the login server and managing an access channel at the control server; A content registration and content provider registration sequence for registering content information and content provider information at the client agent and content channel generation, user information generation / management and content information management at the control server; And Generates a channel search result list by searching the content channel on the control server, creates a list of content forwarders (brokers) by setting the corresponding channel, sets the reservation flag, synchronizes the client configuration with each system status information, and updates the channel to update the network configuration information. And a content request processing sequence for storing, generating and managing user information, and generating a backup content forwarder list. The method of claim 4, wherein The user authentication processing sequence includes: when the client authenticates the user to the login server, the login server processes the user log with the database server, and performs or fails the user authentication with the client; The client requests the agent to connect to the control channel, and when the client agent requests the control server to connect to the control channel, the control server manages the access channel, and whether the client succeeds or fails in creating the control channel. Network control system for mass content transfer. The method of claim 4, wherein The content registration and content provider registration sequence allows a content provider (client) to inform the agent of a content provider / content registration, and this client agent registers the content information with the control server and registers the content provider information and other client service counts (routing). Count); The control server generates content information, creates / manages content provider information, and manages content information. The control server stores content information and content provider information to a database server, and transmits a content channel identifier (CID) to a client. A network control system for mass content transmission, characterized by transmitting the registration success / failure result value of the content provider. The method of claim 4, wherein In the content request processing sequence, the content requestor (client) informs the agent of the content keyword search, and the client agent sends the search keyword to the control server for content search, the control server searches for the content channel and the channel search result list. Generate a channel and transmit a channel search result list to the client agent; The client agent selects the content and sends the content channel identifier to the control server. The control server searches for the channel, generates a list of content deliverers (brokers) that can be sent to the client, sets a reservation flag, and sends the content agent list to the client agent. The client agent measures a response speed with all of the received content delivery lists (broker 1, broker 2, ...), and requests a content delivery service from the optimal content delivery (broker 1); The client agent transmits the information of the content forwarder (broker) serviced to the control server and its own information, and the control server receives the information to update the channel to store network configuration information, to generate and manage the client information, and to provide a backup content forwarder ( Broker), and the control server stores network configuration information and service transaction information to a database server, and transmits a result content and a backup content forwarder (broker) list to a client agent. Network control system. The method of claim 4, wherein When the content provider (client) sends a service termination message to the agent, the client agent sends a service termination message to the control server, which retrieves the content channel to handle the service termination, and then sends the network configuration information and And a termination processing sequence of the content provider for storing the channel termination information and transmitting the service termination processing result to the client agent. The method of claim 4, wherein When the content forwarder (broker) sends a service termination message to the client agent, the client agent sends a service termination message to the control server, which scans the content channel and retrieves the channel to schedule termination if there is a service client. Instruct the service client to move; When the control server transmits the service termination processing result to the client agent, the client waits for service termination and proceeds the service until the service client moves, and the control server performs the service client (client 1 of the broker) and the service client (broker). Forwards the list of content delivery (brokers) to be moved with the move command to client 2), and the service client (client 1 of the broker) and the service client (client 2 of the broker) send a move completion result to the control server; The control server terminates the scheduled content delivery service (broker) service, and the client agent further includes a termination processing sequence of the content delivery service (broker) for the service termination process. system.

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