JPH05244249A - Self multiplication network system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To realize the automatic control of a traffic in matching with the increase/decrease in the traffic by transferring the service offer content from the service server to a station of a district with many traffics and executing the service directly to the user from the station. CONSTITUTION:When a traffic monitor circuit 800 of an exchange node 100 detects a high traffic, it is registered by a request signal processing circuit 610. The circuit 610 stores the service content of the service server 1 to a storage circuit 660 and an identification code of the server 1 is stored in an information storage circuit 670. When a processor 650 detects an increased traffic, the processor 650 stores the service content of the server 1 to a station connected in the vicinity of the user and the station is controlled so as to correspond to the user directly. Thus, the traffic is automatically controlled and the correspondence to the user is smoothly realized.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a self-propagating network system, and more particularly, to centralizing traffic in order to improve the efficiency of line use between a user and a service provider in a network system such as an image transfer service. The present invention relates to a self-propagating network for avoiding traffic control.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the following changes in the usage of networks, traffic control of lines becomes an important issue.

For example, as the speed and price of a network increase, it is conceivable that information such as newspapers will be transported to each home, a newspaper shop, a station shop, etc. via the network. Along with this, many information providers will appear. For example, in the case of video commercials, only some companies can broadcast television commercials because the number of television radio stations is currently limited due to the limited use of radio waves.

However, by using a telephone line as a transmission medium, more companies can utilize it. That is, by incorporating the video set into the telephone line, the company converts its commercial into a video and broadcasts it over the telephone line. A user who wants to receive this service accesses the service provider from the telephone line. The user's receiver side uses the telephone line by receiving it via an adapter that connects the telephone line to the television, or by developing a video reception phone that is directly connected to the telephone line, such as a visual telephone. The video commercial system etc. When these are realized, the number of service providers and users will increase and the concentration of traffic will occur. The following method is used as a conventional means for avoiding the concentration of traffic.

The number of terminals (terminals) on the side of service providers receiving access from users is increased.

Traffic to a line connected to the service provider is monitored, and if there is a sign of congestion, incoming calls to the line are restricted.

[0007]

However, the above-mentioned conventional method has the following problems with respect to changes in the usage pattern, and cannot sufficiently use the network.

The conventional method of increasing the number of receiving terminals on the service provider side requires predicting the traffic concentration in advance, and when the traffic concentration occurs on an unexpected line, the user is informed. Will be significantly delayed. When forecasting traffic, a large amount of cost is required for preparation in advance according to the expected scale. Also,
If the traffic is less than expected, the preparation will be wasted, and if it is more than expected, it will affect other line users who use the shared resources of the network.

On the other hand, the method of limiting the incoming call to the line from the user cannot achieve the purpose on the service provider side because the call of the user is suppressed even if the congestion is avoided.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and provides a self-reproducing network system in which traffic control is automatically realized in accordance with increase or decrease in traffic, and users can receive services without delay. The purpose is to do.

[0011]

The present invention provides a service in a network system in which a plurality of lines are connected under a station of a network system, and information service is provided in response to a service request from a user via the station. Traffic monitoring means for monitoring the traffic of the provider's line,
Detecting means for detecting that the traffic has a certain value or more, or less than a certain value, and an identification code storage means for storing the service provider's identification code in a storage area corresponding to the outstanding result of the detecting means, A storage unit that temporarily stores the service content of the service provider, and a station that is connected to the content of the data of the service provider in the vicinity of the user when the detection unit detects that the traffic has increased. And a control unit that controls the station to directly respond to the user.

Further, the traffic monitoring means includes a classification means for classifying the originating station of traffic, the detection means includes a specifying means for specifying an area or a station where the calling station has a lot of calls, and the control means includes a user Referring to the entered service request destination identification code and service provider identification code,
If they match, the station is controlled to read the content of the data from the service provider from the storage means and transmit it to the user.

Further, the control means holds the storage in the storage means without making a response to the station near the user when the traffic from the user to the station is reduced to a predetermined value or less within a certain period of time. The content of the data and the identification code of the service provider are invalidated.

[0014]

The present invention provides a function for increasing / decreasing the traffic, specifying the call causing the traffic, and the station where the traffic is concentrated, and transferring the service provision content from the service provider to the station in the area with a lot of traffic and transferring it. By providing a service directly from the designated station to the user, the traffic control can be automatically performed according to the increase or decrease of the traffic.
In this way, since the provision of information is temporarily copied at multiple stations and the number of service providers is apparently increased in stages, such a network is defined as a network having a self-reproducing function. , A system with such a network is called a self-propagating network system. By providing such a system, even if traffic is concentrated, the service provider transfers the service information to the station, and the station performs processing corresponding to the user, so that it is possible to respond to the user smoothly. realizable.

[0015]

The embodiment of the present invention is not based on the method of preparing another line for proliferation, but on the premise that the proliferation processing is performed via a normal line in consideration of a high function type switching node.

FIG. 1 shows the system configuration of an embodiment of the present invention. The system of the present invention includes a service provider 1 having a video device for providing image information and the like, a user 5 for receiving the information, a switch node 2 near the service provider 1 for connecting the service provider 1 and the user 5, and a user. 5 is composed of an exchange node 4 in the vicinity, exchanges 2 and 4, a service provider 1, and a connection line 3 for connecting a user 5. Figure 2
It is a figure (1) for demonstrating the basic operation | movement of one Example of this invention. In the figure, the exchange node 2 shown in FIG.
The exchange node 4 has storage devices 21 and 41, respectively. The service provider 1 temporarily sends information such as images to the user 5
It is stored in the storage device 21 of the exchange node 4 in the vicinity. Thereafter, the provided information is distributed to the exchange node 4 connected to the user 5 via the connection line 4. Switch node 4
Stores the provision information from the service provider 1 in the storage device 41 and distributes the provision information stored in the storage device 41 to the user groups 51 to 53. FIG. 2 shows a static operation. This is because the amount of information from the service provider 1 is large (for example, NTSC (National Televisio
n System Committee) video signals require a capacity of about 40 megabytes for one minute of images. (By the way, the capacity of 30 pages of newspapers is about 50 megabytes.) It is impossible to provide these with only the line of the service provider 1. Therefore, as shown in FIG.
This is a method of suppressing an increase in traffic on the line by transmitting the contents of the service from the exchange node 4 to the user 5 by sending the information to the exchange node 4 in the vicinity of the exchange node 4 and storing it in the storage device 41 of the exchange node 4.

FIG. 3 is a diagram (No. 2) for explaining the basic operation of one embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, considering the case of a service in which traffic prediction is difficult, such as a video commercial system, the content of information of the service provider 1 is dynamically changed to a large number of exchange nodes 2, 4, 3
0,35 to those switch nodes 2, 4, 3
The provided information is copied to the storage devices 21, 31, 41 and 36 of the 0 and 35. When the content of the information of the service provider 1 in the figure is transmitted to the exchange node 2, the traffic monitoring means of the exchange node 2 identifies a line with a lot of traffic and the exchange node 4 close to the user 5.
And is provided to the user 5 from the exchange node 4 to provide the service of the provided information.

However, if there is a large amount of traffic in the switching node at the next stage according to the result of the traffic monitoring means in each switching node, it may be transmitted to the node further ahead and the traffic may be leveled. In the example of the figure, the service provider 1 transmits to the exchange node 2, and further the exchange node 2 transmits to the exchange node 30.
Is transmitted to the exchange node 4 and provided to the user 51.

In both of the methods shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the exchange node 2 operates before the concentration of traffic occurs.
Need to temporarily cache the information content of the service provider 1. In particular, when there are many service providers under the exchange node 2, the capacity of the high-speed storage device 21 of the exchange node 2 is insufficient, and the information of all the service providers cannot be stored. Will be needed. In addition, normally, for such information, high-speed input / output is required as the line speed increases. Therefore,
Since it is necessary to temporarily store information using a storage device capable of high-speed storage such as a semiconductor memory, the storage device 21
Capacity is limited. For this purpose, a storage device for caching the information content is required.

Further, in each exchange node, a traffic monitoring function, a proxy request receiving function for providing information from the exchange node 2 on the service provider side on behalf of the service provider,
It has a function to identify whether it is a call to the service provider number from the user side, and if it is the call,
A control function is required to handle the call at the own switching node. As for the cache function, it can be implemented by the same method as the computer cache method.
It will not be described in detail here.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an exchange node according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the same components as those in FIGS. 1 to 3 are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.

The circuit 100 of FIG. 4 shows the configuration of each switch node. Among them, the acceptance / holding circuit 600
Has a circuit for receiving the proxy service and a circuit for holding the provided information received on behalf of another exchange node. The distribution circuit 601 in the proxy receiving / holding circuit 600 receives the provided information from the service provider 1 side and distributes the information. Request signal processing circuit 6
When a request signal for transfer of the information of the service provider 1 from the exchange node 12 is input, and 10 performs information on which service provider and which exchange node, based on the request signal, when performing a proxy service for the user. Is analyzed. The control circuit 620 stores the call from the user 5 in the storage circuit 6
Call from 60. The data holding control circuit 630 performs control for holding data in the memory circuit 660 and the information holding circuit 670 by analyzing the request signal processing circuit 610. The user transfer control circuit 640 controls the transfer of the data from the storage circuit 660 to the user 5 side. The processor 650 controls the entire circuits and the like. The information holding circuit 670 holds address information such as the location of data stored in the storage circuit 660. The control circuit 680 performs control for storing the address information of the information holding circuit 670 in the address holding circuit in the call distribution circuit 700 from the user 5. The write control circuits 661 and 671 perform control to write information in the memory circuit 660 and the information holding circuit 670. In addition, the read control circuits 662 and 672 perform control of reading information from the memory circuit 660 and the information holding circuit 670. Further, the exchange node circuit 100 has a traffic monitoring circuit 800 for monitoring traffic in addition to the acceptance / holding circuit 600. The traffic monitoring circuit 800 monitors requested traffic from the user side, causes of high traffic, destination (user number, or switch node number to which the user belongs).
Circuit configuration that can detect Simply, the monitoring is easy if it is a part that can correspond one-to-one with the line corresponding to the output of the telephone line of the service provider 1.

In the case of one-to-one correspondence, the traffic monitoring circuit 800 detects that the traffic is high and sends a detection signal to the request signal processing circuit 610. The information signal from the service provider 1 is received by the receiving circuit 601 and simultaneously input to the request signal processing circuit 610. Since the request signal processing circuit 610 has received the previous high traffic signal (detection signal), it captures the information signal from the service provider 1 and stores it in the storage circuit 660 via the data holding control circuit 630 and the transfer circuit 673. The provision information transmitted from the service provider 1 is stored.

Further, the address (location) 6713 storing the data in the memory circuit 660 and the service provider 1
The corresponding telephone number 6712 and the validity bit V6711 are stored in the information holding circuit 670.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the data stored in the storage device 660 includes a data section 160 and a header section 150.
Is added and transferred to the next exchange node. The header 150 is composed of information such as the proxy service instruction 151, the requested exchange node 152, the proxy telephone number 153, etc., and is sent in connection with the content (data length) that defines the data content of the data section 160. This header part 15
The proxy service instruction 151 of 0, the requested exchange node number 152, the proxy telephone number 153, and the like are information used for self-reproduction control. The proxy service instruction 151 is an instruction code indicating an instruction to request a proxy service. The requested exchange node number 152 is a code indicating to which exchange node the data sent from the service provider 1 or the exchange node 12 is requested for the proxy service.
The proxy telephone number 153 is an identification code such as the telephone number of the service provider. The data section 160 stores the data itself of the provided information from the service provider 1.

The switching node requested for the proxy service checks the contents of the header of the processing request signal shown in FIG. 5 to check whether the requested switching node is its own node. Pass through. On the other hand, if they match, the packet from the former-stage switching node passes through the distribution circuit 601 and the control circuit 630 to the storage circuit 6
Stored in 60. At this time, the address (location) where the data is stored in the storage circuit 660 and the service provider 1
The telephone number 6712 and the validity bit V6711 are stored in the information holding circuit 670. This operation is similar to the above-mentioned operation.

The request signal processing circuit 610 shown in FIG. 4 monitors the response signal from the service provider 1 based on the signal from the traffic monitoring circuit 800, and analyzes the header section 150 of the processing request signal.

The processor 650 is a request signal processing circuit 6
Based on the signal from 10, the provision information from the service provider 1 is stored in the memory circuit 660 via the write control circuit 661 which serves as a buffer for data writing. Further, the processor 650 controls the data holding control circuit 630 to store the data indicating the location of the data stored in the storage circuit 660 in the information holding circuit 670. The data holding control circuit 630 controls so that the data from the request signal processing circuit 610 is temporarily buffered and stored in the storage circuit 660 based on a command from the processor 650. Further, the data holding control circuit 630 is also used as a buffer circuit when the data at the storage data location of the storage circuit 660 shown in FIG. 7 is stored in the information holding circuit 670.

When storing the storage data location data shown in FIG. 7 in the information holding circuit 670, the processor 650 also sets the same contents in the address holding circuit 714 in the number monitoring circuit block 700.

The transfer control circuit 640 controls the data read from the storage circuit 660 so as to be transmitted to the number monitoring circuit block 700. The transfer control circuit 640 controls the synchronization from the processor 650 and, if necessary, the processing request signal. Proxy service instruction 151, requester exchange node number 152,
The proxy telephone number 153 is added to the read data as the header section 150.

FIG. 7 shows the configuration of the number monitoring circuit block according to an embodiment of the present invention. The figure shows a function of receiving a call from a user after receiving a processing request, and processing of a proxy service using data held by the service provider 1.

The number monitoring circuit block 700 is used by the user 5
It is composed of a circuit for receiving a call from the service provider, a holding circuit 71 for storing an address and the like in which information to be provided for performing the proxy service of the service provider 1, a signal distribution circuit 72, and a data acceptance / transfer circuit 73.

The holding circuit 71 holds a call reception circuit 711 for receiving a call from the user 5 and a service request destination number, which is received information from the user 5, as an identification code of the service provider 1. By performing matching processing with the comparison target storage circuit (address holding entry) 7141 of the address holding circuit 714, the request destination number extraction circuit 713 that searches the telephone number of the destination of the service request, and the comparison target storage circuit 7141 that is an address holding entry. , Address holding circuit 71
4 and a coincidence detection circuit 715 for transmitting a coincidence signal to the call issuing control processing circuit 716.
In the comparison target storage circuit 7141, the same information as the information stored in the information holding circuit 670 is set by the control circuit 680. The coincidence detection circuit 715 confirms whether or not the content of the service provider is stored in the station by referring to the entry of the comparison target storage circuit 7141, and detects the coincidence. That is, the call origination control processing circuit 716 is notified that the station has the provision information from the service provider 1. When receiving the notification from the coincidence detection circuit 715, the call origination control processing circuit 716 adds the address and storage location of its own station to the address of the originating exchange node and sends it to its own station.

The signal distribution circuit 72 is a call origination control circuit 721 when the service provider information is not held in the exchange node and a call origination control circuit 721 when the service provider information is held in the exchange node. Control circuit 72
Have two. Which of the call issuing control circuits 721 and 722 the signal is input to is determined by the call issuing control processing circuit 716 of the holding circuit 71.

The data acceptance / transfer circuit 73 holds a receiving system circuit 731 for receiving data when the service provider information is not held in the exchange node, and the service provider information in the exchange node. Data receiving system circuit 732 and data receiving system circuit 73
It has a selection circuit 733 for selecting and transmitting one of the signals 1 and 732.

The operation of the number monitoring circuit block 700 will be described. In the circuit block 600 (data holding circuit), as shown in FIG. 4, a request signal is transmitted to the processor 650 via the receiving circuit 620. Processor 650
Instructs the data reading circuit 630 to read the data from the location of the memory circuit 660 that stores the information. The read data is read by the read control circuit 6
62, transfer path 664, transfer control circuit 640, and transfer path 6
It is transmitted to the number monitoring circuit block 700 via 41.

The signal transmitted to the number monitoring circuit block 700 is received by the data receiving system circuit 732 in the number monitoring circuit block 700, and is returned to the user 5 requesting the service via the selection circuit 733.

FIG. 8 shows a flowchart of the operation of the exchange node when receiving the proxy service according to the embodiment of the present invention. Step 1: Traffic monitoring circuit 80 of exchange node
When 0 detects high traffic, the request signal processing circuit 61
Register to 0. Step 2: The request signal processing circuit 610 and the data holding circuit block 600 monitor the response signal from the service provider 1. Step 3: Receive a response signal from the service provider 1 and determine whether the received signal includes a proxy reception request. If it is not included, the process proceeds to step 2 and the user 5 directly receives it. Step 4: When the proxy reception request is included in Step 3, the relevant data from the service provider 1 is stored in the memory circuit 660, and the address information of the data stored in the memory circuit 660 and the address information are corresponded. The identification code of the service provider to be stored is stored in the information holding circuit 670. Step 5: The identification code stored in the information holding circuit 670 in step 4 is also stored in the comparison target storage circuit 7141 of the number monitoring circuit block 700 via the transfer path 675. Step 6: Validate the validity bit V6711 and compare with the input data from the call receiving circuit 711 of the user 5,
Alternatively, the operation of separating the transmission destinations is started depending on whether the identification code of the service provider and the input requested service destination match or do not match.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart of the operation of separating the processing of the call from the user after receiving the proxy service request according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Step 10: Compare the input from the user 5 received by the call receiving circuit 711 with the registration number,
And, the separation of the transmission destination is started. Step 11: The comparison result is output to the match detection circuit 715. Step 12: If there is no input of the service request destination code from the user 5 who matches the registration number registered in the address holding entry 7141, the process proceeds to step 17. Step 13: If the registration number includes a code number input by the user, a call request is issued to the call origination control circuit 716 and a call origination control circuit 722 is used when the service provider information is held in the exchange node. Instruct. Step 14: The call issuing control circuit 722 uses the transfer path 70.
A request for reading the data is output to the data holding circuit 600 via 1. Step 15: The data holding circuit 600 controls the control circuit 620 according to the request from the number monitoring circuit block 700,
The data is read from the memory circuit 660 via the processor 650 and the control circuits 630 and 661, and the control circuit 66
2 to the number monitoring circuit block 700. Step 16: The number monitoring circuit block 700 transfers the provision information of the service provider 1 to the user 5 via the data reception system 732 and the selection circuit 733, and ends. Step 17: When there is no input that matches the registration number registered in the address holding entry 7141, the call issuing control circuit 716 holds the information of the service provider in the switching node of the next stage as a normal request. If not, a call request is issued to the call issuing control circuit 721. Step 18: The data from the service provider 1 is not registered in the user 5 via the data reception system circuit 731 and the selection circuit 733 when the service provider information is not held in the exchange node. Transfers the information to the effect and ends.

In the present embodiment, the termination process of the proxy service in the exchange node is carried out when the requested traffic amount to the service provider 1 is gradually reduced below a certain limit value.
The termination of the proxy service includes invalidating the address holding entry 7141 in the comparison data holding circuit 7141 in the number monitoring circuit block 700, and the data holding circuit 6
This is performed by deleting the registration information of the corresponding service provider 1 from the storage in the information holding circuit 670 of 00.

FIG. 10 is a flow chart of processing at the end of the proxy service according to the embodiment of the present invention. Step 21: The processor 650 counts the number of times each proxy call is received within a certain period of time. Step 22: If the number of times the proxy request is received is equal to or greater than the specified limit, the process proceeds to step 21. Step 23: If the number of times the proxy request is received is less than or equal to the specified limit, the V bit 6711 of the entry of the proxy request is invalidated from the address holding entry 7141. Step 24: The information holding circuit 670 invalidates the V bit 6711 of the entry of the proxy request. Step 25: Invalidate the data entry corresponding to the proxy request from the storage circuit 660.

The processor 650 counts the requested traffic amount based on the request signal from the control circuit 620.

As described above, the information provided by the service provider 1 is transferred to the exchange node in which the traffic is concentrated and the information from the exchange node is passed to the user so that the traffic is concentrated. By increasing the degree of freedom of the line, users can receive services efficiently.

[0045]

As described above, according to the present invention, a service having a long service time such as an image transfer service can be efficiently realized even when traffic is concentrated.
Also, by storing the provided information in the storage function,
Since the provision information is transmitted to the user who is requesting the stored service by requesting the proxy reception to the unused line, the line can be efficiently used.

From the viewpoint of the user who is the line user, there is an effect that the service waiting time can be shortened.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram (No. 1) for explaining the basic operation of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram (No. 2) for explaining the basic operation of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a processing request signal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram for performing a function of receiving a call from a user after receiving a processing request according to an embodiment of the present invention and performing a proxy service process using retained data.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a data format indicating a stored data location according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of an operation when receiving a proxy service according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of processing of a call from a user after receiving a proxy service request according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a processing flowchart at the end of a proxy service according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Service Provider 2, 12 Switch Node (near Service Provider) 3 Connection Line 4 Switch Node (near User) 5, 51, 52, 53 User 21, 31, 36, 41 Storage Device 30, 35 Switch Node 71 Holding Circuit 72 signal distribution circuit 73 data reception / transfer circuit 100 exchange node circuit 150 header section 151 proxy service instruction 152 request destination node number 153 proxy telephone number 160 data section 501 receiving circuit 600 proxy service acceptance / holding circuit 601 distribution circuit 610 request signal processing circuit 620 Control circuit for calling user's call from storage circuit 630 Data retention control circuit 640 Transfer control circuit 641 Transfer path 650 Processor 660 Storage circuit 661 Write control circuit 662 Read control circuit 664 Transfer path 670 Information holding circuit 671 Write control circuit 672 Read control circuit 673 Transfer path 674 Transfer path 675 Transfer path 680 Control circuit 700 Call distribution circuit (number monitoring circuit block) 701 Transfer path 711 Call destination circuit 713 Request destination number extraction circuit 714 Address holding circuit 715 Match detection circuit 716 Call origination control circuit 721 Call origination control circuit when the relevant exchange provider node does not hold the service provider information 722 Call origination control when the relevant exchange node holds the service provider information Circuit 731 Data receiving system when the service provider information is not held in the exchange node 732 Data receiving system 733 when the service provider information is held in the exchange node 733 Selection circuit 790 From the service provider side Data holding circuit 67 10 Data format example of address information held by service provider address holding entry of data held by the exchange node 6711 V bit 6712 Corresponding telephone number 6713 Memory location 7141 Service provider address holding entry of data held by the exchange node

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A network system in which a plurality of lines are connected under the control of a station of a network system and which provides information service in response to a service request from a user via the station, monitors the traffic of the line of a service provider. Traffic monitoring means, a detecting means for detecting that the traffic has a certain value or more or a certain value or less, and an identification code of the service provider in a storage area according to the detection result of the detecting means. Identification code storage means for storing, storage means for temporarily storing the service content of the service provider, and content of the data of the service provider when the detection means detects that the traffic has increased. Control means for storing in a station connected in the vicinity of the user and controlling the station to directly respond to the user; Self-propagating network system characterized by having a station comprising. 2. The traffic monitoring means includes a classification means for classifying an originating station of the traffic, and the detection means includes an identifying means for identifying an area or a station where the originating station has a lot of calls, The means refers to the identification code of the service request destination input by the user and the identification code of the service provider, and if they match, stores the contents of the data from the service provider in the station. The self-propagating network system according to claim 1, wherein the self-proliferation network system is controlled so as to be read out and transmitted to the user. 3. The control means retains the storage in the storage means without making a response to a station near the user when the traffic from the user to the station decreases below a predetermined value within a fixed time. The self-propagating network system according to claim 1, wherein the content of the data of the service provider and the identification code of the service provider are invalidated.