JP2012222380A - Access network system, gateway device, and network quality ensuring method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an access network system for autonomously improving network quality for user terminals.SOLUTION: An access network system for providing user terminals with radio environment comprises one or a plurality of radio base stations and a gateway device, and makes them collaborate. The one or plurality of radio base stations collect communication load states and are capable of restricting an available band for each connected user terminal. The gateway device at least acquires communication load information from each of the radio base stations which is managed by the gateway device, determines data flow control of each of the radio base stations for the radio base stations based on the acquired communication load information, and determines data flow control for each user terminal based on a service level allocated to each user terminal, where data flow allocated to each radio base station is not distributed equally to user terminals belonging to the radio base station.

Description

  The present invention relates to a radio communication system, and more particularly to an access network system that performs resource allocation in an access network.

Recently, various communication technologies are used to provide a wireless communication environment for personal computers and smartphones in which each carrier is a user terminal.
Under such a wireless communication environment, each service provider needs to properly install facilities or provide facilities to provide backbone lines, but there are cases in which it cannot meet the demands (use mode) of users. ing.

  As measures against these problems, the load status is monitored by the access network, and the traffic volume of individual user terminals is dynamically reduced for user terminals that have a significant amount of usage. There are also efforts to reduce the impact.

  Examples of the technology related to the access network system include Patent Literature 1 and Patent Literature 2.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a wireless communication environment for a plurality of mobile stations (user terminals), a plurality of base stations, a gateway device that manages the base stations and serves as a gateway to another network. Patent Document 1 discloses a handover technique in which a mobile station moves between communication base stations between managed base stations.

  Patent Document 2 describes a gateway device used in an access service network system and a technique related to connection of a user terminal performed by the gateway device. In Patent Document 2, after authentication performed at the time of connection of a user terminal connected to an access service network system, the access service network system discards session management performed by the previous connection by performing authentication again upon reconnection. Instead of starting session management for a new connection, a technique is described that can use the previous connection even during reconnection.

International Publication No. 2008/143282 JP 2011-10045 A

  Today, there are cases where all communication signals cannot be properly communicated over a network line constructed by a carrier or service provider.

  For example, there may be a case where a control message exchanged for providing each service performed between gateways, between a base station and a gateway, between base stations, or the like is lost in the network due to an instantaneous increase in traffic. In the case where the control message is lost, the influence on the uplink and downlink to the user terminal, traffic control with other networks, etc. occurs, so the influence is greater than the loss of the actual communication content.

  This example will be described using the WiMAX system as follows. There are service systems in which the bandwidth and quality of R6 lines and backbone lines (R3, etc.) corresponding to WiMAX access service networks are relatively weak. In this service system, there is a case where a control message that affects the service is dropped in the network due to an increase in the amount of communication at the time of requests from a large number of user terminals. This is partly because the WiMAX system is cheaper than the cellular system typified by 3G, and the service provider also provides services at a reduced system construction cost. Conceivable. In particular, new operators overseas have a tendency to significantly reduce initial investment costs, and as a result, the bandwidth and quality of R6 lines and backbone lines are often poor.

  For example, if the R6 line is in the above situation, when the amount of data flowing through the R6 line approaches congestion, delays and omissions of control messages used for network entry, handover processing, paging processing, etc. from the user terminal occur. Quality will deteriorate.

  Network line As a countermeasure against this congestion, a technique of avoiding by appropriately performing shaping or policing with a switch or router installed between R6 lines and the like as a flow control of communication data may be considered.

  However, as the actual communication status, the load status varies from one radio base station to another, and the load status changes with time. There are concerns that the operation management cost is increased by manually performing the flow control of communication data according to monitoring and load conditions, and that real-time control is difficult as a countermeasure. Another problem is that it is difficult to control the flow rate for each user connected to a radio base station.

  With respect to such problems, the techniques described in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 do not provide any countermeasure. Further, when the control message is dropped, if it is Patent Document 1, it may lead to the failure of the handover of the user terminal. Moreover, if it is patent document 2, when a control message is dropped, it may lead to an authentication failure or a previous session release.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and appropriately performs flow control for each user connected under the radio base station together with flow control for each radio base station connected under the gateway device. It is an object of the present invention to provide an access network system that enables this.

  Another object is to provide a gateway device suitable for an existing communication network that enables flow control for each radio base station connected to the subordinate and flow control for each user connected to the radio base station. It is to be.

  The access network system according to the present invention collects communication load status and includes one or a plurality of radio base stations that can limit the usable bandwidth for each connected user terminal, and the radio base station group under management. Each communication load information is acquired at least, and based on the acquired communication load information, data flow control to each of the wireless base stations is determined for the wireless base station group, and each of the wireless base stations is determined. An access network gateway that determines the data flow control to each user terminal based on the service level assigned to each user terminal without equally dividing the data flow allocated to the user terminal group belonging to the radio base station And.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the access service network system which performs appropriately the flow control for every user connected under a radio base station can be provided with the flow control for every radio base station connected under a gateway apparatus.

  Similarly, according to the present invention, a gateway device suitable for an existing communication network that enables flow control for each user connected to a radio base station as well as flow control for each radio base station connected to the subordinate. Can be provided.

It is explanatory drawing which shows the outline of the WiMAX system concerning embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of ASN-GW40 in embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of management of the communication load condition of 1 radio base station in the load condition acquisition and management part 402. FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of service level management of the user terminal group in the service level management part. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the wireless base station 10 in embodiment. It is a sequence diagram which shows the acquisition method of the service level in embodiment. It is a sequence diagram which shows the information regarding the communication load of the base station in embodiment, and the data flow rate control method based on a service level.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  In order to facilitate understanding of the description of the embodiment, the WiMAX system will be described as a specific example.

  FIG. 1 shows an overview of an access service network (ASN) and a connectivity service network (CSN) of a WiMAX system. As shown in the figure, in the WiMAX system, the ASN includes a radio base station (BS) 10 to 10 m and an ASN-GW (Access Service Network Gateway) 40. A device (router or switch) 30 is also shown. Also, the ASN-GW 40 is connected to an AAA server (Access control, Authorization, and Auditing Server) 60 and an HA server (Home Agent Server) 70 included in the CSN. A device (router or switch) 50 is also shown.

  In the present embodiment, the ASN-GW 40 collects load information of each radio base station 10 to 10 m, and based on the communication load status of the radio base station, the uplink between the ASN-GW and the radio base station for each radio base station. In addition to performing downlink data flow control, data flow control for user terminals belonging to each radio base station is performed according to a predetermined rule within each data flow control.

  Here, an MS (Mobile Station) 101 or the like shown in FIG. 1 indicates a wireless terminal station corresponding to a user terminal. SS (Subscriber Station) is handled in the same way as MS.

  The wireless terminal stations 101 to 10n correspond to user terminals that enter the wireless base station 10. Similarly, the wireless terminal stations 1m1 to 1mo correspond to user terminals entering the wireless base station 10m. The R6 line 20 is a line between the radio base station 10 and the ASN-GW 40, the R6 line 20n is a line between the radio base station 1n and the ASN-GW 40, and there is an R6 line for each radio base station. .

  The ASN-GW 40 requests the AAA server 60 to authenticate the entering wireless terminal station. And the service level for every radio | wireless terminal station is totaled and hold | maintained.

  The AAA server 60 centrally manages the service level and user name embedded as attributes in the Access Accept after successful authentication, and performs authentication of the wireless terminal stations 101 to 10n and 1m1 to 1mo. As for the service level, for example, HIGH is assigned to a user terminal used for emergency, MID is assigned to a user terminal of a user who is strict in service quality, and LOW is assigned to a user terminal of best effort. It should be noted that the service level is not necessarily divided into three stages, and may be two stages or more than three stages. Further, a service level may be assigned for each predetermined service (such as a call or file download).

  An NSP (Network Service Provider) 80 represents a network that is in communication with each wireless terminal station. When MobileIP is used, the HA server 70 is installed between the ASN-GW 40 and the NSP 80.

Next, the apparatus configuration of the ASN-GW 40 in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
The ASN-GW 40 includes a radio base station side transmitting / receiving unit 401 which is an interface for communicating with subordinate radio base stations 10 to 10 m, load status acquisition and management for acquiring and managing communication load status from each radio base station Unit 402, service level management unit 403 that centrally manages the service level for each wireless terminal station, load status acquisition and management unit 402, and transmission data traffic control unit that collects information from service level management unit 403 and performs data flow control 406 is included. In addition, an AAA server-side transceiver unit 404 serving as an interface with the AAA server 60 and an HA-side transceiver unit 405 serving as an interface with the HA 70 are included.

  FIG. 3 shows an example of acquiring and managing the load status in the ASN-GW 40 and acquiring and managing the communication load status for each IP address of the radio base station in the management unit 402. In the illustrated example, each wireless base station is associated with an IP address, and the traffic volume in the uplink and downlink directions and the packet loss rate of the control message are centrally managed as a table.

  FIG. 4 shows an example of service level management for each MAC address of the wireless terminal station in the service level management unit 403 in the ASN-GW 40. The illustrated example is an example of a table at the time of operation in which HIGH is assigned to the user with the highest service level, MID is assigned to the second highest user, and LOW is assigned to the third highest user. Through the following processing operations, QoS control and maximum communication amount are allocated between wireless terminal stations residing in the same base station so that the difference in service level is reflected.

  Here, the service level will be described. In an actual service, the required level for the network quality differs depending on the user, such as a user who allows a best effort from a user who is strict in service quality. There are also users who should be prioritized. In the present embodiment, the data communication volume of each user terminal is not proportionally reduced in response to the data communication volume narrowing down in units of base stations, but the user is assigned in accordance with the service level allocated for each user terminal. It is possible to perform fine vertical data flow control at the level.

  FIG. 5 shows an apparatus configuration diagram of the radio base station. Radio terminal side transceiver 101 serving as an interface when communicating with the user terminal, load control manager 102 for measuring and recording each control message in the uplink and downlink directions of the user terminal and the total communication amount, amount of transmission data in the ASN-GW 40 Based on an instruction from the control unit 406, a transmission data amount control unit 103 that controls the uplink and downlink transmission data amount of the own radio base station, and an ASN-GW side transmission / reception unit that serves as an interface when communicating with the ASN-GW 40 104. The load status management unit 102 supplies the recorded data of each user terminal to the ASN-GW 40 through communication with the load status acquisition and management unit 402.

  Next, in the present embodiment, details from the entry of the wireless base station 101 to the wireless base station 10 to the assignment of the service level by the AAA server 60 will be described in detail using the sequence diagram of FIG.

  In the AAA server 60, a user ID and password information used for authentication of a user terminal to be subscribed are registered in advance. Then, the user ID and the service level are mapped and managed centrally (step S101). Hereinafter, as an example, HIGH is assigned to the user terminal with the highest service level, MID is assigned to the second highest user, and LOW is assigned to the third highest user.

  The radio base station 101 transmits an entry request to the radio base station 10 (step S102).

  The AAA server 60 receives an authentication request from the radio base station 101 via the radio base station 10 and the ASN-GW 40, performs an authentication process for the radio base station 101, and provides a service of the radio base station 101 along with the result of the authentication. The level is embedded in the Access Accept packet and transmitted to the ASN-GW 40 (step S103).

  The ASN-GW 40 receives the authentication result of the radio base station 101 and the service level, and the service level management unit 403 holds the MAC address of the user terminal 101 and its service level. Thereafter, the authentication result is transmitted to the radio base station 101 (step S104).

  By operating in this way, the service level can be taken into the gateway device when each user terminal is authenticated.

Next, data flow control of a network line will be described using an example.
FIG. 7 shows a processing sequence in the radio base stations 10 to 10 m and the ASN-GW 40 when the data flow rate control of the R6 line is performed.

  The load status acquisition and management unit 402 periodically uses a timer expiration or the like as a trigger to transmit a load information acquisition request message via the radio base station side transmitting / receiving unit 401, thereby subordinate each radio base station Collection of a load situation of 10 to 10 m is started (step S201).

  Each of the radio base stations 10 to 10m receives the load information acquisition request message from the ASN-GW 40, and includes information related to the communication load status (control message communication amount and total communication amount in the uplink and downlink directions) in the load information acquisition request response message. To the ASN-GW 40 (step S202).

  The load status acquisition and management unit 402 determines the communication amount [Mbps] and control shown in FIG. 3 from the information received in step S202 and the control message communication amount and total communication amount of each radio base station in the uplink and downlink directions. When a message loss rate [%] or the like is calculated and a comparison process is performed to determine whether there is a problem with the control message loss rate or the like, and there is a problem (for example, when a loss occurs above a threshold), the transmission data amount control unit 406 A transmission data amount control request message is transmitted to (step S203).

  In response to the notification of the transmission data amount control request message, the transmission data amount control unit 406 transmits a service level information request message to the service level management unit 404 in order to update the service level information for each user. The management unit 404 includes the latest service level information in the service level information request response message and notifies the transmission data amount control unit 406 (step S204).

  The transmission data amount control unit 406 determines an uplink / downlink traffic amount upper limit in units of radio base stations to be managed based on the notified communication load information and information that can be acquired by itself, and sets the determined communication amount. On the other hand, the distribution of the communication amount in units of users is determined based on the user level information (information on the terminals in the area) acquired in step S204. Thereafter, the transmission data amount control unit 406 appropriately determines the amount of traffic in the uplink / downlink direction for each user, and the amount of communication in the downlink direction for each user is determined according to the determination items (step S205). ). Along with this determination process, the data flow rate assigned to each radio base station is not divided equally among the user terminal groups belonging to that radio base station, but to each user terminal based on the service level assigned to each user terminal. Data flow control can be performed under the control of the gateway device.

  The transmission data amount control unit 406 notifies the transmission data amount control unit 103 in each radio base station as a reference for performing data flow control for individual user terminals, such as an uplink transmission data amount control instruction message. Transmit (step S206). The transmission data amount control unit 103 receives the uplink transmission data amount control instruction message and the like, and performs data flow control such as narrowing of the uplink communication amount for each user terminal based on the received information (step S207). ).

In this way, by operating the WiMAX system, it is possible to perform data flow rate control corresponding to the user level for each user terminal.
More specifically, the effects are as follows. In the base station and the ASN-GW, it is possible to monitor the communication load status and automatically control the communication amount, and it is possible to protect control messages that affect the system regardless of the line infrastructure band. Moreover, the burden on the traffic control such as protection of control messages and the maintenance cost can be reduced on the system operator side.

  By introducing the concept of service level for each user and differentiating it, the bandwidth of each user is not reduced uniformly by controlling the amount of traffic. The feature is that it is possible to maintain the satisfaction level without giving the value.

  In addition, since bandwidth control is not required for routers and switches installed in R6 lines and the like, system construction costs can also be reduced.

  In the above embodiment, when load information is collected for each radio base station, the ASN-GW 40 is regularly implemented in step S201. However, the number of radio base stations under the control of the ASN-GW 40 increases. When it comes, regular collection can be a burden on the R6 line. Therefore, on the wireless base station side, when the traffic volume or the loss status of the control message falls below a certain threshold, a data flow control start request for notifying the ASN-GW 40 of the load status is transmitted to the ASN-GW 40 in an event driven format. You may do it. Upon receiving the request, the ASN-GW 40 starts the same processing operation as described above, and transmits a notification as a reference for performing data flow rate control for each user terminal based on each service level to the radio base station side. In this way, it is possible to obtain the effect of reducing the load on the R6 line by performing load information collection as necessary.

  In addition, when the ASN-GW 40 performs data flow control to each user terminal and the bandwidth amount that can be allocated to one radio base station is insufficient, the ASN-GW 40 performs QoS control on the user terminal at the lower service level. The base station may be notified of the control to shift from to the best effort control.

  In addition, when the ASN-GW 40 detects a shortage of bandwidth in the backbone line, the ASN-GW 40 sends the radio base station group to each radio base station based on the acquired communication load information for each radio base station. When determining the data flow rate control, the data flow rate control to each radio base station is determined so as to satisfy each service level of the user terminal group belonging to each radio base station, and each user terminal The data flow rate control to the may be determined. That is, the communication amount is distributed so as not to cause congestion on the backbone line, and the user quality is autonomously improved.

  In addition, when the ASN-GW 40 determines the data flow rate control for each user terminal based on the service level, the ASN-GW 40 hands over the user terminal having a predetermined quality lower than the individual service level to another radio base station. You may make it send a handover execution notification to a base station and a corresponding user terminal so that it may process. At this time, if necessary, additional location information is collected from the user terminals, and the destination base station and the number of user terminals to be handed over are determined by referring to the collected additional information and the area information of each base station. It is good to do. Also, by switching to a user terminal that is below a predetermined quality with respect to the service level, a user terminal with a large amount of traffic or a user terminal with a higher service level is handed over to another radio base station with sufficient capacity, You may control so that a user's service level may be satisfied.

  As described above, the gateway device identifies the portion of the network line that is tight, and appropriately controls the data flow rate in the access network by corresponding the problem to the service level of the user terminal. In addition to preventing congestion at the network device, the delay and drop are suppressed. The network line to be referred to at this time is desirably divided around the gateway device and each node as in the R6 line and the backbone line exemplified in the WiMAX system. Note that the data flow control in the access network is not limited to the example described above at the entrance side of the circuit to be protected, but the gateway device and the radio base station need to protect the tight network circuit. Accordingly, the various devices constituting the network may be adapted to each communication method. Further, in addition to the separation, the communication loss amount between the individual user terminals and the information processing apparatus that is the opposite destination may be used as a multiplication rate.

  As described above, according to the access network system to which the present invention is applied, the flow control for each user connected to the wireless base station is performed together with the flow control for each wireless base station connected to the gateway device. It can be done properly.

  Similarly, according to the gateway device to which the present invention is applied, while conforming to the communication standard of the existing communication network, the user connected under the radio base station together with the flow control for each radio base station connected thereunder Each flow rate control is possible.

  In other words, by dynamically controlling the communication volume of each base station by the gateway device, it is possible to protect control messages and the like autonomously as an access network, reducing the impact on the services provided to the user. obtain. In addition, in order to prevent a decrease in user satisfaction due to the restriction of the traffic volume, a mechanism is provided that can add a priority to the traffic volume limitation of each user corresponding to the service level for each user.

  The above effect can be realized by a minimum change to the existing network equipment in addition to the configuration of the gateway device. Further, the effect is particularly increased in a system such as a WiMAX system in which actual data and control messages are handled in the same manner. It also works effectively when used in combination with other existing technology QoS control.

  It should be noted that the specific configuration of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and changes within a range not departing from the gist of the present invention are included in the present invention.

In addition, a part or all of the above-described embodiments can be described as follows. Note that the following supplementary notes do not limit the present invention.
[Appendix 1]
One or more radio base stations that collect communication load status and can limit the usable bandwidth for each connected user terminal;
Obtain at least each communication load information from the wireless base station group under management,
Based on the acquired communication load information, for the radio base station group, to determine the data flow control to each radio base station,
Data flow control to each user terminal based on the service level assigned to each user terminal without dividing the data flow assigned to each radio base station equally to the user terminal group belonging to the radio base station Determine the access network gateway, and
An access network system comprising:

[Appendix 2]
The service level assigned to each user terminal is managed by an authentication server that performs authentication,
The access network system according to the above supplementary note, wherein the access network gateway acquires a service level of each user terminal together with authentication of each user terminal from the authentication server.

[Appendix 3]
The access network gateway acquires each communication load information in response to a request from the radio base station group under management, either periodically or from the radio base station group under management. An access network system as described in the above supplementary note.

[Appendix 4]
4. The access network system according to claim 3, wherein the data flow rate control is performed by an access network gateway and a radio base station.

[Appendix 5]
The access network system according to the above supplementary note, wherein an access accept packet is used for delivery of service levels of individual user terminals between the authentication server and the access network gateway.

[Appendix 6]
The access network gateway is
When performing data flow control to each user terminal, if the amount of bandwidth that can be allocated to one radio base station is insufficient, the user terminal of the service level corresponding to the lower level is shifted from QoS control to best effort control. An access network system as described in the above supplementary note.

[Appendix 7]
The access network gateway is
When determining a data flow control to each of the radio base stations for the radio base station group based on the acquired communication load information for each radio base station when a bandwidth shortage on a backbone line is detected In addition, data flow control to each of the radio base stations is determined so as to satisfy each service level of the user terminal group belonging to each radio base station, and data flow control to each user terminal is performed. The access network system according to the above supplementary note, wherein the access network system is determined.

[Appendix 8]
The access network gateway is
When determining data flow control to individual user terminals based on the service level, a user terminal having a predetermined quality lower than the individual service level is handed over to another radio base station. The access network system as described in the above supplementary note.

[Appendix 9]
Load information acquisition management means for collecting at least communication load information from one or a plurality of radio base station groups that collect communication load status and can limit the usable bandwidth for each connected user terminal;
Service level management means for managing service levels assigned to individual user terminals;
Based on the acquired communication load information, the data flow control to each of the wireless base stations is determined for the wireless base station group, and the data flow allocated to each of the wireless base stations is determined based on the wireless base station. Control means for integrally determining the data flow rate control to each user terminal based on the service level assigned to each user terminal without equally dividing the user terminal group belonging to the station. The gateway apparatus characterized by this.

[Appendix 10]
The service level assigned to each user terminal is managed by an authentication server that performs authentication,
The gateway apparatus according to the above supplementary note, wherein the service level management unit acquires the service level of each user terminal together with the authentication of each user terminal from the authentication server.

[Appendix 11]
The load information acquisition management means acquires each communication load information from the radio base station group under management, periodically or in response to a request from the radio base station group under management. A gateway device as described in the above supplementary note.

[Appendix 12]
The gateway apparatus according to the above supplementary note, wherein the control means performs data flow control in a shared manner with a radio base station based on the determined content of data flow control.

[Appendix 13]
The gateway apparatus according to the above supplementary note, wherein an access accept packet is used for delivery of service levels of individual user terminals to and from the authentication server.

[Appendix 14]
When the data flow rate control to each user terminal is performed, the control means performs the best control from the QoS control to the user terminal of the service level corresponding to the lower level when the amount of bandwidth that can be allocated to one radio base station is insufficient. The gateway apparatus according to the above supplementary note, wherein the gateway apparatus is shifted to effort control.

[Appendix 15]
When the control unit detects a shortage of bandwidth in the backbone line, based on the acquired communication load information for each radio base station, the data flow rate to each radio base station for the radio base station group When determining the control, data flow control to each of the radio base stations is determined so as to satisfy each service level of the user terminal group belonging to each radio base station, and to each user terminal The gateway apparatus according to the above supplementary note, wherein the data flow rate control is determined.

[Appendix 16]
The control means performs a handover process for a user terminal having a quality lower than a predetermined level for each service level to another radio base station when determining a data flow rate control for each user terminal based on the service level. The gateway apparatus according to the above supplementary note, characterized in that

[Appendix 17]
The control unit of the information processing device
Means for acquiring at least each communication load information from one or a plurality of radio base station groups capable of collecting a communication load status and restricting a usable bandwidth for each connected user terminal;
Means for managing service levels assigned to individual user terminals;
Based on the acquired communication load information, the data flow control to each of the wireless base stations is determined for the wireless base station group, and the data flow allocated to each of the wireless base stations is determined based on the wireless base station. It is characterized by operating as a means for integrally determining data flow control to each user terminal based on the service level assigned to each user terminal without equally dividing the user terminal group belonging to the station. Program.

[Appendix 18]
The service level assigned to each user terminal is managed by an authentication server that performs authentication,
The program according to the above supplementary note, wherein the control unit is operated so as to acquire a service level of each user terminal from the authentication server together with authentication of each user terminal.

[Appendix 19]
The control unit operates to acquire each communication load information periodically or in response to a request from either the radio base station group under the management from the radio base station group under the management. A program as described in the above supplementary note, wherein the program is executed.

[Appendix 20]
The program according to the above supplementary note, wherein the control unit is operated as means for performing data flow rate control in a shared manner with a radio base station based on the determined data flow rate control content.

[Appendix 21]
The program according to the above supplementary note, wherein the control unit is operated to use an access accept packet for delivery of service levels of individual user terminals to and from the authentication server.

[Appendix 22]
When the control unit performs data flow control to each user terminal, if the amount of bandwidth that can be allocated to one radio base station is insufficient, it is best to perform QoS control on the user terminal at the lower service level. The program according to the above supplementary note, wherein the program is operated so as to shift to the effort control.

[Appendix 23]
When the control unit detects a shortage of bandwidth in the backbone line, based on the acquired communication load information for each radio base station, the data flow rate to each radio base station for the radio base station group When determining the control, data flow control to each of the radio base stations is determined so as to satisfy each service level of the user terminal group belonging to each radio base station, and to each user terminal The program according to the above supplementary note, which is operated so as to determine the data flow rate control.

[Appendix 24]
When the control unit decides data flow control for each user terminal based on the service level, a handover process is performed for a user terminal having a predetermined quality lower than the service level to another radio base station. The program according to the above supplementary note, wherein the program is operated so as to cause

[Appendix 25]
Register service levels assigned to individual user terminals in advance,
The service level is taken into the gateway device at the time of authentication of the individual user terminal,
Get the communication load status of each radio base station,
In the gateway device, based on the acquired communication load information for each radio base station, the flow rate control for each radio base station is determined for the radio base station group, and each radio base station is determined. Determine the data flow control to each user terminal based on the service level assigned to each user terminal without equally dividing the data flow allocated to the station into the user terminal group belonging to the radio base station,
A network quality assuring method characterized in that, based on the determined contents, in each radio base station, a usable bandwidth is limited for each user terminal to be connected.

[Appendix 26]
The service level assigned to each user terminal is managed by an authentication server that performs authentication,
The network quality ensuring method according to the above supplementary note, wherein the service level of each user terminal is acquired from the authentication server together with the authentication of each user terminal.

[Appendix 27]
The above-mentioned supplementary note, wherein the communication load information is acquired from the radio base station group under the management periodically or in response to a request from the radio base station group under the management. Network quality assurance method.

[Appendix 28]
The network quality ensuring method as described in the above supplementary note, wherein the limitation of the usable bandwidth for each user terminal based on the determined content of the data flow control is shared between the radio base station and the gateway device.

[Appendix 29]
The network quality ensuring method according to the above supplementary note, wherein an access accept packet is used for delivery of service levels of individual user terminals between the gateway device and the authentication server.

[Appendix 30]
When performing the data flow control to each user terminal, the gateway device performs the best service control from the QoS control to the user terminal of the service level corresponding to the lower level when the amount of bandwidth that can be allocated to one radio base station is insufficient. The network quality ensuring method according to the above supplementary note, wherein the process is shifted to effort control.

[Appendix 31]
When the gateway device detects a shortage of bandwidth in the backbone line, based on the acquired communication load information for each radio base station, the data flow rate to each radio base station is set for the radio base station group. When determining the control, data flow control to each of the radio base stations is determined so as to satisfy each service level of the user terminal group belonging to each radio base station, and to each user terminal The network quality ensuring method according to the above supplementary note, wherein the data flow rate control is determined.

[Appendix 32]
When determining the data flow rate control for each user terminal based on the service level, the gateway apparatus performs a handover process for a user terminal having a quality lower than a predetermined level for each service level to another radio base station. A network quality securing method according to the above supplementary note, characterized by:

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention is suitable for a gateway device under the control of a radio base station that can limit the usable bandwidth to user terminals that collect and connect load conditions. Moreover, it is suitable for the radio | wireless communications system which cannot add the big change to the existing network equipment.

10-10m base station (BS)
20 R6 line 30 R6 line equipment (router and switch)
40 ASN-GW
50 R3 line equipment (routers and switches)
60 AAA server 70 HA server 80 NSP
101-1mo wireless terminal station (MS, user terminal)

Claims (10)

One or more radio base stations that collect communication load status and can limit the usable bandwidth for each connected user terminal;
Obtain at least each communication load information from the wireless base station group under management,
Based on the acquired communication load information, for the radio base station group, to determine the data flow control to each radio base station,
Data flow control to each user terminal based on the service level assigned to each user terminal without dividing the data flow assigned to each radio base station equally to the user terminal group belonging to the radio base station Determine the access network gateway, and
An access network system comprising: The service level assigned to each user terminal is managed by an authentication server that performs authentication,
The access network system according to claim 1, wherein the access network gateway acquires a service level of each user terminal together with authentication of each user terminal from the authentication server. The access network gateway acquires each communication load information in response to a request from the radio base station group under management, either periodically or from the radio base station group under management. The access network system according to claim 2, wherein: 4. The access network system according to claim 3, wherein the data flow rate control is performed by an access network gateway and a radio base station. The access network gateway is
When performing data flow control to each user terminal, if the amount of bandwidth that can be allocated to one radio base station is insufficient, the user terminal of the service level corresponding to the lower level is shifted from QoS control to best effort control. 4. The access network system according to claim 3, wherein The access network gateway is
When determining a data flow control to each of the radio base stations for the radio base station group based on the acquired communication load information for each radio base station when a bandwidth shortage on a backbone line is detected In addition, data flow control to each of the radio base stations is determined so as to satisfy each service level of the user terminal group belonging to each radio base station, and data flow control to each user terminal is performed. 6. The access network system according to claim 1, wherein the access network system is determined. The access network gateway is
When determining data flow control to individual user terminals based on the service level, a user terminal having a predetermined quality lower than the individual service level is handed over to another radio base station. The access network system according to claim 6. Load information acquisition management means for collecting at least communication load information from one or a plurality of radio base station groups that collect communication load status and can limit the usable bandwidth for each connected user terminal;
Service level management means for managing service levels assigned to individual user terminals;
Based on the acquired communication load information, the data flow control to each of the wireless base stations is determined for the wireless base station group, and the data flow allocated to each of the wireless base stations is determined based on the wireless base station. Control means for integrally determining the data flow rate control to each user terminal based on the service level assigned to each user terminal without equally dividing the user terminal group belonging to the station. The gateway apparatus characterized by this. The control unit of the information processing device
Means for acquiring at least each communication load information from one or a plurality of radio base station groups capable of collecting a communication load status and restricting a usable bandwidth for each connected user terminal;
Means for managing service levels assigned to individual user terminals;
Based on the acquired communication load information, the data flow control to each of the wireless base stations is determined for the wireless base station group, and the data flow allocated to each of the wireless base stations is determined based on the wireless base station. It is characterized by operating as a means for integrally determining data flow control to each user terminal based on the service level assigned to each user terminal without equally dividing the user terminal group belonging to the station. Program. Register service levels assigned to individual user terminals in advance,
The service level is taken into the gateway device at the time of authentication of the individual user terminal,
Get the communication load status of each radio base station,
In the gateway device, based on the acquired communication load information for each radio base station, the flow rate control for each radio base station is determined for the radio base station group, and each radio base station is determined. Determine the data flow control to each user terminal based on the service level assigned to each user terminal without equally dividing the data flow allocated to the station into the user terminal group belonging to the radio base station,
A network quality assuring method characterized in that, based on the determined contents, in each radio base station, a usable bandwidth is limited for each user terminal to be connected.

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