JP5434866B2 - Streaming rate control method, information processing apparatus, and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a streaming rate control method, an information processing apparatus, and a program.

  Currently, third generation mobile communication services using W-CDMA (Wideband-Code Division Multiple Access) or CDMA2000 are being provided as mobile communication systems including mobile station devices such as mobile phones. On the other hand, the Long Term Evolution (LTE) system is being studied as a 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) that enables higher speed communication.

  The UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications) system is a European third generation mobile communication system that can be selected from both W-CDMA and TD-CDMA (Time Division-Code Division Multiple Access) systems. is there.

  When a mobile terminal moves between these different mobile communication systems (InterRAT-HO: Inter Radio Access Technology-Handover), if the corresponding mobile terminal is receiving streaming data, the mobile terminal is moved to the first mobile communication system side. A technique for transferring buffered data to a mobile terminal that has moved to the second mobile communication system has been studied.

  On the other hand, mobile terminals are downsized notebook PCs, mobile phones and other advanced mobile terminals, smartphones that integrate mobile phones and personal data assistants (PDAs), and iPad (registered trademark). Information processing devices have also appeared.

  Further, there are the following prior art documents relating to control for smoothly distributing data when switching between wireless systems triggered by detection of quality degradation of the wireless system in a mobile communication system.

3GPP TS25.346 v810, Internet <URL: http: //www.3gpp.org/ftp/Specs/html-info/25346.htm> 3GPP TS25.346 v810, Internet <URL: http: //www.3gpp.org/ftp/Specs/html-info/25346.htm> 3GPP TS25.346 v810, Internet <URL: http: //www.3gpp.org/ftp/Specs/html-info/25346.htm>

JP 2007-274016 A JP 2008-166871 A

  However, the background art described above has the following problems.

  In two different types of mobile communication system environments (for example, LTE system and UMTS system), the line speed is different. Therefore, when moving (InterRAT-HO) from the LTE system to the UMTS system, the same before and after the movement. It is difficult to view streaming data with the same quality at the bit rate.

  Specifically, the screen size is often changed or the quality of the image quality is changed.

  The present invention allows information processing devices (including mobile terminals) to move between different networks while viewing streaming data in two different types of mobile communication system environments (for example, environments in which LTE networks and UMTS networks are mixed). For example, in the case of LTE network → UMTS network → LTE network or UMTS network → LTE network → UMTS network), an object is to minimize the number of times of switching images and to perform seamless switching.

  One aspect of a method for solving the above problem is that streaming of an information processing apparatus capable of selectively using a first transmission service and a second transmission service having a transmission speed lower than that of the first transmission service. A rate control method, receiving streaming data that is data streamed using the first transmission service or the second transmission service, storing the received streaming data in a buffer, A storage amount indicating the capacity of data stored in the buffer is acquired, and when the storage amount is below the first threshold in the state where the first transmission service is used, the storage amount is stored in the buffer. The streaming data playback speed is suppressed to a bit rate lower than the transmission speed of the first transmission service, and the accumulated amount exceeds the first threshold. In the state of using the second transmission service, if the amount of storage exceeds the second threshold value indicating a data capacity lower than the first threshold value, the buffer is released. The reproduction speed of the stored streaming data is kept at the bit rate equivalent to the transmission rate when the first transmission service is used, and when it is lower, the bit rate is equivalent to the transmission rate of the second transmission service.

  According to one aspect of the method, when the information processing apparatus selectively uses two types of transmission services having different transmission rates and starts streaming, the data is received in advance and stored in a buffer. An information processing apparatus that enables stable streaming reproduction can be provided.

  The apparatus is an information processing apparatus capable of selectively using a first transmission service and a second transmission service having a transmission rate lower than that of the first transmission service, wherein the first transmission service or the first transmission service A data receiving unit that receives streaming data that is data streamed using the second transmission service, a data storage unit that stores the received streaming data in a buffer, and data that is stored in the buffer In the state of using the first transmission service and the storage amount acquisition unit that acquires the storage amount indicating the capacity of the streaming data stored in the buffer when the storage amount is lower than the first threshold If the playback speed is suppressed to a bit rate lower than the transmission speed of the first transmission service and the accumulated amount exceeds the first threshold, When the storage amount exceeds a second threshold value indicating a data capacity lower than the first threshold value in a state where the first playback speed control unit that releases the suppression and the second transmission service is used. Continues the bit rate equivalent to the transmission rate when the first transmission service is used and the bit rate equivalent to the transmission rate of the second transmission service if the reproduction rate of the streaming data stored in the buffer is lower A second playback speed control unit.

  According to this apparatus, when the information processing apparatus selectively uses two types of transmission services having different transmission speeds and starts streaming, the data is received in advance and stored in a buffer. It is possible to provide an information processing apparatus that can perform streaming playback.

  As described above, according to the disclosed technology, even if the handover to another network is repeated, the line speed difference between the first mobile communication system (for example, LTE system) and the second mobile communication system (for example, UMTS system) Streaming playback with a constant quality is possible with minimal image switching.

1 is a configuration diagram of a mobile communication network targeted by the present invention. FIG. It is explanatory drawing (Example 1) which shows the movement path | route of the mobile terminal by this invention. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram (Example 1) of streaming data distribution according to the movement route of the mobile terminal shown in FIG. 2. It is explanatory drawing (Example 2) which shows the movement path | route of the mobile terminal by this invention. It is explanatory drawing (Example 2) of the streaming data delivery according to the movement path | route of the mobile terminal shown in FIG. It is a functional block diagram of the mobile terminal in one Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart (the 1) of the accumulation buffer data amount check process at the time of the handover by this invention. It is a flowchart (the 2) of the accumulation buffer data amount check process at the time of the handover by this invention. It is a located area information management table in one Embodiment of this invention. It is a buffer check timer table in one embodiment of the present invention. It is a buffer threshold value table in one Embodiment of this invention. It is a processing flow (the 1) of the visited network monitoring part in one Embodiment of this invention. It is a processing flow (the 2) of the visited network monitoring part in one Embodiment of this invention.

  FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a mobile communication network targeted by the present invention. The Long Term Evolution (LTE) system includes an access gateway (aGW: access GateWay) 3 and an eNodeB (eNodeB) 4. The UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications) system includes a SGSN (Serving GPRS Support Node) 6, a radio network controller (RNC) 7, and a node B (NodeB) 8.

  The eNodeB 4 that controls the LTE network is a base station apparatus of the LTE system, and the NodeB 8 that controls UMTS is a base station apparatus of the UMTS system.

  An LTE network 5 having an LTE system and a UMTS network 9 having a UMTS system are connected via the Internet 1, and the streaming server 2 transmits streaming data to a mobile terminal (UE: User Equipment) 10 via the Internet 1. Supply.

  Streaming playback is not performed immediately after receiving streaming data, but a certain amount of data is stored in a buffer in advance so that the stream will not stop due to traffic disturbances, etc., and playback from that buffer is performed. Keeps the quality.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram (Example 1) showing a movement route of a mobile terminal according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the LTE networks 5 ₁ and 5 ₂ and the UMTS network 9 which are _two different mobile communication networks exist together.

First, the LTE network 5 _1, 5 ₂ in the migration section (outer dashed circle in FIG. 2) is provided, the mobile terminal 10 ₁ to the interval start applying below technologies when moving. When the mobile terminal 10 ₁ is not moved even once in this section, no problem.

  The setting of the transition target section (outside the dotted circle in FIG. 2) is determined based on the radio wave condition of the terminal and the optimum value is found according to the network configuration.

Hereinafter, the movements of the mobile terminals 10 ₁ → 10 ₂ → 10 ₃ will be described in order.

First, the mobile terminal 10 ₁ is to move the LTE network 5 _1, via the migration target section is outside of the dotted circle 51 ₁ moves to the center section is an inner dotted circle 51 _1. Furthermore, to move again migrated section penetrates the dotted line 51 _1. This section is also the period and the LTE network _{5 1} and the UMTS network 9 are mixed. Furthermore, the mobile terminal 10 ₁ via the UMTS network 9 shown in the mobile terminal 10 ₂ to move to move the migration target section of the LTE network _{5 2.} This section is also the period and the LTE network _{5 2} and UMTS network 9 are mixed. Further the mobile terminal 10 ₂ is moved to the center section of the LTE network _{5 2} shown in the mobile terminal ₁₀₃ penetrates the dotted 51 ₂ moves. Furthermore, the mobile terminal ₁₀₃ moves out of the LTE network _{5 2} via the migrated section which is outside of the dotted circle 51 _2.

Incidentally, the movement of the mobile terminal 10 ₂ shown by a chain line is moved only UMTS network 9, without passing through the migrated section, further, to move out of the UMTS network 9.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram (Example 1) of streaming data distribution according to the movement route of the mobile terminal shown in FIG. In FIG. 3, the threshold values of the in-terminal buffers 11 ₁ and 11 ₂ are set as follows.

Threshold (low) = LTE system line speed x LTE → viewing guarantee time after moving to UMTS (optional)
Threshold (high) = maximum capacity of buffer in terminal x 0.9 (arbitrary)
A procedure for distributing streaming data according to the movement of the mobile terminal will be described below.

S1. Mobile terminal 10 ₁ starts the streaming LTE network _{5 1,} server 2 streaming distributes data bit rate in line with the line speed of the LTE network _{5 1.}

S2. Mobile terminal 10 ₁ is distributed to be in the buffer 11 ₁ f storage terminal data.

S3. Mobile terminal 10 ₁ shifts when moved to the target section reproduces the accumulated buffer data has been at a lower bit rate than the line speed of the LTE network 5 _1. When the amount of accumulated data exceeds the threshold value (high) buffer, the mobile terminal 10 ₁ reproduces in bit rate in line accumulated buffered data to the line speed of the LTE network 5 _1.

S4. Mobile terminal 10 ₁ is moved (InterRAT-HO).

S5. Data is transferred to the RNC (UMTS) 7 via aGW (access GateWay) _{3 1,} the data transmission path is switched when the end of a transfer.

S6. Mobile terminal 10 _2, when the amount of accumulated data exceeds the threshold value (low), regardless of the line speed of the UMTS network 9, to play on the same playing bits in LTE network 5 ₁ (reproducing bit is not changed) . If the amount of stored data does not exceed the threshold (low), the mode is switched to data distribution and reproduction at a bit rate corresponding to the line speed of the UMTS network 9.

S7. Buffer amount of the mobile terminal 10 ₂ is the threshold remains exceeded (low), when again moved to the LTE network 5 _2, reproduction bit rate is maintained (no change the playback bit rate). When the buffer amount of the terminal in the buffer 11 ₂ in the UMTS network 9 is below the threshold value (low), the mobile terminal 10 ₂ and the streaming server 2 is switched to the data distribution and reproduction of the bit rate in line with the line speed of the UMTS network 9.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram (Example 2) showing the movement route of the mobile terminal according to the present invention. The LTE network 5 and the UMTS networks 9 ₁ and 9 _{2 which} are two different mobile communication networks are mixed.

First, the migration target section (outside the dotted circle 51 in FIG. 4) provided in the LTE network 5, the mobile terminal 10 ₁ to the interval start applying below technologies when moving. When the mobile terminal 10 ₁ is not moved even once in this section, no problem.

Hereinafter, the movement of the mobile terminals 10 ₁ → 10 ₂ → 10 ₃ will be described in order.

First, the mobile terminal 10 ₁ is to move the UMTS network _{9 1,} moves to the mixed section with the LTE network 5. This section is also a transition target section outside the dotted circle 51. Furthermore, via the mixed section of UMTS network ₉ 1, _{9 2} and the LTE network 5, to move to the mixed section of the LTE network 5 and UMTS network _{9 2.} This section is also a transition target section outside the dotted circle 51. Furthermore, the mobile terminal ₁₀₃ moves out only via the UMTS network _{9 2.}

Incidentally, the movement of the mobile terminal 10 ₂ shown by a chain line is moved only LTE network 5, without passing through the migrated section, further, to move out of the LTE network 5.

  FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram (Example 2) of streaming data distribution according to the movement route of the mobile terminal shown in FIG.

S9. Mobile terminal 10 ₁ starts the streaming UMTS network _{9 1,} the streaming server 2 distributes the data bit rate in line with the line speed of the UMTS network _{9 1.}

S10. Mobile terminal 10 ₁ accumulates the distributed data in the terminal buffer 11 _1. Performing reproduction at the bit rate in line with the line speed of the UMTS network _{9 1.}

S11. Mobile terminal 10 ₁ is moved (InterRAT-HO).

  S12. Data is transferred to eNodeB (LTE) 4 via aGW (access GateWay) 3, and when the transfer is completed, the data transmission path is switched.

S13. The streaming server 2 switches to data distribution at a bit rate corresponding to the line speed of the LTE network 5. Mobile terminal 10 _2, regardless of the line speed of the LTE network 5, to play on the same reproduction bit rate and UMTS network _{9 1} (without changing the reproduction bit rate).

S14. When the amount of accumulated data exceeds the threshold value of the buffer (low), the mobile terminal 10 ₂ is switched to the data distribution of the bit rate in line with the line speed of the LTE network 5. In this case, the mobile terminal 10 _2, until it exceeds the buffer threshold (high) is switched to the reproduction at lower bit rate than the line speed of the LTE network. If it exceeds, the mobile terminal 10 ₂ is switched to data distribution and reproduction of the bit rate in line with the line speed of the LTE network 5.

S15. When the buffer amount of the mobile terminal 10 ₂ in the terminal buffer 11 ₂ is kept above the threshold value (low), and again moves to the UMTS network _{9 2,} reproduction bit rate is maintained. When the buffer amount of the mobile terminal ₁₀₃ in the UMTS network _{9 2} is below the threshold (low), the mobile terminal ₁₀₃ and the streaming server 2, the distribution and reproduction of the data of the bit rate in line with the line speed of the UMTS network _{9 2} Switch.

  FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram of a mobile terminal in an embodiment of the present invention. A mobile terminal UE (User Equipment) 10 includes a display operation unit, an application unit 12 (a reproduction bit rate conversion control unit 121, a visited network monitoring unit 122, a timer control unit 123), a buffer 11, and an OS (Operating System). A baseband processing unit having hardware, a protocol processing unit, layer 1 software, and RTOS (Real-Time Operating System). In the present invention, streaming control is performed by the application unit 12 and the buffer 11.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart (part 1) of the accumulated buffer data amount check process at the time of handover according to the present invention. Hereinafter, a check procedure for a buffer check processing method for accumulating streaming data will be described.

  S1. It is determined whether or not the bit rate control flag is ON.

  S2. When the bit rate control flag is ON in S1 described above, the visited network is determined, and it is confirmed that the mobile terminal is located in the LTE network.

  S3. It is determined whether or not the transition zone presence flag is ON.

  S4. When the transition zone presence flag is not ON in S3 described above, the reproduction bit is adapted to the line speed of the LTE network.

  S5. The bit rate control flag in the location information management table is set to OFF.

  S6. If the transition zone presence flag is ON in S3 described above, it is determined whether the InterRAT-HO flag is OFF.

  S7. If the InterRAT-HO flag is not OFF in S3 described above, it is determined whether or not the accumulated buffer data amount exceeds a threshold value (low).

  S8. If the storage buffer data amount exceeds the threshold (low) in S3 described above, the InterRAT-HO flag is turned OFF.

  S9. When the InterRAT-HO flag is OFF in S6 described above, it is determined whether or not the storage buffer data amount is below a threshold value (high).

  S10. If the storage buffer data amount does not fall below the threshold (high) in S9, the playback bit rate is set in accordance with the line speed.

  S11. When the storage buffer data amount falls below the threshold (high) in S9 described above, a reproduction bit rate lower than the line speed is set.

  S12. If the storage buffer data amount does not exceed the threshold (low) in S7, the reproduction bit rate is not changed.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart (part 2) of the accumulated buffer data amount check process at the time of handover according to the present invention. Hereinafter, a check procedure for a buffer check processing method for accumulating streaming data will be described.

  S13. It is determined whether or not the accumulated buffer data amount is below a threshold value (high).

  S14. If the storage buffer data amount is not below the threshold (high) in S15 described above, the reproduction bit rate is set in accordance with the line speed.

  S15. Turn off the bit rate control flag.

  S16. When the storage buffer data amount is below the threshold (high) in S15 described above, the reproduction bit rate is not changed.

  FIG. 9 is a location information management table in one embodiment of the present invention. There are four items in the area information management table, and the contents are as follows.

  (1) The visited network sets the LTE / UMTS network.

  (2) The transition zone presence flag sets whether or not the transition zone is present.

  (3) The InterRAT-HO flag sets whether or not it is immediately after InterRAT-HO.

(4) The bit rate control flag determines whether or not the bit rate monitoring process is activated.
Have

  FIG. 10 is a buffer check / timer table according to the embodiment of the present invention. The buffer check / timer table has two items, and the contents are as follows.

  (1) The buffer check timer specifies an interval for checking the accumulated buffer data amount.

(2) The number of retries designates the number of times to check the accumulated buffer data amount.
Have

  FIG. 11 is a buffer threshold value table according to an embodiment of the present invention. The buffer threshold table has two items, and the contents are as follows.

  (1) The threshold (low) is LTE system line speed × LTE, and is a viewing guarantee time (optional) after UMTS movement.

  (2) The threshold (high) is the maximum capacity of the buffer in the terminal × 0.9 (arbitrary), and is for preventing data destruction (arbitrary).

FIG. 12 is a process flow (part 1) of the visited network monitoring unit according to the embodiment of the present invention. (A) The movement from outside the LTE network transition section to the LTE network transition section is when the mobile terminal has moved from outside the LTE network transition section to the LTE network transition section, and the transition section of the location information management table The location flag is set to ON, and the bit rate control flag is set to ON.
(B) InterRAT-HO (moved from LTE network to UMTS network) is a case where the mobile terminal has moved from the LTE network to the UMTS network, and the visited network in the visited information management table is set to UMTS, and the transition section The location flag is set to OFF and the InterRAT-HO flag is set to ON.

FIG. 13 is a processing flow (part 2) of the visited network monitoring unit according to the embodiment of the present invention. (C) InterRAT-HO (moved from UMTS network to LTE network) is a case where the mobile terminal has moved from the UMTS network to the LTE network, and the visited network in the visited information management table is set to LTE, and the transition section The in-zone flag is set to ON, and the InterRAT-HO flag is set to ON.
(D) The movement outside the LTE network transition section → the movement to the LTE network transition section is a case where the mobile terminal moves from the LTE network transition section outside the LTE network transition section. The in-service flag is set to OFF, and the InterRAT-HO flag is set to OFF.

1 Internet 2 Streaming server 3 aGW
4 eNodeB
5 LTE network 6 SGSN
7 RNC
8 NodeB
9 UMTS network 10 Mobile terminal 11 In-terminal buffer 12 Application unit 121 Playback bit rate conversion control unit 122 Visited network monitoring unit 123 Timer control unit

Claims (5)

A streaming rate control method for an information processing apparatus capable of selectively using a first transmission service and a second transmission service having a transmission speed lower than that of the first transmission service,
Receiving streaming data that is data streamed using the first transmission service or the second transmission service;
Storing the received streaming data in a buffer;
Acquire an accumulation amount indicating the capacity of data accumulated in the buffer;
In the state where the first transmission service is used, when the accumulated amount is lower than the first threshold, the reproduction speed of the streaming data accumulated in the buffer is determined from the transmission speed of the first transmission service. Is suppressed to a low bit rate, and when the accumulated amount exceeds the first threshold, the suppression is canceled,
In the state where the second transmission service is used, when the accumulated amount exceeds a second threshold value indicating a data capacity lower than the first threshold value, the reproduction speed of the streaming data accumulated in the buffer is set. The bit rate equivalent to the transmission rate of the first transmission service is continued, and if it is lower, the bit rate is equivalent to the transmission rate of the second transmission service.
A streaming rate control method characterized by the above.   The first transmission service is a transmission service in which the information processing apparatus is located in a LTE (Long Term Evolution) network, and the second transmission service is a service in which the information processing apparatus is located in a UMTS (Universal Mobile Telr communications) network. The streaming rate control method according to claim 1, wherein the streaming service is a transmission service.   2. The streaming rate control method according to claim 1, wherein the first transmission service has a fixed transition target period before the second transmission service is executed from the first transmission service. An information processing apparatus capable of selectively using a first transmission service and a second transmission service having a transmission speed lower than that of the first transmission service,
A data receiving unit that receives streaming data that is data streamed using the first transmission service or the second transmission service;
A data storage unit for storing the received streaming data in a buffer;
An accumulation amount acquisition unit for acquiring an accumulation amount indicating a capacity of data accumulated in the buffer;
In a state where the first transmission service is used, when the accumulated amount is lower than the first threshold, the reproduction speed of the streaming data accumulated in the buffer is lower than the transmission speed of the first transmission service. A first playback speed control unit that suppresses the suppression when the accumulated amount exceeds a first threshold,
In the state where the second transmission service is used, when the accumulated amount exceeds a second threshold value indicating a data capacity lower than the first threshold value, the reproduction speed of the streaming data accumulated in the buffer is set. A second playback speed control unit that continues the bit rate equivalent to the transmission rate at the time of using the first transmission service, and lowers the bit rate equivalent to the transmission rate of the second transmission service if lower than,
An information processing apparatus. A program executed in an information processing apparatus capable of selectively using a first transmission service and a second transmission service having a transmission speed lower than that of the first transmission service,
A data receiving unit that receives streaming data that is data streamed using the first transmission service or the second transmission service;
A data storage unit for storing the received streaming data in a buffer;
An accumulation amount acquisition unit for acquiring an accumulation amount indicating a capacity of data accumulated in the buffer;
In the state where the first transmission service is used, when the accumulated amount is lower than the first threshold, the reproduction speed of the streaming data accumulated in the buffer is determined from the transmission speed of the first transmission service. And a first playback speed control unit that cancels the suppression when the accumulated amount exceeds a first threshold,
In the state where the second transmission service is used, when the accumulated amount exceeds a second threshold value indicating a data capacity lower than the first threshold value, the reproduction speed of the streaming data accumulated in the buffer is set. A program for operating the information processing apparatus at a bit rate equivalent to the transmission rate of the second transmission service when the bit rate equivalent to the transmission rate at the time of using the first transmission service is continued and below the bit rate.