JP2003333635A - Subscriber wireless access system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To deliver multicast data by simple protocols of a VLAN without mounting protocols only for multicast delivery in a subscriber wireless access system. <P>SOLUTION: The subscriber wireless access system is provided with a base station device 11 connected to a network N and a subscriber station device 21 which stores a user under itself and is connected to the base station device 11 by radio, and the base station device and the subscriber station device respectively have management tables 11a and 21a for managing VIDs for multicast corresponding to respective contents, which are set in accordance with delivery requests from the user to a content server 2, and the base station device and the subscriber station device have a bridge function to forward delivered content data on the condition of coincidence between a VID for multicast added to the content and VIDs for multicast set in the management tables. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention accommodates a communication terminal device such as a personal computer or a network such as a LAN connecting such a communication terminal device in a subscriber station device wirelessly connected to a base station device. The present invention relates to a subscriber wireless access system, and more particularly, to a bridging technology that realizes a multicast type service for delivering the same content from a content server to a plurality of users.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Subscriber wireless access systems use FWA
Also referred to as (Fixed Wireless Access), the subscriber station device is connected to a LAN that accommodates user terminals, the base station device is connected to a backbone network, and the wireless communication between the subscriber station device and the base station device is established. The user can be connected to the backbone network by communication, and the base station device performs relay control so that different subscriber stations accommodated in the same base station device can also perform communication.

In recent years, for the purpose of maintenance of next-generation information communication boards, for example, nationwide maintenance of subscriber optical fiber networks has been promoted, and such complementary use of optical fiber networks and early promotion of regional network maintenance are promoted. Therefore, there is an increasing demand for subscriber wireless access capable of supplying a high-speed line to a user by using wireless. The subscriber wireless access system is roughly classified into a PP (Point-Point) method by wireless connection between buildings, which is mainly intended for companies, and a plurality of subscriber stations such as general houses other than companies. There is a P-MP (Point-MultiPoint) method mainly for wireless connection.

The P-MP subscriber wireless access system is composed of a plurality of subscriber stations wirelessly connected to one base station, and the backbone network on the side of the base station device has various leased lines such as optical fibers. Is often used. As a service in the P-MP system, I
Similar to provider services using existing telephone networks such as SDN and DSL, most provide connection to the Internet, but in recent years xDS
With the spread of broadband services using broadband access lines such as L, FTTH, FWA, etc., a service for multicast distribution (broadcast distribution to specific user groups) of large-capacity content such as moving images over an IP network Expectations are coming.

Conventionally, when multicasting a large amount of data such as a moving image, the IGMP (Internet G
It uses a general-purpose protocol such as roup Management Protocol (RFC1112) used between client and router. However, in order to enable a multicast distribution service using a general-purpose protocol such as IGMP,
Dedicated software such as an IGMP client for requesting the joining / leaving of the multicast group from the subscriber side terminal is required, and a routing function such as IGMP is required for the base station apparatus and the subscriber station apparatus. There is a problem that the system configuration and functions are complicated and the network operation by the communication carrier is complicated.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional circumstances, and is based on a VLAN (virtual LAN) in a subscriber wireless access system without implementing a multicast-dedicated protocol such as IGMP. The purpose is to realize multicast data distribution by a simple protocol. That is, according to the present invention, it is possible to realize a multicast distribution service such as a moving image in a subscriber wireless access system with a simple configuration mainly specialized in the second layer (data link layer) of the OSI reference model. . Further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is a subscriber provided with a base station device connected to a backbone network and a subscriber station device that accommodates a user thereunder and is wirelessly connected to the base station device. This is a wireless access system, and the base station device and the subscriber station device each manage a management table that manages an identifier corresponding to each content set in response to a distribution request from the user to the content held in the content server. The base station device has a bridge function of forwarding the content data distributed from the backbone network to a wireless cell under the condition that the identifier added to the content matches the identifier set in the management table. The subscriber station device stores the content data distributed from the base station device in the context. It has a bridge function for forwarding to the subordinate users to match the conditions of the additional identifier with the identifier set in the management table in Tsu. Therefore, the same identifier is assigned to the same content for which distribution requests have been made by a plurality of users, and in the base station device and the subscriber station device, a bridge process based on the identifier is performed, and by such a simple process, The same content is broadcasted to a plurality of users (multicast groups) who have made a delivery request.

[0008] In a preferred mode of the subscriber wireless access system according to the present invention, content distribution to users is under the control of a network operation center (NOC) connected to a base station device via a backbone network. The network operation center has a web server and a content server. The web server accepts a distribution request from a user to the content and manages an identifier corresponding to the user and each requested content. Then, in response to an instruction from the web server, the content server adds the corresponding content data to the backbone network side and distributes it to the backbone network side, and manages the identifier corresponding to each user and each requested content. The setting management of such an identifier may be set and managed by the operator in response to a request from the user such as a telephone. However, if the above is done, the setting and management of the multicast group can be dynamically and automatically performed by the user's web operation. Can be done on a regular basis.

As a preferred mode of the subscriber wireless access system according to the present invention, when the network operation center receives a content distribution request from a user by a web server, the network operation center performs a SNMP operation to a base to which the user belongs. It has a function of setting an identifier corresponding to the content in a management table (that is, MIB) of the station device and the subscriber station device. Such identifier setting (that is, participation of a certain user in a multicast group) in the management table of the base station apparatus and the subscriber station apparatus can be performed by other methods such as setting using a downlink carrier. But SNM
According to the P operation, it can be surely performed under the control of the network operation center.

Further, as a preferable mode of the subscriber wireless access system according to the present invention, the network operation center receives an SNMP request for content distribution from the user, and when the network operation center receives SNMP from the user.
The management table (that is, MIB) of the base station apparatus and the subscriber station apparatus to which the user belongs by the operation.
Has a function of deleting the identifier corresponding to the content. Such deletion of an identifier from the management table of the base station apparatus and the subscriber station apparatus (that is, leaving a user from the multicast group) may be performed by another method such as setting using a downlink carrier. However, the SNMP operation can be surely performed under the control of the network operation center.

Further, the present invention is a base station device which constitutes a subscriber wireless access system, and an identifier corresponding to each content set in response to a distribution request from a user for content stored in a content server. Has a management table for managing the content data distributed from the backbone network and wirelessly forwards the content data distributed from the backbone network to the subordinate subscriber station device under the condition that the identifier added to the content matches the identifier set in the management table. It has a bridge function. Therefore, the subscriber wireless access system according to the present invention as described above can be configured.

Further, the present invention is a subscriber station device which constitutes a subscriber wireless access system, and corresponds to each content set in response to a distribution request from a user for content stored in a content server. A bridge that has a management table that manages the identifiers, and forwards the content data distributed from the base station device to users under the condition that the identifiers added to the content and the identifiers set in the management table match. It has a function. Therefore, the subscriber wireless access system according to the present invention as described above can be configured.

The present invention will be described more specifically. For example, a user joins a specific multicast group in response to a distribution request in which specific content is selected by a user, or a specific multicast group in response to a distribution stop request by a user. The user can operate the web page provided by the network operation center (such as a telecommunications company) by the user's operation so that the operation on a general-purpose browser can be performed without the need for multicast-specific client software. It is possible to join and leave a multicast group that supports content such as videos. That is, when joining or leaving a multicast group by a user operation on a web page, an identifier (VLAN-ID: VID) corresponding to the content is stored in the management table (MIB) of the wireless base station device and the subscriber station device to which the user belongs. ) Is set, and the wireless base station device and the subscriber station device are managed by being mapped to a VLAN group corresponding to the multicast group 1: 1.

The multicast data distributed from the server has a different identifier (VLAN) for each content.
-ID: VID) is set and added to form a VLAN group, which is distributed to the base station device via a pack-bone network such as a leased line network, and the base station device matches the VID managed by the base station device. Broadcasting is performed by all subscriber station devices in the own wireless cell, and forwarding is performed to user terminals under the condition that the subscriber station devices match the VIDs managed by these subscriber station devices. Such a simple VLA
The N control procedure enables multiple users to share a wireless band in the same multicast group without implementing a dedicated protocol such as IGMP.
Effective use of the wireless band is realized.

[0015]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The present invention will be specifically described based on Examples. FIG. 1 shows an outline of a subscriber wireless access system according to an example of the present invention. The subscriber wireless access system of this example includes base station devices B1 and B2, subscriber station devices C1 to C5, a network operation center (NOC) C operated by a service provider, and the like.
The backbone network N is provided.

The base station apparatus and the subscriber station apparatus are wirelessly connected to each other with their own antennas. In the illustrated example, the subscriber station apparatuses C1 to C3 and the corporate building (user) installed in an apartment house (user's house). Subscriber station device C4 installed in the building)
Is accommodated in the radio cell of the base station device B1, and the subscriber station device C5 installed in the general user home (user home) is accommodated in the radio cell of the base station device B2. Each subscriber station device is connected to a user terminal such as a PC or a LAN accommodating such a user terminal.

In the illustrated example, the base station devices B1 and B
2 and Network Operations Center (NO
C) C is connected to C by a backbone network N which is a high-speed backbone network (dedicated line network). The backbone network is an ATM leased line network or a wide area LA.
N, an optical fiber network, etc. can also be used. Further, in the illustrated example, the network operation center (NOC) C includes a network management system (NMS) C1, a web server C2, and a video server C3 as a content server, and is a system under service management. In addition to services such as operation management and user internet connection, a multicast distribution service of content (video data) to users under management is provided. In this example, a moving image (video data) distribution service is described, but the present invention can also be applied to other types of content distribution such as music and still images.

FIG. 2 shows a subscriber wireless access system according to an example of the present invention, focusing mainly on the configuration necessary for implementing a multicast distribution service. For convenience of description, the configurations shown in FIGS. 2 to 5 are slightly different from the system configuration shown in FIG.
The basic concept of system configuration is the same.

In the illustrated example, the network operation center (NOC) sends a distribution request for video data (contents) or a distribution stop request from a user in addition to an NMS (not shown) for performing an SNMP operation described later. Through a backbone network N, a web server 1 that provides a web page 7 for receiving, a content server 2 that performs distribution processing of corresponding video data according to an instruction from the web server 1, and a target base station device port. A switch (layer 3 switch: L3SW) 3 for transmitting video data, a router 4 and the like are provided.

Further, the NOC is provided with a management table 5 used by the web server 1 and a management table 6 used by the video server 2 and the switch 3. In the management table 5, a user ID for uniquely identifying each user. And a content ID corresponding to each content (that is, a number for identifying the same type of video) is set and managed. In the management table 6, the user ID, the IP address of the user terminal, and the VLAN-ID (VI) corresponding to each content.
D), the port number of the switch 3 is set and managed.

Several base station apparatuses 11 and 12 are connected to such an NOC via a backbone network N, and several subscriber station apparatuses 21 to 25 are wirelessly connected to the radio cells of these base station apparatuses. Housed in a connection. In the illustrated example, three subscriber station devices 2 are subordinate to the base station device 11.
1 to 23 are accommodated, and two subscriber station devices 24 and 25 are accommodated under the base station device 12. Personal computers (PC) 31 to 35 as user terminals are connected under the subscriber station devices 21 to 25, respectively. In the following description, the subscriber station device 21 and the user terminal 31 are collectively referred to as the user A, the subscriber station device 22 and the user terminal 32 are collectively referred to as the user B, the subscriber station device 23 and the user terminal 33, as necessary. Will be collectively referred to as a user C, the subscriber station device 24 and the user terminal 34 will be collectively referred to as a user D, and the subscriber station device 25 and a user terminal 35 will be collectively referred to as a user E. Here, in the illustrated example, one user terminal is connected to each subscriber station device, but a plurality of user terminals may be connected via a LAN or the like.

Next, the user A who uses the subscriber station device 21 accommodated in the base station device 11 browses the web page 7 provided on the network N by the browser of the user terminal 31 to obtain a certain video. The multicast distribution process in the present system will be described by taking as an example the case where a distribution start request for content is requested and then a distribution stop request is requested.

First, when the user A (subscriber station device 21 in this example) makes a contract for service provision of this system,
VLAN-I for accessing the Internet, etc.
D is assigned by the NOC. In addition, this VLA
The N-ID is not used by the user, and is used for the transmission data between the NOC, the base station device, and the subscriber station device.
It is added as g and used for bridging.

In this example, user A has a VLAN at the time of contract.
-Number 100 is assigned as an ID (hereinafter, contract VLAN) (note that user B has contract VLAN = 101,
User C has contract VLAN = 102, user D has contract VLAN = 200, and user E has contract VLAN = 20.
1), each user is an internet provider (ISP)
Each contracted VLAN is used when accessing to. For example, when users A to C access the ISP, as shown in FIG. 3, each Internet access is differently separated by adding a VLAN tag conforming to IEEE802.1q.

More specifically, the downlink data distributed from the ISP to the subscriber station device 21 is given a VLAN tag = 100 at the NOC (layer 3 switch 3), and is passed through the bridging by the network N and the base station device 11. Is received by the subscriber station device 21, and the subscriber station device 21 deletes the VLAN tag from the received data, and the user network interface (UNI) of the user A as a frame without a VLAN tag that is generally used in LAN. Forward to. Further, when the uplink data transmitted from the user A to the ISP is received by the subscriber station device 21 from the UNI of the user A, the subscriber station device 21
Is tagged with the contract VLAN-ID (= 100) set in advance, forwarded to the wireless section, through the bridging of the base station apparatus 11 and the network N,
The VLAN tag is received from the NOC (layer 3 switch 3), and the NOC deletes the VLAN tag from the received data and forwards it to the ISP. For the subscriber station equipment, contract VLA by SNMP operation by the network management system (NMS) of the service provider.
Is preset.

When the user A desires the video content multi-distributed by the service provider (NOC), the user A sets the contract VLAN = 100 on the web page 7 for content selection published by the web server 1. Use to access and select from the browser the content you want to view from the web page 7. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the web server 1 is installed in the NOC, but this web server 1 may be installed on the Internet.

Here, the user A has a content ID = 10.
When the content is requested to be distributed by the above selection operation, the web server 1 sets the user ID of the user A and the content ID of the requested content in the management table 5. Note that the content I
D = 20 content, user C has content ID =
The same content as the user A of 10 and the same content of the content ID = 30 are distributed to the users D and E, respectively, and are set in the management table 5.

When there is a content distribution request from the user A in this way, the web server 1 makes the bid server 2
In response, the content having the content ID = 10 is controlled to be distributed to the user A. Here, as shown in FIG. 2, the user ID and the IP address of the user terminal are preset and managed in the management table 6. That is, the web server 1 sends the content server 10 a content ID = 10 so that the content having the content ID = 10 is delivered to the user A (IP address: 10.1.10.1).
The VLAN-ID = 1 corresponding to the content of D = 10 is assigned, and the content is controlled to be delivered to the port on the router 4 side. The router 4 routes the content data to the port on the switch 3 side, and the switch 3 delivers the content data as a multicast frame to the port P0 for the base station device 11 to which the user A belongs.

Here, in the management table 6, the same VLAN-ID = 1 and the switch port number = P0 are set for the user C who is accommodated in the same base station apparatus 11 and receives the same contents, and the same. For the user B who is accommodated in the base station device 11 and receives the different contents having the contents ID = 20, the VLAN-ID = 2 and the switch port number = P corresponding to the contents.
For users D and E who are set to 0 and are accommodated in different base station devices 12 and are receiving different contents with content ID = 30, the V corresponding to the contents is received.
LAN-ID = 3 and switch port number = P1 for the base station apparatus 12 are set.

When a distribution request for the content (content ID = 10) by the user A is generated, the web server 1 as the NOC performs the above-mentioned processing and the management provided in the base station apparatus 11 as shown in FIG. Table (MIB: Management Information Base)
SNMP (Simple Network Monitoring Protoc
ol) operation, the VLAN corresponding to the content in association with the subscriber station number for identifying the subscriber station device.
-Set the ID as the downlink VLAN-ID. That is,
The VLAN-ID = 1 corresponding to the subscriber station device A that requested the distribution of the content ID = 10 is the content I.
The VLAN-ID = 2 corresponding to the subscriber station device B that requested D = 20 for distribution, and the same VLAN-ID = 1 corresponding to the subscriber station device C that requested distribution of the same content ID = 10 as the user A. Is set as the downlink VLAN-ID for multicast. Note that contract VLANs used for normal data transmission other than such multicast distribution are also set by the SNMP operation at the time of contract as described above, and these contract VLANs are used for normal uplink / downlink data transmission including distribution requests. Used.

Further, in the management table (MIB) provided in the subscriber station device, the same applies to the downlink radio carrier.
A downlink VLAN-ID for multicast is set.
For example, in the management table 21a of the subscriber station device 21 that requested distribution of the content ID = 10, the corresponding V
LAN-ID = 1 is downlink VLAN-I for multicast
It is set as D. Note that contract VLANs used for normal data transmission other than such multicast distribution are also set by the SNMP operation at the time of contract, and these contract VLANs include upstream / downstream including distribution requests.
Used for normal downlink data transmission. Here, in this example, the downlink VLAN-ID for multicast is set by the downlink wireless carrier in the management table of the subscriber station device, but it may be set directly by the SNMP operation from the NOC.

Therefore, in response to the distribution request from the user A, the multicast VLAN-ID corresponding to the requested content is stored in the management tables 6 and 11.
a, 21a, and these VLA for multicast
The content from the video server 2 is distributed to the request source user using the N-ID. That is, when the base station apparatus 11 receives the content data to which the VLAN-ID = 1 is added from the switch 3, the management table 11
Content data is broadcast in the wireless cell of its own station on condition that it matches the multicast VLAN-ID set in a.

When the subscriber station device receives a multicast frame from the wireless section, the multicast VLAN added to the multicast frame is received.
-Multicast V set in ID and management table
The content data from which the VLAN tag has been deleted is forwarded to the UNI (user terminal) on condition that the LAN-ID matches. That is, when the subscriber station device 21 receives a multicast frame from the wireless section, the multicast VLAN-ID = 1 and the management table 2
VLAN-ID = 1 for multicast set to 1a
Is confirmed, the VLAN tag is deleted, the content data is forwarded to the UNI (user terminal), and the same content (=
Like the user C who is viewing 10), the user A can start viewing the content.

On the other hand, when the user stops viewing the content (when leaving the content), the distribution stop request for the content is requested by accessing the web server 1 using the contract VLAN. That is, user A has contract VLA
The web server 1 is accessed using N = 100, and a distribution stop request for the content (content ID = 10) being viewed on the web page 7 is requested. In response, the web server 1 tells the video server 2
The user A is instructed to stop the distribution of the content (content ID = 10). Then, the video server 2 stops the output of the content to the router 4 when there is no other user other than the user A who is viewing the content, but does not output the content to the router 4. If there is a user, the multicast VLAN-ID = 1 of the user who has made the cancellation request is deleted, and while distribution to other users is continued, distribution to the cancellation request source user is canceled.

In this example, when the user A makes a request to cancel the distribution of the content (content ID = 10), there is another user C who is watching the same content, so the web server 1 selects the user A in the management table 6. The corresponding multicast VLAN-ID = 1 is deleted, and the multicast VLAN-ID = 1 in the management table 11a of the base station apparatus 11 (and the management table 21a of the subscriber station apparatus 21) to which the user A belongs is SNMP-operated. To delete. Therefore, even if the multicast data including the multicast VLAN-ID = 1 is distributed from the base station device 11, the user C is forwarded, but the user A is not forwarded, and the viewing is stopped. It

[0036]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Content data delivered to the base station device and the subscriber station device by including a management table for managing an identifier corresponding to each content set in response to a delivery request from the user in the base station device and the subscriber station device. Has a bridging function that performs forwarding on the condition that the identifier added to the content matches the identifier set in the management table. Therefore, a multicast dedicated protocol such as IGMP is implemented in the subscriber wireless access system. Without this, multicast data distribution can be realized by a simple protocol such as VLAN (virtual LAN). That is, a multicast distribution service such as a moving image in the subscriber wireless access system can be realized with a simple configuration mainly specialized for the second layer (data link layer) of the OSI reference model.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a subscriber wireless access system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a subscriber wireless access system for implementing a multicast service according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of bridging based on a contract VLAN.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of multicast distribution.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a setting example of a multicast identifier of a base station device and a subscriber station device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1: Web server, 2: Video server (content server), 11, 12: Base station device, 21-25: Subscriber station device, 31-35: User terminal, 11a, 21
a: management table (MIB), C: NOC, N: backbone network,

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Hiroyuki Matsumoto             Soni, 6-735 Kitashinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo             -Inside the corporation (72) Inventor Naoya Matsui             Soni, 6-735 Kitashinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo             -Inside the corporation (72) Inventor Satoshi Hashimoto             Soni, 6-735 Kitashinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo             -Inside the corporation (72) Inventor Yasuhiro Yamada             Soni, 6-735 Kitashinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo             -Inside the corporation F term (reference) 5K067 AA42 BB21 EE10 EE12 HH22                       HH23 HH24

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A subscriber radio access system comprising: a base station device connected to a backbone network; and a subscriber station device accommodating a user thereunder and wirelessly connected to the base station device. Each of the subscriber station device and the subscriber station device has a management table that manages an identifier corresponding to each content set in response to a distribution request from the user to the content held in the content server, and the base station device, The content data distributed from the backbone network has a bridge function of forwarding to the wireless cell under the condition on condition that the identifier added to the content and the identifier set in the management table match, the subscriber station device is The content data distributed from the base station device is an identifier added to the content. And a subscriber wireless access system having a bridging function for forwarding to a user under the condition on condition that the identifiers set in the management table match. 2. The subscriber wireless access system according to claim 1, wherein content distribution to a user is performed under the control of a network operation center connected to a base station device via a backbone network. The operation center has a web server and a content server, the web server accepts a distribution request from a user to the content, manages an identifier corresponding to each user and the requested content, and the content server Subscriber wireless access characterized in that corresponding content data is added to an identifier and distributed to the backbone network side in accordance with an instruction from the web server, and the identifier corresponding to each user and each requested content is managed. system. 3. The subscriber wireless access system according to claim 2, wherein, when the network operation center receives a content distribution request from the user by the web server, the network operation center performs the SNMP operation, and the base station device to which the user belongs and A subscriber wireless access system having a function of setting an identifier corresponding to the content in a management table of the subscriber station device. 4. The subscriber wireless access system according to claim 2, wherein when the network operation center accepts the content distribution withdrawal request from the user by the web server, the network operation center determines that the user is A subscriber wireless access system having a function of deleting an identifier corresponding to the content from a management table of a base station apparatus and a subscriber station apparatus to which the content belongs. 5. A base station device constituting a subscriber wireless access system, which manages an identifier corresponding to each content set in response to a distribution request from a user for content stored in a content server. A bridge function that has a management table and wirelessly forwards the content data distributed from the backbone network to the subscribing subscriber station devices under the condition that the identifier added to the content matches the identifier set in the management table. A base station device comprising: 6. A subscriber station device constituting a subscriber wireless access system, wherein an identifier corresponding to each content set in response to a distribution request from a user for content stored in a content server is managed. It has a management table that controls the content data distributed from the base station device, and has a bridge function that forwards the content data to the subordinate users on condition that the identifier added to the content matches the identifier set in the management table. A subscriber station device characterized in that