Communication system, terminal device, and terminal program

Abstract

To avoid a situation in which acquisition of content data is delayed due to congestion in access to a network.SOLUTION: A communications system includes a data input device to which content data is input, and a network device that provides functions for realizing a mobile network, in which the data input device includes a data control unit that uses the input content data to generate MBS data corresponding to a distribution form of a multicast broadcast service (MBS), and a distribution control unit that controls the distribution of the MBS data, and the network device distributes the MBS data to users by multicast or broadcast according to the distribution control.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a communication system, a terminal device, and a terminal program.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a technique for providing a Multicast Broadcast Service (MBS) from a base station to a user device has been disclosed.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in the above prior art, due to the tight access to the network, it is not always possible to avoid the situation where the acquisition of content data is delayed.

[0005] For example, in the above prior art, it is disclosed that a first base station receives from a core network device a notification including a first identifier for identifying a second base station and a second identifier for identifying an MBS session provided by the second base station by multicast or broadcast.

[0006] That is, the configuration proposed in the above prior art is a configuration for providing a service improved over the multicast broadcast service of LTE (Long Term Evolution) in introducing the multicast broadcast service into the fifth generation (5G) system. From this, in the above prior art, for example, in terms of avoiding a situation where a delay occurs in the output of content data by an application installed in a user device due to concentrated access to the network, no consideration is given.

[0007] Therefore, the present invention proposes a communication system, a terminal device, and a terminal program capable of avoiding a situation where the acquisition of content data is delayed due to tight access to the network.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0008] In order to solve the above problems, a communication system according to one embodiment of the present invention is a communication system including a data submission device to which content data is submitted and a network device that provides a function for realizing a mobile network. The data submission device includes a data control unit that generates MBS data according to the distribution form of the multicast broadcast service (MBS) using the submitted content data, and a distribution control unit that performs distribution control of the MBS data, which is the content data after control. The network device distributes the MBS data to users by multicast or broadcast according to the distribution control.

Effects of the Invention

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to avoid a situation where the acquisition of content data is delayed due to tight access to the network.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010]

Figure 1

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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the present specification and drawings, components having substantially the same functional configuration are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant descriptions are omitted.

[0012] One or more of the embodiments (including examples, modification examples, and application examples) described below can be implemented independently. On the other hand, at least a part of the plurality of embodiments described below may be implemented in appropriate combination with at least a part of other embodiments. These plurality of embodiments may include different novel features. Therefore, these plurality of embodiments can contribute to solving different purposes or problems and can exhibit different effects.

[0013] (Embodiment) [1. Introduction] In recent years, there are various applications for user terminal devices (e.g., smartphones). However, when outputting data through such applications, the terminal device accesses the data distribution system and acquires the data.

[0014] However, for example, in the event of a disaster, etc., an unspecified number of users may use the application at the same timing, and a situation may occur where access is concentrated (i.e., congested) at various points until the terminal device accesses the data distribution system.

[0015] For example, when the application is launched by the user, the terminal device connects to the Internet line through the mobile network (cellular network), accesses the data distribution system via the Internet line, and acquires the data corresponding to the launched application. In such an example, any of the mobile network, the Internet, and the data distribution system can become a congestion point.

[0016] Taking a disaster as an example, immediacy is required in providing information such as homecoming support information, dangerous area information, and evacuation shelter information. However, if access is concentrated at various points as described above, the user may be involved in a situation where, even if the application is launched, it takes time to display the information due to delay, or the information is not displayed at all and real-time information cannot be confirmed.

[0017] Therefore, the proposed technology of the present invention was born from the idea of the inventors who want to eliminate the congestion points so as to suppress access congestion and enable users to quickly acquire information even in an emergency such as the occurrence of a disaster.

[0018] For example, the proposed technology of the present invention generally processes and generates application data, which is usually provided in unicast, into a state suitable for a multicast broadcast service (MBS), and distributes the obtained MBS data to users by multicast or broadcast. Further, in the proposed technology of the present disclosure, a function is provided as one function of MBS that can update and display application data without being affected by congestion even when application data is acquired in advance and access becomes congested. According to such a proposed technology of the present invention, it becomes possible to realize information distribution that does not depend on access concentration.

[0019] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the proposed technology of the present invention will be described in detail. In this embodiment, an application may be abbreviated as "app AP". Further, in the information processing according to the embodiment, the type of the app AP is not limited, but as an example, a map application that tends to be mainly used during disasters and the like can be mentioned. Further, application data refers to data provided via the app AP. Taking a map application as an example, information that requires real-time provision such as map image information, homecoming support information, dangerous area information, and evacuation shelter information corresponds to this.

[0020] Further, content data refers to the original data provided as application data, and is submitted to a data submission device by an application administrator T. On the other hand, MBS data refers to data generated from content data in accordance with the distribution form of MBS. For example, MBS data refers to data generated so as to be provided by MBS using content data.

[0021] [2. Outline of System Configuration] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of a communication system according to an embodiment. In FIG. 1, a communication system 1 is shown as an example of a communication system according to the embodiment. The information processing according to the embodiment (that is, the proposed technology of the present invention) is realized in the communication system 1.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 1, the communication system 1 includes a network device that provides functions for realizing a mobile network MN, in addition to an administrator device 10, a data distribution device 20, a terminal device 30, and a data submission device 100. With such a configuration, the communication system 1 provides MBS.

[0023] The administrator device 10 is an information processing terminal used by an app administrator T, and may be an edge computer or a cloud computer. The administrator device 10 as an edge computer may be, for example, a smartphone, a wearable device, a tablet terminal, a notebook PC (Personal Computer), a desktop PC, a mobile phone, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), or the like.

[0024] Also, the app administrator T may be a provider (application service provider) of the app AP, and may perform an operation of submitting the original data (i.e., content data) of the app data provided via its own app AP using the administrator device 10.

[0025] The data distribution device 20 acquires content data from the administrator device 10. For example, the administrator device 10 may transmit content data in response to an input operation by the app administrator T, or may automatically transmit content data. In any case, the data distribution device 20 acquires the content data transmitted by the administrator device 10. Further, the data distribution device 20 submits the acquired content data to the data submission device 100.

[0026] Note that the data distribution device 20 may provide a website for accepting an input operation in response to an access from the administrator device 10. Also, the data distribution device 20 may be implemented not as a single device but as a system device with distributed functions.

[0027] The terminal device 30 is an information processing terminal used by the end user U who receives the services of the application AP. For example, it may be a smartphone, a wearable device, a tablet terminal, a notebook PC, a desktop PC, a mobile phone, a PDA, or the like.

[0028] In the terminal device 30, various applications AP that provide various services such as homecoming support information, dangerous area information, and evacuation shelter information are not only installed by the operation of the user U, but also program modules M corresponding to the installed applications AP may be installed.

[0029] The program module M may be generated by the operator who manages and operates the communication system 1 and provided to the application administrator T. As a result, the application administrator T can generate an application AP in which the program module M is incorporated. When the application AP in which the program module M is incorporated is installed in the terminal device 30 by the operation of the user U as described above, the terminal device 30 can have the following functions according to the program module M.

[0030] For example, when the program module M is executed internally in the terminal device 30, the terminal device 30 can have functions such as receiving MBS data and reconstructing the application data actually provided via the application AP from the MBS data. In the process of reconstructing the application data using the MBS data, processes such as checking and restoring the damage of the MBS data and locally storing the restored MBS data as application data that can be output by the application AP are included.

[0031] The data submission device 100 is a central device that performs information processing according to the embodiment. For example, the data submission device 100 accepts the submission of content data. As an example, the data submission device 100 may accept the content data distributed by the data distribution device 20 for submission, or may dynamically access the data distribution device 20 to accept the submission of content data regardless of the distribution of the content data by the data distribution device 20.

[0032] Also, the data submission device 100 performs a data generation process of generating MBS data, which is data suitable for the distribution form of the multicast broadcast service (MBS), using the content data. In the data generation process, for example, the content data is processed or shaped into a state where it can be provided by the MBS. Also, after the content data is processed or shaped by the data generation process, the resulting data is MBS data.

[0033] Also, the data submission device 100 performs distribution control so that the MBS data is distributed to the terminal device 30.

[0034] The network device may be a base station (BS: Base Station) or a device that constitutes a core network (CN: Core Network). Also, although not shown in FIG. 1, the network device may be an entity called an application function.

[0035] The core network CN may be a 5G core network, an EPC (Evolved Packet Core), or a core network of the sixth generation or later. Also, one core network CN shown in FIG. 1 may be composed of a plurality of devices. Also, the core network CN manages the MBS session. For example, the core network CN controls the establishment, update, and release of the MBS session, etc.

[0036] The base station BS forms a cell (the serving cell) and uses this cell to perform wireless communication with the terminal device 30. Also, the base station BS supports the MBS. For example, when the base station BS forming the serving cell supports the MBS, the terminal device 30 can receive MBS data.

[0037] Note that an MBS connection is established between the core network CN and the base station BS. As a result, the base station BS can receive MBS data from the core network CN via the MBS connection.

[0038] Here, as shown in FIG. 1, the data submission device 100 may be incorporated into the mobile network MN. For example, the data submission device 100 may be incorporated into the mobile network MN as a network device. The data submission device 100 transmits the MBS data generated by the data generation process to the base station BS. For example, the data submission device 100 may transmit the MBS data generated by the data generation process to the core network CN, and thereby cause the core network CN to transmit the MBS data to the base station BS.

[0039] Continuing with FIG. 1, an overview of the information processing according to the embodiment will be described. For example, the app administrator T may perform an operation of submitting content data. Then, the administrator device 10 makes a registration request for the content data to the data distribution device 20 in response to the submission operation. Note that the content data may be new data prepared in advance in case of a disaster or the like, or may be update data for updating at any time when a disaster occurs.

[0040] And according to the example of FIG. 1, the data distribution device 20 acquires the content data transmitted together with the registration request from the administrator device 10 (step S11). Further, the data distribution device 20 submits the content data to the data submission device 100 via the Internet IN (step S12).

[0041] When the data submission device 100 receives the submission of content data, it executes a data generation process (step S13) that generates MBS data from the received content data. Details of the data generation process will be described later.

[0042] The MBS data is transmitted to the base station BS via, for example, the core network CN. The base station BS distributes the MBS data to the terminal device 30 by multicast or broadcast (step S14).

[0043] For example, the base station BS distributes the MBS data in accordance with the MBS specifications so that the terminal device 30 that has made a participation request to the MBS session can acquire the MBS data.

[0044] The terminal device 30 executes a reconstruction process of the application data using the MBS data, and causes the output unit to output the reconstructed application data (step S15). For example, the terminal device 30 may display the application data on the display screen or output it from the speaker.

[0045] Here, in the example of FIG. 1, the mobile network MN, the Internet IN, and the data distribution device 20 can become congestion points due to access concentration. However, as described with reference to FIG. 1, in the communication system 1 according to the embodiment, the content data for the application AP is distributed using MBS, which is generally used for video distribution. Therefore, the application administrator T only needs to submit the content data once via the Internet IN, and it is considered that the situation where the access of the application administrator T to the Internet IN and the data distribution device 20 is concentrated is unlikely to occur.

[0046] In the communication system 1 according to the embodiment, since the data input device 100 is installed in the mobile network MN, the MBS data generated by the data input device 100 will be held within the mobile network MN. Therefore, the terminal device 30 does not need to access the data distribution device 20 via the mobile network MN and the Internet IN for data acquisition. Thus, it is considered that the situation where access by an unspecified number of users U concentrates on the mobile network MN, the Internet IN, and the data distribution device 20 is unlikely to occur.

[0047] Furthermore, in the communication system 1 according to the embodiment, regardless of the number of accesses from the terminal device 30, since the MBS data is associated on a one-to-one basis for each type of application AP, the MBS data held within the mobile network MN is only one for each type of application AP. Such a fact is also considered to be a factor that can suppress the concentration of accesses.

[0048] From the above, in the communication system 1 according to the embodiment, it is possible to realize information distribution that does not depend on access concentration.

[0049] 〔3. Specific Example of System Configuration〕 The outline of the communication system 1 was described with reference to FIG. 1. Next, a specific example of the configuration of the communication system 1 will be described with reference to FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a specific example of the configuration of the communication system 1 according to the embodiment.

[0050] The communication system 1 according to the embodiment includes a data distribution device 20 and a terminal device 30. In addition to these devices, the communication system 1 includes a data input device 100 and a base station BS. Note that in FIG. 2, the illustration of the administrator device 10 is omitted.

[0051] The communication system 1 provides a wireless network (mobile network) capable of communicating (e.g., mobile communication) with the user U by the coordinated operation of each wireless communication device (e.g., the data submission device 100 and the base station BS) constituting the communication system 1. The wireless network can be alternatively referred to as a cellular network composed of, for example, a radio access network RAN and a core network CN.

[0052] The devices constituting the wireless network are called network devices. For example, the network device may be a device constituting a radio access network (e.g., a 5G RAN and / or a 4G RAN), or may be a device constituting a core network (a 5G core network and / or a 4G core network). In the example of FIG. 2, for example, the data submission device 100 and / or the base station BS are network devices.

[0053] As shown in FIG. 2, the communication system 1 may include a plurality of data distribution devices 20, terminal devices 30, data submission devices 100, and base stations BS, respectively. In the example of FIG. 2, the communication system 1 includes the data distribution devices 201 and 202 as the data distribution devices 20, and the terminal devices 301 and 302 as the terminal devices 30.

[0054] Further, the communication system includes the data submission devices 1001 and 1002 as the data submission devices 100, and the base stations BS1 and BS2 as the base stations BS.

[0055] The terminal device 30 may be configured to connect to a network using a radio access technology (RAT) such as LTE (Long Term Evolution), NR (New Radio), 6G, Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth (registered trademark). At this time, the terminal device 30 may be configured to be able to use different radio access technologies (radio communication methods). For example, the terminal device 30 may be configured to be able to use NR and Wi-Fi. Also, the terminal device 30 may be configured to be able to use different cellular communication technologies (e.g., LTE, NR, or 6G).

[0056] Note that the wireless network may correspond to at least one of radio access technologies (RAT) such as LTE (Long Term Evolution), NR (New Radio), 6G, etc. LTE, NR, and 6G are a type of cellular communication technology, and communication of the terminal device 30 is enabled by arranging a plurality of areas covered by the base station BS in a cell shape. Note that the radio access method used by the communication system 1 is not limited to LTE, NR, 6G, and may be other radio access methods such as W-CDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access) and cdma2000 (Code Division Multiple Access 2000).

[0057] Also, the base station BS may be a terrestrial station or a non-terrestrial station. The non-terrestrial station may be a satellite station or an aircraft station. If the non-terrestrial station is a satellite station, the wireless network may be a Bent-pipe (Transparent) type mobile satellite communication system.

[0058] 〔4. Configuration of Data Submission Device〕 With reference to FIG. 3, the data input device 100 according to the embodiment will be described. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the data input device 100 according to the embodiment. According to the example of FIG. 3, the data input device 100 includes a communication unit 110, a storage unit 120, and a control unit 130.

[0059] (Regarding the communication unit 110) The communication unit 110 is realized by, for example, a NIC (Network Interface Card) or the like. For example, the communication unit 110 is wirelessly connected to the Internet IN and transmits and receives information to and from the data distribution device 20.

[0060] (Regarding the storage unit 120) The storage unit 120 may be realized by, for example, a semiconductor memory element such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) or a flash memory, or a storage device such as a hard disk or an optical disk. The storage unit 120 may store, for example, a program for causing the data input device 100 to execute the information processing according to the embodiment. Further, the storage unit 120 may also store the input content data and the MBS data generated based on the content data.

[0061] (Regarding the control unit 130) The control unit 130 may be realized by, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), an MPU (Micro Processing Unit), etc., when various programs stored in the storage device inside the data input device 100 are executed with the RAM as a work area.

[0062] Further, the control unit 130 may be realized by an integrated circuit such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) or an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array).

[0063] The control unit 130 may include a reception unit 131, a data control unit 132, and a distribution control unit 133. Note that the internal configuration of the control unit 130 is not limited to the configuration shown in FIG. 3, and may be any other configuration as long as it performs the information processing described later. Also, the connection relationship between the processing units included in the control unit 130 is not limited to the connection relationship shown in FIG. 3, and may be any other connection relationship.

[0064] (Reception Unit 131) The reception unit 131 receives the submission of content data. For example, the reception unit 131 may receive the content data distributed by the data distribution device 20 in response to the submission operation of the user U. Also, the reception unit 131 may dynamically access the data distribution device 20 to acquire the content data.

[0065] (Data Control Unit 132) The data control unit 132 performs a data generation process for generating MBS data. Specifically, the data control unit 132 generates MBS data corresponding to the distribution form of the multicast broadcast service (MBS) using the content data. For example, the data control unit 132 generates MBS data that can be provided by MBS from the content data by performing predetermined control on the content data.

[0066] For example, the data control unit 132 divides the content data into a plurality of data in predetermined units. As a result, the data control unit 132 outputs the data obtained by the division, that is, the data composed of the segment data, to the distribution control unit 133 as MBS data.

[0067] Also, the data control unit 132 assigns to each of the segment data constituting the MBS data, information on the order in the MBS data, identification information for identifying the application corresponding to the segment data among the applications, version information of the segment data, and coded information obtained by coding the segment data.

[0068] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a specific example of data generation processing. FIG. 4 shows a scenario in which MBS data corresponding to app AP1 is generated from content data that is the source of app data of app AP1 (an example of app data provided via app AP).

[0069] As shown in FIG. 4, data control unit 132 divides the content data into n segment data SEs. When the content data has time-series information, data control unit 132 may divide the content data into n segment data SEs according to the time series.

[0070] Also, data control unit 132 assigns header information to each of the segment data SEs obtained by the division. For example, data control unit 132 may assign information on the order in the MBS data to each of the segment data SEs. For example, data control unit 132 may assign information on the order in the MBS data to each of the segment data SEs based on the time-series information that the content data has. FIG. 4 shows an example in which data control unit 132 assigns order “1”, order “2”,..., order “n”, etc. to each of the segment data SEs.

[0071] By thus assigning the order information, terminal device 30 can acquire all of the segment data SEs necessary for reconstructing the app data of app AP1. Also, in the case of multicast or broadcast, terminal device 30 cannot request retransmission of data, but by assigning the order information, for example, even if access is made during the distribution of segment data SE, terminal device 30 can acquire all of the segment data SEs without missing any data.

[0072] In addition, the data control unit 132 assigns identification information for identifying an application corresponding to each segment data SE to the segment data SE. In the example of FIG. 4, the segment data SE will be output as application data of the application AP1. Therefore, the data control unit 132 assigns identification information for identifying the application AP1 to each segment data SE.

[0073] By thus assigning the identification information of the application AP, the terminal device 30 can, for example, avoid acquiring incorrect application data.

[0074] In addition, the data control unit 132 assigns version information indicating the version of the segment data SE to each segment data SE.

[0075] By thus assigning the version information, the terminal device 30 can, for example, determine whether the segment data SE is the latest data, and if it is not the latest data, can acquire the latest segment data SE again.

[0076] In addition, the data control unit 132 assigns code information obtained by encoding the segment data SE to each segment data SE.

[0077] For example, the data control unit 132 may calculate an error correction code from the main body of the segment data SE and assign the calculated correction code to the segment data SE. For example, the data control unit 132 may calculate the hash value of the segment data SE as the error correction code and assign the calculated hash value to the segment data SE. As a result, when the segment data SE is damaged or altered, the terminal device 30 can restore the original segment data SE, and when the segment data SE is missing, the terminal device 30 can acquire the segment data again.

[0078] As another example, the data control unit 132 may calculate an error correction code from the main body of the MBS data composed of segment data, and attach the calculated correction code to the segment data SE. For example, the data control unit 132 may calculate a hash value of the MBS data as the error correction code, and attach the calculated MBS data only to the last segment data SE. The last segment data SE is, for example, the segment data SE with the last order. As a result, when the terminal device 30 has incorrect MBS data (application data) reconfigured by arranging the segment data SE in order information, for example, the original MBS data can be restored.

[0079] Note that the information given by the data control unit 132 as header information is not limited to the above example. For example, the data control unit 132 attaches the size information of the segment data SE to each of the segment data SE.

[0080] (Delivery control unit 133) Returning to FIG. 3, the delivery control unit 133 performs delivery control of the MBS data. For example, the delivery control unit 133 transmits the MBS data composed of the segment data SE obtained by the division of the data control unit 132 to the reference base station BS. Note that the delivery control unit 133 may transmit the MBS data composed of the segment data SEE to the base station BS via the core network CN. The base station BS distributes the MBS data to the terminal device 30 by multicast or broadcast.

[0081] In addition, the delivery control unit 133 executes a process of allocating an area responsible for transmitting the MBS data to the core network CN, and when the core network CN (for example, the reference base station BS) registers this area as the responsible area, it may notify the application administrator T that the delivery preparation of the MBS data is completed.

[0082] Here, the distribution mode of MBS data in multicast or broadcast by the base station BS will be described. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the distribution mode of MBS data. FIG. 5 shows a scenario in which MBS data composed of the segment data SE generated in FIG. 4 is distributed in multicast or broadcast.

[0083] According to the example of FIG. 5, the base station BS continues to distribute the segment data SE in order according to the sequence. Specifically, the base station BS repeats the operation of distributing the segment data SE in order according to the sequence, thereby executing the repeated distribution of the MBS data composed of the segment data SE.

[0084] With such a distribution mode, the terminal device 30 can obtain all of the n segment data SEs as long as it continues to receive for a certain period starting from any of the n segment data SEs. For example, if the terminal device 30 starts receiving from the 5th segment data SE, it can obtain all of the n segment data SEs as long as it continues to receive until it can receive the 4th segment data SE.

[0085] [5. Configuration of Terminal Device] The terminal device 30 according to the embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 6. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the terminal device 30 according to the embodiment. According to the example of FIG. 6, the terminal device 30 includes a communication unit 31, a storage unit 32, and a control unit 33.

[0086] (Regarding the communication unit 31) The communication unit 31 is realized by, for example, a NIC or the like. For example, the communication unit 31 is wirelessly connected to a network and transmits and receives information to and from the base station BS.

[0087] (Regarding the storage unit 32) The storage unit 32 may be implemented by a semiconductor memory element such as a RAM or a flash memory, or a storage device such as a hard disk or an optical disk. The storage unit 32 may store, for example, a program for causing the terminal device 30 to execute the reconfiguration process of the application data. Further, the storage unit 120 may also store MBS data composed of segment data and application data reconfigured using the MBS data.

[0088] (Regarding the control unit 33) The control unit 33 may be implemented by a CPU, a GPU, an MPU, etc., by executing various programs stored in the storage device inside the terminal device 30 with the RAM as a work area. For example, the control unit 33 may be implemented by executing the program module M.

[0089] Further, the control unit 33 may be implemented by an integrated circuit such as an ASIC or an FPGA.

[0090] The control unit 33 may include an acquisition (reception) unit 33a, a reconfiguration unit 33b, and an output control unit 33c. Note that the internal configuration of the control unit 33 is not limited to the configuration shown in FIG. 6, and may be any other configuration as long as it performs the information processing described later. Also, the connection relationship of each processing unit included in the control unit 33 is not limited to the connection relationship shown in FIG. 6, and may be any other connection relationship.

[0091] (Acquisition unit 33a) The acquisition unit 33a acquires (receives) the segment data SE distributed from the reference station BS. For example, the acquisition unit 33a acquires all of the segment data SE corresponding to the application AP that made the request among the applications AP installed in the terminal device 30 based on the sequence information given to the segment data SE. As described with reference to FIG. 5, for example, when the acquisition unit 33a starts receiving from the 5th segment data SE, it continues to receive until it can receive the 4th segment data SE thereafter, thereby acquiring all of the n segment data SE.

[0092] (Reconfiguration unit 33b) The reconstruction unit 33b performs the reconstruction process of the application data using the MBS data. When all of the segment data SE corresponding to the application AP that made the request has been acquired, the reconstruction unit 33b detects an error (e.g., damage, alteration, dropout) for each segment data SE based on the hash value assigned to each segment data SE. And when the reconstruction unit 33b can detect an error, it restores this segment data SE based on the error correction code corresponding to the segment data SE for which the error was detected.

[0093] Also, when the reconstruction unit 33b can detect an error, it restores the segment data SE. When all of the normal segment data SE is available, it reconstructs the MBS data by arranging the segment data SE in the order information. The reconstructed MBS data is locally stored as application data. From such a situation, the reconstruction of the MBS data corresponds to the reconstruction (restoration) of the application data using the normal segment data SE.

[0094] Note that when the reconstruction unit 33b can reconstruct the MBS data, it may determine the validity of the reconstructed MBS data based on the hash value of the MBS data. For example, when the reconstructed MBS data is incorrect compared to the original MBC, the reconstruction unit 33b restores the MBS data based on the error correction code corresponding to the MBS data.

[0095] Also, when the acquisition unit 33a fails to correctly restore the MBS data, it acquires again the segment data SE of the part for which restoration was impossible (that is, the segment data SE for which the error was detected). And the acquisition unit 33a causes the reconstruction unit 33b to perform the reconstruction of the MBS data using the segment data SE acquired again.

[0096] (Output control unit 33c) The output control unit 33c causes the output unit to output the reconstructed MBS data as application data. For example, the output control unit 33c may cause the application data to be displayed on the display screen or output from the speaker.

[0097] 〔6. Operating Procedures in Communication System〕 Next, with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, the operating procedures in the communication system 1 according to the embodiment will be described. Note that FIGS. 7 and 8 show the flow of information processing associated with the submission of content data that is the source of application data (an example of application data provided via the application AP) of the application AP1.

[0098] FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the flow until the preparation for distributing MBS data is completed in the communication system 1. First, the administrator device 10 transmits content data to the data distribution device 20 in accordance with the submission operation of the application administrator T (step S701).

[0099] When the data distribution device 20 receives the content data transmitted by the administrator device 10 (step S702), it submits the received content data to the data submission device 100 (step S703).

[0100] The reception unit 131 of the data submission device 100 receives the content data submitted by the data distribution device 20 (step S704). Further, the data control unit 132 performs a data generation process for generating MBS data using the received content data (step S705). As described with reference to FIG. 4, in the data generation process, the data control unit 132 generates MBS data by dividing the content data and attaching header information to the segment data obtained by the division.

[0101] The distribution control unit 133 performs distribution control so that the MBS data is distributed from the base station BS. Specifically, the distribution control unit 133 transmits the MBS data composed of segment data to the core network CN (step S706).

[0102] When the core network CN receives MBS data, it generates a copy of the received MBS data (step S707).

[0103] In addition, the distribution control unit 133 executes a process of allocating an area responsible for distributing MBS data to the core network CN (step S708). When the core network CN registers the allocated area as the responsible area (step S709), it notifies the data submission device 100 that the preparation for distributing MBS data is completed (step S710).

[0104] The distribution control unit 133 receives the notification of the completion of distribution preparation transmitted by the core network CN (step S711). Subsequently, the distribution control unit 133 notifies the data distribution device 20 that the preparation for distributing MBS data is completed (step S712).

[0105] The data distribution device 20 receives the notification of the completion of distribution preparation transmitted by the distribution control unit 133 (step S713). Here, the data distribution device 20 may notify the application administrator T via the administrator device 10 that the distribution preparation is completed.

[0106] Next, FIG. 8 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the flow of distribution processing in which MBS data is distributed in the communication system 1. As shown in FIG. 8, assume that the user U1 operates the terminal device 30 to start the application AP1 (step S801).

[0107] When the terminal device 30 recognizes that the application AP1 has been started according to the program module M (step S802), it transmits a participation request to the base station BS to participate in the MBS session (step S803).

[0108] The base station BS accepts the participation request transmitted by the terminal device 30 (step S804). When there are other users U participating in the MBS session and the application data of the application AP1 is being distributed by multicast or broadcast, the base station BS continues this distribution.

[0109] On the other hand, the base station BS needs to generate a new MBS session for distributing the application data of the application AP1. Therefore, the base station BS transmits a transmission request for the MBS data corresponding to the application AP1 to the core network CN (step S805).

[0110] The core network CN receives the transmission request transmitted by the base station BS (step S806). Then, the core network CN transmits the MBS data corresponding to the application AP1 among the MBS data held in the mobile network MN to the base station BS (step S807). For example, the core network CN may transmit a copy of the MBS data to the base station BS.

[0111] When the base station BS receives the MBS data transmitted by the core network CN, it distributes the received MBS data by multicast or broadcast (step S808). As described with reference to FIG. 5, the base station BS may execute repeated distribution of the MBS data composed of the segment data SE by repeating the operation of distributing the segment data SE in order according to the order.

[0112] The acquisition unit 33a of the terminal device 30 receives the MBS data distributed by multicast or broadcast (step S809). For example, the acquisition unit 33a continues to receive the segment data SE until all of the n segment data SEs constituting the MBS data can be acquired.

[0113] When the reconstruction unit 33b can obtain all of the n segment data SE, it executes a reconstruction process of reconstructing (restoring) the application data actually provided via the application AP1 from the MBS data (step S810). For example, the reconstruction unit 33b detects an error (e.g., damage, alteration, dropout) for each segment data SE, and for the segment data SE in which an error is detected, restores the segment data SE based on the encoding information assigned to the segment data SE. Further, when there is segment data SE that the reconstruction unit 33b cannot restore, the acquisition unit 33a receives again the segment data that could not be restored. When there is sufficient valid segment data SE in which no error is detected, the reconstruction unit 33b locally stores the MBS data obtained by arranging the segment data SE in the order information as the application data of the application AP1.

[0114] Then, the output control unit 33c causes the application data stored locally to be displayed via the application AP1 (step S811).

[0115] 〔7. Hardware Configuration〕 The device according to the embodiment (e.g., the data entry device 100, the terminal device 30, the data distribution device 20, the administrator device 10) may be realized by a computer 1000 having a configuration as shown in FIG. 9, for example. FIG. 9 is a hardware configuration diagram showing an example of a computer that realizes the functions of the device according to the embodiment. The computer 1000 includes a CPU 1100, a RAM 1200, a ROM 1300, an HDD 1400, a communication interface (I / F) 1500, an input / output interface (I / F) 1600, and a media interface (I / F) 1700.

[0116] The CPU 1100 operates based on a program stored in the ROM 1300 or the HDD 1400, and controls each unit. The ROM 1300 stores a boot program executed by the CPU 1100 when the computer 1000 is started up, a program dependent on the hardware of the computer 1000, and the like.

[0117] The HDD 1400 stores programs executed by the CPU 1100, data used by such programs, and the like. The communication interface 1500 receives data from other devices via a predetermined communication network and sends it to the CPU 1100, and sends data generated by the CPU 1100 to other devices via a predetermined communication network.

[0118] The CPU 1100 controls an output device such as a display and an input device such as a keyboard via the input / output interface 1600. The CPU 1100 acquires data from the input device via the input / output interface 1600. Further, the CPU 1100 outputs the generated data to the output device via the input / output interface 1600.

[0119] The media interface 1700 reads a program or data stored in the recording medium 1800 and provides it to the CPU 1100 via the RAM 1200. The CPU 1100 loads such a program from the recording medium 1800 onto the RAM 1200 via the media interface 1700 and executes the loaded program. The recording medium 1800 is, for example, an optical recording medium such as a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) or a PD (Phase change rewritable Disk), a magneto-optical recording medium such as an MO (Magneto-Optical disk), a tape medium, a magnetic recording medium, or a semiconductor memory or the like.

[0120] For example, when the computer 1000 functions as the data entry device 100 according to the embodiment, the CPU 1100 of the computer 1000 realizes the functions of the control unit 130 by executing the program loaded on the RAM 1200. The CPU 1100 of the computer 1000 reads and executes these programs from the recording medium 1800, but as another example, these programs may be acquired from other devices via a predetermined communication network.

[0121] 〔8. Others〕 Also, among the processes described in each of the above embodiments, all or part of the processes described as being automatically performed can be manually performed, or all or part of the processes described as being manually performed can be automatically performed by a known method. In addition, the processing procedures, specific names, and information including various data and parameters shown in the above documents and drawings can be arbitrarily changed unless otherwise specified. For example, the various information shown in each figure is not limited to the illustrated information.

[0122] In addition, each component of each device shown in the drawings is a functional concept, and does not necessarily have to be physically configured as shown in the drawings. That is, the specific form of the distribution and integration of each device is not limited to that shown in the drawings, and all or part of it can be functionally or physically distributed and integrated in any unit according to various loads, usage situations, etc.

[0123] Also, the above embodiments can be appropriately combined within a range that does not conflict with the processing content.

[0124] As described above, some of the embodiments of the present application have been described in detail based on the drawings. However, these are examples, and the present invention can be implemented in other forms with various modifications and improvements based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art, starting from the aspects described in the column of the present invention.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0125] 1 Communication system 10 Administrator device 20 Data distribution device 30 Terminal device 33 Control unit 33a Acquisition unit 33b Reconfiguration unit 33c Output control unit 100 Data submission device 130 Control unit 131 Reception unit 132 Data control unit 133 Distribution control unit AP Application BS Base Station CN Core Network MN Mobile Network

Claims

1. A communication system including a data submission device into which content data is submitted and a network device that provides a function for realizing a mobile network, wherein the data submission device, using the submitted content data, generates MBS data corresponding to a distribution form of a multicast broadcast service (MBS), a data control unit, a distribution control unit that performs distribution control of the MBS data, and is provided with, wherein the network device, in response to the distribution control, distributes the MBS data to users by multicast or broadcast, a communication system.

2. The content data, is submitted to the data submission device as application data that is data provided via the application by an administrator of an application introduced into the terminal device of the user, The communication system according to claim 1.

3. The data submission device, as the network device, is incorporated into the mobile network, The communication system according to claim 2.

4. The distribution control unit, transmits the MBS data to a reference station in the mobile network, wherein the reference station, distributes the MBS data received from the data submission device by multicast or broadcast, The communication system according to claim 3.

5. The data control unit, divides the content data into a plurality of data in a predetermined unit, wherein the distribution control unit, transmits the MBS data composed of the segment data obtained by the division to the reference station, The communication system according to claim 4.

6. The data control unit, adds to each of the segment data constituting the MBS data, information on the order in the MBS data, identification information for identifying the application corresponding to the segment data among the applications, version information of the segment data, and code information obtained by encoding the segment data, The communication system according to claim 5.

7. The distribution control unit, executes a process of allocating an area responsible for distributing the MBS data to the network device, and when the network device registers the area as an area to be responsible for, notifies the administrator that the distribution preparation of the MBS data is completed, The communication system according to claim 4.

8. The communication system is, further includes the terminal device of the user, and further includes, the terminal device includes, an acquisition unit that acquires the segment data distributed from the reference station, a restoration unit that restores the MBS data from the acquired segment data based on the code information, and includes, the communication system according to claim 6.

9. The acquisition unit, based on the order information, acquires all of the segment data corresponding to the application that made the request among the applications introduced in the terminal device. The communication system according to claim 8.

10. The restoration unit, when an error is detected in the segment data corresponding to the application that made the request, restores the MBS data corresponding to the application data of the application based on the code information attached to the segment data, The acquisition unit, when it is impossible to restore the MBS data, acquires again the segment data of the target for which an error has been detected among the segment data. The communication system according to claim 9.

11. a data control unit that controls the input content data to a state suitable for a multicast broadcast service (MBS); a distribution control unit that performs distribution control of the MBS data, which is the content data after control; a data input device including, and, a terminal device connected to a communication system including a network device that distributes the MBS data to users by multicast or broadcast in response to the distribution control, wherein the terminal device includes an acquisition unit that acquires MBS data corresponding to a request of an application introduced into the terminal device, and an output control unit that outputs the acquired MBS data as application data that is data provided via the application. The terminal device includes.

12. a terminal program executed by a terminal device connected to a communication system including a data input device that includes a data control unit that controls input content data to a state suitable for a multicast broadcast service (MBS), and a distribution control unit that performs distribution control of the MBS data, which is the content data after control, and a network device that distributes the MBS data to users by multicast or broadcast in response to the distribution control, wherein the terminal device includes an acquisition unit that acquires MBS data corresponding to a request of an application introduced into the terminal device, and an output control unit that outputs the acquired MBS data as application data that is data provided via the application. The terminal device includes.

13. and a network device that distributes the MBS data to users by multicast or broadcast in response to the distribution control, An acquisition procedure for acquiring MBS data in response to a request for an application introduced into the terminal device, an output control procedure for causing the acquired MBS data to be output as application data that is data provided via the application, and a terminal program for causing the terminal device to execute the above.

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