Transmission device, transmission method, and program

Abstract

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a transmission device that can suppress the load on a communication network when the number of reception devices increases. A transmission device (10) according to this disclosure transmits communication data to one or more reception devices via a network. The transmission device (10) includes an identification unit (11) that identifies a reception device count indicating the number of reception devices that are destinations of the communication data; a determination unit (12) that, when the reception device count is a first number, determines a data size or a bit rate of the communication data such that the data size or the bit rate is smaller or lower compared with a case in which the reception device count is a second number smaller than the first number; a generation unit (13) that generates the communication data using the determined data size or bit rate; and a transmission unit (14) that transmits, via the network, the generated communication data to one or more of the reception devices specified as destinations.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a transmission device, a communication system, a transmission method, and a program.

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, a large number of communication terminals have been connected to a communication network, and various communication services are provided to the communication terminals connected to the communication network. For example, there is a communication service in which one communication terminal provides the same data to a plurality of communication terminals via a communication network. The data provided by one communication terminal to a plurality of communication terminals includes, for example, text data, image data, or video data.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a multicast configuration in which a transmission device and a reception device have a one-to-N (N is an integer of 2 or more) communication mode. The transmission device transmits data to a node device via the Internet, and the node device transmits the data to a reception device connected to a wireless access point device. The value of the communication band assigned to the communication flow for the multicast group is determined according to the maximum communication band of the cell formed by the wireless access point device and the number of reception devices participating in the multicast group. The node device assigns a communication band to the communication flow according to the determined communication band.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] In Patent Document 1, since the value of the communication bandwidth allocated to the communication flow is determined according to the number of receiving devices participating in the multicast group, for example, as the number of receiving devices increases, the number of data transferred in the communication network increases. As a result, there is a problem that an increase in the number of receiving devices causes congestion in the communication network.

[0006] In view of the above problems, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a transmission device, a communication system, a transmission method, and a program capable of suppressing the load on a communication network when the number of receiving devices increases.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] A transmission device according to a first aspect of the present disclosure is a transmission device that transmits communication data to one or more receiving devices via a network, the transmission device including: specifying means for specifying the number of receiving devices indicating the number of the receiving devices to which the communication data is addressed; determining means for determining the data size or bit rate of the communication data so that when the number of receiving devices is a first number, the data size or bit rate is smaller than when the number of receiving devices is a second number smaller than the first number; generating means for generating the communication data using the determined data size or bit rate; and transmitting means for transmitting the generated communication data to the one or more receiving devices via the network.

[0008] The communication system according to the second aspect of the present disclosure includes a transmission device configured to transmit communication data to one or more receiving devices via a network, and specifies the number of receiving devices indicating the number of the receiving devices to which the communication data is addressed. When the number of the receiving devices is a first number, the data size or bit rate of the communication data is determined to be smaller than that when the number of the receiving devices is a second number smaller than the first number, and a server configured to transmit the determined data size or bit rate to the transmission device. The transmission device generates the communication data using the determined data size or bit rate, and transmits the generated communication data to the one or more receiving devices serving as the destination via the network.

[0009] The transmission method according to the third aspect of the present disclosure is a transmission method executed in a transmission device that transmits communication data to one or more receiving devices via a network. The method includes specifying the number of receiving devices indicating the number of the receiving devices to which the communication data is addressed, determining the data size or bit rate of the communication data so that when the number of the receiving devices is a first number, it is smaller than that when the number of the receiving devices is a second number smaller than the first number, generating the communication data using the determined data size or bit rate, and transmitting the generated communication data to the one or more receiving devices serving as the destination via the network.

[0010] A program according to a fourth aspect of the present disclosure is a program that causes a computer to transmit communication data to one or more receiving devices via a network, the program identifying the number of receiving devices that are destinations of the communication data, and when the number of receiving devices is a first number, determining the data size or bit rate of the communication data to be a smaller data size or lower bit rate than when the number of receiving devices is a second number that is less than the first number, generating the communication data using the determined data size or bit rate, and causing the computer to transmit the generated communication data to the one or more receiving devices that are the destinations via the network.

Advantages of the Invention

[0011] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a transmission device, a communication system, a transmission method, and a program that can suppress the load on a communication network when the number of receiving devices increases.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0012]

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Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0013] (Embodiment 1) Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. A configuration example of a transmission device 10 according to Embodiment 1 will be described with reference to FIG. 1. The transmission device 10 may be a computer device that operates by a processor executing a program stored in a memory. The transmission device 10 may be a mobile terminal such as a smartphone terminal or a tablet terminal, or may be a laptop type terminal or the like. The transmission device 10 may be referred to as a transmission terminal. Alternatively, the transmission device 10 may be a relay device that relays end-to-end data communication, for example, a relay device that relays data communication in a mobile network. Alternatively, the transmission device 10 may be a server device. When the transmission device 10 is used as a server device, the transmission device 10 receives communication data from a transmission terminal such as a smartphone terminal and transmits the communication data to another communication device.

[0014] The transmission device 10 transmits communication data to one or more receiving devices via a network. The communication data may be, for example, text data, image data, audio data, or video data, etc., or these data may be combined. The network may be a so-called Internet, or may include a part of a network managed by a communication carrier. The network managed by a communication carrier may be referred to as a mobile network, for example. The receiving device may be a computer device that operates by a processor executing a program stored in a memory. The receiving device may be a mobile terminal such as a smartphone terminal or a tablet terminal, or may be a laptop type terminal or the like. The receiving device may be referred to as a receiving terminal.

[0015] The transmission device 10 includes a specifying unit 11, a determining unit 12, a generating unit 13, and a transmitting unit 14. The components of the transmission device 10 such as the specifying unit 11, the determining unit 12, the generating unit 13, and the transmitting unit 14 may be software or modules whose processing is executed by a processor executing a program stored in a memory. Alternatively, the components of the transmission device 10 may be hardware such as a circuit or a chip.

[0016] The specifying unit 11 specifies the number of receiving devices indicating the destination of the communication data. For example, the specifying unit 11 specifies the number of receiving devices indicating the destination of the same communication data. The specifying unit 11 may obtain information regarding the number of receiving devices from an application installed in the transmission device 10. The application may be an application related to message communication that enables transmission of communication data to one or more receiving devices. Alternatively, the specifying unit 11 may receive information regarding the number of receiving devices from a server device or the like that provides a service for transmitting communication data to one or more receiving devices.

[0017] When the number of receiving devices is the first number, the determining unit 12 determines the data size or bit rate of the communication data so that it becomes a smaller data size or a lower bit rate than when the number of receiving devices is a second number smaller than the first number. The data size and bit rate determined by the determining unit 12 do not necessarily have to be absolute values and may be relative. For example, the direction of change such as "make smaller" or "make larger" of the data size or bit rate may be determined, or the ratio of change such as "halve" or "1.5 times" may be determined.

[0018] The second number may be used as a threshold value, for example. That is, the determination unit 12 may determine the data size or bit rate of the communication data according to whether the number of receiving devices is greater than the second number which is the threshold value. When the number of receiving devices is less than the second number, the determination unit 12 may determine the data size or bit rate of the communication data so that the data size is larger or the bit rate is higher than when the number of receiving devices is the second number.

[0019] The generation unit 13 generates communication data using the determined data size or bit rate. The data size may be, for example, the size of the application data generated in the application. The bit rate may be referred to as throughput.

[0020] Also, when the transmission device 10 receives communication data from a transmission terminal such as a smartphone terminal, the determined data size or bit rate is applied to the received communication data.

[0021] The transmission unit 14 transmits the communication data generated by the generation unit 13 to one or more destination receiving devices via a network.

[0022] As described above, the transmission device 10 determines the data size or bit rate of communication data according to the number of receiving devices, and transmits the communication data to the receiving devices. Specifically, as the number of receiving devices increases, the transmission device 10 reduces the data size or lowers the bit rate. As a result, an increase in the amount of data transmitted when the number of receiving devices increases can be suppressed. Suppressing an increase in the amount of data transmitted in this way can suppress the occurrence of packet loss and an increase in delay as compared with the case of executing a process of reducing the communication bandwidth according to an increase in the number of receiving devices. Also, by reducing the data size or lowering the bit rate as the number of receiving devices increases, even when the number of receiving devices increases, the amount of data relayed in the network does not increase in proportion to the increase in the number of receiving devices. Therefore, by using the transmission device 10, the possibility of occurrence of network congestion due to an increase in the number of receiving devices can be suppressed, and the load on the network can be suppressed.

[0023] (Embodiment 2) Subsequently, a configuration example of the communication system according to Embodiment 2 will be described with reference to FIG. 2. The communication system in FIG. 2 shows that the transmission device 10 communicates with the receiving devices 21 to 23 via the network 30. The transmission device 10 and the receiving devices 21 to 23 may be connected to the network 30 via a wireless communication line or may be connected to the network 30 via a wired communication line. Although three receiving devices are shown in FIG. 2, the transmission device 10 may transmit communication data to three or more receiving devices, or may transmit communication data to two or fewer receiving devices.

[0024] Next, the flow of the transmission process in the transmission device 10 according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 3. First, the specifying unit 11 specifies the number of receiving devices that are the destinations of the communication data (S11). For example, a user who uses the transmission device 10 activates an application related to message communication and inputs a destination for each receiving device together with a message. The specifying unit 11 may specify the number of receiving devices that are the destinations of the communication data by acquiring information related to the destinations input by the user from the application. A plurality of receiving devices associated with the destinations input by the user each receive the same communication data. The destination is not limited to being input by the user. For example, the specifying unit 11 may acquire information related to the destinations held in the application.

[0025] The destination may be, for example, information for identifying the receiving devices 21 to 23. The information for identifying the receiving devices 21 to 23 is, for example, information for uniquely identifying each receiving device connected to the network 30. Specifically, the destination may be a telephone number, an email address, an IP address, a MAC (Media Access Control) address, an FQDN (Fully Qualified Domain Name), or identification information assigned by a service provider that provides a service related to message communication.

[0026] Alternatively, identification information related to a plurality of receiving devices may be associated with one piece of identification information. For example, one piece of identification information may be referred to as a group address. Information in which the group address is associated with the identification information related to a plurality of receiving devices may be stored in a memory or the like in the transmission device 10.

[0027] When the user inputs a group address, the specifying unit 11 may extract the identification information of the receiving devices associated with the group address from a memory or the like and specify the number of the extracted identification information.

[0028] Next, the determination unit 12 determines the data size or bit rate of the communication data according to the number of receiving devices (S12). Specifically, in order to reduce the amount of data transmitted in the network 30, the determination unit 12 reduces the data size or lowers the bit rate as the number of receiving devices increases. The data size is, for example, the size of one packet or frame. The data size may be, for example, the size of data when a plurality of packets or a plurality of frames are totaled. The bit rate is the amount of data sent per unit time from the transmitting device 10 to the network 30, and may be referred to as throughput.

[0029] For example, the determination unit 12 may reduce the data size or lower the bit rate so that the amount of increased data is less than the amount of data that increases in proportion to the increased number of receiving devices. Alternatively, the determination unit 12 may reduce the data size or lower the bit rate so that the amount of data transmitted in the network 30 does not change even when the number of receiving devices increases. When the number of receiving devices is N, the data size or bit rate is R, and the function for deriving R from N is F(R = F(N)), any monotonically decreasing function may be used as the function F.

[0030] For example, the determination unit 12 may store information associating the number of receiving devices, the type of communication data, and the data size in a memory or the like. The type of communication data may be information indicating, for example, text data, image data, audio data, or video data. For example, when the type of communication data is video data and the number of receiving devices is N (N is an integer of 1 or more), the data size may be determined to be X bits (X is a positive real number). The data size decreases as the number of receiving devices increases.

[0031] Alternatively, when the number of receiving devices exceeds a predetermined threshold value for the data size of the video data, the determination unit 12 may determine the data size as X_1 bit, and when it does not exceed the threshold value, as X_2 bit (X_1 < X_2). That is, the determination unit 12 may compare the number of receiving devices with the threshold value and determine the data size according to whether the number of receiving devices exceeds the threshold value.

[0032] Alternatively, the determination unit 12 may determine the data size in consideration of the congestion situation of the network 30. The congestion situation may be, for example, the load situation of the network devices in the network 30, the amount of data being transmitted in the network 30, and the like. For example, information regarding the congestion situation of the network 30 may be acquired from a network device in the network 30 or a management device that manages the network 30.

[0033] Assume that the number of receiving devices in a state where the network 30 is congested or the load of the network device is higher than the threshold value is the same as the number of receiving devices in a state where the network 30 is not congested or the load of the network device is lower than the threshold value. In such a case, the determination unit 12 may make the data size of the communication data in a state where the network 30 is congested smaller than the data size of the communication data in a state where the network 30 is not congested.

[0034] The determination unit 12 may determine the bit rate (bps: bit / sec) instead of the data size according to the number of receiving devices.

[0035] Next, the generation unit 13 generates communication data using the data size or bit rate determined in step S12 (S13). For example, the generation unit 13 may add address information indicating the destination of the communication data to the header of the communication data to which the data size or bit rate determined in step S12 is applied, and generate the communication data. When connecting to the network 30 via a wireless communication line, the generation unit 13 may generate, as the communication data, data obtained by modulating the communication data for wireless transmission.

[0036] The generation unit 13 generates communication data for each receiving device. That is, the generation unit 13 generates communication data addressed to the receiving device 21, communication data addressed to the receiving device 22, and further communication data addressed to the receiving device 23, respectively. The generation unit 13 may generate communication data for the number of receiving devices that are the destinations of the communication data by changing the destinations, or may include a plurality of destinations in one communication data. Further, communication data addressed to group identification information for identifying one or more receiving terminals that are the destinations of the communication data may be generated.

[0037] The generation unit 13 may change the data size or bit rate applied to the communication data by changing the compression parameters of the image data, audio data, or video data. The compression parameters may be, for example, the compression ratio, quantization accuracy, sampling rate, resolution, or compression protocol. The compression parameters may be parameters for irreversible compression or parameters for reversible compression. For example, in the case of video data, the data size or bit rate can be reduced by methods such as increasing the compression ratio of irreversible compression, decreasing the quantization accuracy, decreasing the sampling rate, decreasing the resolution, or using a compression protocol with a higher compression ratio. Here, the quantization accuracy means the amount of information assigned per pixel of the image. The sampling rate means the number of video frames per unit time and may be referred to as the frame rate. The resolution means the number of pixels in the vertical and horizontal directions of the image. The compression protocol means a video compression standard such as H.264 or H.265. Even in the case of image data, audio data, etc., the data size or bit rate can be changed by changing the compression parameters in the same manner as in the case of the above-described video data.

[0038] Next, the transmission unit 14 transmits the communication data generated in step S13 to the receiving devices 21 to 23 via the network 30 (S14). For example, the transmission unit 14 transmits the communication data to each receiving device using unicast communication. The transmission unit 14 may transmit the communication data to each receiving device using multicast communication.

[0039] As described above, the transmission device 10 determines the data size or bit rate of the communication data according to the number of receiving devices, and transmits the communication data to the receiving devices. Further, the transmission device 10 determines the data size or bit rate of the communication data in consideration of the load status of the network 30 and the like. Thereby, in a situation where the load of the network 30 is high, since the data amount of the communication data transmitted through the network 30 can be reduced, even if the number of receiving devices increases, the load of the network 30 can be suppressed.

[0040] (Embodiment 3) Subsequently, a configuration example of the communication system according to Embodiment 3 will be described with reference to FIG. 4. The communication system of FIG. 4 has a configuration in which a server device 40 is added to the communication system of FIG. 2. Further, in the communication system of FIG. 4, the transmission device 10 of FIG. 2 is replaced with a transmission device 50. The server device 40 may be a computer device that operates by a processor executing a program stored in a memory. The server device 40 communicates with the transmission device 50 via the network 30.

[0041] Subsequently, a configuration example of the transmission device 50 according to Embodiment 3 will be described with reference to FIG. 5. The transmission device 50 includes a generation unit 51 and a transmission unit 52. The generation unit 51 and the transmission unit 52 correspond to the generation unit 13 and the transmission unit 14 of FIG. 1. In the following, the generation unit 51 and the transmission unit 52 will be mainly described with respect to operations or functions different from those of the generation unit 13 and the transmission unit 14. Further, the transmission unit 52 may be replaced with a communication unit. That is, the transmission unit 52 may be used for receiving data as well as transmitting data.

[0042] The generation unit 51 generates an inquiry message including a group address input by the user. One or more pieces of identification information of the receiving devices are associated with the group address. The inquiry message is used to inquire the server device 40 about the identification information of one or more receiving devices associated with the group address. Therefore, the generation unit 51 sets the address of the server device 40 as the destination of the inquiry message.

[0043] The transmission unit 52 transmits the inquiry message to the server device 40 according to the destination of the inquiry message generated by the generation unit 51. Further, the transmission unit 52 receives a response message for the inquiry message from the server device 40. The response message includes the identification information of the receiving devices associated with the group address, and the information on the data size or bit rate to be applied to the communication data transmitted to the receiving devices.

[0044] When the identification information of a plurality of receiving devices is included, the generation unit 51 generates communication data for each receiving device with the identification information as the destination. Further, the generation unit 51 applies the data size or bit rate notified from the server device 40 as the data size or bit rate of the communication data.

[0045] The transmission unit 52 transmits the communication data for each receiving device generated by the generation unit 51 to each receiving device via the network 30.

[0046] Subsequently, a configuration example of the server device 40 according to Embodiment 3 will be described with reference to FIG. 6. The server device 40 includes a specifying unit 41, a determining unit 42, and a communication unit 43. The specifying unit 41 and the determining unit 42 correspond to the specifying unit 11 and the determining unit 12 in FIG. 1. The specifying unit 41, the determining unit 42, and the communication unit 43 may be software or modules in which processing is executed by a processor executing a program stored in a memory. Alternatively, the specifying unit 41, the determining unit 42, and the communication unit 43 may be hardware such as a circuit or a chip.

[0047] The specifying unit 41 manages by associating a group address with identification information regarding a plurality of receiving devices. For example, the information associating the group address with the identification information regarding the plurality of receiving devices may be stored in a memory or the like within the server device 40.

[0048] When the specifying unit 41 receives a group address from the transmitting device 50 via the communication unit 43, the specifying unit 41 extracts the identification information of the receiving devices associated with the group address from the memory. Further, the specifying unit 41 specifies the number of pieces of extracted identification information as the number of destination receiving devices.

[0049] The determining unit 42 determines the data size or the bit rate of the communication data according to the number of receiving devices. In order to reduce the amount of data transmitted in the network 30, the determining unit 42 reduces the data size or lowers the bit rate as the number of receiving devices increases. For example, the determining unit 42 may reduce the data size or lower the bit rate so as to make the increasing amount of data smaller than the amount of data that increases in proportion to the increasing number of receiving devices. Alternatively, the determining unit 42 reduces the data size or lowers the bit rate so that the amount of data transmitted in the network 30 does not change even when the number of receiving devices increases.

[0050] Further, the determining unit 42 may determine the data size in consideration of the congestion situation of the network 30. The congestion situation may be the load situation of network devices within the network 30, the amount of data being transmitted within the network 30, or the like. For example, the server device 40 may monitor the network devices within the network 30, the congestion situation of the network 30, or the load situation of network devices. For example, the server device 40 may periodically receive information regarding the load situation, the number of processed communication data, the number of relayed communication data, the amount of data of the relayed communication data, etc. from one or more network devices within the network 30.

[0051] The communication unit 43 transmits a response message including the identification information of the receiving device extracted by the specifying unit 41 and the data size or bit rate applied to the communication data to the transmitting device 50.

[0052] Subsequently, the flow of the communication data transmission process according to Embodiment 3 will be described with reference to FIG. 7. First, the transmitting device 50 transmits an inquiry message to the server device 40 (S21). The inquiry message includes the group address input by the user.

[0053] Next, the server device 40 extracts the identification information of the receiving devices associated with the group address and specifies the number of receiving devices (S22). Here, it is assumed that the receiving devices 21 to 23 are associated with the group address. Next, the server device 40 transmits a response message including the identification information of the receiving devices and the data size or bit rate applied to the communication data to the transmitting device 50 (S23).

[0054] Next, the transmitting device 50 generates communication data for each receiving device included in the response message and transmits the generated communication data to the receiving devices 21 to 23 (S24 to S26). The identification information of each receiving device is set as the destination for each communication data. Further, the data size or bit rate of the communication data is applied to the data size or bit rate included in the response message.

[0055] As described above, the transmission device 50 transmits communication data to one or more receiving devices, applying the data size or bit rate of the communication data determined by the server device 40. Generally, the processing capacity, memory amount, etc. of the transmission device 50 are lower or smaller than those of the server device 40. Therefore, by the server device 40 executing the process of determining the data size or bit rate, the processing load on the transmission device 50 can be reduced as compared with the case where the transmission device 50 determines the data size or bit rate. Also, the server device 40 can centrally manage the policy of the relationship between the number of receiving devices and the data size or bit rate. In this case, even when there are a plurality of transmission devices 50, it becomes possible to apply the same policy to the plurality of transmission devices 50. Further, when changing the policy, it is only necessary to change the policy managed by the server device 40.

[0056] (Modification Example of Embodiment 3) In Embodiment 3, a configuration in which the transmission device 50 includes the generation unit 51 and the transmission unit 52, and the server device 40 includes the specifying unit 41 and the determining unit 42 has been described. However, for example, the specifying unit 41 may be included in the transmission device 50. In this case, the transmission device 50 transmits to the server device 40 including information regarding the number of receiving devices specified in the inquiry message. Further, the server device 40 determines the data size or bit rate to be applied to the communication data, using the number of receiving devices included in the inquiry message.

[0057] Alternatively, the server device 40 may include a specifying unit 41, a determining unit 42, a generating unit 51, and a transmitting unit 52. For example, the transmitting device 50 transmits communication data to one or more receiving devices via the server device 40. In this case, the transmitting device 50 may transmit the communication data and the identification information of one or more receiving devices that are the destinations of the communication data to the server device 40. Note that, instead of the identification information of one or more receiving devices that are the destinations of the communication data, the transmitting device 50 may transmit a group address corresponding to one or more receiving devices that are the destinations of the communication data to the server device 40 together with the communication data. The server device 40 specifies the number of receiving devices by using the identification information of one or more receiving devices that are the destinations of the communication data received from the transmitting device 50. Further, the server device 40 determines the data size or bit rate of the communication data according to the number of receiving devices, and generates communication data to which the determined data size or bit rate is applied. Further, the server device 40 transmits the generated communication data to one or more receiving devices that are the destinations of the communication data. Also, even when the transmitting device 50 is the transmitting device 10 having the specifying unit 11, the determining unit 12, the generating unit 13, and the transmitting unit 14 in FIG. 1, the transmitting device 10 may transmit a group address to the server device 40. In this case, after receiving the group address and the communication data, the server device 40 may transmit the communication data to one or more receiving devices that are the destinations of the communication data.

[0058] As described above, there are a plurality of variations in the functional arrangements of the specifying unit 41, the determining unit 42, the generating unit 51, and the transmitting unit 52 for the transmitting device 50 and the server device 40. Thus, by having a plurality of variations regarding the functional arrangements, a flexible network design becomes possible.

[0059] (Embodiment 4) Subsequently, a configuration example of the communication system according to Embodiment 4 will be described with reference to FIG. 8. The communication system in FIG. 8 is obtained by adding a relay device 61, a relay device 62, a receiving device 24, and a receiving device 25 to the communication system in FIG. 2. Also, in the communication system in FIG. 8, the transmitting device 10 is replaced with a transmitting device 70.

[0060] The relay device 61 and the relay device 62 may be computer devices that operate by a processor executing a program stored in a memory. The relay device 61 and the relay device 62 may be base stations in a mobile network represented by 4G, 5G, etc. Further, the relay device 61 and the relay device 62 may be gateway devices that aggregate a plurality of base stations, for example, a P-GW or an S-GW in a 4G network, a UPF in a 5G network, etc. The base station forms a cell that is a communication area and relays communication data regarding a receiving device located within the cell.

[0061] The receiving devices 21 to 25 in FIG. 8 receive communication data transmitted from the transmitting device 70. It is assumed that the communication data received by each of the receiving devices 21 to 25 is the same.

[0062] When the relay device 61 is a gateway device that aggregates a plurality of base stations, the receiving devices 21 to 23 may be located in the same cell, may each be located in different cells, or two of the receiving devices 21 to 23 may be located in the same cell. Further, when the relay device 62 is a gateway device, the receiving devices 24 to 25 may be located in the same cell, may each be located in different cells.

[0063] When the relay device 61 is a base station, the receiving devices 21 to 23 are located in the same cell. Further, when the relay device 62 is a base station, the receiving devices 24 to 25 are located in the same cell.

[0064] Here, a configuration example of the transmission device 70 will be described with reference to FIG. 9. In the transmission device 70, a classification unit 71 is added to the transmission device 10 in FIG. 1. The specifying unit 11 of the transmission device 70 acquires information regarding the destinations of the same communication data from, for example, an application. The classification unit 71 classifies the receiving devices 21 to 25 that are the destinations of the communication data into subgroups in which the relay devices through which they pass are the same. Specifically, the classification unit 71 classifies the receiving devices 21 to 25 that are the destinations of the communication data into a subgroup including the receiving devices 21 to 23 passing through the relay device 61 and a subgroup including the receiving devices 24 to 25 passing through the relay device 62. For example, the classification unit 71 may acquire information on the cells to which the receiving devices 21 to 25 respectively belong from the applications installed in each of the receiving devices 21 to 25. Alternatively, the classification unit 71 may acquire information on the cells to which the receiving devices 21 to 25 respectively belong from network devices in the mobile network. The network devices in the mobile network may be the relay device 61 and the relay device 62, or may be an NEF (Network Exposure Function) entity in a 5G network or the like. The classification unit 71 may classify the receiving devices 21 to 25 into subgroups using the information on the cells to which the receiving devices 21 to 25 belong. The specifying unit 11 specifies the number of receiving devices for each subgroup using the classification result in the classification unit 71. That is, in the example of FIG. 8, the specifying unit 11 specifies that three receiving devices belong to the subgroup formed by the relay device 61 and two receiving devices belong to the subgroup formed by the relay device 62. For example, when a server device providing a service related to message communication manages the terminal group and the subgroups, the specifying unit 11 may acquire information regarding the receiving devices belonging to each subgroup from the server device. Alternatively, a core network device managed by a mobile communication carrier may manage the terminal group and the subgroups. In this case, the specifying unit 11 may acquire information regarding the receiving devices belonging to each subgroup from the core network device.Alternatively, when the specific unit 11 recognizes the positions of the respective receiving devices belonging to the same terminal group, the receiving devices may be classified into subgroups based on the positions of the respective receiving devices. For example, the specific unit 11 classifies one or more receiving devices present within a cell formed by a certain base station into the same subgroup. Similarly, the server device or the core network device may also classify the receiving devices into subgroups based on the positions of the receiving devices. Alternatively, the classification unit 71 may classify the receiving devices into subgroups based on other information. The other information may be, for example, information indicating whether the receiving device is a mobile terminal or a fixed terminal, or information indicating whether it is an IoT terminal or another type of terminal.

[0065] The determination unit 12 may determine the data size or bit rate of the communication data for each subgroup. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 8, assume that the number of receiving devices belonging to the subgroup formed by the relay device 61 is larger than the number of receiving devices belonging to the subgroup formed by the relay device 62. In this case, the determination unit 12 may make the data size of the communication data destined for the receiving devices 21 to 23 smaller than the data size of the communication data destined for the receiving devices 24 to 25. Alternatively, the determination unit 12 may make the bit rate of the communication data destined for the receiving devices 21 to 23 lower than the bit rate of the communication data destined for the receiving devices 24 to 25.

[0066] By changing the data size or bit rate of the communication data for each subgroup in this way, it is possible to suppress the processing load on the relay device when the number of receiving devices belonging to the subgroup increases.

[0067] Alternatively, the determination unit 12 may determine a data size or bit rate that is commonly applicable to all of the receiving devices 21 to 25 that are the destinations of the communication data. Specifically, the determination unit 12 first determines a data size or bit rate for each subgroup. Here, there are a total of P subgroups, and let the data sizes or bit rates determined for each of the subgroups be Q1, Q2, ···, Qp. At this time, the determination unit 12 may determine the minimum value of Q1 to Qp as the data size or bit rate to be commonly applied. Alternatively, the median value of Q1 to Qp may be determined as the data size or bit rate to be commonly applied. Alternatively, the determination unit 12 may calculate an arbitrary statistical value for Q1 to Qp and thereby determine the data size or bit rate to be commonly applied. In this case, a common data size or bit rate can be applied to all of the receiving devices 21 to 25 that are the destinations of the communication data. Therefore, compared with the case of determining the data size or bit rate of the communication data for each subgroup, the processing load related to the generation of the communication data can be reduced.

[0068] In the example of FIG. 8, a configuration example in which there is no server device has been described. However, in the communication system of FIG. 8, a server device 40 may be added as shown in FIG. 4, and a transmission device 50 may be used.

[0069] FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a transmission device 10, a server device 40, and a transmission device 50 (hereinafter referred to as the transmission device 10 etc.). Referring to FIG. 10, the transmission device 10 etc. includes a network interface 1201, a processor 1202, and a memory 1203. The network interface 1201 may be used to communicate with other network nodes. The network interface 1201 may include, for example, a network interface card (NIC) compliant with the IEEE 802.3 series.

[0070] The processor 1202 reads and executes software (computer program) from the memory 1203 to perform the processing of the transmission device 10 and the like described with the flowchart in the above-described embodiment. The processor 1202 may be, for example, a microprocessor, an MPU, or a CPU. The processor 1202 may include a plurality of processors.

[0071] The memory 1203 is composed of a combination of a volatile memory and a non-volatile memory. The memory 1203 may include a storage disposed apart from the processor 1202. In this case, the processor 1202 may access the memory 1203 via an I / O (Input / Output) interface (not shown).

[0072] In the example of FIG. 10, the memory 1203 is used to store a group of software modules. The processor 1202 can perform the processing of the transmission device 10 and the like described in the above-described embodiment by reading and executing these groups of software modules from the memory 1203.

[0073] As described with reference to FIG. 10, each of the processors included in the transmission device 10 and the like in the above-described embodiment executes one or a plurality of programs including a group of instructions for causing a computer to perform the algorithms described with the drawings.

[0074] The program includes a set of instructions (or software code) for causing a computer to perform one or more functions described in the embodiments when loaded into the computer. The program may be stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium or a tangible storage medium. By way of example and not limitation, the computer-readable medium or tangible storage medium includes random-access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), flash memory, solid-state drive (SSD) or other memory technologies, CD-ROM, digital versatile disc (DVD), Blu-ray (registered trademark) disc or other optical disc storage, magnetic cassette, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices. The program may be transmitted on a transient computer-readable medium or a communication medium. By way of example and not limitation, the transient computer-readable medium or communication medium includes electrical, optical, acoustic, or other forms of propagated signals.

[0075] It should be noted that the present disclosure is not limited to the above embodiments and can be appropriately modified without departing from the spirit.

[0076] Some or all of the above embodiments may be described as follows, but are not limited thereto. (Appendix 1) A transmitting device that transmits communication data to one or more receiving devices via a network, identifying means for identifying the number of receiving devices indicating the destination of the communication data; determining means for determining the data size or bit rate of the communication data such that when the number of receiving devices is a first number, it is smaller than when the number of receiving devices is a second number smaller than the first number; generating means for generating the communication data using the determined data size or bit rate; Transmission means for transmitting the generated communication data to one or more of the destination receiving devices via the network A transmission device having the above. (Appendix 2) The destination of the communication data is a terminal group consisting of one or more of the receiving devices, The specifying means specifies the number of receiving devices based on group identification information for identifying the terminal group. The transmission device according to Appendix 1. (Appendix 3) The specifying means obtains the number of receiving devices belonging to the terminal group from a server that manages information regarding the terminal group. The transmission device according to Appendix 2. (Appendix 4) The transmission device further includes classification means for classifying one or more of the receiving devices that are the destination of the communication data into sub-groups in which the relay devices in the network through which they pass are the same, The specifying means specifies the number of receiving devices for each sub-group, The determining means determines the data size or bit rate of the communication data using the number of receiving devices specified for each sub-group. The transmission device according to any one of Appendices 1 to 3. (Appendix 5) The determining means determines the data size or bit rate of the communication data using the number of receiving devices in a specific sub-group among the numbers of receiving devices specified for each sub-group. The transmission device according to Appendix 4. (Appendix 6) The determining means, for each sub-group, when the number of receiving devices in the sub-group is a third number, determines the data size or bit rate of the communication data to be smaller than when the number of receiving devices in the sub-group is a fourth number that is less than the first number. The transmission device according to Appendix 4. (Appendix 7) The network includes a wireless network. The relay device is a wireless access node of the wireless network, The transmission device according to any one of Appendices 4 to 6. (Appendix 8) The communication data is communication data received from a transmission terminal, The determining means determines a data size or a bit rate to be applied to the communication data received from the transmission terminal. The transmission device according to any one of Appendices 1 to 7. (Appendix 9) The communication data is data including sound, image, or video, The generating means controls the data size or the bit rate by changing the compression parameter of the data. The transmission device according to any one of Appendices 1 to 8. (Appendix 10) A transmission device configured to transmit communication data to one or more receiving devices via a network, A server that specifies the number of receiving devices that are destinations of the communication data, and when the number of receiving devices is a first number, determines a data size or a bit rate smaller than that when the number of receiving devices is a second number smaller than the first number, and transmits the determined data size or bit rate to the transmission device, and The transmission device is A communication system that generates the communication data using the determined data size or bit rate and transmits the generated communication data to one or more of the destination receiving devices via the network. (Appendix 11) The destination of the communication data is a terminal group including one or more of the receiving devices, The server specifies the number of receiving devices based on group identification information for identifying the terminal group. The communication system according to Appendix 10. (Appendix 12) When transmitting communication data to one or more receiving devices via a network, a transmitting device configured to identify the number of receiving devices that are the destinations of the communication data, When the number of receiving devices is a first number, the data size or bit rate of the communication data is determined to be a smaller data size or lower bit rate than when the number of receiving devices is a second number that is less than the first number, and a server configured to transmit the determined data size or bit rate to the transmitting device, The transmitting device, A communication system that generates the communication data using the determined data size or bit rate and transmits the generated communication data to the one or more receiving devices that are the destinations via the network. (Appendix 13) The destination of the communication data is a terminal group consisting of one or more of the receiving devices, The transmitting device identifies the number of receiving devices based on group identification information that identifies the terminal group, The communication system according to Appendix 12. (Appendix 14) A transmission method executed in a transmitting device that transmits communication data to one or more receiving devices via a network, Identifying the number of receiving devices that are the destinations of the communication data, When the number of receiving devices is a first number, the data size or bit rate of the communication data is determined to be a smaller data size or lower bit rate than when the number of receiving devices is a second number that is less than the first number, Generating the communication data using the determined data size or bit rate, A transmission method that transmits the generated communication data to the one or more receiving devices that are the destinations via the network. (Appendix 15) A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a program for causing a computer to transmit communication data to one or more receiving devices via a network, identifying the number of receiving devices that are destinations of the communication data, when the number of receiving devices is a first number, determining the data size or bit rate of the communication data to be smaller than the data size or lower than the bit rate when the number of receiving devices is a second number smaller than the first number, generating the communication data using the determined data size or bit rate, and transmitting the generated communication data to the one or more receiving devices that are the destinations via the network, a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a program for causing a computer to perform the above.

Explanation of Signs

[0077] 10 Transmitting device 11 Identifying unit 12 Determining unit 13 Generating unit 14 Transmitting unit 21 Receiving device 22 Receiving device 23 Receiving device 24 Receiving device 25 Receiving device 30 Network 40 Server device 41 Identifying unit 42 Determining unit 43 Communication unit 50 Transmitting device 51 Generating unit 52 Transmitting unit 61 Relay device 62 Relay device 70 Transmitting device 71 Classifying unit 1201 Network interface 1202 Processor 1203 Memory

Claims

1. A transmitting device for transmitting communication data to one or more receiving devices via a network, comprising: identifying means for identifying the number of receiving devices indicating the destination of the communication data; determining means for determining the data size or bit rate of the communication data to be smaller data size or lower bit rate than when the number of receiving devices is a second number smaller than the first number when the number of receiving devices is the first number; generating means for generating the communication data using the determined data size or bit rate; transmitting means for transmitting the generated communication data to the one or more receiving devices as the destination via the network; classifying means for classifying the one or more receiving devices as the destination of the communication data into subgroups in which the relay devices in the network through which they pass are the same; wherein the identifying means identifies the number of receiving devices for each subgroup; wherein the determining means determines the data size or bit rate of the communication data using the number of receiving devices of a specific subgroup among the numbers of receiving devices specified for each subgroup; A transmitting device.

2. The destination of the communication data is a terminal group consisting of one or more of the receiving devices, wherein the identifying means identifies the number of receiving devices based on group identification information for identifying the terminal group; The transmitting device according to claim 1.

3. wherein the identifying means obtains the number of receiving devices belonging to the terminal group from a server that manages information related to the terminal group; The transmitting device according to claim 2.

4. The network includes a wireless network, wherein the relay device is a wireless access node of the wireless network; The transmitting device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. The communication data is communication data received from a transmitting terminal, wherein the determining means determines the data size or bit rate to be applied to the communication data received from the transmitting terminal; The transmitting device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. A transmission method executed in a transmitting device for transmitting communication data to one or more receiving devices via a network, comprising: classifying the one or more receiving devices as the destination of the communication data into subgroups in which the relay devices in the network through which they pass are the same; Specify the number of receiving devices that are the destinations of the communication data for each of the subgroups, When the number of receiving devices is a first number, determine the data size or bit rate of the communication data so that it has a smaller data size or lower bit rate than when the number of receiving devices is a second number that is less than the first number, Among the numbers of receiving devices specified for each of the subgroups, use the number of receiving devices of a specific subgroup to determine the data size or bit rate of the communication data, Generate the communication data using the determined data size or bit rate, A transmission method of transmitting the generated communication data to one or more of the receiving devices that are the destinations via the network.

7. A program for causing a computer to transmit communication data to one or more receiving devices via a network, Classify one or more of the receiving devices that are the destinations of the communication data into subgroups in which the relay devices in the network through which they pass are the same, Specify the number of receiving devices that are the destinations of the communication data for each of the subgroups, When the number of receiving devices is a first number, determine the data size or bit rate of the communication data so that it has a smaller data size or lower bit rate than when the number of receiving devices is a second number that is less than the first number, Among the numbers of receiving devices specified for each of the subgroups, use the number of receiving devices of a specific subgroup to determine the data size or bit rate of the communication data, Generate the communication data using the determined data size or bit rate, A program for causing a computer to transmit the generated communication data to one or more of the receiving devices that are the destinations via the network.

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