Communication path optimization device and communication path optimization method

Abstract

A communication path optimization device according to one aspect of the present invention optimizes a communication path of a connection network configured by a connection terminal that connects a base device and the Internet, the communication path optimization device comprising an acquisition unit, a determination unit, and a setting unit. The acquisition unit acquires a device-terminal delay time between a base device and a connection terminal provided in an area to which the base device belongs, for each of a plurality of base devices that perform mutual communication, and acquires a plurality of inter-terminal delay times among a plurality of connection terminals including at least a connection terminal to be optimized with respect to each of the plurality of base devices. The determination unit determines, as a common connection terminal, any one of the plurality of connection terminals such that a difference between a maximum value and a minimum value of the delay time to each of the plurality of base devices is minimized, with reference to each of the plurality of connection terminals, on the basis of a plurality of the device-terminal delay times among the plurality of base devices and the connection terminal to be optimized, and a plurality of the inter-terminal delay times. The setting unit sets the plurality of base devices and the Internet to be connected to the connection terminal to be optimized, via the common connection terminal.

Description

Communication route optimization device and communication route optimization method

[0001] The present invention relates to a communication route optimization device and a communication route optimization method.

[0002] Recently, there has been an increase in situations (e.g., e-sports) where it is desirable to equalize communication quality (e.g., communication delay and fluctuations in communication delay) between bases. For example, when bases A and B belonging to different jurisdictional areas within a communication network communicate with a given server via the Internet, in conventional technology, the communication path from base A and the communication path from base B are connected to the Internet from different points of interconnection (POIs: Points of Interface). In other words, in conventional technology, each of the multiple bases communicating with each other accesses the given server via a different communication path.

[0003] In this way, when multiple locations communicating with each other use different communication paths, the communication delay and fluctuations in communication delay on each communication path will be different, which can lead to problems such as inequality in communication quality between locations.

[0004] JP 2010-109575 A

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a technique for suppressing inequality in communication quality.

[0006] A communication route optimization device according to one aspect of the present invention is a communication route optimization device that optimizes a communication route of a connection network composed of connection terminals connecting a base device and the Internet, and includes an acquisition unit, a determination unit, and a setting unit. The acquisition unit acquires, for each of a plurality of base devices that communicate with each other, device-to-terminal delay times between the base device and connection terminals located in the area to which the base device belongs, and acquires multiple terminal-to-terminal delay times between a plurality of connection terminals including at least a connection terminal to be optimized corresponding to each of the plurality of base devices. The determination unit determines, based on the multiple device-to-terminal delay times and multiple terminal-to-terminal delay times between the plurality of base devices and the connection terminal to be optimized, one of the connection terminals that minimizes the difference between the maximum and minimum values ​​of delay times to each of the plurality of base devices as a common connection terminal. The setting unit configures the connection terminal to be optimized to connect the plurality of base devices to the Internet via the common connection terminal.

[0007] According to the present invention, a technique for suppressing inequality in communication quality is provided.

[0008] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a communication system including a communication route optimization device according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the communication route optimization device of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the communication route optimization device of FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of communication route optimization processing in the communication route optimization device according to an embodiment. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a first specific example of a communication route optimized by the communication route optimization device according to an embodiment. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a second specific example of a communication route optimized by the communication route optimization device according to an embodiment. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing another example of communication route optimization processing in the communication route optimization device according to an embodiment. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a specific example of a conventional communication route.

[0009] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0010] <Embodiment> [Configuration] Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a communication system including a communication route optimization device according to an embodiment. The communication system 1 in Fig. 1 includes a telecommunications carrier network 2, an Internet Service Provider (ISP) network 3, the Internet 4, and a communication route optimization device 5. The telecommunications carrier network 2 is a telecommunications carrier network managed by the same telecommunications carrier and connects a user terminal to the ISP network 3. The ISP network 3 is a network of the ISP and provides connection services to the Internet 4. The communication route optimization device 5 optimizes communication routes related to a POI network (connection network) in the telecommunications carrier network 2. The POI network connects the telecommunications carrier network 2 and the ISP network 3. Hereinafter, the network on the user terminal side, with the POI network as the boundary, will be referred to as the "access network," and the network on the Internet 4 side will be referred to as the "Internet network." Furthermore, it is assumed that the user terminal accesses the Internet 4 using the same ISP.

[0011] The telecommunications carrier network 2 has, for example, multiple jurisdictional areas (areas). A POI terminal (connection terminal) is located in each of the multiple jurisdictional areas. The POI terminal aggregates the access networks under it and connects them to the ISP network 3. The network configured with these POI terminals is the POI network. In Figure 1, jurisdictional area 2A and jurisdictional area 2B are shown as examples of multiple jurisdictional areas.

[0012] The jurisdiction area 2A includes one or more base devices 10A, one or more relay devices 20A, and a POI terminal 30A. The base device 10A is, for example, configured as a router and accommodates one or more user terminals. The relay device 20A is, for example, configured as a router and relays connections between the one or more base devices 10A and the POI terminal 30A. The POI terminal 30A is, for example, configured as a gateway router and connects the base devices 10A (or user terminals) under its control to the Internet 4 (or ISP network 3).

[0013] The jurisdiction area 2B includes one or more base devices 10B, one or more relay devices 20B, and a POI terminal 30B. The base device 10B, the relay device 20B, and the POI terminal 30B are substantially similar to the base device 10A, the relay device 20B, and the POI terminal 30A, and therefore description thereof will be omitted.

[0014] Hereinafter, "connecting a base device to the Internet 4" and "connecting a base device to the ISP network 3" are considered to be roughly synonymous. Furthermore, if a base device is one of multiple base devices that communicate with each other, the POI terminal installed in the jurisdiction to which the base device belongs may be referred to as the "POI terminal to be optimized." Furthermore, the POI terminal is considered to be capable of measuring the delay time between other connected POI terminals and between the POI terminals and subordinate base devices.

[0015] The communication carrier network 2 also has a POI network POI_NW configured by connecting the POI terminal 30A, the POI terminal 30B, and one or more POI terminals 30N. Any two POI terminals configuring the POI network POI_NW may be directly connected to each other, or may be indirectly connected via another POI terminal.

[0016] The communication route optimization device 5 optimizes the communication route of the POI network POI_NW. For example, to connect the base device 10A and the base device 10B that communicate with each other to the Internet 4, the communication route optimization device 5 determines one of the POI terminals 30A, 30B, and one or more POI terminals 30N as a common POI terminal (common connection terminal). The common POI terminal is a common POI terminal used to connect each of the multiple base devices to the Internet. The communication route optimization device 5 then configures the POI terminals 30A and 30B to be optimized so that the base device 10A and the base device 10B connect to the Internet 4 via the common POI terminal. As a result, the base device 10A and the base device 10B connect to the Internet 4 via the common POI terminal, and therefore the effects of communication delays and communication delay fluctuations (also known as jitter) in the Internet network are equal for each of the base device 10A and the base device 10B. That is, the communication route optimization device 5 can equalize communication delays and communication delay fluctuations in the Internet network among a plurality of base devices that communicate with each other.

[0017] The configuration of the communication system including the communication route optimization device according to the embodiment has been described above. Next, the hardware configuration of the communication route optimization device will be described.

[0018] Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of the communication route optimization device 5 of Fig. 1. The communication route optimization device 5 of Fig. 2 includes a control circuit 110, a storage 120, a communication module 130, an interface 140, and a drive 150.

[0019] The control circuit 110 is a circuit that controls the overall components of the communication route optimization device 5. The control circuit 110 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), etc. The ROM of the control circuit 110 stores programs used in various processes in the communication route optimization device 5. The CPU of the control circuit 110 controls the entire communication route optimization device 5 in accordance with the programs stored in the ROM of the control circuit 110. The RAM of the control circuit 110 is used as a working area for the CPU of the control circuit 110.

[0020] The storage 120 is configured by, for example, a hard disk drive (HDD), a solid state drive (SSD), a flash memory, etc. The storage 120 stores information used in various processes in the communication route optimization device 5.

[0021] The communication module 130 is a circuit used to send and receive data to and from each of the multiple POI terminals.

[0022] The interface 140 is an interface used for communication between a user and the control circuit 110. The interface 140 includes, for example, input devices and output devices. The input devices include an audio microphone, a touch panel, and operation buttons. The output devices include a speaker and a display.

[0023] The drive 150 is a device for reading software stored in a storage medium 151. The drive 150 includes, for example, a CD (Compact Disk) drive or a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk) drive.

[0024] The storage medium 151 is a medium that stores software electrically, magnetically, optically, mechanically, or chemically. The storage medium 151 may store programs for executing various processes in the communication route optimization device 5.

[0025] The storage medium 151 may be a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory. When the storage medium 151 is a USB memory, the storage medium 151 is connected to, for example, the communication module 130. In this case, the communication route optimization device 5 does not need to include the drive 150.

[0026] Having described the hardware configuration of the communication route optimization device, the functional configuration of the communication route optimization device will now be described.

[0027] Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the communication route optimization device 5 of Fig. 2. The communication route optimization device 5 of Fig. 3 includes a delay time information acquisition unit 210 (acquisition unit), a common POI terminal determination unit 220 (determination unit), and a setting unit 230.

[0028] 3, the CPU of the control circuit 110 in FIG. 2 loads a program stored in the ROM of the control circuit 110 or the storage medium 151 into the RAM of the control circuit 110. The CPU of the control circuit 110 then interprets and executes the program loaded into the RAM of the control circuit 110. As a result, the communication route optimization device 5 functions as a computer including a delay time information acquisition unit 210, a common POI terminal determination unit 220, and a setting unit 230.

[0029] The delay time information acquisition unit 210 acquires delay time information from each of the multiple POI terminals that form the POI network. The delay time information is information that includes, for example, at least the delay time between the POI terminals (terminal-to-terminal delay time), and may also include the delay time between the base device and the POI terminal (device-to-terminal delay time). The delay time information acquisition unit 210 outputs the acquired delay time information to the common POI terminal determination unit 220.

[0030] Specifically, the delay time information acquisition unit 210 acquires information on the inter-terminal delay time between a plurality of POI terminals including at least the POI terminal to be optimized corresponding to each of a plurality of base devices that communicate with each other. The delay time information acquisition unit 210 also acquires information on the device-terminal delay time for each of a plurality of base devices that communicate with each other.

[0031] The common POI terminal determination unit 220 receives delay time information from the delay time information acquisition unit 210. Based on the delay time information, the common POI terminal determination unit 220 determines one of the multiple POI terminals forming the POI network as the common POI terminal. The common POI terminal determination unit 220 outputs information about the determined common POI terminal (common POI terminal information) to the setting unit 230.

[0032] Specifically, the common POI terminal determination unit 220 determines, based on the multiple device-to-terminal delay times and the multiple terminal-to-terminal delay times, one of the multiple POI terminals as the common POI terminal that minimizes the difference between the maximum and minimum values ​​of the delay time to each of the multiple base devices, using each of the multiple POI terminals as a reference. In this case, the multiple POI terminals that are candidates for the common POI terminal may consist of only the POI terminal to be optimized, or may consist of the POI terminal to be optimized and other POI terminals located in areas different from the jurisdiction areas to which each of the multiple base devices belongs. In other words, the other POI terminals are POI terminals that do not have a base device with which they communicate with each other in the access network under their control.

[0033] For example, when three base devices communicate with each other, the common POI terminal determination unit 220 calculates the delay time from the reference POI terminal to each of the three base devices, and determines the POI terminal that has the smallest difference between the maximum and minimum delay times as the common POI terminal.

[0034] The setting unit 230 receives common POI terminal information from the common POI terminal determination unit 220. The setting unit 230 outputs setting information to the POI terminal to be optimized to set it to connect via the common POI terminal. The POI terminal to be optimized that has received the setting information sets it to connect the base device to the Internet via the common POI terminal. In other words, the setting unit 230 sets the POI terminal to be optimized to connect multiple base devices to the Internet via the common POI terminal.

[0035] The functional configuration of the communication route optimization device has been described above. Next, the operation of the communication route optimization device will be described.

[0036] [Operation] Fig. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of a communication route optimization process in the communication route optimization device according to the embodiment. The communication route optimization process shown in the flowchart in Fig. 4 is executed by the communication route optimization device when, for example, a POI terminal receives traffic from multiple base devices that communicate with each other.

[0037] (Step S110) When the communication route optimization process is executed, the delay time information acquisition unit 210 acquires delay time information. Specifically, the delay time information acquisition unit 210 acquires delay time information from each of the multiple POI terminals forming the POI network.

[0038] (Step S120) After acquiring the delay time information, the common POI terminal determination unit 220 determines whether there is a POI terminal that satisfies the predetermined condition. If it is determined that there is no POI terminal that satisfies the predetermined condition, the process proceeds to step S130. If it is determined that there is a POI terminal that satisfies the predetermined condition, the process proceeds to step S140.

[0039] The predetermined condition is, for example, "the delay time between two POI terminals corresponding to any two of the multiple base devices that communicate with each other is greater than the delay time from each of the two POI terminals to any one of the multiple POI terminals." A POI terminal that satisfies the predetermined condition is a POI terminal other than the POI terminal that is the optimization target and corresponds to the multiple base devices that communicate with each other. For example, when two base devices communicate with each other, a POI terminal that satisfies the predetermined condition is a POI terminal other than the two POI terminals that are the optimization target and correspond to the two base devices.

[0040] (Step S130) After determining that there is no POI terminal that satisfies the predetermined condition, the common POI terminal determination unit 220 determines, based on the multiple POI terminals to be optimized, the POI terminal that has the smallest difference between the maximum and minimum values ​​of the delay time to each base device as the common POI terminal. After step S130, the process proceeds to step S170.

[0041] (Step S140) After determining that there is a POI terminal that satisfies the predetermined condition, the common POI terminal determination unit 220 determines whether there is one POI terminal that satisfies the predetermined condition. If it is determined that there is not one POI terminal that satisfies the predetermined condition, the process proceeds to step S150. If it is determined that there is one POI terminal that satisfies the predetermined condition, the process proceeds to step S160.

[0042] (Step S150) After determining that there is more than one POI terminal that satisfies the predetermined condition, the common POI terminal determination unit 220 uses multiple POI terminals that satisfy the predetermined condition as a reference and determines the POI terminal that has the smallest difference between the maximum and minimum values ​​of the delay time to each base device as the common POI terminal. After step S150, the process proceeds to step S170.

[0043] (Step S160) After it is determined that there is one POI terminal that satisfies the predetermined condition, the common POI terminal determination unit 220 determines the one POI terminal that satisfies the predetermined condition as a common POI terminal.

[0044] (Step S170) After the common POI terminal is determined in any one of Steps S130, S150, and S160, the setting unit 230 sets the multiple POI terminals to be optimized so that the base device and the ISP network are connected via the common POI terminal. After Step S170, the communication route optimization process ends.

[0045] To summarize the above, the communication route optimization process in Figure 4 determines a common POI terminal from among multiple POI terminals that are the optimization targets in step S130, determines a common POI terminal from among multiple other POI terminals that are not among the multiple POI terminals that are the optimization targets in step S150, and determines one other POI terminal that is not among the multiple POI terminals that are the optimization targets as the common POI terminal in step S160.

[0046] The operation of the communication route optimization device has been described above. Next, a specific example of a communication route optimized by the communication route optimization device will be described. Before describing the specific example of the optimized communication route, a specific example of a conventional communication route, which is the communication route before optimization, will be described.

[0047] [Prior Art] Fig. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a specific example of a conventional communication path. Fig. 8 shows a communication system including base device 10A and base device 10B communicating with each other, POI terminal 30A provided in jurisdiction area 2A to which base device 10A belongs, POI terminal 30B provided in jurisdiction area 2B to which base device 10B belongs, POI terminal 30X provided in another jurisdiction area, and the Internet 4. Note that the ISP network and relay devices are not shown in the communication system of Fig. 8.

[0048] 8, in a conventional communication path, a base device 10A is connected to the Internet 4 via a POI terminal 30A, and a base device 10B is connected to the Internet 4 via a POI terminal 30B. That is, the base device 10A and the base device 10B, which communicate with each other, are connected to the Internet 4 via different POI terminals. In such a communication path, since the communication paths from each base device to the Internet are different, the base device 10A and the base device 10B may be affected by different communication delays and jitters on their respective communication paths.

[0049] [First Specific Example] Figure 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a first specific example of a communication path optimized by a communication path optimization device according to an embodiment. Figure 5 shows a communication system including a base device 10A (first base device) and a base device 10B (second base device) communicating with each other, a POI terminal 30A (first connection device) located in a jurisdiction area 2A to which the base device 10A belongs, a POI terminal 30B (second connection device) located in a jurisdiction area 2B to which the base device 10B belongs, a POI terminal 30X (another connection terminal) located in another jurisdiction area (another area), and the Internet 4. Note that the ISP network and relay devices are omitted from the communication system shown in Figure 5.

[0050] In the first specific example, the communication route optimization device 5 determines the POI terminal 30X as a common POI terminal because the delay time AB (inter-terminal delay time) between the POI terminals 30A and 30B corresponding to the base devices 10A and 10B that communicate with each other is greater than the delay time AX (inter-terminal delay time) between the POI terminals 30A and 30X and is greater than the delay time BX (inter-terminal delay time) between the POI terminals 30B and 30X. Then, the communication route optimization device 5 sets the POI terminals 30A and 30B to be optimized so that the base devices 10A and 10B are connected to the Internet 4 via the POI terminal 30X.

[0051] Therefore, in the communication path of the first specific example, base device 10A and base device 10B are connected to Internet 4 via POI terminal 30X via POI terminal 30A and POI terminal 30B, respectively. That is, base device 10A and base device 10B, which communicate with each other, are connected to Internet 4 via a common POI terminal (POI terminal 30X). In this communication path, the communication path from the POI terminal to the Internet is common to each base device, so base device 10A and base device 10B can equally absorb the effects of communication delays and jitters in the Internet network.

[0052] [Second Specific Example] Fig. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a second specific example of a communication route optimized by a communication route optimization device according to an embodiment. Fig. 6 shows, as a communication system, a base device 10A and a base device 10B that communicate with each other, a POI terminal 30A provided in a jurisdiction area 2A to which the base device 10A belongs, a POI terminal 30B provided in a jurisdiction area 2B to which the base device 10B belongs, a POI terminal 30Y (another connection terminal) provided in another jurisdiction area, and the Internet 4. Note that the ISP network and relay devices are not shown in the communication system of Fig. 6.

[0053] In the second specific example, the communication route optimization device 5 does not select POI terminal 30Y as a common POI terminal, and instead selects either POI terminal 30A or POI terminal 30B as a candidate for the common POI terminal, because the delay time AB (inter-terminal delay time) between POI terminal 30A and POI terminal 30B corresponding to base device 10A and base device 10B that communicate with each other is greater than the delay time AY (inter-terminal delay time) between POI terminal 30A and POI terminal 30Y, but is smaller than the delay time BY (inter-terminal delay time) between POI terminal 30B and POI terminal 30Y.

[0054] Next, the communication route optimization device 5 sets the POI terminal 30B as a common POI terminal because the delay time B (second device-terminal delay time) between the base device 10B and the POI terminal 30B is longer than the delay time A (first device-terminal delay time) between the base device 10A and the POI terminal 30A.

[0055] Then, the communication route optimization device 5 sets the optimization target POI terminal 30A and POI terminal 30B so that the base device 10A and the base device 10B are connected to the Internet 4 via the POI terminal 30B.

[0056] Therefore, in the communication path of the second specific example, base device 10A and the Internet 4 are connected via POI terminal 30B via POI terminal 30A, and base device 10B and the Internet 4 are connected via POI terminal 30B. That is, base device 10A and base device 10B, which communicate with each other, are connected to the Internet 4 via a common POI terminal (POI terminal 30B). In this communication path, the communication path from the POI terminal to the Internet is common to each base device, so base device 10A and base device 10B can equally absorb the effects of communication delays and jitters in the Internet network, as in the first specific example.

[0057] [Modification of Operation] In the communication route optimization process of Fig. 4, when there is a POI terminal (another POI terminal) that satisfies a predetermined condition, a common POI terminal is determined from among the other POI terminals. On the other hand, in the communication route optimization process of Fig. 7 described below, when there is a POI terminal (another POI terminal) that satisfies a predetermined condition, a common POI terminal is determined from among the other POI terminals as well as the POI terminal that is the optimization target.

[0058] 7 is a flowchart showing a modified example of the communication route optimization process in the communication route optimization device according to the embodiment. The communication route optimization process shown in the flowchart in FIG. 7 is executed by the communication route optimization device when, for example, a POI terminal receives traffic from multiple base devices that are communicating with each other.

[0059] (Step S210) When the communication route optimization process is executed, the delay time information acquisition unit 210 acquires delay time information. Specifically, the delay time information acquisition unit 210 acquires delay time information from each of the multiple POI terminals forming the POI network.

[0060] (Step S220) After the delay time information is acquired, the common POI terminal determination unit 220 determines whether there is a POI terminal that satisfies a predetermined condition. The predetermined condition is the same as described above. If it is determined that there is no POI terminal that satisfies the predetermined condition, the process proceeds to step S230. If it is determined that there is a POI terminal that satisfies the predetermined condition, the process proceeds to step S240.

[0061] (Step S230) After determining that there is no POI terminal that satisfies the predetermined condition, the common POI terminal determination unit 220 determines, based on the multiple POI terminals to be optimized, the POI terminal that has the smallest difference between the maximum and minimum values ​​of the delay time to each base device as the common POI terminal. After step S230, the process proceeds to step S250.

[0062] (Step S240) After it is determined that there is a POI terminal that satisfies the specified conditions, the common POI terminal determination unit 220 determines the POI terminal that has the smallest maximum and minimum delay times to each base device as the common POI terminal, based on the POI terminal that satisfies the specified conditions and the multiple POI terminals that are the target of optimization.

[0063] (Step S250) After the common POI terminal is determined in either step S230 or step S240, the setting unit 230 sets the multiple POI terminals to be optimized so that the base device and the ISP network are connected via the common POI terminal. After step S250, the communication route optimization process ends.

[0064] 7, in step S230, a common POI terminal is determined from among a plurality of POI terminals that are optimization targets, and in step S240, a common POI terminal is determined from among a plurality of other POI terminals that are not the plurality of POI terminals that are optimization targets and a plurality of POI terminals that are optimization targets. By performing such processing, the communication route optimization device 5 can suppress inequality in communication delays in the access network more than the communication route optimization processing of FIG.

[0065] [Effects] According to the above embodiment, the communication route optimization device is a communication route optimization device that optimizes the communication route of a connection network made up of connection terminals that connect a base device and the Internet, and obtains, for each of a plurality of base devices that communicate with each other, the device-to-terminal delay time between the base device and the connection terminals located in the area to which the base device belongs, and obtains a plurality of terminal-to-terminal delay times between a plurality of connection terminals including at least the connection terminal to be optimized that corresponds to each of the plurality of base devices, and determines, based on the multiple device-to-terminal delay times and the multiple terminal-to-terminal delay times between the plurality of base devices and the connection terminal to be optimized, one of the plurality of connection terminals that has the smallest difference between the maximum and minimum values ​​of the delay time to each of the plurality of base devices as a common connection terminal, and configures the connection terminal to be optimized to connect the plurality of base devices to the Internet via the common connection terminal.

[0066] Therefore, the communication route optimization device can connect to the Internet via a common connection terminal among a plurality of base devices that communicate with each other, thereby making it possible to suppress inequality in communication quality.

[0067] The plurality of connection terminals may also include a connection terminal to be optimized and other connection terminals provided in areas different from the areas to which each of the plurality of base devices belongs.

[0068] This allows the communication route optimization device to determine the optimal common connection terminal by taking into consideration the delay times of not only the connection terminal to be optimized but also other connection terminals.

[0069] Further, the plurality of base devices include a first base device and a second base device, the plurality of connection terminals include a first connection terminal provided in an area to which the first base device belongs, a second connection terminal provided in an area to which the second base device belongs, and another connection terminal provided in another area, the plurality of device-to-terminal delay times include a first device-to-terminal delay time between the first base device and the first connection terminal, and a second device-to-terminal delay time between the second base device and the second connection terminal, and the communication route optimization device calculates the first device-to-terminal delay time, the second device-to-terminal delay time, and the first connection terminal and the second connection terminal. Multiple inter-terminal delay times between a connection terminal and other connection terminals are obtained, and based on the first device-to-terminal delay time, the second device-to-terminal delay time, and the multiple inter-terminal delay times, one of the multiple connection terminals is determined as a common connection terminal, using each of the multiple connection terminals as a reference, so that the difference between the maximum and minimum values ​​of the delay times to each of the first base device and the second base device is minimized, and the first connection terminal and second connection terminal that are the target of optimization are configured to connect each of the first base device and the second base device to the Internet via the common connection terminal.

[0070] As a result, the communication route optimization device can connect to the Internet via a common connection terminal between two base devices that communicate with each other, thereby reducing inequality in communication quality.

[0071] [Modification] In the above embodiment, the communication route optimization device 5 is provided separately from the POI terminals that make up the POI network, but this is not limited to this. For example, the communication route optimization device 5 may be provided in the POI terminal. Furthermore, for example, the POI terminal may be provided with each unit that constitutes the functional configuration of the communication route optimization device 5, so that the POI terminal performs the same operation as the communication route optimization device 5.

[0072] In the above embodiment, the case where the program that executes the communication route optimization process is executed by the communication route optimization device 5 has been described, but this is not limiting. For example, the program that executes the communication route optimization process may be executed by a computing resource on a cloud.

[0073] In the above-described embodiments, the flowcharts in Fig. 4 and Fig. 7 are each merely examples. The order of the steps in the flowcharts described in the embodiments may be changed to the extent possible, and other steps may be added.

[0074] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made in the implementation stage without departing from the spirit of the invention. Furthermore, the embodiments may be implemented in appropriate combinations, in which case the combined effects can be obtained. Furthermore, the above-described embodiments include various inventions, and various inventions can be extracted by combining selected components from the disclosed components. For example, if the problem can be solved and the effects can be obtained even if some components are removed from all the components shown in the embodiments, the configuration from which these components are removed can be extracted as an invention.

[0075] DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1...Communication system 2...Communication carrier network 2A, 2B...Jurisdiction area 3...ISP carrier network 4...Internet 5...Communication route optimization device 10A, 10B...Base device 20A, 20B...Relay device 30A, 30B, 30N, 30X, 30Y...POI terminal 110...Control circuit 120...Storage 130...Communication module 140...Interface 150...Drive 151...Storage medium 210...Delay time information acquisition unit 220...Common POI terminal determination unit 230...Setting unit A, B, AB, AX, AY, BX, BY...Delay time POI_NW...POI network

Claims

1. A communication route optimization device that optimizes communication routes of a connection network made up of connection terminals connecting a base device and the Internet, comprising: an acquisition unit that acquires, for each of a plurality of base devices that communicate with each other, device-to-terminal delay times between the base device and the connection terminals located in the area to which the base device belongs, and acquires a plurality of terminal-to-terminal delay times between a plurality of connection terminals including at least a connection terminal to be optimized corresponding to each of the plurality of base devices; a determination unit that determines, based on the multiple device-to-terminal delay times and the multiple terminal-to-terminal delay times between the plurality of base devices and the connection terminals to be optimized, one of the plurality of connection terminals as a common connection terminal such that the difference between the maximum and minimum values ​​of the delay times to each of the plurality of base devices is minimized, using each of the plurality of connection terminals as a reference; and a setting unit that configures the connection terminal to be optimized so that the plurality of base devices and the Internet are connected via the common connection terminal.

2. The communication route optimization device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of connection terminals includes the connection terminal to be optimized and other connection terminals provided in areas different from the areas to which each of the plurality of base devices belongs.

3. The plurality of base devices include a first base device and a second base device; the plurality of connection terminals include a first connection terminal provided in an area to which the first base device belongs, a second connection terminal provided in an area to which the second base device belongs, and another connection terminal provided in another area; the plurality of device-to-terminal delay times include a first device-to-terminal delay time between the first base device and the first connection terminal, and a second device-to-terminal delay time between the second base device and the second connection terminal; the acquisition unit acquires the first device-to-terminal delay time, the second device-to-terminal delay time, and the plurality of terminal-to-terminal delay times between the first connection terminal, the second connection terminal, and the other connection terminal; The communication route optimization device of claim 1, wherein the determination unit determines, based on the first device-terminal delay time, the second device-terminal delay time, and the plurality of terminal-to-terminal delay times, one of the plurality of connection terminals as the common connection terminal such that the difference between the maximum and minimum values ​​of the delay times to the first base device and the second base device is the smallest, using each of the plurality of connection terminals as a reference; and the setting unit sets, for each of the first connection terminal and the second connection terminal that are targets of optimization, the first base device and the second base device to connect to the Internet via the common connection terminal.

4. A communication route optimization method for optimizing communication routes of a connection network made up of connection terminals connecting a base device and the Internet, comprising: acquiring, for each of a plurality of base devices that communicate with each other, device-to-terminal delay times between the base device and the connection terminals located in the area to which the base device belongs, and acquiring a plurality of terminal-to-terminal delay times between a plurality of connection terminals including at least a connection terminal to be optimized corresponding to each of the plurality of base devices; determining, based on the multiple device-to-terminal delay times and the multiple terminal-to-terminal delay times between the plurality of base devices and the connection terminal to be optimized, one of the plurality of connection terminals as a common connection terminal that minimizes the difference between the maximum and minimum values ​​of delay times to each of the plurality of base devices, using each of the plurality of connection terminals as a reference; and configuring the connection terminal to be optimized to connect the plurality of base devices and the Internet via the common connection terminal.

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