Communication Quality Estimation Without Actual Data Transmission
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional communication quality estimation methods are unable to assess the quality of a transmission system before it is introduced, especially in systems requiring real-time transmission and reception of large data like images and voice, due to fluctuations in transfer rates.
Innovation Solution
A communication quality estimation system that includes a terminal, a communication quality check server, and a relay unit, connected via a network, which calculates the highest and lowest effective transfer rates and delay information without performing actual communication, using TCP and UDP protocols to estimate communication quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If communication quality estimation is performed by actual communication between users, then accurate communication quality data can be obtained, but it becomes impossible to estimate quality before the transmission system is introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs communication quality estimation actions before the transmission system is actually introduced to users. The communication quality estimation unit calculates transfer rates and delay information using test communications initiated by the introduction determination unit, allowing quality assessment to occur in advance of full system deployment, thus resolving the contradiction between needing actual communication data and enabling pre-introduction assessment
2Productivity
If real-time transmission and reception of large data (image and voice) is performed, then the transmission system functions properly, but large fluctuations in transfer rate occur making quality estimation difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs multiple transfer rate measurements at different time points and uses the minimum value among them as the effective transfer rate. This partial action approach (measuring at multiple points rather than continuous monitoring) captures the fluctuating nature of real-time transmission while providing a conservative, stable estimate that accounts for variability without requiring perfect transfer rate stability during actual operation
Solution Approach 2:
The communication quality estimation unit receives feedback from multiple transfer rate measurements and delay information calculations, then synthesizes this feedback to determine effective bandwidth and communication quality. This feedback mechanism allows the system to account for transfer rate fluctuations by using the minimum measured rate, providing a stable quality estimate that reflects real transmission conditions
Data Source
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AI summary
A computer is made to function as: a first communication control unit (66) that calculates a first transfer rate by communicating with a communication quality check server via a network; a second communication control unit (67) that calculates the delay information about communication delay by communicating with the communication quality check server via the network; an estimation unit (68) that estimates a second transfer rate lower than the first transfer rate based on the first transfer rate and the delay information; and a display control unit (69) that displays the communication quality information about communication quality based on the first transfer rate and the second transfer rate on a display unit (63).