Controlling method of priority class setup of communication packet and system of the same

Abstract

A sender transmits performance monitoring packets to a receiver via a network either prior to or in the midst of transmission appropriately, for monitoring communication quality (a communication delay, for example) of the network. A result of the monitoring is judged from returned performance monitoring result packets, whereby priority classes of communication packets are decided to perform subsequent transmission.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A controlling method of priority class setup in a communication system in which classified communication quality based on a priority class of a communication packet transmitted and received between a sender and a receiver via a communication network is to be provided, said controlling method of priority class setup comprising the steps of: 
 monitoring communication quality of said communication network by transmitting a performance monitoring packet from said sender to said receiver prior to transmission of said communication packet; and    deciding a priority class of said communication packet and transmitting said communication packet by the sender based on a result of the monitoring.    
     
     
         2 . A controlling method of priority class setup in a communication system in which classified communication quality based on a priority class of a communication packet transmitted and received between a sender and a receiver via a communication network is to be provided, said controlling method of priority class setup comprising the steps of: 
 monitoring communication quality of said communication network by transmitting a performance monitoring packet from said sender to said receiver in the midst of communication; and    deciding a priority class of said communication packet and transmitting said communication packet by the sender based on a result of the monitoring.    
     
     
         3 . The controlling method of priority class setup according to  claim 1 , 
 wherein said monitoring step includes the steps of: 
 transmitting said performance monitoring packet from said sender initially by setting up a predetermined priority class; and  
 receiving said performance monitoring packet and returning the received performance monitoring packet to said sender as a performance monitoring result packet.  
   
     
     
         4 . The controlling method of priority class setup according to  claim 2 , 
 wherein said monitoring step includes the steps of: 
 transmitting said performance monitoring packet from the sender initially by setting up a predetermined priority class; and  
 receiving said performance monitoring packet and returning the received performance monitoring packet to said sender as a performance monitoring result packet.  
   
     
     
         5 . The controlling method of priority class setup according to  claim 3 , 
 wherein said deciding step of a priority class includes the steps of: 
 receiving said performance monitoring result packet by said sender and judging as to whether requested communication quality by said communication packet is satisfactory;  
 resending said performance monitoring packet from said sender by shifting said priority class up by one class in a case where said requested communication quality is judged as unsatisfactory in said judging step;  
 iterating said returning step, said judging step and said resending step afterward, until any one of events that said requested communication quality becomes satisfactory and that said priority class reaches a highest priority class; and  
 setting up said communication packet ultimately to any one of a priority class by which said requested communication quality becomes satisfactory and said highest priority class.  
   
     
     
         6 . The controlling method of priority class setup according to  claim 4 , 
 wherein said deciding step of a priority class includes the steps of:    receiving said performance monitoring result packet by said sender and judging as to whether requested communication quality by said communication packet is satisfactory;    resending said performance monitoring packet from said sender by shifting said priority class up by one class in a case where said requested communication quality is judged as unsatisfactory in said judging step;    iterating said returning step, said judging step and said resending step afterward, until any one of events that said requested communication quality becomes satisfactory and that said priority class reaches a highest priority class; and    setting up said communication packet ultimately to any one of a priority class by which said requested communication quality becomes satisfactory and said highest priority class.    
     
     
         7 . The controlling method of priority class setup according to  claim 5 , further including the steps of: 
 shifting said priority class down by one class in a case where said requested communication quality is judged as satisfactory in said judging step and resending said performance monitoring packet from said sender;    iterating said returning step, said judging step and said second resending step afterward, until any one of events that said requested communication quality becomes unsatisfactory and that said priority class reaches a lowest priority class; and    setting up said communication packet ultimately to any one of a priority class precedent to a class by which said requested communication quality becomes unsatisfactory and said lowest priority class.    
     
     
         8 . The controlling method of priority class setup according to  claim 6 , further including the steps of: 
 resending said performance monitoring packet from said sender by shifting said priority class down by one class in a case where said requested communication quality is judged as satisfactory in said judging step;    iterating said returning step, said judging step and said second resending step afterward, until any one of events that said requested communication quality becomes unsatisfactory and that said priority class reaches a lowest priority class; and    setting up said communication packet ultimately to any one of a priority class precedent to a class by which said requested communication quality becomes unsatisfactory and said lowest priority class.    
     
     
         9 . The controlling method of priority class setup according to  claim 1 , wherein said deciding step further includes deciding said priority class in a case where said receiver is plural, in a manner that a highest priority class among priority classes decided with respective receivers is decided as a priority class applicable to said communication packet.  
     
     
         10 . The controlling method of priority class setup according to  claim 2 , wherein said deciding step further includes deciding said priority class in a case when said receiver is plural, in a manner that a highest priority class among priority classes decided with respective receivers is decided as a priority class applicable to said communication packet.  
     
     
         11 . The controlling method of priority class setup according to  claim 1 , wherein said deciding is executed by said receiver in lieu of said sender, and 
 said receiver instructs a decided priority class to said sender.    
     
     
         12 . The controlling method of priority class setup according to  claim 1 , wherein said communication quality is magnitude of a delay of packet transmission in said communication network, and 
 said monitoring step measures a delay of transmission of said performance monitoring packet.    
     
     
         13 . The controlling method of priority class setup according to  claim 2 , wherein said communication quality is magnitude of a delay of packet transmission in said communication network, and 
 said monitoring step measures a delay of transmission of said performance monitoring packet.    
     
     
         14 . The controlling method of priority class setup according to  claim 1 , wherein said communication packet is used in lieu of said performance monitoring packet.  
     
     
         15 . The controlling method of priority class setup according to  claim 2 , wherein said communication packet is used in lieu of said performance monitoring packet.  
     
     
         16 . The controlling method of priority class setup according to  claim 1 , further including a step of: 
 accounting in accordance with said priority class and amounts of packets.    
     
     
         17 . The controlling method of priority class setup according to  claim 2 , further including a step of: 
 accounting in accordance with said priority class and amounts of packets.    
     
     
         18 . A controlling method of priority class setup in a communication system in which a client and a server are connected via a communication network for distributing a content packet in correspondence with requests from said client, said corresponding content packet being distributed from said server while providing classified communication quality based on a priority class, said controlling method of priority class setup comprising the steps of: 
 transmitting a request packet from said client to said server, said request packet specifying in advance a priority class upon distribution of said content packet; and    transmitting said content packet from said server to said client with said requested priority class thus specified.    
     
     
         19 . The controlling method of priority class setup according to  claim 18 , further including a step of: 
 modifying said specified priority class of said request packet in a case where said client judges that said content packet does not satisfy requested communication quality.    
     
     
         20 . The controlling method of priority class setup according to  claim 18 , further including a step of: 
 performing accounting for said client by said server in accordance with a priority class and quantity of said content packet.    
     
     
         21 . The controlling method of priority class setup according to  claim 19 , further including a step of: 
 performing accounting for said client by said server in accordance with a priority class and quantity of said content packet.    
     
     
         22 . A controlling system of priority class setup in a communication system in which classified communication quality based on a priority class of a communication packet being transmitted and received between a sender and a receiver via a communication network is provided, 
 wherein said sender comprises: 
 a monitoring portion for monitoring communication quality of said communication network by transmitting a performance monitoring packet to said receiver prior to transmission of said communication packet; and  
 a priority class deciding portion for deciding a priority class of said communication packet based on a monitoring result and transmitting the communication packet by said sender.  
   
     
     
         23 . A controlling system of priority class setup in a communication system in which classified communication quality based on a priority class of a communication packet being transmitted and received between a sender and a receiver via a communication network is provided, 
 wherein said sender comprises: 
 a monitoring portion for monitoring communication quality of said communication network by transmitting a performance monitoring packet to said receiver in the midst of transmission of said communication packet; and  
 a priority class deciding portion for deciding a priority class of said communication packet based on a monitoring result and transmitting the communication packet.  
   
     
     
         24 . The controlling system of priority class setup according to  claim 22 , 
 wherein said monitoring portion includes a transmitting portion for transmitting by said sender said performance monitoring packet initially by setting up a predetermined priority class; and    said receiver includes a returning portion for receiving said performance monitoring packet and returning the received performance monitoring packet to said sender as a performance monitoring result packet.    
     
     
         25 . The controlling system of priority class setup according to  claim 23 , 
 wherein said monitoring portion includes a transmitting portion for transmitting by said sender said performance monitoring packet initially by setting up a predetermined priority class; and    said receiver includes a returning portion for receiving said performance monitoring packet and returning the received performance monitoring packet to said sender as a performance monitoring result packet.    
     
     
         26 . The controlling system of priority class setup according to  claim 24 , 
 wherein said priority class deciding portion includes: 
 a judging portion for receiving said performance monitoring result packet and judging as to whether communication quality requested by said communication packet is satisfactory;  
   a resending portion for resending said performance monitoring packet from said sender by shifting said priority class up by one class, in a case where said requested communication quality is judged as unsatisfactory in said judging portion;    a portion for controlling operations of said returning portion, said judging portion and said resending portion to be iterated until any one of events that said requested communication quality becomes satisfactory and that said priority class reaches a highest priority class; and    a portion for setting up said communication packet ultimately to any one of a priority class by which said requested communication quality becomes satisfactory and said highest priority class.    
     
     
         27 . The controlling system of priority class setup according to  claim 25 , 
 wherein said priority class deciding portion includes: 
 a judging portion for receiving said performance monitoring result packet and judging as to whether communication quality requested by said communication packet is satisfactory;  
 a resending portion for resending said performance monitoring packet from said sender by shifting said priority class up by one class, in a case where said requested communication quality is judged as unsatisfactory in said judging portion;  
   a portion for controlling operations of said returning portion, said judging portion and said resending portion to be iterated until any one of events that said requested communication quality becomes satisfactory and that the priority class reaches a highest priority class; and    a portion for setting up said communication packet ultimately to anyone of a priority class by which said requested communication quality becomes satisfactory and said highest priority class.    
     
     
         28 . The controlling system of priority class setup according to  claim 26 , further including: 
 a second resending portion for resending said performance monitoring packet from said sender by shifting said priority class down by one class in a case where said requested communication quality is judged as satisfactory in said judging portion;    a portion for controlling operations of said returning portion, said judging portion and said second resending portion to be iterated afterward until any one of events that said requested communication quality becomes unsatisfactory and that said priority class reaches a lowest priority class; and    a portion for setting up said communication packet ultimately to any one of a priority class precedent to a class by which said requested communication quality becomes unsatisfactory and said lowest priority class.    
     
     
         29 . The controlling system of priority class setup according to  claim 27 , further including: 
 a second resending portion for resending said performance monitoring packet from said sender by shifting said priority class down by one class in a case where said requested communication quality is judged as satisfactory in said judging portion;    a portion for controlling operations of said returning portion, said judging portion and said second resending portion to be iterated until any one of events that said requested communication quality becomes unsatisfactory and that said priority class reaches a lowest priority class; and    a portion for setting up said communication packet ultimately to any one of a priority class precedent to a class by which said requested communication quality becomes unsatisfactory and said lowest priority class.    
     
     
         30 . The controlling system of priority class setup according to  claim 22 , wherein said priority class deciding portion decides said priority class in a case where said receiver is plural, in a manner that a highest priority class among priority classes decided with respective receivers is decided as a priority class applicable to said communication packet.  
     
     
         31 . The controlling system of priority class setup according to  claim 23 , wherein said priority class deciding portion decides said priority class in a case where said receiver is plural, in a manner that a highest priority class among priority classes decided with respective receivers is decided as a priority class applicable to said communication packet.  
     
     
         32 . The controlling system of priority class setup according to  claim 22 , wherein a step of deciding said priority class is executed by said receiver in lieu of said sender, and 
 said receiver instructs a decided priority class to said sender.    
     
     
         33 . The controlling system of priority class setup according to  claim 22 , wherein said communication quality is magnitude of a delay of packet transmission in said communication network, and 
 said monitoring portion measures a delay of transmission of said performance monitoring packet.    
     
     
         34 . The controlling system of priority class setup according to  claim 23 , wherein said communication quality is magnitude of a delay of packet transmission in said communication network, and 
 said monitoring portion measures a delay of transmission of said performance monitoring packet.    
     
     
         35 . The controlling system of priority class setup according to  claim 22 , wherein said communication packet is used in lieu of said performance monitoring packet.  
     
     
         36 . The controlling system of priority class setup according to  claim 23 , wherein said communication packet is used in lieu of said performance monitoring packet.  
     
     
         37 . The controlling system of priority class setup according to  claim 22 , further including: 
 a portion for accounting in accordance with said priority class and amounts of packets.    
     
     
         38 . The controlling system of priority class setup according to  claim 23 , further including: 
 a portion for accounting in accordance with said priority class and amounts of packets.    
     
     
         39 . A controlling system of priority class setup in a communication system in which a client and a server are connected via a communication network for distributing a content packet in correspondence with requests from said client, said corresponding content packet being distributed from said server while providing classified communication quality based on a priority class, 
 wherein said client includes a portion for transmitting a request packet from said client to said server, said request packet specifying in advance a priority class upon distribution of said content packet, and    said server includes a portion for transmitting said content packet from said server to said client with said requested priority class thus specified.    
     
     
         40 . The controlling system of priority class setup according to  claim 39 , wherein said specified priority class of said request packet is modified in a case where said client judges that said content packet does not satisfy requested communication quality.  
     
     
         41 . The controlling system of priority class setup according to  claim 39 , wherein said server performs accounting for said client in accordance with a priority class and quantity of said content packet.  
     
     
         42 . The controlling system of priority class setup according to  claim 40 , wherein said server performs accounting for said client in accordance with a priority class and quantity of said content packet.  
     
     
         43 . A transmitter device for transmitting a communication packet toward a communication network, said transmitter device comprising: 
 a monitoring portion for monitoring communication quality of said communication network by transmitting a performance monitoring packet to said receiver prior to transmission of said communication packet; and    a priority class deciding portion for deciding a priority class of said communication packet based on a monitoring result and transmitting said communication packet by said transmitter device.    
     
     
         44 . A transmitter device for transmitting a communication packet toward a communication network, said transmitter device comprising: 
 a monitoring portion for monitoring communication quality of said communication network by transmitting a performance monitoring packet to a receiver in the midst of transmission of said communication packet; and    a priority class deciding portion for deciding a priority class of said communication packet for transmission based on a monitoring result and transmitting said communication packet.