Data transmission system and method, data transmission management system and method

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD [Detailed description of the invention]

【0001】

[Technical field to which the invention belongs]

The present invention relates to a data transmission device and method for transmitting data via a network by designating a time at which data transmission is completed to a data transmission destination, and a data transmission management device and method.

【0002】

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, some data transmission systems that transmit data such as files and streams rent a fixed network bandwidth for a fixed amount to transmit data. In this data transmission system, data transmission is performed within the range of the network band borrowed in advance.

【0003】

Further, in the conventional data transmission system, billing is performed according to the amount of transmission data used. In this data transmission system, a billing server is provided in the network, and a billing request is often made to the data transmission side by monitoring the transmission status of the network with the billing server.

【0004】

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

In the above-mentioned data transmission system, when data is transmitted from the data transmission side, it is often impossible to know the data transmission completion time on the data reception side.

【0005】

Further, in a conventional data transmission system, the data transmission side often cannot specify the data arrival time on the data reception side. Specifically, in the data transmission system, when the network band borrowed for a fixed amount is occupied by another user, the data transmission cannot be started and the data transmission is completed on the data receiving side. Can often not be specified.

【0006】

Therefore, the present invention has been proposed in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and provides a data transmission device and method, a data transmission management device and method capable of performing data transmission by designating a data transmission completion time in advance. The purpose is to provide.

【0007】

[Means for solving problems]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the data transmission device according to the present invention has a data transmission means for transmitting data to a data transmission destination via an external communication line and data for storing data transmitted by the data transmission means. Based on the storage means, the amount of data stored in the data storage means and transmitted by the data transmission means, and the transmission completion time indicating the time when the data transmission is completed to the data transmission destination, the data is stored by the data transmission means. A calculation means that calculates the network band required for transmission, a billing processing means that generates billing information based on the network band calculated by the calculation means and the transmission time of the data transmission means, and the data storage. The data transmission means is controlled so that the data stored in the means is transmitted to the data destination in the network band calculated by the calculation means and the data transmission to the data transmission destination is completed by the transmission completion time. The transmission control means for controlling the charge processing means so as to generate the charge information is provided.

【0008】

In the data transmission method according to the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, data is transmitted based on the amount of data to be transmitted to the data transmission destination and the transmission completion time indicating the time when the data transmission is completed to the data transmission destination. The network band required for transmission is calculated, the stored data is transmitted to the data transmission destination in the calculated network band, and billing information is generated based on the network band and transmission time.

【0009】

The data transmission management device according to the present invention is necessary for transmitting data to the data receiving device and the communication means connected to the data transmitting device and the data receiving device via the communication line in order to solve the above-mentioned problems. Based on the request from the data transmitting device for securing a sufficient network bandwidth, the communication control means for securing the network bandwidth of the communication means, the amount of data to be transmitted from the data transmitting device to the data receiving device, and the data to the data transmitting device. Billing information is generated based on the network band determined based on the transmission completion time indicating the time when the transmission is completed and the transmission time when data is transmitted from the data transmitting device to the data receiving device in the above network band. It is provided with a calculation means for controlling the communication means so as to transmit the data to the data transmission device.

【0010】

The data transmission management method according to the present invention secures a network band based on a request for securing a network band necessary for transmitting data from a data transmitting device to a data receiving device in order to solve the above-mentioned problems. Then, the network band determined based on the amount of data to be transmitted from the data transmitting device to the data receiving device and the transmission completion time indicating the time when the data transmission is completed to the data transmission destination, and the above from the data transmitting device. Billing information is generated based on the transmission time when data is transmitted to the data receiving device in the above network band.

【0011】

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

【0012】

The present invention is applied to, for example, a data transmission system 1 as shown in FIG.

【0013】

The data transmission system 1 includes a data transmission device 3 that transmits data via a communication network 2, a data reception device 4 that receives data transmitted from the data transmission device 3, and a data transmission that manages data transmission. It is equipped with a management device 5. In this data transmission system 1, under the network management of the data transmission management device 5, data such as video and music held by the data transmission device 3 is transmitted to the data reception device 4 and edited by the data reception device 4 side. Applies to systems that do.

【0014】

The data transmission system 1 has a configuration as shown in FIG. In this data transmission system 1, a LAN (Local Area Network) is configured in the data transmission device 3 and the data reception device 4, and the data transmission device 3 and the data reception device 4 form a communication network 2 and a data transmission management device 5. They are connected via a WAN (Wide Area Network) network system.

【0015】

The data transmission device 3 is a user terminal 11, a transmission side system management unit 12, a device controller 13, a data transmission server 14, a gateway 15, a VTR (Video Tape Recoder) device 16, a server device 17, and a device controller 18 on the data bus 3A. Is connected to form a LAN. The data transmission device 3 is composed of, for example, an Ethernet-compliant LAN.

【0016】

Further, the data transmission device 3 includes an MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) encoder / decoder 19 connected to the VTR device 16, a multiplexer / demultiplexer 20 connected to the MPEG encoder / decoder 19 and the server device 17, and an ATM (Asyncronous). Transfer Mode) Equipped with I / F21 and switch 22.

【0017】

The user terminal 11 is composed of, for example, a personal computer operated by the user, and the user operates a keyboard or a mouse to transmit a material such as video, music, or data stored in the data transmission server 14 or the like. To specify. Further, in the user terminal 11, the data transmission destination is specified according to the operation of the user. Further, the user terminal 11 specifies the transmission completion time of the designated transmission data according to the operation of the user. Further, in this user terminal 11, the transmission start time can be specified.

【0018】

The user terminal 11 generates a reservation request based on each information specified by being operated by the user, and outputs the reservation request to the transmission side system management unit 12 via the data bus 3A.

【0019】

The gateway 15 performs data structure conversion between the data format in the communication network 2 and the data format in the data transmission device 3. Specifically, the gateway 15 performs conversion processing between a packet format conforming to Ethernet and a packet format conforming to ATM system. The gateway 15 converts an Ethernet-compliant packet into an ATM-compliant packet when transmitting data from the data transmitting device 3 to the data receiving device 4, and an ATM-compliant packet when receiving data from the communication network 2. Converts to a packet conforming to Ethernet.

【0020】

The device controller 13 controls the operation by supplying a control signal to the gateway 15, and also maintains and manages the reservation status of the gateway 15. The device controller 13 manages the reservation status in which the gateway 15 operates in response to the resource reservation request specified by the transmission side system management unit 12. The device controller 13 controls and operates the gateway 15 at the transmission start time specified by the transmission side system management unit 12.

【0021】

The device controller 13 outputs the power on / off state of the gateway 15 and whether or not the gateway 15 operates normally to the transmission side system management unit 12, and outputs the reservation status of the gateway 15 to the transmission side system management unit. Output to 12.

【0022】

The data transmission server 14 stores data to be transmitted from the data transmission device 3 to the data reception device 4, and manages the stored data. The data transmission server 14 outputs the data capacity of the data specified by the user terminal 11 to the transmission side system management unit 12.

【0023】

The VTR device 16 is composed of a streamer in which data is recorded on a tape-shaped recording medium, and outputs the stored data to the MPEG encoder / decoder 19 under the control of the device controller 18. Data compressed by, for example, an MPEG method is recorded in the VTR device 16.

【0024】

The server device 17 stores data and manages the stored data. The server device 17 outputs data to the multiplexer / demultiplexer 20 when transmitting data to the communication network 2.

【0025】

The device controller 18 controls the operation by supplying control signals to the VTR device 16 and the server device 17, and also maintains and manages the reservation status of the VTR device 16 and the server device 17. The device controller 18 manages the reservation status in which the VTR device 16 and the server device 17 operate in response to the resource reservation request from the transmission side system management unit 12. The device controller 18 controls and operates the VTR device 16 and the server device 17 at the transmission start time specified by the transmission side system management unit 12.

【0026】

The MPEG encoder / decoder 19 encodes the data from the VTR device 16 and outputs it to the multiplexer / demultiplexer 20, and decodes the data from the multiplexer / demultiplexer 20 and outputs it to the VTR device 16.

【0027】

The multiplexer / demultiplexer 20 multiplexes and outputs data to ATMI / F21 when transmitting data from the MPEG encoder / decoder 19 or server device 17, and demultiplexes when data is transmitted from the communication network 2. And output to the server device 17.

【0028】

The ATM I / F 21 outputs the data from the multiplexer / demultiplexer 20 to the switch 22 as a packet conforming to the ATM method. Further, the ATMI / F21 converts the data from the switch 22 into a data structure format in the data transmission device 3 and outputs the data to the multiplexer / demultiplexer 20.

【0029】

The switch 22 functions as a packet switch between the data transmission device 3 and the communication network 2. Further, the switch 22 switches between transmitting the data from the gateway 15 to the communication network 2 and transmitting the data from the ATMI / F 21 to the communication network 2.

【0030】

The transmitting side system management unit 12 calculates the network bandwidth when transmitting data to the data receiving device 4 via the communication network 2 based on the reservation request from the user terminal 11. Further, the transmission side system management unit 12 obtains a transmission start time indicating a time when each device is started and data transmission is started based on the transmission completion time and the network band.

【0031】

Further, the transmission side system management unit 12 refers to the reservation status of each device included in the data transmission device 3 held by the device controller 13 and the device controller 18, and starts from the transmission start time included in the data transmission device 3. It is determined whether or not the operation is possible until the data transmission is completed. The transmission side system management unit 12 outputs a resource reservation request to the device controller 13 and the device controller 18 based on the determination result. The system management unit 12 on the transmitting side secures resources when transmitting data in response to a response to the resource securing request.

【0032】

The transmitting side system management unit 12 requests the required bandwidth information for the network band obtained by calculation, and the resource securing request for securing the resources included in the data receiving device 4 and the data transmission management device 5, and the data transmission management device 5 Send to.

【0033】

In such a data transmission device 3, when transmitting the data stored in the data transmission server 14, the internal device operates from the transmission start time to the completion of data transmission in response to the reservation request from the user terminal 11. Since it is possible to issue a resource securing request requesting the data transmission, the data transmission can be completed by the transmission completion time.

【0034】

Further, in the data transmission device 3, the data is received by the specified transmission completion time by securing the resources in the data transmission management device 5 and the data reception device 4 and transmitting the data in the network band according to the reservation request. The device 4 transmits so that the data reception is completed.

【0035】

Further, in the data transmitting device 3, even when the data stored in the VTR device 16 and the server device 17 is transmitted to the data receiving device 4, the resource is reserved and transmitted to the data receiving device 4.

【0036】

The data receiving device 4 has the same configuration as the data transmitting device 3 described above. In the data receiving device 4, the user terminal 31, the receiving side system management unit 32, the device controller 33, the data transmission server 34, the gateway 35, the VTR device 36, the server device 37, and the device controller 38 are connected on the data bus 4A. So, the LAN is configured. The data receiving device 4 is composed of, for example, an Ethernet-compliant LAN. Further, the data receiving device 4 includes an MPEG encoder / decoder 39 connected to the VTR device 36, an MPEG encoder / decoder 39, a multiplexer / demultiplexer 40 connected to the server device 37, an ATMI / F41, and a switch 42.

【0037】

In such a data receiving device 4, the receiving side system management unit 32 is included in the data receiving device 4 by referring to the reservation status of each device included in the data receiving device 4 from the device controller 33 and the device controller 38. When a resource (equipment) receives data, it is judged whether or not it can operate. The receiving side system management unit 32 issues a resource securing request to the device controller 33 and the device controller 38 based on the determination result and the resource securing request from the data transmission management device 5, thereby supplying resources when receiving data. Secure.

【0038】

Further, the receiving side system management unit 32 determines whether or not the network bandwidth required by the data transmission device 3 can be secured based on the resource securing request from the data transmission management device 5, and causes the data transmission management device 5 to obtain the network bandwidth. Send back.

【0039】

In such a data receiving device 4, when data is transmitted from the data transmitting device 3, reception is completed by storing the data in the data transmission server 34 via the switch 42 and the gateway 35. Further, in the data receiving device 4, the data from the data transmitting device 3 may be received by the VTR device 36 or the server device 37 by using the ATMI / F41, the multiplexer / demultiplexer 40, and the MPEG encoder / decoder 39.

【0040】

The data transmission management device 5 manages the states of the data transmission device 3, the data reception device 4, and the communication network 2. The data transmission management device 5 includes a schedule management unit 51 and a back-end system 52.

【0041】

The back-end system 52 has a function of transmitting and receiving data handled by the data transmission management device 5 connected to the communication network 2. The back-end system 52 transmits / receives data by being controlled by the schedule management unit 51.

【0042】

The schedule management unit 51 monitors the operating status of the back-end system 52, and determines whether or not resources can be secured when data is transmitted from the data transmitting device 3 to the data receiving device 4. The schedule management unit 51 determines whether or not resources can be secured based on the reservation request from the data transmission device 3.

【0043】

Further, the schedule management unit 51 schedules the data transmission device 3 and the data reception device 4 based on the information indicating the reservation status of the resources in the data transmission device 3 and the information indicating the reservation status of the resources in the data reception device 4. Manage.

【0044】

The schedule management unit 51 is designated in the reservation request based on the material transmitted from the transmission side system management unit 12 of the data transmission device 3, the information indicating the data transmission destination, and the reservation status of the resources constituting the data transmission device 3. Calculate the transmission start time and required network bandwidth so that the data receiving device 4 can receive the data by the transmission completion time. The schedule management unit 51 networks the lines from the data transmission management device 5 to the data transmission device 3 and the lines from the data transmission management device 5 to the data reception device 4 based on the calculated transmission start time and network band. Secure the band.

【0045】

Next, an example of the processing procedure for securing the resources of the data transmission device 3, the data reception device 4, and the data transmission management device 5 when transmitting data from the data transmission device 3 to the data reception device 4 is shown in FIG. This will be described with reference to the flowchart.

【0046】

First, in step ST1, the user terminal 11 is operated by the user to specify the selection of data to be transmitted, the data transmission destination, and the transmission completion time. Here, the data transmission destination is the above-mentioned data receiving device 4, and the transmission completion time is the time when the data is stored in the data transmission server 34 of the data receiving device 4.

【0047】

In the next step ST2, the user terminal 11 issues a reservation request for securing network bandwidth and resources based on the material name of the data to be transmitted, the data transmission destination, and the transmission completion time, and outputs the reservation request to the transmission side system management unit 12. To do.

【0048】

In the next step ST3, the transmitting side system management unit 12 transmits data from the data transmitting device 3 to the data receiving device 4 by the transmission completion time based on the data capacity and the transmission completion time specified in step ST1. Calculate the network bandwidth required for this.

【0049】

In the next step ST4, the transmitting side system management unit 12 determines that the resources in the data transmitting device 3 can be secured when the required network bandwidth can be secured based on the calculation result in step ST3. Proceed to step ST5, and if the required network bandwidth cannot be secured, proceed to step ST16.

【0050】

In step ST5, the transmitting side system management unit 12 secures resources by issuing a reservation request to each device so as to operate in the time when the data is transmitted to the data receiving device 4 by the transmission completion time, and in step ST6. Proceed to.

【0051】

In the next step ST6, the schedule management unit 51 of the data transmission management device 5 can secure resources for transmitting data from the data transmission device 3 to the data reception device 4 based on the reservation request from the data transmission device 3. It is determined whether or not it is. The schedule management unit 51 proceeds to step ST7 when resources can be secured, and proceeds to step ST15 when resources cannot be secured.

【0052】

In step ST7, the schedule management unit 51 secures resources by issuing a reservation request to each device so as to operate at the time when the data is transmitted to the data receiving device 4 by the transmission completion time, and proceeds to step ST8. ..

【0053】

In the next step ST8, can the receiving side system management unit 32 secure resources for transmitting data from the data transmitting device 3 to the data receiving device 4 based on the reservation request from the data transmission management device 5? Judge whether or not. The receiving side system management unit 32 proceeds to step ST9 and step ST10 when the resource can be secured, and proceeds to step ST14 when the resource cannot be secured.

【0054】

In step ST9, the user terminal 31 presents the reservation status such as data and transmission completion time to the user by displaying it on the display screen.

【0055】

In step ST10, which determines that the resource can be secured in step ST8, the receiving side system management unit 32 determines that the resource can be secured according to the reservation request in the data transmission device 3 and that the resource reservation is confirmed. Tell the schedule management unit 51 and proceed to step ST11.

【0056】

In step ST11, the schedule management unit 51 recognizes the information that the resource reservation has been confirmed from the receiving side system management unit 32, transmits the information to that effect to the transmitting side system management unit 12, and proceeds to step ST12.

【0057】

In step ST12, the transmitting side system management unit 12 recognizes the information that the resource reservation has been confirmed from the schedule management unit 51, outputs the information to the user terminal 11, and proceeds to step ST13.

【0058】

In step ST13, the user terminal 11 displays on the display screen that the resource reservation has been confirmed according to the reservation request requested by the user, based on the information that the resource has been confirmed from the transmitting side system management unit 12. Present the fact to the user.

【0059】

In step ST14 when the resources of the data receiving device 4 cannot be secured in step ST8, the schedule management unit 51 transmits a change request request for the reservation request to, and proceeds to step ST15.

【0060】

In the next step ST15, the transmitting side system management unit 12 recognizes the change request request from the receiving side system management unit 32 when the resources cannot be secured in step ST6, and releases the resources secured in step ST7. , Proceed to step ST16.

【0061】

In the next step ST16, the receiving side system management unit 32 recognizes the change request request from the receiving side system management unit 32 when the resources cannot be secured in step ST4, and releases the resources secured in step ST5. Return to step ST1.

【0062】

In the data transmission system 1 that performs such processing, the required network bandwidth is calculated using the data capacity and the transmission completion time based on the reservation request, and the data transmission device 3, the data transmission management device 5, and the data reception device 4 are used. Resources can be secured.

【0063】

Next, a processing procedure when data is transmitted from the data transmitting device 3 to the data receiving device 4 and the billing process is executed by the data transmitting device 3 will be described with reference to FIG.

【0064】

According to FIG. 4, first, the transmitting side system management unit 12 secures the resources in the data transmission device 3 (step ST21), and transmits the reservation request to the data transmission management device 5 (step ST22).

【0065】

Next, the data transmission management device 5 secures the resources in the data transmission management device 5 in response to the reservation request from the data transmission device 3 (step ST23), and transmits the reservation request to the data reception device 4 (step ST24). ).

【0066】

Next, the receiving side system management unit 32 of the data receiving device 4 secures the resources in the data transmission management device 5 (step ST25), and issues a resource securing completion notification indicating that the resource securing is completed (step ST26). ).

【0067】

Next, the data transmission management device 5 transmits a resource reservation completion notification to the data reception device 4 in response to the resource reservation notification from the data reception device 4 (step ST27).

【0068】

Next, the transmitting side system management unit 12 of the data transmission device 3 issues a resource reservation completion notification to the user terminal 11 in response to the resource reservation completion notification from the data transmission management device 5 (step ST28), and the user terminal 11 issues a resource reservation completion notification. , Display the resource reservation completion on the display screen and present it to the user (step ST29).

【0069】

Next, the user terminal 11 controls each part so as to transmit the specified data in the secured network band (step ST30), and when the data transmission is completed, issues a transmission completion notification to the transmitting side system management unit 12. Output (step ST31).

【0070】

Next, the transmission side system management unit 12 controls each unit so as to release the resources reserved for data transmission in response to the transmission completion notification from the user terminal 11 (step ST32), and reserves each device. When the release is released, a release completion notification is sent to the data transmission management device 5 (step ST33).

【0071】

On the other hand, in the user terminal 31 of the data receiving device 4 to which the data has been transmitted, for example, when the data transmitted to the data transmission server 34 is stored and the data reception is completed (step ST41), the reception completion notification is sent to the receiving side system management. Output to section 32 (step ST42).

【0072】

Next, the receiving side system management unit 32 controls each unit so as to release the resources reserved for receiving the data (step ST43), and issues a release completion notification when the reservation of each device is released. It is transmitted to the data transmission management device 5 (step ST44).

【0073】

Next, in the data transmission management device 5, the data transmission device 3 sends the data reception device 4 in response to the release completion notification from the transmission side system management unit 12 and the release completion notification from the reception side system management unit 32. Control each part to release the resources reserved for transmitting data to (step ST45).

【0074】

In the next step ST46, the data transmission management device 5 calculates the charge to be charged from the transmission time required for data transmission from the data transmission device 3 to the data reception device 4 and the network bandwidth. At this time, the data transmission management device 5 holds the table inside, and refers to the basic charge table that describes the relationship between the transmission time and the network band as shown in FIG. 5 (A).

【0075】

Here, the transmission time is a time obtained by subtracting the transmission start time from the transmission completion time specified by the user. The transmission start time can be specified by the user or obtained from the transmission completion time. Further, the transmission time is the time obtained by subtracting the reservation completion time from the transmission completion time when the reservation request can be issued by the user terminal 11 and the data transmission (step ST30) can be started immediately.

【0076】

Next, the data transmission management device 5 generates billing information indicating the calculated charge, issues a charge notification, and transmits it to the user terminal 11 (step ST47). The user terminal 11 presents the billing information by displaying the charge notification from the data transmission management device 5 (step ST48).

【0077】

According to the data transmission system 1 that performs such processing, the data transmission management device 5 manages the reservation of resources of the data transmission device 3 and the data reception device 4, the transmission time required for transmission, and the network band used. You can charge based on.

【0078】

Next, a processing procedure when it is necessary to perform data format conversion when transmitting data from the data transmitting device 3 to the data receiving device 4 will be described with reference to FIG.

【0079】

According to FIG. 6, first, the user terminal 11 is operated by the user to select the data to be transmitted, the data transmission destination, and the transmission completion time (step ST51). Here, the data transmission destination is the above-mentioned data receiving device 4, and the transmission completion time is the time when the data is stored in the data transmission server 34 of the data receiving device 4.

【0080】

Next, the user terminal 11 issues a reservation request for securing network bandwidth and resources based on the material name of the data to be transmitted, the data transmission destination, and the transmission completion time, and outputs the reservation request to the transmission side system management unit 12 (step). ST52).

【0081】

Next, the transmitting side system management unit 12 generates format information indicating the data format of the data specified in step ST51 and transmits the format information to the receiving side system management unit 32 of the data receiving device 4 (step ST53).

【0082】

Next, the receiving side system management unit 32 recognizes the data format and the like of the received data based on the format information from the transmitting side system management unit 12. The receiving side system management unit 32 determines whether or not the format conversion needs to be performed at the time of receiving (step ST54). The receiving side system management unit 32 proceeds to step ST55 when it determines that the format conversion needs to be performed, and proceeds to step ST56 when it determines that the format conversion does not need to be performed.

【0083】

In step ST55, the receiving side system management unit 32 specifies the format to be converted to the device included in the data receiving device 4 and performing the format conversion. Here, the devices that convert the format include a gateway 35 and ATMI / F41 that receive data, a data transmission server 34 that stores data, a VTR device 36, a server device 37, and a user terminal 31, and the receiving side system management unit 32. Specifies the format to be converted to these devices.

【0084】

In step ST56, the transmitting side system management unit 12 of the data transmitting device 3 is based on the data capacity specified in step ST51, the transmission completion time, and the information indicating whether or not the data receiving device 4 side performs format conversion. The process of calculating the network bandwidth required for transmission to be completed by the transmission completion time is performed. Further, the transmission side system management unit 12 performs a process of calculating an estimated charge required for data transmission based on the calculated network bandwidth and the type of format conversion performed on the data receiving device 4 side.

【0085】

The transmission side system management unit 12 internally holds a table as shown in FIGS. 5 (A) and 5 (B), and by referring to the basic charge table shown in FIG. 5 (A), the network bandwidth And the charge is determined based on the transmission arrival time, the format conversion charge according to the type of format conversion shown in FIG. 5 (B) is determined, and these charges are added to calculate the estimated charge.

【0086】

Next, the user terminal 11 is input with information indicating the estimated charge calculated in step ST56, presents it to the user by displaying the estimated charge (step ST57), and whether or not to transmit data at the presented estimated charge. (Step ST58). The user terminal 11 proceeds to step ST60 when it is determined that the data transmission is performed at the estimated charge presented by being operated by the user, and proceeds to step ST59 when it is determined that the data transmission is not performed at the presented estimated charge.

【0087】

In step ST59, the user terminal 11 displays on the display screen that the reservation request is requested to be changed, and shifts to the reservation request setting in step ST51 again.

【0088】

In step ST60, the transmitting side system management unit 12 determines that the resources in the data transmitting device 3 can be secured when the required network bandwidth can be secured based on the calculation result in step ST56, and determines in step ST61. If the required network bandwidth cannot be secured, the process returns to step ST59.

【0089】

Next, the transmitting side system management unit 12 secures resources by issuing a reservation request to each device so that the data can be operated by the time when the data is transmitted to the data receiving device 4 by the transmission completion time (step ST61). ..

【0090】

Next, the schedule management unit 51 determines whether or not resources can be secured when data is transmitted from the data transmission device 3 to the data reception device 4 based on the reservation request from the data transmission device 3 (). Step ST62). The schedule management unit 51 proceeds to step ST63 when resources can be secured, and proceeds to step ST71 when resources cannot be secured.

【0091】

Next, the schedule management unit 51 secures resources by issuing a reservation request to each device so that the data can be operated at the time when the data is transmitted to the data receiving device 4 by the transmission completion time (step ST63).

【0092】

Next, the receiving side system management unit 32 determines whether or not the resources for transmitting data from the data transmitting device 3 to the data receiving device 4 can be secured based on the reservation request from the data transmission management device 5. Determine (step ST64). The receiving side system management unit 32 proceeds to step ST65 and step ST66 when the resource can be secured, and proceeds to step ST70 when the resource cannot be secured.

【0093】

Next, the user terminal 31 presents the user by displaying the reservation status such as the data transmitted to the user on the data transmission management device 5 side and the transmission completion time on the display screen (step ST66).

【0094】

In steps ST65 to ST68, in which it is determined in step ST64 that resources can be secured, the receiving side system management unit 32, the schedule management unit 51, and the transmitting side system management unit 12 follow the reservation request in the data transmission device 3. The user terminal 11 is notified that the resource can be secured and the resource reservation has been confirmed, and the process proceeds to step ST69.

【0095】

In the next step ST69, the user terminal 11 displays on the display screen that the resource reservation has been confirmed according to the reservation request requested by the user, based on the information that the resource has been confirmed from the transmission side system management unit 12. To that effect to the user.

【0096】

In step ST70 when the resources of the data receiving device 4 cannot be secured in step ST64, the schedule management unit 51 transmits a change request request for the reservation request to the transmitting side system management unit 12, and proceeds to step ST71.

【0097】

The schedule management unit 51 recognizes the change request request from the receiving side system management unit 32 when the resources cannot be secured in step ST64, releases the resources secured in step ST63, and proceeds to step ST71.

【0098】

In the next step ST71, the receiving side system management unit 32 recognizes the change request request from the receiving side system management unit 32 when the resources cannot be secured in step ST62, and releases the resources secured in step ST61. Return to step ST59.

【0099】

In the data transmission system 1 that performs such processing, even when it is necessary for the data receiving device 4 to perform format conversion according to the format of the data transmitted by the transmitting side system management unit 12, the format conversion processing is required. Since the network band can be determined in consideration of the time, the data can be more reliably transmitted to the data receiving device 4 side by the transmission completion time specified by the user.

【0100】

Further, in this data transmission system 1, even when it is necessary to perform format conversion, the transmitting side system management unit 12 holds a table as shown in FIG. 5, so that the type of format conversion performed by the data receiving device 4 can be selected. The estimated fee can be presented to the user accordingly.

【0101】

The format conversion described above does not necessarily have to be executed in the data receiving device 4, and may be executed in the data transmission management device 5. At this time, the processing in steps ST54 and ST55 described above is performed in the data transmission management device 5, and the transmission side system management unit 12 determines the network bandwidth, the estimated charge, etc. according to the format conversion performed by the data transmission management device 5. It will be.

【0102】

Next, the processing procedure when the data transmission management device 5 executes the billing process after the format conversion is performed and the data is transmitted from the data transmission device 3 to the data reception device 4 will be described with reference to FIG. 7. In the description of FIG. 7, the same processing content as that of FIG. 4 described above will be assigned the same step number, and the detailed processing content will be omitted.

【0103】

According to FIG. 7, by executing the processes from step ST21 to step ST29 in the same manner as the processes described in FIG. 4, the data transmission device 3, the data receiving device 4, and the data receiving device 4 constituting the data transmission system 1 are executed according to the reservation request. Process to secure the resources of the data transmission management device 5.

【0104】

When data is transmitted from the user terminal 11 to the data transmission management device 5 in a state where resources are secured, the data transmission management device 5 performs format conversion and transmits the data to the data reception device 4. (Step ST81).

【0105】

Next, the user terminal 31 of the data receiving device 4 receives the format-converted data (step ST41). Next, the data transmission device 3 transmits the release completion notification to the data transmission management device 5 by performing the processes from step ST30 to ST33, and the data receiving device 4 performs the processes from steps ST42 to ST44. Sends a release completion notification to the data transmission management device 5.

【0106】

Next, the data transmission management device 5 releases the reserved resources (step ST45), and charges the data transmission device 3 based on the transmission time, the network bandwidth, and the content of the format conversion executed in step ST81. To calculate. At this time, the data transmission management device 5 calculates the charge by referring to the table as shown in FIG. 5 (step ST82). Next, the data transmission management device 5 generates billing information indicating the calculated charge, issues a charge notification and transmits it to the user terminal 11 (step ST47), and the user terminal 11 uses the data transmission management device 11. Present the billing information by displaying the billing notification from 5 (step ST48).

【0107】

According to the data transmission system 1 that performs such processing, even when data is transmitted from the data transmission device 3 to the data reception device 4 by performing format conversion, the data is charged based on the content of the format conversion and the like. be able to.

【0108】

The format conversion described above does not necessarily have to be executed in the data transmission management device 5, and may be executed in the data receiving device 4. At this time, the processing in step ST82 described above is performed according to the content of the format conversion in the data receiving device 4.

【0109】

[Effect of the invention]

As described in detail above, the data transmission device and method according to the present invention are based on the amount of data to be transmitted to the data transmission destination and the transmission completion time indicating the time when the data transmission is completed to the data transmission destination. The network band required when transmitting data is calculated, and the stored data is transmitted to the data destination in the calculated network band, so data is transmitted from the start time so that the data can be transmitted to the data destination by the transmission completion time. Can be started, and data transmission can be performed by designating the data transmission completion time in advance.

【0110】

Further, the data transmission management device and the method according to the present invention can secure the network band based on the request for securing the network band necessary for transmitting the data from the data transmitting device to the data receiving device. By starting the data transmission from the start time at which the data can be transmitted to the data transmission destination by the transmission completion time, the data transmission completion time can be specified in advance and the data transmission can be performed.

[Simple explanation of drawings]

[Figure 1]

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the data transmission system to which this invention is applied.

[Figure 2]

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the data transmission device, the data reception device, and the data transmission management device which constitute the data transmission system to which this invention is applied.

[Fig. 3]

It is a flowchart for demonstrating the processing procedure at the time of securing the resource of the data transmission apparatus, the data reception apparatus and the data transmission management apparatus at the time of transmitting data from a data transmission apparatus to a data reception apparatus.

[Fig. 4]

It is a flowchart for demonstrating the processing procedure at the time of transmitting data from a data transmitting apparatus to a data receiving apparatus, and executing a billing process by a data transmitting apparatus.

[Fig. 5]

(A) is a diagram showing a basic charge table describing the relationship between transmission time and network bandwidth, and (B) is a diagram showing a format conversion charge according to the type of format conversion.

[Fig. 6]

It is a flowchart which shows the processing procedure when it is necessary to perform the format conversion of data at the time of transmitting data from a data transmitting apparatus to a data receiving apparatus.

[Fig. 7]

It is a flowchart which shows the processing procedure when the data transmission management apparatus executes the billing process after performing format conversion and transmitting data from a data transmission apparatus to a data receiving apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 data transmission system, 2 communication network, 3 data transmission device, 4 data reception device, 5 data transmission management device, 11 user terminal, 12 transmission side system management unit, 13 device controller, 14 data transmission server, 15 gateway, 16 VTR device, 17 server device, 18 device controller, 21 ATMI / F, 51 schedule management unit, 52 backend system, 31 user terminal, 32 receiving system management unit, 33 device controller, 34 data transmission server, 35 gateway, 36 VTR device, 37 server device, 38 device controller, 41 ATM I / F