Communication apparatus and communication method

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

P-0001[0001] The invention relates to a communication apparatus and a communication method, both designed to transmit real-time data such as movie image data and audio data through a communication network such as the Internet.

P-0002[0002] In recent years, systems for transmitting real-time data, such as movie image data and audio data, through a communication network such as the Internet are put to use in increasing numbers. Since many people use the public network such as the Internet, data may therefore be congested in the network. A method of controlling the data congestion is very important. That is, it is necessary to avoid data congestion and subdue the same.

P-0003[0003] Various methods of controlling data congestion have been proposed with regard to non-real-time communication, such as transfer of files. Now that more and more data should be transferred in real time, it is important to control the congestion of real-time data.

P-0004[0004] A congestion control is practiced in the real-data communication, such as the transmission of movie data. When no data congestion occurs in the network, the encoding rate is raised, thus transmitting movie image data that has high quality. When data congestion takes place in the network, the encoding rate is lowered, thus transmitting the movie image data that has but low quality.

P-0005[0005] More specifically, in the data-transmitting side, the encoding rate is gradually increased until data congestion happens in the network. When data congestion occurs in the network, the encoding rate is decreased to control the data congestion. When the data congestion is thereby eliminated, the encoding rate is increased again.

P-0006[0006] In the data-transmitting side it is necessary to determine whether data is congested in the network. To this end, RTP (Real-Time Transport Protocol) and RTCP (RTP Control Protocol), both standardized as RFC 1889/1890, are utilized in many cases.

P-0007[0007] The RTP is a protocol that is applied in transmitting real-time data from a data-transmitting side and a data-receiving side. In order to transmit real-time data in accordance with the RTP, the data-transmitting side generates an RTP packet that has a header containing data items representing the type, sequence number, time stamp and the like of the payload data.

P-0008[0008] The RTCP is a protocol describing that the communication quality QoS of data to be transferred in accordance with the RTP should be monitored and that the participants of an RTP cession should be informed of control data.

P-0009[0009] In the RTCP, a data-transmitting apparatus transmits a sender report packet to a data-receiving apparatus, informing the latter of the data-transmitting state. Upon receipt of the sender report packet, the data-receiving apparatus transmits a receiver report packet to the data-transmitting apparatus, informing the data-transmitting apparatus of the data-receiving state. The transmission and receipt of an RTP packet is thereby controlled.

P-0010[0010] The sender report packet contains data items representing the time of transmitting any RTP packet, the number of RTP packets transmitted, the number of bytes constituting each RTP packet transmitted, and the like.

P-0011[0011] The receiver report packet contains data items representing the rate of losing RTP packets, the number of packets lost, the largest sequence number of any RTP packet received, the interarrival jitter, the time of receiving the last sender-report packet, the period from this time, and the like.

P-0012[0012] The data-receiving apparatus transmits an RTCP packet to the data-transmitting apparatus at regular intervals (e.g., 5 seconds). From the RTCP packet the data-transmitting apparatus detects the rate of data loss that has occurred during the data transmission to the data-receiving apparatus. If the data-loss rate is high, the data-transmitting apparatus determines that data has been congested in the network, probably discarding some data items at relay nodes. If the data-loss rate is zero (0), the data-transmitting apparatus determines that no data congestion is happening in the network.

P-0013[0013] The loss of data occurring in the network does not always result from the data congestion. Rather, it may result from the bit errors made in the process of transmitting data. Alternatively, the loss of data may be nothing more than a temporary one caused by traffic burst.

P-0014[0014] If the data-transmitting apparatus decreases the encoding rate in response to a temporary loss of data, though no data congestion takes place in the network, the real-time data (e.g., movie image data and audio data) will unnecessarily be degraded in quality. This problem is particularly prominent in the case where the real-time data is transmitted in accordance with the RTP and the RTCP as indicated above.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

P-0015[0015] The present invention has been made in view of the foregoing. An object of the invention is to provide a communication apparatus and a communication method, which do not respond too much to a loss of data during the transmitting of real-time data, thereby stabilizing the quality of communication.

P-0016[0016] To achieve the object, a communication apparatus according to the present invention comprises: data-transmitting means for transmitting real-time data through a communication network; data-receiving means for receiving data representing data-loss rate, from a data-receiving side to which the data-transmitting means transmits the real-time data; and rate control means for comparing the data-loss rate with preset first and second threshold values, increasing a transfer rate at which the data-transmitting means transmits the real-time data, when the data-loss rate is lower than both the first threshold value and the second threshold value, not changing the transfer rate when the data-loss rate is higher than the first threshold value and lower than the second threshold value, and decreasing the transfer rate when the data-loss rate is higher than both the first threshold value and the second threshold value.

P-0017[0017] In the communication apparatus, the rate control means increases, decreases or does not change the transfer rate by the first and the second threshold values in accordance with the data representing the data-loss rate, which has been transmitted from the data-receiving side.

P-0018[0018] To achieve the above-mentioned object, a communication method according to the invention comprises: receiving data representing data-loss rate, from a data-receiving side, while real-time data is being transmitted through a communication network; comparing the data-loss rate with preset first and second threshold values; and increasing a transfer rate at which the real-time data is transmitted, when the data-loss rate is lower than both the first threshold value and the second threshold value, not changing the transfer rate when the data-loss rate is higher than the first threshold value and lower than the second threshold value, and decreasing the transfer rate when the data-loss rate is higher than both the first threshold value and the second threshold value.

P-0019[0019] In the communication method, the transfer rate is increased, decreased or not changed at all by the first and the second threshold values, in accordance with the data representing the data-loss rate, which has been transmitted from the data-receiving side.

P-0020[0020] Thus, the present invention can provide a communication apparatus and a communication method, in which the transfer rate is increased or decreased or not changed at all in accordance with the data transmitted from the data-receiving side and representing the data-loss rate. Hence, the data-transmitting side does not respond too much to a loss of data that occurs during the transmitting of real-time data. The quality of communication is thereby stabilized.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

P-0021[0021]FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a communication system according to the present invention;

P-0022[0022]FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the data configuration of the RTP header contained in a RTP packet to be transmitted from a data-transmitting apparatus to which the present invention is applied;

P-0023[0023]FIG. 3 is a diagram depicting the data configuration of the RTCP-sender report packet generated in the sender-side RTCP transmitting section incorporated in the data-transmitting apparatus;

P-0024[0024]FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the data configuration of the RTCP-receiver report packet generated in the receiver-side RTCP transmitting section incorporated in a data-receiving apparatus according to the invention;

P-0025[0025]FIG. 5 is a flowchart explaining how the rate control section provided in the data-transmitting apparatus controls the rate of transferring RTP packets; and

P-0026[0026]FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining first and second threshold values preset for the rate of losing data, and a data-loss state determined by using the first and second threshold values.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

P-0027[0027] An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

P-0028[0028] The invention is applied to, for example, the communication system <b>1</b> shown in FIG. 1.

P-0029[0029] The communication system <b>1</b> comprises a data-transmitting apparatus <b>10</b> and a data-receiving apparatus <b>20</b>. The data-transmitting apparatus <b>10</b> and the data-receiving apparatus <b>20</b> are connected by a network <b>30</b>.

P-0030[0030] The network <b>30</b> is a public communication network such as the Internet. It comprises a plurality of relay nodes that connect the data-transmitting apparatus <b>10</b> and the data-receiving apparatus <b>20</b> to each other. Real-time data and various control data items are transmitted through the network <b>30</b>.

P-0031[0031] The data-transmitting apparatus <b>10</b> comprises a transmitting-side interface <b>11</b>, an RTP transmitting section <b>12</b>, a transmitting-side RTCP transmitting section <b>13</b>, a transmitting-side RTCP receiving section <b>14</b>, and a rate control section <b>15</b>. The transmitting-side interface <b>11</b> is connected to the network <b>30</b>.

P-0032[0032] The transmitting-side interface <b>11</b> comprises a communication interface circuit that is connected to the network <b>30</b>. The interface <b>11</b> transmits packets to the data-receiving apparatus <b>20</b> trough the network <b>30</b>. It receives packets from the data-receiving apparatus <b>20</b> and supplies them to the other components of the data-transmitting apparatus <b>10</b>.

P-0033[0033] The RTP transmitting section <b>12</b> receives real-time data, such as movie image data and audio data, from external apparatuses, so that the real-time data may eventually transmitted to the data-receiving apparatus <b>20</b>. The section <b>12</b> generates RTP packets from the real-time data, in accordance with the RTP. Each RTP packet the section <b>12</b> generates contains an RTP header that is shown in FIG. 2. (The RTP header will be described later in detail.) The section <b>12</b> outputs the RTP packets to the transmitting-side interface section <b>11</b>, so that the real-time data may be transferred to the data-receiving apparatus <b>20</b> in the form of RTP packets.

P-0034[0034] The transmitting-side RTCP transmitting section <b>13</b> has the function of informing the data-receiving apparatus <b>20</b> of the data-transmitting state. The data-receiving apparatus <b>20</b> can therefore monitor the communication quality QoS of the data to be transferred to it in accordance with the RTP, as is described by the RTCP. The section <b>13</b> generates an RTCP-sender report packet shown in FIG. 3 to inform the data-receiving apparatus <b>20</b> of the data-transmitting state. (The RTCP-sender report packet will be described later in detail.) The transmitting-side RTCP transmitting section <b>13</b> acquires from the RTP transmitting section <b>12</b> the data representing the data amount of the RTP packet, in order to transmit the RTP packet to the data-receiving apparatus <b>20</b>. The section <b>13</b> generates an RTCP-sender report packet from the data it has acquired from the RTP transmitting section <b>12</b>. The RTCP-sender report packet is output to the transmitting-side interface section <b>11</b>.

P-0035[0035] The transmitting-side receiving section <b>14</b> has the function of detecting the data-receiving state in which the data-receiving apparatus <b>20</b> is receiving data from the data-transmitting apparatus <b>10</b>. The data-transmitting apparatus <b>10</b> can therefore monitor, as is described by the RTCP, the communication quality QoS of the data transferred from it to the data-receiving apparatus <b>20</b> in accordance with the RTP. To state it more specifically, the section <b>14</b> receives an RTCP-receiver report packet shown in FIG. 4 to detect the state in which the data-receiving apparatus <b>20</b> is receiving data. The section <b>14</b> analyzes the RTCP-receiver report packet, finding the data-loss rate, the number of packets lost and the like. The section <b>14</b> generates data representing the data-loss rate, the number of packets lost and the like and supplies the data to the rate control section <b>15</b>.

P-0036[0036] The rate control section <b>15</b> controls the rate of transferring RTP packets to transmit from the RTP transmitting section <b>12</b>. The rate control section <b>15</b> receives the data-loss rate from the transmitting-side RTCP receiving section <b>14</b> and determines the RTP-packet transfer rate from the data-loss rate. The RTP-packet rate is supplied to the RTP transmitting section <b>12</b>.

P-0037[0037] In the data-transmitting apparatus <b>10</b>, the transmitting-side interface <b>11</b> converts the RTP packet generated by the RTP transmitting section <b>12</b>, into a signal that can be transferred through the network <b>30</b>. The data-transmitting apparatus <b>10</b> can therefore transmit the real-time data to the data-receiving apparatus <b>20</b> at the transfer rate by the rate control section <b>15</b>. The transmitting-side interface <b>11</b> receives the RTCP-sender report packet from the transmitting-side RTCP transmitting section <b>13</b> and periodically transmits the same to the data-receiving apparatus <b>20</b> through the network <b>30</b>. Upon receipt of the RTCP-sender report packet, the data-receiving apparatus <b>20</b> transmits an RTCP-receiver report packet to the data-transmitting apparatus <b>10</b>. The transmitting-side interface <b>11</b> receives the RTCP-receiver report packet and supplies the same to the transmitting-side receiving section <b>14</b>.

P-0038[0038] The data-receiving apparatus <b>20</b> comprises a receiving-side interface <b>21</b>, an RTP receiving section <b>22</b>, a receiving-side RTCP transmitting section <b>23</b>, and a receiving-side RTCP receiving section <b>24</b>.

P-0039[0039] The receiving-side interface <b>21</b> has an interface circuit that is connected to the network <b>30</b>. The interface <b>21</b> receives packets from the data-transmitting apparatus <b>10</b> via the network <b>30</b>. It supplies the packets to the other components of the data-receiving apparatus <b>20</b>.

P-0040[0040] The RTP receiving section <b>22</b> receives any RTP packet from the receiving-side interface <b>21</b>, which has received the RTP packet from the data-transmitting apparatus <b>10</b>. It analyzes the RTP packet and extracts the real-time data from the RTP packet. The real-time data thus extracted is output from the data-receiving apparatus <b>20</b>.

P-0041[0041] Upon receipt of the RTP packet, the RTP receiving section <b>22</b> calculates the data-loss rate for the RTP packet. The section <b>22</b> outputs the data-loss rate to the receiving-side RTCP transmitting section <b>23</b>.

P-0042[0042] The receiving-side RTCP receiving section <b>24</b> has the function of detecting the data-transmitting state in which the data-transmitting apparatus <b>10</b> is transmitting data to the data-receiving apparatus <b>20</b>. The data-receiving apparatus <b>20</b> can therefore monitor, as is described by the RTCP, the communication quality QoS of the data transferred to it from the data-transmitting apparatus <b>10</b> in accordance with the RTP. More precisely, the receiving-side RTCP receiving section <b>24</b> receives an RTCP-sender report packet periodically transmitted from the data-transmitting apparatus <b>10</b>. The section <b>24</b> then supplies the RTCP-sender report packet to the receiving-side RTCP transmitting section <b>23</b>, so that the receiving-side RTCP transmitting section <b>23</b> may generate an RTCP-receiver report packet.

P-0043[0043] The receiving-side RTCP transmitting section <b>23</b> has the function of informing the data-receiving state in which the data-receiving apparatus <b>20</b> is receiving data from the data-transmitting apparatus <b>10</b>. The data-receiving apparatus <b>20</b> can therefore monitor, as is described by the RTCP, the communication quality QoS of the data transferred to it from the data-transmitting apparatus <b>10</b> in accordance with the RTP. The receiving-side RTCP transmitting section <b>23</b> generates an RTCP-receiver report packet in order to inform the data-receiving state. The RTCP-receiver report packet will be described later in FIG. 4. To be more specific, the section <b>23</b> finds the data-loss rate for the RTP packet the RTP receiving section <b>22</b> has received from the RTP transmitting section <b>12</b> of the data-transmitting apparatus. The section <b>23</b> then generates an RTCP-receiver report packet, which is transmitted via the receiving-side interface <b>21</b> and the network <b>30</b> to the transmitting-side interface <b>11</b> of the data-transmitting apparatus <b>10</b>.

P-0044[0044] In the data-receiving apparatus <b>20</b>, the receiving-side interface <b>21</b> converts the RTP packet into a signal of a specific format so that the apparatus <b>20</b> may receive the real-time data from the data-transmitting apparatus <b>10</b>. The signal is supplied to the RTP receiving section <b>22</b>. The receiving-side interface <b>21</b> periodically receives an RTCP-sender report packet from the data-transmitting apparatus <b>10</b> through the network <b>30</b> and supplies the same to the receiving-side RTCP receiving section <b>24</b>. The interface <b>21</b> also receives the RTCP-receiver report packet from the receiving-side RTCP transmitting section <b>23</b>. The RTCP-receiver report packet is supplied to the data-transmitting apparatus <b>10</b> via the network <b>30</b>.

P-0045[0045]FIG. 2 illustrates the data configuration of the RTP header contained in any RTP packet.

P-0046[0046] As FIG. 2 shows, the RTP header comprises storage sections for storing various data items. The data items are version (e.g., V=2), padding (P), extension bits (X), CSRC (contributing source) count (CC), marker (M), payload type (PT), sequence number, time stamp, SSRC (synchronization source) identifier, and CSRC identifier. The storage sections are arranged in the order they have just mentioned. Real-time data follows the CSRC storage section.

P-0047[0047] The version storage section stores the data representing the version of the RTP applied. More precisely, the section stores “2” if the second version of RTP is utilized.

P-0048[0048] The payload storage section holds the data showing the type of the real-time data. This data indicates that the real-data is, for example, video data, audio data or the like.

P-0049[0049] The sequence number storage section stores a sequence number that is increased by one every time an RTP packet is transmitted or received during an RTP cession. The sequence number therefore indicates how many RTP packets have been already transmitted or received.

P-0050[0050] The time stamp storage section stores the time stamp that shows the time (day and hour) the real-time data was generated or updated.

P-0051[0051] The SSRC identifier storage section and the CSRC identifier storage section hold data item that identify the source of the data transmitted during the RTP cession.

P-0052[0052] The RTP transmitting section <b>12</b> stores various data items into the storage sections described above, before the real-time data is transmitted from the data-transmitting apparatus <b>10</b> in accordance with the RTP. The RTP receiving section <b>22</b> detects these data items and extracts the real-time data.

P-0053[0053]FIG. 3 depicts the data configuration of an RTCP-sender report packet.

P-0054[0054] The RTCP-sender report packet has a header data field, a sender information field, and report block field. These fields are arranged in the order they are mentioned. The report information field has a plurality of sub-fields that correspond to the sources provided in the data-transmitting apparatus.

P-0055[0055] The header data field comprises storage sections for storing various data items. The data items are version (V), padding (P), reception report count (RC), payload type (PT), data length, and sender identifier (SSRC of sender). These storage sections are arranged in the other they are mentioned.

P-0056[0056] The sender information field comprises storage sections for storing various data items. The data items are NTP (network time protocol) time stamp, RTP time stamp (RTP timestamp), sender's packet count, and sender's octet count.

P-0057[0057] The report block field comprises storage sections for storing various data items. These data items are SSRC-1 (SSRC of first source), data-loss rate (fraction lost), cumulative number of packets lost, extended highest sequence number received, interarrival jitter, last SR (LSR), and delay since last SR (DLSR).

P-0058[0058] In the header data field of the RTCP-sender report packet, the payload type storage section stores the payload type data supplied from the transmitting-side RTCP transmitting section <b>13</b>. The payload type data is a value “200” that indicates that the payload is an RTCP sender report.

P-0059[0059] The data length storage section stores the data representing the length of the entire RTCP-sender report packet, which has been supplied from the transmitting-side RTCP transmitting section <b>13</b>.

P-0060[0060] The sender identifier storage section of the header data field holds the sender identifier that identifies the sender that is transmitting data. The sender identifier has been supplied from the transmitting-side RTCP transmitting section <b>13</b>.

P-0061[0061] The NTP time stamp storage section stores the data showing the time (day and hour) when the data-transmitting apparatus <b>10</b> transmits a sender-report packet. The time data has been supplied from the transmitting-side RTCP transmitting section <b>13</b>.

P-0062[0062] The RTP time stamp storage section also stores the data showing the time (day and hour) when the data-transmitting apparatus <b>10</b> transmits an RTP packet. This time data has been supplied from the transmitting-side RTCP transmitting section <b>13</b>, too.

P-0063[0063] The sender's packet count storage section holds a sender's packet count that represents the number of RTP packets the data-transmitting apparatus <b>10</b> has transmitted within a prescribed period. The sender's packet count has been supplied from the transmitting-side RTCP transmitting section <b>13</b>.

P-0064[0064] The sender's octet count storage section stores the data representing the amount of data contained in the RTP packets that the data-transmitting apparatus <b>10</b> has transmitted within a prescribed period. This data has been supplied from the transmitting-side RTCP transmitting section <b>13</b>, too.

P-0065[0065] Note that data identical in configuration to the RTCP-receiver report packet, which will be later described, is written in the report block field. The data described in the report block field is used not only while the data-transmitting apparatus <b>10</b> is transmitting data, but also while the apparatus <b>10</b> is receiving data.

P-0066[0066]FIG. 4 shows the data configuration of the RTCP-receiver report packet.

P-0067[0067] In the report block field, the resource data storage section stores the data identifying the transmitting-side RTCP transmitting section <b>13</b> that transmits RTCP packets. This data has been sent from the transmitting-side RTCP transmitting section <b>13</b>.

P-0068[0068] The data-loss rate storage section stores the data indicative of the rate at which data is lost when the data-receiving apparatus <b>20</b> receives RTP packets from the data-transmitting apparatus <b>10</b>. This data has been supplied from the receiving-side RTCP transmitting section <b>23</b>.

P-0069[0069] The packet cumulative number storage section holds the data showing the cumulative number of packets that have been lost before the data-receiving apparatus <b>20</b> receives RTP packets from the data-transmitting apparatus <b>10</b>. The data has been supplied from the receiving-side RTCP transmitting section <b>23</b>, too.

P-0070[0070] The sequence number storage section stores the data representing the sequence number contained in the last RTP packet the data-receiving apparatus <b>20</b> has received. That is, this storage section holds the highest sequence number received. The data showing the highest sequence number has been supplied from the receiving-side RTCP transmitting section <b>23</b>.

P-0071[0071] The interarrival jitter storage section stores the data representative of the time intervals at which the data-receiving apparatus <b>20</b> receives RTP packets. This data has been supplied, also from the receiving-side RTCP transmitting section <b>23</b>.

P-0072[0072] The last SR (LSR) storage section holds the data showing the time at which the data-receiving apparatus <b>20</b> receives the last RTP packet from the data-transmitting apparatus <b>10</b>. The data has been supplied from the receiving-side RTCP transmitting section <b>23</b>, too.

P-0073[0073] The DLSR (delay since last SR) storage section stores the data indicating the time that has elapsed from the time represented by the data stored in the last SR (LSR) storage section.

P-0074[0074] Thus, RTCP-sender report packets and RTCP-receiver report packages are transferred in the communication system <b>1</b> described above. In the data-transmitting apparatus <b>10</b>, the sender's packet count storage section holds the sender's packet count that represents the number of RTP packets transmitted, and the sender's octet count storage section stores the data representing the amount of data contained in the RTP packets transmitted. Two data items respectively representing the number of RTP packets and the amount of data contained therein are supplied to the data-receiving apparatus <b>20</b>. Thus, the data-transmitting apparatus <b>10</b> informs the data-receiving apparatus <b>20</b> of the state in which the RTP packets are transmitted from it to the data-receiving apparatus <b>20</b>.

P-0075[0075] The data-receiving apparatus <b>20</b> calculates the ratio of the number of plackets lost to the number of packets it should receive while the data-transmitting apparatus <b>10</b> are continuously transmitting two sender report packets. More specifically, the apparatus <b>20</b> finds the ratio between the number of packets represented by the data it has received and the number of packets the RTP receiving section <b>22</b> has actually received, thereby determining the number of the packets lost. The apparatus <b>20</b> also calculates a data-loss rate from the ratio between the amount of data represented by the information it has received from the apparatus <b>10</b> and the amount of data contained in the RTP packets it has actually received from the apparatus <b>10</b>.

P-0076[0076] In the data-receiving apparatus <b>20</b>, the data-loss rate storage section stores the data-loss rate thus calculated. An RTCP-receiver report packet is generated. This packet has a packet cumulative number storage section that holds the data showing the cumulative number of packets that have been lost. The apparatus <b>20</b> transmits the RTCP-receiver report packet to the data-transmitting apparatus <b>10</b>, thus informing the apparatus <b>10</b> of the state in which the apparatus <b>20</b> is receiving the RTP packets.

P-0077[0077] How the rate control section <b>15</b> controls the transfer rate while the data-transmitting apparatus <b>10</b> is transmitting RTP packets will be explained, with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 5.

P-0078[0078] First, the rate control section <b>15</b> initializes a variable rate that holds the transfer rate, at an appropriate value, and initializes a variable state in accordance with the data-loss rate (Step ST<b>1</b>). The rate controller <b>15</b> has a counter that counts, at prescribed time intervals, a data-loss state found to exist on the basis of the data-loss rate. The count of the counter is initialized to “0.” The maximum count N is set in the counter.

P-0079[0079] Then, the rate control section <b>15</b> initializes the count Ch for a region H, the count Cl for a region L, the count Cxh for an extra-H region, and the count Cxl for an extra-L region, all to “0” (Step ST<b>2</b>).

P-0080[0080] The count Ch for the region H indicates the number of times the data-loss rate has been continuously detected in the region H shown in FIG. 6. The count Cl for the region L represents the number of times the data-loss rate has been continuously detected in the region L shown in FIG. 6. The count Cxh for the extra-H region shows the number of times the data-loss rate has been continuously detected in the extra-H region illustrated in FIG. 6. The count Cxl for the extra-L region represents the number of times the data-loss rate has been continuously detected in the extra-L region shown in FIG. 6.

P-0081[0081] The rate control section <b>15</b> holds two threshold value th<b>1</b> and th<b>2</b> for the data-loss rate, as is illustrated in FIG. 6. If the data-loss rate is lower than the first threshold value th<b>1</b>, the rate control section <b>15</b> determines that the data-loss rate lies in the region L. If the data-loss rate is higher than the first threshold value th<b>1</b> and lower than the second threshold value th<b>2</b>, the rate control section <b>15</b> determines that the data-loss rate lies in the region M. If the data-loss rate is higher than the second value th<b>2</b>, the rate control section <b>15</b> determines that the data-loss rate lies in the region H. The level of the above-mentioned data-loss state changes in accordance with which region the data-loss rate lies in. More correctly, the data-loss state is at level H when the data-loss rates lies in the region H, at level M when the rate lies in the region M, and at level L when the rate lies in the region L.

P-0082[0082] Next, the rate control section <b>15</b> controls the RTP transmitting section <b>12</b>, making the same to transmit RTP packets at the rate initialized in Step ST<b>1</b> (Step ST<b>3</b>). Thus controlled, the RTP transmitting section <b>12</b> transmits the RTP packets at the transfer rate initialized, to the data-receiving apparatus <b>20</b>. In the data-transmitting apparatus <b>10</b>, the transmitting-side RTCP transmitting section <b>13</b> transmits an RTCP-sender report packet to the data-receiving apparatus <b>20</b>.

P-0083[0083] The transmitting-side RTCP receiving section <b>14</b> receives an RTCP-receiver report packet from the data-receiving apparatus <b>20</b> and supplies the same to the rate control section <b>15</b> (Step ST<b>4</b>).

P-0084[0084] The rate control section <b>15</b> determines whether the data-loss rate supplied from the transmitting-side RTCP receiving section <b>14</b> is lower than the first threshold value th<b>1</b> or not (Step ST<b>5</b>).

P-0085[0085] The rate control section <b>15</b> may determine that the data-loss rate is lower than the first threshold value th<b>1</b> and that the data-loss rate lies in the region L. If so, the section <b>15</b> resets the count Ch for the region H and the count Cxl for the extra-L region, both at “0” and increases the count Cl for the region L and the count Cxl for the extra-L region (Step ST<b>7</b>).

P-0086[0086] If the rate control section <b>15</b> determines that the rate-loss rate is higher than the first threshold value th<b>1</b>, it determines whether the rate is lower than the second threshold value th<b>2</b> (Step ST<b>6</b>).

P-0087[0087] If the rate control section <b>15</b> determines that the data-loss rate is lower than the second threshold value th<b>2</b>, it determines that the rate lies in the region M that extends between the first threshold value th<b>1</b> and the second threshold value th<b>2</b>. In this case, the section <b>15</b> resets the count Ch for the region H and the count Cl for the region L, both at “0” and increases, by one, the count Cxl for the extra-L region and the count Cxh for the extra-H region (Step ST<b>8</b>).

P-0088[0088] The rate control section <b>15</b> may determine that the data-loss rate is higher than the second threshold value th<b>2</b>. In this case, the section <b>15</b> determines that the data-loss rate lies in the region H that is higher than both the first threshold value th<b>1</b> and the second threshold value th<b>2</b>. The section <b>15</b> then resets the counts Cl and Cxh at “0” and increases the counts Ch and Cxl by one (Step ST<b>9</b>).

P-0089[0089] Thus performing Steps ST<b>5</b> to ST<b>9</b>, the rate control section <b>15</b> obtains, from the transmitting-side receiving section <b>14</b>, the data-loss rate at which data is lost while the data-transmitting apparatus <b>10</b> is transmitting RTP packets at the transfer rate determined in Step ST<b>3</b>. In accordance with the data-loss rate, the section <b>15</b> drives the counter, thereby calculating the count Cxh for the extra-H region, the count Ch for the region H, the count Cl for the region L and the count Cxl for the extra-L region.

P-0090[0090] Then, the rate control section <b>15</b> carries out the following sequence of operations to determine whether a data-loss state exists or not, from the various counts acquired in Steps ST<b>5</b> to ST<b>9</b>.

P-0091[0091] First, the rate control section <b>15</b> determines whether the data-loss state is at “L” level (Step ST<b>10</b>). If the data-loss state is at “L” level, the section <b>15</b> carries out Steps ST<b>11</b> to ST<b>14</b> to determine whether it is necessary to shift the data-loss data from “L” level.

P-0092[0092] The rate control section <b>15</b> determines whether the count Cxl for the extra-L region is greater than the maximum value N or not (Step ST<b>11</b>). If the count Cxl is found greater than the value N, the section <b>15</b> shifts the data-loss state from “L” level to “M” level. In other words, the section <b>15</b> sets the data-loss state in the M region (Step ST<b>12</b>).

P-0093[0093] Next, the rate control section <b>15</b> determines whether the count Ch for the region H is greater than the maximum value N or not (Step ST<b>13</b>). If the count Ch is found greater than the value N, the section <b>15</b> shifts the data-loss state from “M” level to “H” level (Step ST<b>14</b>). The section <b>15</b> then goes to Step ST<b>15</b>.

P-0094[0094] If the count Cxl is found not greater than the maximum value N in Step ST<b>11</b>, the rate control section <b>15</b> determines that the data-loss state is at “L” level and goes to Step ST<b>15</b>. The control <b>15</b> advances to Step ST<b>15</b>, too, if it determines in Step ST<b>13</b> that the count Ch is not greater than the maximum value H, indicating that the data-loss state is at “M” level.

P-0095[0095] In Step ST<b>10</b> it may be determined that the data-loss state is not at “L” level. If so, the rate control section <b>15</b> determines whether the data-loss state is at “M” level or not (Step S <b>17</b>). If the data-loss state is found at “M” level, the section <b>15</b> performs Steps ST<b>18</b> to ST<b>21</b> to determine whether it is necessary to shift the data-loss state from “M” level or not.

P-0096[0096] At first, the rate control section <b>15</b> determines whether the count Ch for the region H is greater than the maximum value N or not (Step ST<b>18</b>). If the count Ch is found greater than the value N, the section <b>15</b> shifts the data-loss state from “M” level to “H” level. That is, the section <b>15</b> determines that the data-loss rate lies in the region H (Step ST<b>19</b>). The count Ch may be found greater than the value N in Step S<b>18</b>. In this case, the rate control section <b>15</b> goes to Step ST<b>20</b>.

P-0097[0097] In Step ST<b>20</b>, the rate control section <b>15</b> determines whether the count Cl for the region L is greater than the maximum value N or not. If the count Cl is not greater than the value N, the section <b>15</b> advances to Step ST<b>1</b> goes to Step ST<b>15</b>. If the count Cl is greater than the value N, the section <b>15</b> shifts the data-loss state from “H” level to “L” level (Step ST<b>21</b>). The, the rate control section <b>15</b> advances to Step ST<b>15</b>.

P-0098[0098] If the data-loss state is found not at “L” level in Step ST<b>10</b> and not at “M” level in Step ST<b>17</b>, it performs Steps ST<b>24</b> to ST<b>27</b> to determine whether the data-loss state should be shifted from “H” level or not.

P-0099[0099] First, the rate control section <b>15</b> determines whether the count Cxh for the extra-H region is greater than the maximum value N (Step ST<b>24</b>) or not. If the count Cxh is determined to be greater than the value N, the section <b>15</b> shifts the data-loss state from “H” level to “M” level. That is, the rate control section <b>15</b> determines that the data-loss rate lies in the region M (Step ST<b>25</b>).

P-0100[0100] Next, the rate control section <b>15</b> determines whether the count Cl for the region L is greater than the maximum value (Step ST<b>26</b>). If the count Cl is found greater than the value N, the section <b>15</b> shifts the data-loss rate from “M” level to “L” level (Step ST<b>27</b>). Then, the rate control section <b>15</b> goes to Step ST<b>15</b>.

P-0101[0101] If the rate control section <b>15</b> determines in Step ST<b>24</b> that the count Cxh for the extra-H region is greater than the maximum value N, it determines that the data-loss state is at “H” level. In this case, the section <b>15</b> goes to Step ST<b>15</b>. If the control section <b>15</b> determines in Step ST<b>26</b> that the count Cl for the region L is not greater than the maximum value N, it determines that the data-loss state is at “M” level. If so, the section <b>15</b> advances to Step ST<b>15</b>, too.

P-0102[0102] Thus, the rate control section <b>15</b> shifts the data-loss state that corresponds to the rate at which data is lost while RTP packets are transmitted at the transfer rate determined in Step ST<b>3</b>, thereby detecting an accurate data-loss state.

P-0103[0103] In accordance with the accurate data-loss state thus detected, the rate control section <b>15</b> carries out the following sequence of steps, in order to control the variable “rate.”

P-0104[0104] At first, the rate control section <b>15</b> determines whether the data-loss state is at “L” level (Step ST<b>15</b>) or not. If the data-loss state is found to be at “L” level, the section <b>15</b> increases the variable “rate” previously set (Step ST<b>16</b>), and then goes to Step ST<b>3</b>. The section <b>15</b> controls the RTP transmitting section <b>12</b>, making the section <b>12</b> transmit RTP packets at the transfer rate that corresponds to the variable “rate” thus increased. That is, the rate control section <b>15</b> determines that no data congestion is occurring in the network <b>30</b> if the data-loss state is found at “L” level. If so, the section <b>15</b> increases the transfer rate at which the RTP transmitting section <b>12</b> transmits RTP packets.

P-0105[0105] If the rate control section <b>15</b> determines in Step S<b>15</b> that the data-loss state is not at “L” level, it determines whether the data-loss state is at “M” level (Step ST<b>22</b>) or not. If the data-loss state is found not at “M” level, the section <b>15</b> does not change the preset variable “rate,” and returns to Step ST<b>3</b> (Step ST<b>23</b>). Thus, the rate control section <b>15</b> causes the RTP transmitting section <b>12</b> to transmit RTP packets at the transfer rate previously set. That is, if the data-loss state is at “M” level, the section <b>15</b> does not change the transfer rate set for the section <b>12</b> and monitors the condition in the network <b>30</b>.

P-0106[0106] If the data-loss state is found not at “M” level, in Step ST<b>22</b>, the section <b>15</b> determines that the data-loss state is at “H” level. In this case, the section <b>15</b> does not change the preset transfer rate and goes to Step ST<b>28</b>. In Step ST<b>28</b>, the section <b>15</b> decreases the variable “rate” and causes the RTP transmitting section <b>12</b> to transmit RTP packets at the transfer rate based on the “rate” thus decreased. That is, if the section <b>15</b> determines that the data-loss state is at “H” level, it determines that data congestion is taking place in the network <b>30</b> and then decreases the transfer rate for the RTP transmitting section <b>12</b>.

P-0107[0107] In the communication system <b>1</b>, the rate control section <b>15</b> controls the transfer rate as described above when data congestion occurs in the network <b>30</b> during the transmission of real-time data through the network <b>30</b>. More precisely, the section <b>15</b> compares the data-loss rate with two threshold values th<b>1</b> and th<b>2</b> to determine the data-loss state. If the data-loss rate is lower than the second threshold value th<b>2</b>, the section <b>15</b> does not change the transfer rate even if the data-loss rate is higher than the first threshold value th<b>1</b>. This prevents the encoding rate from being decreased in response to a temporary loss of data. As a result, the communication quality is stabilized. In other words, the system <b>1</b> does not respond too much to a loss of data caused by anything other than the data congestion in the network <b>30</b>.