JP5707309B2 - Quality degradation judgment device and method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a quality degradation determination apparatus and method, and in particular, an information communication service using IP technology such as IPTV and IP videophone for communicating voice, sound, video, and data over an IP packet network. Quality degradation judgment apparatus and method for evaluating and managing the quality (QoE: Quality of Experience) experienced by the user for information and communication services in order to always provide services with stable quality Regarding the program.

  Specifically, a system for realizing an information communication service by a home network connected to a wide area communication network via a relay device (HGW: Home Gate Way) and an information communication service receiving terminal connected via the home network The present invention relates to a quality degradation determination apparatus and method for evaluating and managing the measured user experience quality.

  Information communication services that communicate voice, sound, and video using IP technologies such as IP phones, IP videophones, and IPTV have become widespread. With the advent of appropriately quality-controlled IP networks, it has become important to manage QoE. In order to manage QoE, techniques for estimating QoE using various parameters that can be acquired from networks and terminals are being studied, and various approaches using information (packet behavior) that can be acquired on the network have been proposed. (For example, see Patent Documents 1, 2, 3, and 4).

  Also, when QoE deteriorates, when the node in the relay network measures the packet behavior to estimate QoE and confirms quality degradation, has quality degradation occurred at the higher level of the node that detected it? There is an approach to detect (see, for example, Patent Document 4).

  Furthermore, there is a technique for identifying / separating the quality deterioration factor generated in the network (see, for example, Patent Documents 5 and 6). However, it is a technology that measures the packet transfer delay and loss that occurs in the relay network and identifies the location of those occurrences, and does not identify the QoE reduction factor or the suspected location.

  Most of the factors that decrease QoE in information communication services with a large amount of communication data such as video communication services are not the relay network, but the quality of the home network in the user's home. In home networks, devices that cannot guarantee stable network quality (wireless LAN, PLC (Power line communication), etc.) are often used compared to wired networks, so there is a possibility that QoE may be a factor or a suspected place. high. Therefore, a standard protocol such as TR-069 is recommended as a technique for service providers to remotely manage devices in the home network (see Non-Patent Document 1).

  Also, using OSGi (Open Services Gateway initiative) technology to control devices in the home network to relay devices / terminals (for example, HGW) near the home network and carrier network interface (UNI). There is also a method of implementing application software (called a bundle).

  In order to determine whether the cause of QoE degradation is the home network, a relay device / terminal (for example, HGW) installed near the UNI and an information communication service receiving terminal (for example, STB (Set Top Box for IPTV service) )) There is a general method for comparing information measured in the vicinity.

Japanese Patent No. 3579334 Japanese Patent No. 4308227 Japanese Patent No. 4460506 Japanese Patent No. 4523395 JP 2011-176768 Japanese Patent No. 4542027

Bernstein, J. and Spets, T., ed., "DSL Forum TR-069: CPE WAN Management Protocol", Technical Report, DSL Forum, May 2004.

  However, providers (service providers / content providers) of information communication services (for example, IPTV) and network carriers (network providers) are often different operators, and relay devices / terminals (for example, HGW) near UNI. In many cases, the owner of the information communication service receiving terminal (for example, STB) does not match, and the data measured by each device is owned by another company. For this reason, the information communication service provider and the network carrier cannot compare the data of each pair, and cannot identify the quality degradation section in the home network.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and realizes a method and an apparatus for identifying a quality degradation section in a home network when the quality experienced by a service is lowered, and a service provider and a network. It is an object of the present invention to provide a quality degradation determination apparatus, method and program capable of obtaining quality information if a carrier is also requested.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a home network connected via a relay device to a wide area communication network to which an information communication service transmitting device is connected, and an information communication service connected via the home network. In a system for realizing an information communication service by a receiving terminal, quality measurement is performed in the information communication service by packet communication between the information communication service transmitting apparatus and the information communication service receiving terminal (hereinafter referred to as a receiving terminal). A quality degradation determination device for determining degradation of communication quality of a user experience quality (QoE) of a receiving terminal,
A receiving terminal quality measuring means that measure the packet quality information of the receiving terminal,
Quality measurement request means for requesting the relay device quality measurement device to measure the quality of the relay device;
And quality information storing means for storing in association with the measured quality measurement information B quality measurement information A and the receiving terminal quality measurement unit obtained from the relay device quality measurement device,
On the basis of the quality measurement information A and the quality measurement information B, a quality evaluation means for determining quality deterioration,
Transmitting means for transmitting the evaluation result by the quality evaluating means to the relay device or the information communication service transmitting device via a network;
I have a,
The quality evaluation means includes
Quality deterioration determination means for determining quality deterioration based on fluctuations in packet arrival intervals in the relay device and the receiving terminal stored in the quality information storage means;
User experience quality estimation means for estimating user experience quality based on the quality measurement information B;
A quality diagnosis report transmission means for transmitting a quality diagnosis report created by integrating the quality diagnosis results output from the quality degradation determination means and the user experience quality estimation means;
Including

  According to the present invention, the provider of the information communication service (for example, IPTV) and the network carrier are different operators, and the relay device / terminal (for example, HGW) near the UNI and the information communication service receiving terminal (for example, STB) Even when the owners do not match, the data measured by both terminals can be collected and compared in pairs.

  Therefore, by realizing a method and apparatus capable of measuring quality information of terminals installed in the home network, a method and apparatus for identifying a quality degradation section in the home network when the QoE for the user service is reduced is realized. can do.

  Therefore, the information communication service provider and the network carrier can grasp the cause of the QoE decline and the suspected deterioration point of the information communication service with high accuracy, and can provide the user with a quick and detailed service. .

1 is a system configuration diagram according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram of the receiving terminal quality degradation determination apparatus in one embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram of the quality measurement request | requirement part in one embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram of the receiving terminal quality measurement part in one embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram of the quality information storage part in one embodiment of this invention. It is an example of the measurement result stored in the quality information storage part in one embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram of the quality evaluation part in one embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart of the degradation isolation | separation method in the packet arrival interval of the quality degradation determination part in one embodiment of this invention. It is an example of quality degradation determination in one embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart of the degradation isolation | separation method by the packet loss of the quality degradation determination part in one embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the quality information after FEC decoding in the receiving terminal in one embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart of the QoE quality estimation method of the user experience quality estimation part in one embodiment of this invention. It is an example of the quality diagnosis report in one embodiment of this invention.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  The receiving terminal quality degradation judging device according to the present embodiment includes an information communication service transmitting device connected via an IP network or a home network, a relay device (for example, HGW) installed near the UNI, and an information communication service receiving terminal. (E.g., STB), in the information communication system configured by the user, the quality experienced by the user for the information communication service by packet communication between the information communication service transmitting device and the information communication service receiving terminal via the relay device (hereinafter, QoE) is used to specify the network section that causes deterioration.

  FIG. 1 shows a system configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention. The information communication system shown in FIG. 1 includes an information communication service transmission device 1, a relay device (HGW, etc.) 3, an information communication service reception terminal 5, an IP network 2 connecting the information communication service transmission device 1 and the relay device 3, and a relay. The home network 4 connects the device 3 and the information communication service receiving terminal 5. Although not shown, the IP network 2 may have a system configuration including an information communication service quality viewing server incorporating a receiving terminal quality monitoring device and an HGW quality monitoring server incorporating an HGW quality monitoring device.

  The information communication service receiving terminal 5 incorporates the receiving terminal quality degradation determination device 100, and in cooperation with the relay device 3, based on the packet transfer quality, the quality measurement information of each device and the QoE for the information communication service In addition, the network section that causes QoE degradation when QoE decreases is detected.

  In addition, the relay device 3 incorporates the HGW quality measurement device 300.

  Moreover, in this Embodiment, although the receiving terminal quality degradation determination apparatus 100 presupposes incorporating in the information communication service receiving terminal 5, you may implement | achieve as an external apparatus connected to each apparatus or a terminal. When OSGi operates in the relay device (HGW) 3 and the information communication service reception terminal 5, the reception terminal quality degradation determination device 100 may be mounted as a bundle. In this embodiment, the relay device 3 installed near the UNI closest to the relay network in the home network is an HGW. However, the relay device 3 may not be an HGW as long as it has a similar function. The present invention provides a button for instructing execution of measurement displayed on the operation screen of the information communication service receiving terminal 5 when the user feels that the QoE has deteriorated for the information communication service and makes a request for checking the quality state. Etc., by instructing the quality measurement using the reception terminal quality degradation determination device 100 and the HGW quality measurement device 300, and by displaying the result determined by the quality evaluation unit described later to the user. In addition to presenting the user with the quality status and the suspected quality degradation location, the service provider also obtains this information, thereby enabling the user to identify the network section that causes the QoE reduction and lead to quality improvement. The HGW quality measuring apparatus 300 may be mounted by being incorporated in the HGW 3 or the HGW quality measuring apparatus 300 may be mounted as an external part of the HGW 3.

  In the system as described above, an example in which the user activates the receiving terminal quality degradation determination device 100 by using a request from the information communication service receiving terminal 5 to the receiving terminal quality degradation determination device 100 as a trigger will be described below. Without being limited, the reception terminal quality deterioration determination is made by a request to the reception terminal quality deterioration determination apparatus 100 from a service provider or a network carrier device that remotely manages the information communication service device 1 or the devices in the home network 4. It is also possible to operate the device 100.

  Below, the structure of the receiving terminal quality degradation determination apparatus 100 is demonstrated in detail.

  FIG. 2 shows a configuration of a receiving terminal quality degradation determination apparatus in an embodiment of the present invention.

  The receiving terminal quality degradation determination device 100 includes a quality measurement request unit 110, a receiving terminal quality measurement unit 120, a quality information storage unit 130, and a quality evaluation unit 140.

  When the user realizes a decrease in QoE, the user presses the quality diagnosis button displayed on the receiving terminal 5. Triggered by the pressing of the quality diagnosis button, the quality measurement requesting unit 110 instructs the receiving terminal quality measuring unit 120 and the HGW quality measuring apparatus 300 to perform time measurement by synchronizing the time.

  The quality measurement information of the receiving terminal quality measuring unit 120 and the HGW quality measuring apparatus 300 that are time-synchronized is associated with the quality information storage unit 130 of the receiving terminal quality degradation determining apparatus 100 based on the time information and the service information. Accumulate measurement information.

  The quality evaluation unit 140 reads the packet quality information (packet arrival interval, packet loss number) of the receiving terminal quality measurement unit 120 and the HGW quality measurement device 300 that are read from the quality information storage unit 130 and associated with each other based on the time information and the service information. , And the measurement difference value of the order reversal packet, etc.), the deterioration is determined, and the suspected place is specified.

  Further, the quality evaluation unit 140 estimates the user experience quality value using the packet information and the discarded packet information at the receiving terminal 5 included in the receiving terminal quality measurement information. At this time, the estimation is performed in consideration of not only the presence / absence of the terminal discard packet but also information held by the discarded packet. Specifically, if the user experience quality value (MOS) takes a value of 1 to 5, it is not necessarily 5 even when there is no packet discard. This may be 4.2 or the like when the quality of the original image is low even without NW degradation. In addition, when there is a discarded packet, the value of MOS may be different even if one packet is discarded depending on the degree of influence of the packet.

  The quality evaluation unit 140 outputs the quality diagnosis result report by combining the packet quality degradation type, the suspected degradation location, and the QoE estimated value. The contents of the quality diagnosis result report are displayed on the receiving terminal, registered in the quality information storage unit 130, and associated with the service ID and time together with the quality measurement information of the receiving terminal 5 and the HGW quality measuring apparatus 300. The information in the quality information storage unit 130 may be displayed by reading out and transferring the result if requested by the receiving terminal 5, the HGW 3, or the service provider.

  FIG. 3 shows the configuration of the quality measurement request unit according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  The quality measurement request unit 110 includes a quality measurement request reception unit 111, a quality measurement content specification unit 112, and a time synchronization unit 113.

  As shown in FIG. 3, when the user realizes a decrease in QoE, when the “quality diagnosis” button is pressed on the quality measurement screen of the information communication service receiving terminal 5, the quality measurement request accepting unit 111 of the quality measurement requesting unit 110. The measurement start request is accepted. The quality measurement content instructing unit 112 designates the measurement item and provides the time synchronization unit 113 with information on the quality measurement content and the measurement start time. The time synchronization unit 113 transmits the quality measurement content and time synchronization information to the HGW quality measurement apparatus 300 and the receiving terminal quality measurement unit 120. As a method for time synchronization, the methods described in Patent Documents 5 and 6 described above can be used. When the service provider operates from a device other than the receiving terminal 5 such as a service provider or network carrier that remotely manages devices in the home network, quality diagnosis of each device is performed at an arbitrary timing. The quality measurement requesting unit 110 may be accessed using a function that generates the trigger.

  FIG. 4 shows the configuration of the receiving terminal quality measuring unit in the embodiment of the present invention.

  The receiving terminal quality measurement unit 120 includes a quality measurement reception unit 121, a quality measurement unit 122, a quality measurement result output unit 123, and a quality measurement result transmission unit 124.

  The receiving terminal quality measurement unit 120 receives the quality measurement request at the quality measurement reception unit 121 and starts quality measurement according to the quality measurement content from the measurement start time. When the quality measurement for a certain time is completed, the quality measurement result is output and the quality measurement information is stored in the quality information storage unit 130.

  The HGW quality measurement device 300 is assumed to have the same quality measurement function as that of the reception terminal quality measurement device 100 as an incorporation into the HGW or as an external device.

  The reception terminal quality measurement information measured by the HGW quality measurement apparatus 300 and the reception terminal quality measurement unit 120 indicates the service content ID, measurement time, measurement item, and measurement result. For example, in the case of an IPTV service, information that can identify which video is received, such as the IPTV stream transmission source IP address, port number, service ID, and channel information, measurement time, and packet quality are measured. Packet quality includes the number of received IP packets, the number of lost IP packets, the number of reversal packets, as well as the packet arrival interval, average jitter, minimum jitter, maximum jitter, jitter standard deviation, and packets that exceed the threshold of the arrival interval. There is. For example, the reception buffer length of the reception terminal 5 may be set as the arrival interval threshold.

  Furthermore, the FEC (Forward Error Correction) decoding process of the receiving terminal 5 is performed on the quality measurement information items and values obtained from the above receiving terminal quality measurement information, and a packet that cannot be recovered by FEC and is eventually discarded is measured. In addition to the number of discarded terminal IP packets, there are an average terminal buffering time and a maximum terminal buffering time as the time from when an IP packet is received by the receiving terminal 5 until it is reproduced as video / audio.

  The reception terminal quality measurement information is stored in the quality information storage unit 130 at a preset report timing (for example, every 10 seconds from the start of measurement).

  FIG. 5 shows a configuration of the quality information storage unit in the embodiment of the present invention.

  The quality information storage unit 130 includes an information input unit 131, a quality information storage unit 132, a disclosure request reception unit 133, and a result display unit 134.

  The measurement results transmitted from the receiving terminal quality measurement unit 120 and the HGW quality measurement device 300 are received by the information input unit 131 and stored in the quality information storage unit 132. The quality information storage unit 132 is a storage medium such as a hard disk or a memory. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, measurement is performed by the HGW quality measurement device 300 and the receiving terminal quality measurement unit 120 based on the IPTV stream source IP address, port number, service ID, channel information, and measurement time. The associated packet quality information is stored in association with each other. The example of FIG. 6 is an example in which the number of packets exceeding the threshold of the arrival interval (the number of abnormal arrival interval packets) and the number of lost packets are stored in association with each other based on the service ID and the measurement time.

  Information stored in the quality information storage unit 132 can be referred to from the quality evaluation unit 140.

  When the disclosure request receiving unit 133 receives a disclosure request from the receiving terminal 5, the disclosure request receiving unit 133 reads the measurement result designated from the quality information storage unit 132 and displays it on the receiving terminal 5 via the display unit 134. The result display unit 134 not only displays it on the receiving terminal 5, but also transmits a quality diagnosis report if there is a quality information disclosure request from the network provider or service provider, which can be used for quality improvement at the suspected quality degradation location. It shall be possible.

  FIG. 7 shows the configuration of the quality evaluation unit in one embodiment of the present invention.

  The quality evaluation unit 140 shown in the figure includes a quality degradation determination unit 141, a user experience quality estimation unit 142, a quality diagnosis report unit 143, and a quality diagnosis report transmission unit 144.

  The quality evaluation unit 140 reads the packet quality measurement values at the HGW 3 and the receiving terminal 5 from the quality information storage unit 130, obtains the difference between the packet quality measurement values, and estimates the quality degradation suspected section and estimates QoE from the difference. To do. Specifically, it is determined whether packet loss, arrival interval abnormality, or packet order reversal has occurred in the quality degradation suspected section, and the receiving terminal 5 determines whether or not deterioration has been recovered as a result. And the user experience quality (QoE) value is estimated from the received packet information.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a degradation isolation method based on the packet arrival interval of the quality degradation determination unit in one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 9 shows an example of quality degradation determination. In FIG. 9, n_loss (T) indicates the number of packets that can be recovered by the receiving terminal 5 using FEC decoding per unit time. The FEC function can recover lost packet information, arrival delay information, and packet information (including order reversal) at the receiving terminal 5 by multiplexing and transmitting the packets. In the reception buffer, the amount of discarded packets is determined by the decoding performance of FEC. In some cases, the reception buffer is set to a variable length instead of a fixed length. In FIG. 9, in the item of the number of terminal discarded packets n_loss (T), as an example of the receiving terminal buffer length, a packet that can be recovered per unit time by FEC decoding is assumed to be “7”. As a result, abnormal packets exceeding “8” cannot be recovered by the receiving terminal 5, that is, are discarded as a result. Therefore, a difference value is described in the item of the number of terminal discarded packets n_loss (T). ing.

  First, the quality degradation determination unit 141 sets the packet arrival interval at the HGW as d (H) and the packet arrival interval at the receiving terminal as d (T). Further, the buffer size at the receiving terminal 5 is d0.

  In the receiving terminal 5, the number that the packet arrival interval d (T) exceeds the buffer size d0 in the receiving terminal 5 is defined as nd (T) (step 101).

  In the HGW 3, the number of packet arrival intervals d (H) exceeding the buffer size d0 at the receiving terminal 5 is defined as nd (H) (step 102).

  When both nd (H) and nd (T) are 0 (step 103, Yes), there is no arrival interval abnormality in the HGW 3 or the receiving terminal 5, indicating a normal state (step 104).

  If nd (H) = 0 and nd (T)> 0 (step 105, Yes), it is not detected by the HGW 3, so it is determined that an abnormal packet arrival interval has occurred between the HGW 3 and the receiving terminal 5. Yes (step 106) (FIG. 9: Measurement ID1).

  If a packet arrival interval abnormality is detected in the HGW, it is considered that {nd (T) -nd (H)} <0 cannot occur, considering that the reception terminal 5 always detects the packet arrival interval abnormality.

  If {nd (T) -nd (H)} = 0 (step 107, Yes), it can be estimated that a packet arrival interval abnormality has occurred in the upper HGW (step 108) (FIG. 9: measurement IDs 4 and 5).

  Further, if {nd (T) −nd (H)}> 0 (step 107, No), it can be estimated that a packet arrival interval abnormality has occurred in any of the upper HGW and between the HGW and the receiving terminal (step 109) (FIG. 9: Measurement ID 6).

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a degradation classification method based on packet loss of the quality degradation determination unit in one embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, the degradation isolation process in the quality degradation determination unit 141 will be described using the quality degradation determination example of FIG.

  The number of IP packet losses at the HGW 3 within the measurement time is n (H), and the number of IP packet losses at the receiving terminal 5 is n (T) (steps 201 and 202).

  When n (H) and n (T) are both 0 (step 203, Yes), there is no packet loss in either the HGW 3 or the receiving terminal 5 (step 204) (FIG. 9: measurement ID1, 2, etc.).

  If n (H) = 0 and n (T)> 0 (step 205, Yes), since it is not detected by the HGW 3, it can be determined that a packet loss has occurred between the HGW 3 and the receiving terminal (step) 206) (FIG. 9: Measurement ID 7, 8).

  When packet loss is detected by the HGW, it is considered that {n (T) -n (H)} <0 cannot occur, considering that it is always detected by the receiving terminal 5.

  When {n (T) -n (H)} = 0 (step 207, Yes), it can be estimated that packet loss has occurred in the HGW host (FIG. 9: measurement IDs 9 and 11).

  Further, if {n (T) -n (H)}> 0 (No in Step 207), it can be estimated that packet loss occurs in any of the upper HGW and between the HGW and the receiving terminal (Step 209). (FIG. 9: Measurement ID 10, 12).

  The quality degradation determination unit 141 transmits information of the HGW 3 and the receiving terminal 5 regarding the packet loss to the quality diagnosis report unit 143 as a result of quality separation by packet loss.

  As described above, in FIG. 8 and FIG. 10, the suspected quality degradation portion is separated based on the value and difference of the quality measurement information. Even when there are three or more measurement target devices in the receiving terminal 5 and the HGW 3 as in the above example, the quality information values and differences between adjacent measurement target devices are sequentially used. It is also possible to carve out.

  FIG. 11 shows the quality state after the FEC decoding process at the receiving terminal according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  The normally arrived packet is decoded as it is and is normally reproduced in the receiving terminal 5. When an arrival interval abnormality or packet loss occurs, it is classified into cases that can be recovered by FEC packets and those that cannot be recovered. As a result, when it can be recovered, it is normally replayed, but for the terminal discard IP packet that could not be recovered, quality degradation occurs during replay.

  For example, in the example of FIG. 9, the quality degradation determination unit 141 assumes that the number of packets that can be recovered per unit time is seven. If the number of abnormal arrival interval packets and the number of lost packets at the receiving terminal are 0, the “receiving terminal determination” in FIG. 9 is “normal”, and if it is 7 or less, “recovered” by FEC decoding at the receiving terminal 5; If it is 8 or more, the portion exceeding 7 can be determined as “abnormal” as quality degradation at the receiving terminal 5. In this example, an example of FEC decoding is shown simply, but the recovery method differs depending on the FEC mechanism. When there is no FEC decoding process, whether or not deterioration occurs in the receiving terminal 5 is determined depending on whether or not decoding is possible.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart of the QoE quality estimation method based on the packet information of the user experience quality estimation unit according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  The user experience quality estimation unit 142 extracts TS header information from the header information of the IP packet stored in the quality information storage unit 130, media information of video / audio, video frame start position, the number of video packets per frame, An estimated value of video quality and an estimated value of audio quality are calculated as QoE from quality information such as the number of audio packets. This technology shall be performed using existing technology.

  Further, the total quality (AV quality) is estimated using the estimated sound quality value (A) and video quality value (V). As the realization method, as the video quality estimation method, the above-mentioned Patent Document 3 and Document 1 “Patent No. 4490483”, Document 2 “WO09 / 025357, Document 3“ Patent No. 4377357 ”, Document 4 “Patent No. 4460523”, acoustic quality estimation method as document 5 “Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2011-119973”, and AV quality estimation method as document 6 “Patent No. 4802183”.

  The user experience quality estimation unit 142 outputs the QoE estimated video quality value, sound quality value, and AV quality value to the quality diagnosis report unit 143.

  The quality diagnosis report unit 143 obtains the quality degradation determination result from the quality degradation determination unit 141 and the video quality estimation value and the acoustic quality estimation value from the user experience quality estimation unit 142, and generates a report in a predetermined format. . Specifically, for example, as shown in FIG. 13, a report in a format that can be displayed by the apparatus that has received the report is created and output to the quality diagnosis report transmission unit 144.

  The quality diagnosis report transmission unit 144 transmits the report acquired from the quality diagnosis report unit 143 to the receiving terminal 5. As a result, the receiving terminal 5 displays the report on the display means. Further, the report may be in a format that can be browsed by a provider managing the HGW 3 or STB other than the receiving terminal 5 and may be transmitted to the HGW 3 or the information communication service transmitting apparatus 1 via the network.

  As for the display method of the output result in the receiving terminal 5 or the like, the measured value is posted as it is, the processing is performed using the measured value such as the number of reception buffers exceeding the arrival interval, the HGW 3 and the receiving terminal 5 that are necessary for classification Normality / abnormality judgment, quality degradation causes, suspected deterioration, QoE value, or normal / abnormality judgment based on QoE value.

  Specifically, in addition to the method of describing the QoE value as it is, “quality is good” when there is no packet loss or delay, “quality is normal” when the QoE threshold is satisfied, and when the QoE threshold is less than “ There is a method of displaying “Degraded quality” in three stages, “Normal” when there is no packet loss or delay, and “Degrading quality” in two stages. Which display method is used may be selected according to the purpose, such as for users and quality managers.

  FIG. 13 shows an image of a quality diagnosis report generated by the quality diagnosis report unit 143 that summarizes the above.

  In FIG. 13, quality measurement information associated with the HGW 3 and the reception terminal 5, the number of arrival intervals exceeding the threshold calculated based on the quality measurement information, a quality degradation determination result at the HGW, and a quality determination result at the reception terminal 5 Represents the number of discarded packets, QoE value at the terminal, suspected location information, and the status of the occurrence of an abnormality.

  As described above, the quality measurement in the home network 4 is performed by the user at the reception quality degradation determination device 100 incorporated in the reception terminal 5, and the determination result is transmitted to the network carrier, service provider, It can be distributed to the users themselves.

  The operation of the constituent elements of the receiving terminal quality deterioration device 100 is constructed as a program and installed in a computer used as a receiving terminal quality deterioration device or an information communication service receiving terminal incorporating the receiving terminal quality deterioration device. Or can be distributed via a network.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and applications are possible within the scope of the claims.

1 Information communication service transmission device 2 IP (Internet Protocol) network 3 Relay device (HGW, etc.)
4 Home network 5 Information communication service receiving terminal (STB: Set Top Box, etc.)
100 receiving terminal quality degradation determination device 110 quality measurement requesting unit 111 quality measurement request receiving unit 112 quality measurement content specifying unit 113 time synchronization unit 120 receiving terminal quality measuring unit 121 quality measurement receiving unit 130 quality information storage unit 140 quality evaluation unit 141 quality Degradation determination unit 142 User experience quality estimation unit 143 Quality diagnosis report unit 144 Quality diagnosis report transmission unit 300 HGW quality measurement device

Claims (4)

In a system for realizing an information communication service by a home network connected via a relay device to a wide area communication network to which an information communication service transmitting device is connected, and an information communication service receiving terminal connected via the home network, In an information communication service using packet communication between the information communication service transmitting apparatus and the information communication service receiving terminal (hereinafter referred to as a receiving terminal), quality measurement is performed and the user experience quality (QoE) of the receiving terminal is measured. ) Is a quality degradation determination device that determines degradation of communication quality,
A receiving terminal quality measuring means that measure the packet quality information of the receiving terminal,
Quality measurement request means for requesting the relay device quality measurement device to measure the quality of the relay device;
And quality information storing means for storing in association with the measured quality measurement information B quality measurement information A and the receiving terminal quality measurement unit obtained from the relay device quality measurement device,
On the basis of the quality measurement information A and the quality measurement information B, a quality evaluation means for determining quality deterioration,
Transmitting means for transmitting the evaluation result by the quality evaluating means to the relay device or the information communication service transmitting device via a network;
I have a,
The quality evaluation means includes
Quality deterioration determination means for determining quality deterioration based on fluctuations in packet arrival intervals in the relay device and the receiving terminal stored in the quality information storage means;
User experience quality estimation means for estimating user experience quality based on the quality measurement information B;
A quality diagnosis report transmission means for transmitting a quality diagnosis report created by integrating the quality diagnosis results output from the quality deterioration determination means and the user experience quality estimation means;
A quality deterioration judging device including: In a system for realizing an information communication service by a home network connected via a relay device to a wide area communication network to which an information communication service transmitting device is connected, and an information communication service receiving terminal connected via the home network, In an information communication service using packet communication between the information communication service transmitting apparatus and the information communication service receiving terminal (hereinafter referred to as a receiving terminal), quality measurement is performed and the user experience quality (QoE) of the receiving terminal is measured. ) Is a quality degradation determination device that determines degradation of communication quality,
Receiving terminal quality measuring means for measuring packet quality information of the receiving terminal;
Quality measurement request means for requesting the relay device quality measurement device to measure the quality of the relay device;
Quality information storage means for storing the quality measurement information A acquired from the relay apparatus quality measurement apparatus and the quality measurement information B measured by the receiving terminal quality measurement means in association with each other;
Quality evaluation means for determining quality degradation based on the quality measurement information A and the quality measurement information B;
Transmitting means for transmitting the evaluation result by the quality evaluating means to the relay device or the information communication service transmitting device via a network;
Have
The quality evaluation means includes
Quality deterioration determination means for determining quality deterioration based on the number of packet losses at the relay device and the receiving terminal within a predetermined measurement time stored in the quality information storage means;
User experience quality estimation means for estimating user experience quality based on the quality measurement information B;
A quality diagnosis report transmission means for transmitting a quality diagnosis report created by integrating the quality diagnosis results output from the quality deterioration determination means and the user experience quality estimation means;
A quality deterioration judging device including: In a system for realizing an information communication service by a home network connected via a relay device to a wide area communication network to which an information communication service transmitting device is connected, and an information communication service receiving terminal connected via the home network, In an information communication service using packet communication between the information communication service transmitting apparatus and the information communication service receiving terminal (hereinafter referred to as a receiving terminal), quality measurement is performed and the user experience quality (QoE) of the receiving terminal is measured. ) Communication quality degradation in the apparatus for judging the degradation of communication quality ,
Is received terminal quality measuring means, and receiving terminal quality measurement step you measure packet quality information of the receiving terminal,
A quality measurement requesting means for requesting the relay device quality measurement device to measure the quality of the relay device;
A quality information accumulating step in which the quality information accumulating means associates the quality measurement information A acquired from the relay device quality measuring apparatus and the quality measurement information B measured by the receiving terminal quality measuring step and accumulates them in the storage means;
Quality evaluation means, based on the quality measurement information A and the quality measurement information B, a quality evaluation step of determining quality degradation,
A transmitting step for transmitting an evaluation result of the quality evaluation step to the relay device or the information communication service transmitting device via a network;
I have a,
In the quality evaluation step,
A quality deterioration determination step of determining quality deterioration based on fluctuations in packet arrival intervals in the relay device and the receiving terminal stored in the quality information storage means;
A user experience quality estimation step of estimating a user experience quality based on the quality measurement information B;
A quality deterioration determination method comprising: the quality deterioration determination step; and a quality diagnosis report transmission step for transmitting a quality diagnosis report created by integrating the quality diagnosis results obtained by the user experience quality estimation step. . In a system for realizing an information communication service by a home network connected via a relay device to a wide area communication network to which an information communication service transmitting device is connected, and an information communication service receiving terminal connected via the home network, In an information communication service using packet communication between the information communication service transmitting apparatus and the information communication service receiving terminal (hereinafter referred to as a receiving terminal), quality measurement is performed and the user experience quality (QoE) of the receiving terminal is measured. ) Communication quality degradation in the apparatus for judging the degradation of communication quality,
A receiving terminal quality measuring means for measuring packet quality information of the receiving terminal;
A quality measurement requesting means for requesting the relay device quality measurement device to measure the quality of the relay device;
A quality information accumulating step in which the quality information accumulating means associates the quality measurement information A acquired from the relay device quality measuring apparatus and the quality measurement information B measured by the receiving terminal quality measuring step and accumulates them in the storage means;
A quality evaluation step in which quality evaluation means determines quality degradation based on the quality measurement information A and the quality measurement information B;
A transmitting step for transmitting an evaluation result of the quality evaluation step to the relay device or the information communication service transmitting device via a network;
Have
In the quality evaluation step,
A quality deterioration determination step of determining quality deterioration based on the number of packet losses at the relay device and the receiving terminal within a predetermined measurement time stored in the quality information storage means;
A user experience quality estimation step of estimating a user experience quality based on the quality measurement information B;
A quality deterioration determination method comprising: the quality deterioration determination step; and a quality diagnosis report transmission step for transmitting a quality diagnosis report created by integrating the quality diagnosis results obtained by the user experience quality estimation step. .

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