JP2003209547A - Charging method for communication between terminals, terminal, and server - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To accelerate positive data sharing in a charging method for communication between terminals in a hybrid type peer-to-peer communication network. <P>SOLUTION: The charging method for the communication between the terminals in the hybrid type peer-to-peer communication network is provided with a first step of having a communication request origin terminal request an opposite party terminal name to be a communicating party to a server, a second step of having the server retrieve the opposite party terminal name to be the communicating party and report it to the communication request origin terminal, a third step of having the communication request origin terminal, a communicate with the opposite party terminal notified by the server, a fourth step of having the opposite party terminal report details regarding the communication to the server, and a fifth step of having the server charge the communication request origin terminal and the opposite party terminal on the basis of the details. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a billing method for communication using an Internet and an unspecified number of terminals (hereinafter referred to as peers) in an equal position, and a terminal.
In addition, the data related to the server, in particular, data such as video data from a terminal mounted on a moving body such as an automobile or a train, which is mounted on another moving body traveling at a predetermined position. The present invention relates to a billing method, a terminal, and a server for a communication service system that obtains information by communication.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As is well known, the Internet has become a social foundation for distributing and sharing information. The original network architecture of the Internet consisted of peers exchanging data in a peer-to-peer relationship. Here, a peer means one computer. Further, as an unequal relationship, there is a vertical relationship such as a client and a server. As an example of data exchange, FTP
(File Transfer Protocol) and telnet. Since then, this architecture has changed with the increasing use of the Internet. In particular, WWW (World Wi
de Web) has a big impact. As a result, the Internet was used by a large number of users as clients and a small number of well-known sites as servers, and as a dominant usage method, clients used to browse server data. FIG. 7 shows a client / server system (hereinafter, C
/ S model. FIG. In FIG. 7, S1 is a server, and P1-1 to P1-5 are peers.
Examples of such data exchange include E-mail and IM (Instant Message) in addition to the above WWW.

Both the peers (P1-1 to P1-5) and the server (S1) are computers, but their roles are different. Therefore, the price of the server (S1) is higher than that of the peers (P1-1 to P1-5). It became extremely expensive. The environment of the part where the user connects to the Internet (access line) has also been improved by pursuing optimality based on the C / S model. That is, since a small amount of data (upstream) flows from the user to the net and a large amount of data (downstream) flows from the net to the user, a technique has been adopted in which the downlink of the access line can have a wider band. For example, AD
Examples include SL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) and coaxial cables for cable television. Due to architectural changes, the original idea of the Internet for peers to communicate on an equal footing has alienated. Users became passive with respect to information, preventing active use. In addition, security has attracted attention, a firewall has been set up, and Dy
NAT can not identify the other party by address and NAT
Addresses have been translated and hidden by (Network Address Translation).

There are 20 proposals for changing such a situation.
Appeared in 2000. FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing a pure peer-to-peer (pure P2P) communication network. In FIG. 8, P2-1 to P2-5 are peers. In the pure peer-to-peer communication network shown in FIG. 8, unlike the C / S model shown in FIG. 7, there is no expensive server. Each of the peers (P2-1 to P2-5) is in charge of the server function. That is, not only the data that each peer (P2-1 to P2-5) wants to exchange, but also the data of that index is exchanged between each peer. As an application, Gnutella (Gn
utella) is famous. Further, an intermediate proposal of the C / S model shown in FIG. 7 and the pure peer-to-peer communication network shown in FIG. 8 was also made. FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing a hybrid peer-to-peer (hybrid P2P) communication network. In FIG. 9, S3 is a server and P3-1 to P3-5 are peers. In the hybrid peer-to-peer communication network shown in FIG. 9, the server (S3) exists, and each peer (P3-1 to P3-5) provides an index of data to be exchanged or meta data. It is not involved in exchanging the data body. The exchange of the data body is performed between each peer. By limiting the functions, the server (S
The price of 3) can be suppressed to some extent. Napster is famous as an application. Hereinafter, in this specification, a hybrid type peer-to-peer communication network will be described.

[0005]

In the hybrid type peer-to-peer communication network shown in FIG. 9, there is a server (S3), the index exchange is performed through the server (S3), and the data body is exchanged. As mentioned earlier, is done between peers without going through the server (S3). A procedure for communication between peers in the hybrid type peer-to-peer communication network shown in FIG. 9 will be specifically described with reference to FIG. Figure 1
As shown in 0, in the peer-to-peer communication, the peer (P3-1) requests the communication partner from the server (S3) (M1 in FIG. 10), and the server (S3) responds to this request. Then, a step (M2 in FIG. 10) of searching and responding to peer peers (P3-2 to P3-5) to be communication partners, and peers (P3-
1) Peers selected by some method (P3-2, P3-
3) and the step of starting communication (M3 in FIG. 10). A typical authentication method is step (M
In 1), the peer (P3-1) is authenticated by the server (S3), and in step (M2), the peers (P3-2 to P3-5) authenticated by the server (S3) are notified. this is,
It is a deduction from the C / S model shown in FIG. In the case of WWW, in step (M1), the peer (P
Authenticate with the user identifier and password of 3-1),
In step (M2), the previously authenticated peer (P3-2
~ P3-5) user ID, HTML (Hypertext Mar
kup Language) is the same as sending files written in. Such an authentication method is for the C / S model, and is insufficient as authentication for communication performed by an unspecified number of peers on an equal footing. Also, the charging method has not been sufficiently studied for the purpose of such communication.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to proactively provide a charging method for terminal communication in a hybrid type peer-to-peer communication network. It is to provide a technology that can improve the confidentiality of charging while promoting the sharing of various data. Another object of the present invention is to provide a server and a terminal for implementing the above-mentioned charging method for communication between terminals. The above and other objects and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the description of this specification and the accompanying drawings.

[0007]

That is, according to the present invention, in a hybrid-type peer-to-peer communication network, the peer requesting the communication partner from the peer requesting communication is the peer requesting communication and the peer requesting communication. The main feature is to notify the server of the details of the communication with the peer and charge the peers of both the communication requesting peer and the destination peer based on the details of the communication received by the server. . Further, a preferred embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that encryption is performed when communication is performed between the communication request source peer and the partner peer or between the partner peer and the server. Also,
A preferred embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that a peer that receives data (communication request source peer) receives a positive charge and a peer that transmits data (communication partner peer) receives a negative charge.

According to the present invention, the peer sending the data informs the server of the details of the communication, the peer sending the data receives a negative charge, and the peer receiving the data receives a positive charge. This means directly balancing the charges across peers sending and receiving data. Here, the negative charge means, for example, that the usage fee decreases, and that the peer transmitting the data receives the money. Therefore, since the peer expects to actively go to the side that transmits the data, it becomes possible to promote the sharing of the data, which is the object of the present invention. Further, according to the present invention, for example, the server, the communication requesting peer, or the peer at the other end publishes its own public key at the start of communication, so that the communication is encrypted and performed. Not only when exchanging data, but also information regarding billing (specification regarding communication notified to the server) is encrypted and is not known to other peers, and thus confidentiality can be enhanced.

[0009]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In all the drawings for explaining the embodiments, the same reference numerals are given to those having the same function, and the repeated description thereof will be omitted. [First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram for explaining a communication service system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1
In connection, the connection between the peer and the access server, which is the server, is the same as in the hybrid peer-to-peer communication network shown in FIG. Here, peers (P3-1 to P3-5)
The term, for example, is a terminal mounted in a vehicle, such as an in-vehicle device (car navigation system) having a communication function. Figure 2
FIG. 3 is an event trace diagram when communication is performed between peers in the communication service system shown in FIG. 1. In the communication service system of the present embodiment, the server (S3) periodically performs location registration in order to know the location of each peer (P3-1 to P3-5) (M0 in FIG. 2A). ). This is a technology similar to the location registration of a mobile phone. The procedure until communication between an unspecified number of peers is performed via the server (S3) is as follows. A communication requesting peer (eg, peer (P3-1)) is traveling on the road indicated by the thick line in FIG. The peer (P3-1) tells the server (S3)
It requests the peer name of the communication partner (M1 in FIG. 2B). In FIG. 1, a selection candidate peer selected as a communication partner is traveling on a geographically distant road, as indicated by a broken line.

The server (S3) responds to the peer (P3-1) with the corresponding peer name (M in FIG. 2B).
2). The peer (P3-1) selects a peer (P3-2) and a peer (P3-3) as a partner to communicate with by some method, and the peer (P3-1) selects these peers (P3-2, P3-). 3) and communication is started (M3 in FIG. 2B). Peer (P3-1) and peer (P3-2), and peer (P3-1) and peer (P3-3)
Perform communication between them (M4 in FIG. 2B).
The procedure up to this point is the same as the procedure for starting communication in the hybrid peer-to-peer communication network described in the prior art.
In the present embodiment, the peer (P3-2) and the peer (P3-3) of the communication destinations communicate with the server (S3) by the peer (P3-1).
And the details of the communication between the peer (P3-2) and the communication between the peer (P3-1) and the peer (P3-3) are transmitted (M5 in FIG. 2B). . Furthermore, the server (S3) charges the peer (P3-1), the peer (P3-2), and the peer (P3-3) involved in this communication according to this specification (see FIG. 2B). M6-1, M6-2).

As described above, according to this embodiment, the server (S3) fairly charges the data provider for the charge and the beneficiary for the charge. In this case, a positive charge is made to the beneficiary peer (P3-1) by (M6-1) in FIG. 2 (c). This is reflected in an increase in usage fees. Also, FIG.
By (M6-2) in (c), the peer (P3-
2) and peer (P3-3) are charged negatively. this is,
The usage fee will be reflected in a decreasing direction. These charges may be performed each time this communication is performed, or may be performed in a predetermined cycle (for example, month). In the present embodiment, for example, M1, M3, M4 of FIG.
In each step of M5 and M5, the server (S3), peer (P3-1), peer (P3-2),
And the peer (P3-3) communicates between the server (S3) and each peer (P3-1, P3-2, P3-3) by a method such as a method of releasing its own public key. Alternatively, the communication between the peer (P3-1) and the peer (P3-2) or the communication between the peer (P3-1) and the peer (P3-3) is encrypted. Good. In this case, the confidentiality of communication can be improved.

The contents provided in the communication service system of this embodiment will be described below. The use of Gnutella and Napster applications has caused copyright issues because content such as music data has been exchanged.
The present invention is not intended to solve the above-mentioned problems, and in the communication service system of the present embodiment,
Provide content that can easily solve copyright issues. As such contents, for example, the following real-time video data photographed from a moving body can be cited. ○ Road conditions in the direction of travel, taken by an onboard camera. ○ Images taken from transportation (cars, trains, planes, ships). Needless to say, the present invention can be applied to copyright problems if they are solved by some method.

In the communication service system according to the present embodiment, for example, the peer (P3-1) can browse the road condition at a certain position with a live image. For example, peer (P
3-1) is a peer (p 3-1) mounted on another vehicle that is subscribed to the communication service system of the present embodiment and travels about xkm ahead of the peer (P 3-1) or around a landmark (such as an intersection). For example, based on the live image provided by the peer (P3-2) or the peer (P3-3), the image in the traveling direction from the position of the peer (P3-2) or the peer (P3-3), or Driving information (eg, average speed, number of vehicles, etc.) and road surface information (eg, dryness, rainfall, temperature, humidity, etc.) of surrounding vehicles
The peer (P3-1) can browse the road conditions such as. It is assumed that the above-mentioned live video will be presented through an existing car navigation system. The communication service system according to the present embodiment enables a driver of a vehicle to design, check, and change a route to a destination while checking the current road condition with his own eyes. For example, xk
Check the congestion ahead of you, check the congestion of famous intersections and bridges due to congestion, and see for yourself whether to turn the road to the next left or ahead. Will be possible.

The configuration of peers and servers applicable to the communication service system of this embodiment will be described below. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an example of a peer applicable to the communication service system according to the present embodiment. The peer (P3) shown in FIG. 3 includes a communication block 10, a control block 11, an image processing block 12, a camera 13, and a car navigation system 14. In addition, the car navigation system 14 has a display 15 and a GP.
It has an S (Global Positioning Systems) 16 and a road database 17. The camera 13 captures the road condition in the traveling direction of the automobile, and the image processing block 12
Processing such as band compression of image data taken by the camera 13 is performed. The control block 11 issues a request for the peer name of the other party to the server (S3) or a notification of the details of communication to the server (S3), and the image data taken by the camera 13 is sent to another peer (P3). The image data transmitted to or received from another peer (P3) is displayed on the display 15 of the car navigation system 14. The control block 11 also performs the above-described encryption processing. The communication block 10 controls a communication procedure when communicating with another peer (P3) or a server (S3).

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an example of a server applicable to the communication service system according to the present embodiment. Server shown in FIG. 4 (S3)
Is composed of a communication block 20, a control block 21, and a database 22. The control block 21 receives the request for the destination peer name from the communication requesting peer, searches the database 22, returns the peer name that is a candidate for the communication partner to the communication requesting peer, and also communicates with the communication destination peer. It receives the details of the communication sent from the peers and stores the billing information for each peer in the database 22. The control block 21 also performs the above-described encryption processing.
The communication block 20 controls the communication procedure when communicating with the peer (P3). FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the contents of the database 22 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, in the database 22, for each identifier (ID) of each peer (P3), the position (latitude / longitude) of each peer (P3),
A road section identifier (ID) and billing information are stored. In FIG. 5, the position (latitude / longitude) of each peer (P3)
Is updated by the position data transmitted from the GPS 16 of each peer (P3), and the road section identifier (ID)
Is updated by the road section identifier (ID) transmitted from the road database 17 of each peer (P3). In the case of the server (S3) shown in FIG. 4, the peer (P3) is the server (S3).
When requesting the peer name of the other party to 3), by transmitting the desired road section identifier (ID) to the server (S3), the road section identifier (ID) as the peer desired as the communication partner. It is also possible to specify a pier mounted on an automobile running on the road section identified by.

[Second Embodiment] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram for explaining a communication service system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The communication service system of this embodiment is shown in FIG.
Although the essential configuration is the same as that of the communication service system according to the first embodiment shown in FIG.
We use general transportation. That is, in the present embodiment,
For land, sea and air transportation (cars, trains, planes, ships),
Equipped with piers (P3-2 to P3-5), each pier (P3-2 to P3-
The image data taken by the camera of 5) is provided to the peer (P3-1), and the peer (P3-1) uses the image data. For example, it is used as an environmental image for public release, or is used for a virtual reality game that travels the world through the image. Peer receiving image data (P3-1)
However, it is a business model that has been taken so far to pay the fee via the server, but the peer (P3-
2 to P3-5) differs from the conventional model in that the fee is received via the server. The peers (P3-2 to P3-5) can bear the cost of the in-vehicle camera and the like, and can still make a profit, depending on the fees received.

As described above, in the communication service system according to each of the above-described embodiments, the peer that creates the trigger for charging is opposite to the conventional technology, and the charging method of the server (S3) is different. In each of the above-described embodiments, the server (S3) can provide the user of the communication service system with necessary information including advertisements. In addition, the user of the communication service system can provide a live video of the traveling method and road conditions from the running vehicle. The information provided in this way is
It can be used as a new business area. Communications have overcome the distance constraints from human life. The constraint overcome by the present invention is real-time information sharing among communicable colleagues, and in particular, overcoming the constraint that peers cannot see with their own eyes, and Overcome the constraints of not being able to tell your peers what you are seeing. Although the invention made by the present inventor has been specifically described based on the above-described embodiment, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Of course,

[0018]

The effects obtained by the typical ones of the inventions disclosed in the present application will be briefly described as follows. (1) According to the present invention, since the terminal that transmits data notifies the server of the details regarding communication, accurate billing is possible, and the terminal that transmits data is negatively billed. Data sharing becomes possible. (2) According to the present invention, since the communication content is encrypted in the communication with the server or another terminal, the confidentiality can be improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram for explaining a communication service system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an event trace diagram when communication is performed between peers in the communication service system shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an example of a peer applicable to the communication service system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an example of a server applicable to the communication service system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a diagram showing the contents of the database shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram for explaining a communication service system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a client / server system.

[Figure 8] Pure peer-to-pee
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an r, pure P2P) communication network.

[Figure 9] Hybrid peer-to-peer (hybrid pee)
1 is a schematic diagram showing an r-to-peer, hybrid P2P) communication network.

10 is an event trace diagram when communication is performed between peers in the hybrid peer-to-peer communication network shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

P1-1 to P1-5, P2-1 to P2-5, P3, P3-1 to P3-5 ... Peer, S1, S3 ... Server, 10, 20 ... Communication block, 1
1, 21 ... Control block, 12 ... Image processing block, 1
3 ... Camera, 14 ... Car navigation, 15 ... Display, 1
6 ... GPS (Global Positioning Systems), 17 ... Road database, 22 ... Database.

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A charging method for terminal-to-terminal communication in a hybrid peer-to-peer communication network comprising a plurality of terminals, a server, and a communication line connecting the plurality of terminals and the server. A first step in which the communication request source terminal requests the server for a destination terminal name to be a communication partner; and the server searches for a destination terminal name to be a communication partner,
A second step of notifying the communication request source terminal, a third step in which the communication request source terminal communicates with the destination terminal notified from the server, and a destination of the communication request source A fourth step of notifying the server of details regarding communication between the terminal and the destination terminal; and the server, based on the details, of the communication request source terminal and the destination terminal. A fifth step of charging, and a charging method for terminal-to-terminal communication. 2. The charging method for inter-terminal communication according to claim 1, wherein in the third step, communication between the communication request source terminal and the partner terminal is encrypted. 3. The charging method for terminal-to-terminal communication according to claim 1, wherein, in the fourth step, details of the communication are encrypted and notified to the server. 4. In the fifth step, the server
The terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the step of performing a positive charge to the communication request source terminal and the negative charge to the destination terminal Inter-communications billing method. 5. A server used in a hybrid type peer-to-peer communication network comprising a plurality of terminals, a server, and a communication line connecting the plurality of terminals and the server, the communication comprising: First means for receiving a request from a request source terminal for a destination terminal name to be a communication partner, and second means for searching for a destination terminal name to be a communication partner and notifying the communication request source terminal Third means for receiving a detail about communication between the communication request source terminal and the destination terminal notified from the destination terminal; the communication request source terminal based on the detail; and the destination A server comprising a terminal and a fourth means for charging the terminal. 6. The server according to claim 5, wherein the fourth means charges a positive charge to the communication request source terminal and a negative charge to the partner terminal. . 7. A terminal used in a hybrid peer-to-peer communication network comprising a plurality of terminals, a server, and a communication line connecting the plurality of terminals and the server, wherein: First means for requesting a destination terminal name to be a communication partner to the server, second means for communicating with the destination terminal notified from the server, and receiving a billing notification from the server And a third means for performing the terminal. 8. The terminal according to claim 7, further comprising a fourth means for encrypting communication contents communicated with the other party's terminal. 9. A terminal for use in a hybrid peer-to-peer communication network comprising a plurality of terminals, a server, and a communication line connecting the plurality of terminals and the server, the communication comprising: A first means for communicating with the request source terminal; a second means for notifying the server of details regarding communication between the communication request source terminal; and a first means for receiving a billing notification from the server. 3. A terminal, comprising: 10. The terminal according to claim 9, further comprising: fourth means for encrypting communication content communicated with the communication request source terminal. 11. The method according to claim 9, further comprising a fifth means for encrypting a statement regarding communication with the communication request source terminal, which is notified to the server. Terminal.