Abstract:
A broadcast communication system comprises a transmitting terminal which is effective to transmit broadcast data and a start time of the broadcast data. A first message processing device receives the broadcast data and the start data from the transmitting terminal. The first message processing device transmits the broadcast data based on a schedule and the start time to a second message processing device. The second message processing device receives the broadcast data and the start time from the first message processing device and generates executable broadcast traffic information based on prior traffic information and based on the start time. The second message processing device further selectively conveys the broadcast data to one of a plurality of receiving terminals. The second message processing device further forwards the executable broadcast traffic information to the first message processing device. The first message processing device produces the schedule of the broadcast data based on the executable broadcast traffic information.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a broadcast communication system and a broadcast communication method. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Heretofore, not only in a broadcast communication, but also in a point-to-point communication, a traffic control function block in a reception side or a destination side uses a method of transmitting a regulation signal at the time when congestion is detected, and transmitting a congestion release signal at the time when the congestion is released. Further, a sender side generally uses a monitoring and controlling method based on a response timer for measuring a response time from transmission and a retry frequency due to destination busy. 
     JPA-8-88651 discloses a broadcast traffic control system based on timer monitoring. That is, the transmission of messages is divided into a communication heavy (concentrated) period, a communication light (dispersed) period and an intermediate period. If the transmission is in the communication light period, broadcast communication is selected, and if the transmission is in the communication heavy period, point-to-point communication is selected. The timer monitoring is used to judge the type of the communication period. 
     However, the foregoing conventional technique has the following disadvantages: 
     A first disadvantage is that if the broadcast communication is carried out when general calls are most frequently made, equipments such as terminals become inaccessible, so that there is caused a probability that the broadcast communication would fail even when a timer is used or retrials are made. 
     A second disadvantage is that it is not certain for a transmission side of the broadcast communication what extent address simultaneous development of the broadcast communication can be made to even when a network resource is rarely used because the usage rate of the network resource is not certain, and thus the address simultaneous development of the broadcast communication is carried out within a limited address range in order not to magnify the effect on general calls to the network side, so that the network resource cannot be sufficiently used. 
     A third disadvantage is that when a broadcast communication is carried out, it is not certain for a user instructing the broadcast communication whether the broadcast communication is terminated until the user&#39;s desired date and hour, so that it is unclear whether the delivery can be completed until a desired time. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is to increase the service completion rate of a broadcast communication service in order to enhance the service performance, and to shorten a service completion time of the broadcast communication when the resource using rate of a network by a general point-to-point call is low. 
     Another object of the present invention is to carry out a broadcast communication adaptive to a traffic at a service starting time point in the future subsequent to the current time, thereby suppressing the effect of a point-to-point communication on general calls to prevent impairment of users&#39; utilization of the point-to-point communication. 
     Further object of the present invention is to notify a broadcast communication commander of a service completion prediction time to give the commander information to determine an operation, thereby enhancing the operability for the commander. 
     According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a broadcast communication system which comprises: a first terminal for transmitting broadcast data and transmitting a time when the broadcast data transmission starts; a first message communication processing apparatus for receiving the broadcast data and start time transmitted from the first terminal and transmitting the broadcast data and start time received from the first terminal; one or more second message communication processing apparatus for receiving the broadcast data and start time transmitted from the first message communication processing apparatus and transmitting the broadcast received from the first message communication processing apparatus; and one or more second terminals for receiving the broadcast data transmitted from the one or more second message communication processing apparatus; wherein the second message communication processing apparatus comprises means for generating executable broadcast traffic information on the basis of past traffic information and the start time; and wherein the first message communication processing apparatus comprises: means for retrieving the executable broadcast traffic information from the second message communication processing apparatus; means for scheduling transmission of the broadcast data from the first message communication processing apparatus on the basis of the executable broadcast traffic information. 
     The first message communication processing apparatus may further comprise means for inquiring the first terminal as to whether to execute the scheduled transmission of the broadcast data. 
     A time when the transmission of the broadcast data ends may be estimated on the basis of the past traffic information and the start time. 
     The executable broadcast traffic information may contain the number of the second terminals accessible for each of the second message communication processing apparatus every period of time from the start time of the transmission of the broadcast data to the end time of the transmission of the broadcast data. 
     The means for generating executable broadcast traffic information may use the number of broadcast calls, the number of general calls, the average number of destinations, and type and number of resources contained in the past traffic information corresponding to any one or more of the start time of transmission of the broadcast data, date of the time, one-or more-months-term including the date, the number of week including the date within a month, date of the week of the date, and whether the date is holiday. 
     The means for generating executable broadcast traffic information may further use current traffic for compensating the executable broadcast traffic information. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the construction of a first embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the operation of the first embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of a broadcast control block at a broadcast instruction side; 
     FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of a executable broadcast traffic inquiry processing block B 2 ; 
     FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of a broadcast execution instruction inquiry processing block; 
     FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the broadcast execution processing block; 
     FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of a broadcast executable traffic inquiry response processing block; 
     FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation of a broadcast executable traffic prediction processing block; 
     FIGS. 9A and 9B are diagrams showing the construction of a broadcast executable traffic (number of broadcasts) tr_exp(T,M); and 
     FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the construction of a all-station addressing broadcast executable traffic (number of broadcasts) TR_EXP (T,M). 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The preferred embodiments according to the present invention will be explained hereunder with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the construction of the embodiment of the present invention. 
     As shown in FIG. 1, the embodiment of the present invention includes message processing device  4  for accepting a request for a broadcast service, message processing devices  5 - 1  to  5 - 3  for processing a reception message addressed to a broadcast destination, terminal  1  requesting the broadcast service, terminals  2 - 0 - 1  to  2 - 0 - 2  receiving the broadcast message, terminals  2 - 1 - 1  to  2 - 1 - 2  receiving the broadcast message, terminals  2 - 2 - 1  to  2 - 2 - 2  receiving the broadcast message, terminals  2 - 3 - 1  to  2 - 3 - 2  receiving the broadcast message, exchange  3  for relaying signals between each of terminals  1 ,  2 - 0 - 1 ,  2 - 0 - 2  and message processing device  4 , exchange  6 - 1  for relaying signals between each of terminals  2 - 1 - 1  to  2 - 1 - 2  and message processing device  5 - 1 , exchange  6 - 2  for relaying signals between each of terminals  2 - 2 - 1  to  2 - 2 - 2  and message processing device  5 - 2 , and exchange  6 - 3  for relaying signals between each of terminals  2 - 3 - 1  to  2 - 3 - 2  and message processing device  5 - 3 . 
     FIG. 2 shows the operation of the embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, broadcast control processing block B 1 , executable broadcast traffic inquiry processing block B 2 , broadcast execution instruction inquiry processing block B 3  and broadcast execution processing block B 4  are provided in message processing device  4  at a broadcast communication instruction station side, and executable broadcast traffic inquiry response processing block B 5  and executable broadcast traffic prediction processing block B 6  are provided in message communication processing devices  5 - 1  to  5 - 3  at a broadcast communication destination terminal side. 
     Next, the operation of the broadcast communication method will be explained with reference to, mainly FIG.  2  and other figures. 
     Broadcast control processing block B 1  at the broadcast instruction side which is disposed in message communication processing device accepts broadcast request signal SGl which is transmitted from broadcast request terminal  1  through logic channel L 1 , exchange  3  and logic channel L 2 - 0 , and executable broadcast traffic inquiry processing block B 2  is started by broadcast control processing block B 1 . 
     Next, the operation of executable broadcast traffic inquiry processing block B 2  will be explained with reference to the flowchart in FIG.  4 . 
     Executable broadcast traffic inquiry processing block B 2  creates a broadcast list for every station and obtains a number of destination stations OC in S 402 . A work variable is initialized to 0 in S 403 . It is then determined whether I&lt;OC is satisfied in S 404 . Transmission of the broadcast traffic inquiry signal to the I-th station is executed in S 405 . One is added to I in S 406 . Thereafter, the processing returns to S 404  and then goes to S 408  at the time when I becomes OC. At this time, the processing of FIG. 4 is finished, and the control processing returns to broadcast instruction side broadcast control processing block B 1  of FIG.  2 . 
     Next, the relationship between message communication processing device  4  and the I-th destination message communication processing device  5 - 2  will be explained with reference to FIG.  2 . 
     Executable broadcast traffic inquiry signal SG 2  which is transmitted under the control of executable broadcast traffic inquiry processing block B 2  is received by message communication processing device  5 - 2  through logic connection L 3 - 2  connecting message communication processing device  4  and message communication processing device  5 - 2 . Executable broadcast traffic inquiry signal SG 2  is processed in executable broadcast traffic inquiry response processing block B 5  disposed in message communication processing device  5 - 2 . 
     The same processing is also carried out in a destination message communication device group covering from the 0_-th destination message communication processing device  5 - 1  to (OC−1)-th destination message communication processing device  5 - 3 . 
     Next, the operation of executable broadcast traffic inquiry response processing block B 5  will be explained with reference to the flowchart in FIG.  7 . First, executable broadcast traffic inquiry response processing block B 5  sets the date (D), the time (T), the holding time (H) and the number of destinations (M) for the future in executable broadcast traffic inquiry signal SG 2  in S 702 . Executable broadcast traffic prediction processing block B 6  is started in S 703 . This is represented by B 6  in FIG.  2 . 
     Next, the operation of executable broadcast traffic prediction processing block B 6  will be explained with reference to the flowchart in FIG.  8 . 
     Executable broadcast traffic prediction processing block B 6  first searches or calculates a perpetual calendar on the basis of the date (D), the time (t) and the holding time (H) input in S 802 . Past target traffic data group TR_OLD(M) which includes a number of broadcast calls, number of general calls, average number of destinations, and type and number of resources of the message communication processing device structure, is retrieved on the basis of any one or more of the date, the time, the one- or more-months-term including the date obtained from the perpetual calendar, the number of the week including the date within a month obtained from the perpetual calendar, day of the week of the date obtained from the perpetual calendar, and whether the date is holiday or not obtained from the perpetual calendar in S 803 . This data group corresponds to local traffic data  10 - 2  in FIG.  2 . Current traffic is added to the data picked up in S 803  for compensation, whereby the broadcast executable traffic (i.e. the number of broadcast destinations) group tr_exp (T,M) is predicted, and the broadcast executable traffic group thus predicted is outputted to executable broadcast traffic inquiry response processing block B 5  in S 804 . The data element and the structure of tr_exp (T,M) are shown in the structural diagram of the broadcast executable traffic (i.e. broadcast amount) tr_exp (T,M) in FIG.  9 . 
     Next, the structure of the broadcast executable traffic (i.e. broadcast amount) tr_exp (T,M) will be explained with reference to FIG.  9 . 
     Reference letters f 0  in FIG. 9A represent the number of response combinations. Reference letters f 1  represent the usable start time t 0  and the number of usable destinations m(t 0 ) for 0-th combination. Reference letters f 2  represent the usable start time ti and the number of usable destinations m(t 0 ) for i-th combination. Reference letters f 3  represent the usable start time t(N−1) and the number of usable destinations m(t 0 ). FIG. 9B is a summary version of FIG.  9 A. 
     Next, the operation of executable broadcast traffic inquiry response processing block B 5  shown in FIG. 7 will be explained again. 
     After the processing of S 703  of executable broadcast traffic inquiry response processing block B 5  is finished, tr_exp(T,M) is set to the number of usable destinations in executable broadcast inquiry response signal SG 3  in S 704 . Further, executable broadcast inquiry response signal SG 3  is transmitted to inquiry original message communication processing device  4  in S 705 . 
     Returning to FIG. 2, executable broadcast inquiry response signal SG 3  which is transmitted under the control of executable broadcast traffic inquiry response processing block B 5  is received by broadcast request processing message communication processing device  4  through logic connection L 3 - 2  connecting message communication processing device  5 - 2  and message communication processing device  4 . 
     In message communication processing device  4 , the processing is carried out again in broadcast instruction side broadcast control processing block B 1  disposed therein. Broadcast instruction side broadcast control processing block B 1  waits for executable broadcast inquiry response signal SG 3  which is sent from the destination message communication processing device group from 0-th destination message communication processing device  5 - 1  to (OC−1)-th destination message communication processing device  5 - 3 . This waiting processing corresponds to S 304  in FIG.  3 . Thereafter, the all-station addressed broadcast executable traffic (broadcast amount) TR_EXP (T,M) is edited in S 305 . FIG. 10 shows the structure of all-station addressed broadcast executable traffic (broadcast amount) TR_EXP(T,M). 
     Next, the structure of the all-station addressed broadcast executable traffic (broadcast amount) TR_EXP (T,M) will be explained with reference to FIG.  10 . 
     In FIG. 10, reference is letters f 1 -i (0≦i≦N−1) represent a time (T+t(i)) at which the service can be started for the i-th time (the first (0-th) to the final (N−1)-th) after the indicated time of the service-start. Reference letters f 2 -i (0≦i≦N−1) represented the number of destination station usable for the i-th time after the indicated time of the service-start. Reference letters.f 3 -i- 0  (0≦i≦N−1) represent the station number of the  0 -th station usable for the i-th time after the indicated time of the service-start. Reference letters f 3 -i-j represent the station number of the j-th station usable for the i-th time after the indicated time of the service-start. Reference letters f 3 -i- 2  represent the station number of the (M−1)-th station usable for the i-th time after the indicated time of the service-start. 
     Returning to FIG. 3, the flow of the operation of broadcast instruction side broadcast control processing block B 1  will be explained. 
     In S 306 , the broadcast execution instruction inquiry processing is executed on the basis of TR_EXP (T,M) for which an edition is finished in S 305  by the broadcast instruction side broadcast control processing block B 1 . This processing corresponds to B 3  in FIG.  2 . FIG. 5 shows the flow of the operation of broadcast execution instruction inquiry processing block B 3 . 
     Next, the operation of broadcast execution instruction inquiry processing block B 3  will be explained with reference to the flowchart in FIG.  5 . 
     In S 502  in the operation of broadcast execution instruction inquiry processing block B 3 , all-station addressed broadcast executable traffic (broadcast amount) TR_EXP (T,M) is set to broadcast execution instruction inquiry signal SG 4 . In S 503 , the broadcast execution instruction inquiry signal transmission processing is executed. The waiting processing (WAIT) for broadcast execution instruction inquiry response signal SG 5  is executed in S 504 . Upon receiving broadcast execution instruction inquiry response signal SG 5 , the processing is finished in S 505 , and the control is returned to broadcast instruction side broadcast control processing block B 1  in FIG.  2 . 
     After processing of S 306  is finished, it is judged whether broadcast execution instruction inquiry response signal SG 5  is instructing to execute the broadcast communication or cancel the broadcast communication. If broadcast execution instruction inquiry response signal SG 5  is instructing to cancel the broadcast, the processing flows to YES branch of S 307  to complete in S 311 . If broadcast execution instruction inquiry response signal SG 5  is instructing to execute the broadcast communication, the processing goes to S 308  to control the execution of the broadcast communication. The execution of the broadcast communication corresponds to broadcast execution processing block B 4  of FIG. 2, and the operation flow thereof is shown in FIG.  6 . The operation flow of FIG. 6 is based on the broadcast communication of the destination station development system, however, the different feature from the conventional broadcast communication execution resides in that the operation of the broadcast execution processing block B 3  is carried out for each of developed terms tr_exp(t,i,j) (correspond to f 4 -i- 0  to f 4 -i- 2  in FIG. 10) of the structural minimum unit of TR_EXP (T,M) edited in S 305  of FIG. 3 in the judgment step S 607  for getting information as to whether broadcast execution instruction inquiry response signal SG 5  from broadcast request terminal  1  instructs to execute the broadcast communication execution or cancel the broadcast communication, and in the broadcast execution instruction step S 608 . The other steps are implemented by using the conventional broadcast communication technique, and the explanation thereof is omitted. 
     After completing the processing of S 308 , broadcast waiting process in S 309  and broadcast post-processing in S 310  are executed. Responses from terminals are awaited in S 309 . 
     The result of the broadcast communication is notified to terminal  1  in S 310 . 
     A first effect of the present invention resides in that a service completion rate is increased and thus serviceability can be enhanced. When the network resource usage rate of general point-to-point calls is low, the service completion time of the broadcast communication can be shortened. This is because the broadcast communication is executed in conformity with the numeral which is predicted from past traffic data so that broadcast destinations are matched with the broadcast executable traffic of the destination stations. 
     A second effect resides in that the utilization of general calls of point-to-point communication by users is prevented from being impaired. The reason for this is the backside of the reason for the first effect, that is, this is because when the network resource usage rate of general calls of point-to-point is high, the number of destinations in the broadcast execution development is suppressed. 
     A third effect resides in that the operability of the broadcast communication instructor is improved. This is because the broadcast communication instructor is provided with a service completion prediction time for making decision on executing the broadcast communication.