WO2013022183A1

WO2013022183A1 - Device and method for controlling network for downloading file and network system therefor

Info

Publication number: WO2013022183A1
Application number: PCT/KR2012/004536
Authority: WO
Inventors: Won Ki Kim; Sung Gook Jang; Kwang Hee Yoo; Joo Hyun Sung; Hye Jin Jin; Yoon Hyung Lee
Original assignee: Neowiz Games Corporation
Priority date: 2011-08-05
Filing date: 2012-06-08
Publication date: 2013-02-14
Also published as: KR101220671B1; CN102868721A; TW201308961A

Abstract

Provided is a method of improving a user's service use and reducing server operating costs by guranteeing a minimum file download speed to a user. A network controlling device for downloading file includes: an access detecting unit for detecting an access of a user terminal to a P2P network in order to download a file; a speed measuring unit measuring a file download speed of the user terminal, which is detected by the access detecting unit, via the P2P network for a predetermined time after the file download starts; and a network connection controlling unit controlling the user terminal to access a network of a download server in order for the download server to directly transmit a file to the user terminal if the file download speed measured by the speed measuring unit is less than a critical speed.

Description

DEVICE AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING NETWORK FOR DOWNLOADING FILE AND NETWORK SYSTEM THEREFOR

The present invention relates to a technique for controlling types of networks connected for file download and their speeds when a user terminal downloads files via a network. In more detail, the present invention relates to a technique for securing fast downloading speed to a user terminal and securing traffic distribution and stable operations of a communication network to service providers, by switching a plurality of network connections to provide them to a user terminal.

As a recent game culture, especially an online game culture, gains popularity regardless of man and women of all ages, an online game industry is also rapidly developed. Additionally, due to the improvements of multimedia technology such as graphic technology and network infra, a recent online game becomes quite different from a typical game, so that it is expected that the development of an online game industry becomes greater for many years to come.

A recent online game is played in a multi-user based network game system. A representative example of a network game includes an MMORPG. A user as one person on a game obtains experience points through deals, cooperation, and a war with others, and experiences the game.

Additionally, besides the online game culture, a file that implements a specific function becomes varying according to the development of computer related technology. According to a recent trend, sucha file is downloaded free or charged via online, and then, is installed.

The file size of software such as an online game is being drastically increased. In order to receive a file via online in the past, users directly access a download server that provides files, and then, download them. However, with the condition that a file is large and many users use it (for example, an installation file of an online game), when a method for directly accessing a download server and receiving a file is used, many users accessthe download server at the same time. Thus, a communication of a server may be overloaded, and according thereto, its operation may stop.

A communication method recently introduced in order to reduce the overload of communication traffic in a server is a Peer to Peer (P2P) communication method. The P2P communication method is a method that separately receives a plurality of blocks constituting a file from users, who have the file to be received, among users connected via network, in order to increase a communication speed, and prevent a phenomenon that users flock to a download server.

However, since the P2P communication is present in a communication network, its speed is very dependable on the number of user terminals that serve as sources usedfor allowing file download. When a frequently-serviced file download program using a P2P communication method is used, the number of accessing users may vary according to a time for downloading the same file, and accordingly, a downloading speed of the file may become drastically slower. This causes a user’s inconvenience.

The present invention provides both a P2P communication method and a method of directly downloading from a server to user terminals, and secures the minimumdownloading speed to user terminals by controlling the switching of the P2p communication method and the direct downloading method, in order to provide efficiency of service use to users.

Moreover, in terms of service providers the present invention also provides a technique for inducing a user s service use by securing the minimum download speed to a user terminal, and also supplying a high quality service to a user terminal in addition to the minimizing server operating costs by minimizing server operating costs to fast downloading speed.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a network controlling device for file download includes: an access detecting unit for detecting an access of a user terminal to a P2P network in order to download a file; a speed measuring unit measuring a file download speed of the user terminal, which is detected by the access detecting unit, via the P2P network for a predetermined time after the file download starts; and a network connection controllingunit controlling the user terminal to access a network of a download server in order for the download server to directly transmit a file to the user terminal if the file download speed measured by the speed measuring unit is less than a critical speed.

The critical speed may be an average value of values obtained by measuring download speeds for the predetermined time in other user terminals that download the file.

The network controlling device may further include a server network detecting unit checking a network environment of the download server in order to check whether the user terminal is connectible to the network of the download server.

The server network detecting unit may transmita signal, which notifies that the user terminal is connectible to the network of the download server, to the network connection controlling unit if a value obtained by adding a traffic increased when the user terminal is additionally connected to the download server to a current traffic on the network of the download server is less than a predetermined critical traffic value.

The network connection controlling unit may connect the user terminal to the network of the download server when receiving the signal, which notifies that the user terminal is connectable to the network of the download server, from the server network detecting unit.

The increased traffic may bea size set by an integer times of a unit size of data that the download server uploads.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a network system for file download includes: at least one user terminal connected to a P2P network; a ticket issue controlling device measuring a file download speed of the user terminal via the P2P network for a predetermined time from a file download start, and transmitting network information on the user terminal if the measured file download speed is less than a critical speed; a ticketing server issuing a direct connection ticket to the user terminal by using the network information received from the ticket issue controlling device; and a download server directly transmitting a file to the user terminal when receiving the ticket from the user terminal.

The ticketing server may beconfigured to check a network environment of the download server in order to check whether issuing the ticket is available to the user terminal.

The ticketing server may issuethe ticket to the user terminal if a value obtained by adding a traffic increased when the user terminal is additionally connected to the download server to a current traffic on the network of the download server is less than a predetermined critical traffic value.

According tostill another aspect of the present invention, a network system for file download includes: a user terminal being connected to a P2P network and measuring a file download speed via the P2P network for a predetermined time from a file download start to transmit a direct connection ticket request signal to the user terminal if the measured file download speed is less than a critical speed; a download server directly transmitting a file to the user terminal when receiving a ticket from the user terminal; and a ticketing server issuing the ticket to the user terminal on the basis of a check result on whether the user terminal is connectible to a network of the download server when receiving the ticket request signal.

According to still anotheraspect of the present invention, a network controlling method includes: detecting by an access detecting unit an access of a user terminal to a P2P network in order to download a file; measuring by a speed measuring unit a file download speed of the detected user terminal via the P2P network for a predetermined time after a file download start; and controlling by a network connection controllingunit the user terminal to access a network of a download server in order for the download server to directly transmit a file to the user terminal if the measured file download speed is less than a critical speed.

The network controlling method may further include checking by a server network detecting unit a network environment of the download server in order to check whether the user terminal is connectible to the network of the download server.

The checking of the network environment may include transmitting a signal, which notifies that the user terminal is connectible to the network of the download server, to the network of the download server if a value obtained by adding a traffic increased when the user terminal is additionally connected to the download server to a current traffic on the network of the download server is less than a predetermined critical traffic value.

The controlling of the user terminal may includeconnecting the user terminal to the network of the download server when receiving the signal, which notifies that the user terminal is connectible to the network of the download server, from the server network detecting unit.

According to still anotheraspect of the present invention, a network controlling method includes: measuring by a ticketing server a file download speed via a P2P network of a user terminal connected thereto for a predetermined time after a file download start; issuing by the ticketing server a direct connection ticket to the user terminal when the measured file download speed is less than a critical speed; transmitting by the user terminal the ticket to a download server; and directly transmitting by the download server a file to the user terminal when receiving the ticket.

The network controlling method may further includechecking by the ticketing server a network environment of the download server in order to check whether issuing the ticket is available to the user terminal.

According to the present invention, both P2P communication and direct downloading communication are used, so that the minimum file download speed may be guaranteed to a user terminal. Especially, if there are no other users or a file download speed is slow in the P2P communication, the minimum file download speed may be guaranteed to users during service through a control to directly download files from a server.

Additionally, according to the present invention, in terms of service supplier, efficient service supply becomes possible by inducing a user’s service use, and minimizing server operating costs to fast-speed service supply.

Fig. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a network controlling device for file download according to an embodiment.

Fig. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a network controlling device for file download according to another embodiment.

Fig. 3 is a configuration view illustrating a network system for file download according to an embodiment.

Fig. 4 is a configuration view illustrating a network system for file download according to another embodiment.

Fig. 5 is a graph illustrating a relationship between the number of user terminals and a traffic when a network system for file download is implemented according to an embodiment.

Fig. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a network controlling method for file download according to an embodiment.

Fig. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a network controlling method for file download according to another embodiment.

Fig. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a network controlling method for file download according to another embodiment.

Hereinafter, a network controlling device and method for downloading a file and a network system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Moreover, detailed descriptions related to well-known functions or configurations will be ruled out in order not to unnecessarily obscure subject matters of the present invention. Embodiments below are detailed description for providing more general understandings and do not limit the range of rights. Accordingly, other equivalent embodiments performing the same functions as the present invention are in the range of the rights of the present invention.

Hereinafter, like identification symbols refer to like elements, and unnecessary overlapping descriptions are omitted.

Moreover, in the description below, the file refers to all data that a user terminal may download via Peer to Peer (P2P) communication and other network connections. Especially, files are downloaded basically via P2P communication. The files may include a game program file and its patch file, which are downloaded through a game execution client and then installed in a user terminal in order to execute an online game.

Actually, a plurality of files for online game execution are downloaded by accessing a download server that stores the files but as its file size is increased, a technique for downloading files via P2P communication is recently applied.

Furthermore, besides the files for online game execution, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that all files downloadable using a P2P communication method that downloads each of blocks constituting files such as other general program files and media files from other user terminals are included in the files of the present invention.

The terms "communication", "communication network", and "network"mean the same in embodiments of the present invention. The above three terms refer a wire/wireless local and wide area data transmitting/receiving network that transmits/receives files between user terminals, other user terminals, and download servers.

Referring to Fig. 1, the network controlling device 100 for file download (hereinafter, referred to as a ‘control device') according to an embodiment of the present invention may include an access detecting unit 110, a speed measuring unit 120, and a network connection controlling unit 130.

The access detecting unit 110 performs a function for detecting an access of a user terminal 200 to a P2P network in order to download files.

In an example of downloading an online game execution file, for example, the user terminal 200 accesses a game client to download an online game execution file. Accessing the game client refers to series of input operations that directly access a game server by clicking an icon of a window or clicks a game execution icon, or a file download icon in a web site through access to a service web site that provides a game.

Downloading a game execution file starts by accessing a game server or clicking an icon in a web site. That is, the game server connects the user terminal 200 to a network 300 that other user terminals 310 connected thereto constitute.

In a P2P communication network 250, files in the other user terminals 310 are transmitted to the user terminal 200 through a relay means such as servers or other gateways. Especially, a file is divided into a plurality of blocks having a unit size, and at least one different block is separately downloaded from each of the other user terminals 310 to combine them in order to complete the file download.

That is, there should be a plurality of user terminals having the same file in the P2P communicationnetwork 250, and user terminals storing the files are searched through a relay of the user terminal 200 or a server and a relay means (not shown).

The searched user terminals are connected to a user terminal that is to download a file via a local or wide communication network, and transmits a block allocated to the user terminal.

The access detecting unit 110 determines whether the user terminal 200 accesses the P2P network having the above-mentioned property, and then, delivers information on the accessing user terminal 200 to the speed measuring unit 120. The information on the user terminal 200, which is delivered from the access detecting unit 110 to the speed measuring unit 120, may include at least one of login information on an accessing user and an IP address of the user terminal 200.

The speed measuring unit 120 accesses a network of the user terminal 200 by using the information on the accessing user terminal 200 delivered from the access detecting unit 110, and then, measures a file download speed of the user terminal 200 within a predetermined time from a file download start.

In order to measure the file download speed, the speed measuring unit 120 measures a data transmission speed from another user terminal 310 to the user terminal 200 after accessing the P2P communication network 250 that the user terminal 200 belongs.

The unit of a data transmission speed is Bit Per Second (BPS). However, it is apparent that typically-used measurement unit and method of another data transmission speed may be also used in the technical field of the present invention.

The speed measuring unit 120 recognizes the file download starting point to the user terminal 200 in access to the P2P communication network 250 that the user terminal 200 belongs. For example, if data including an initial header of a file are transmitted, this may be recognized as a file download starting point.

Once the file download starting point is recognized, the speed measuring unit 120 measures a file download speed during a predetermined time. According to the present invention, the predetermined time may be 15 sec, for example. The file download speed of the present invention refers to an average download speed during the predetermined time.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, without recognizing the file download starting point, a download speed may be measured during a predetermined time (for example, 15 sec) when a predetermined time (for example, 2 sec) elapses after the file download starts.

The file download speed of the user terminal 200 measured in the speed measuring unit 120 is delivered to the network connection controlling unit 130 later.

The network connection controlling unit 130 controls a network connected to the user terminal 200 on the basis of the file download speed of the user terminal 200 measured by the speed measuring unit 120 during a predetermined time and information on the user terminal 200.

That is, if the file download speed is less than a critical speed pre-stored in the network connection controlling unit 130, it is determined that file download is inappropriate via the P2P communication network 250. Then, the user terminal 200 is directly connected to a network of the download server 400, and files are directly delivered from the download server 400 to the user terminal 200 through data transmission of a high-speed mode.

If the file download speed is less then the critical speed, this means that there are no other user terminals 310 storing a file that the user terminal 200 is to download in the P2P communication network 250, or the communication with other user terminals 310 does not satisfy an appropriate speed.

Accordingly, in order to secure the minimum file download speed to a user, if it is determined that the file download speed is less than the critical speed, a high-speed file download service is provided to the user terminal 200 by connecting the user terminal 200 to a high-speed data transmitting/receiving network among networks of the download server 400.

The critical speed of the present invention refers to an average of values obtained by measuring the download speed during a predetermined time in other user terminals that download a file.

Since the speed measuring unit 120 measures the file download speeds of allthe detected accessing users, a history of file download speeds of all users before a current time, including the user terminal 200 that currently downloads a file, may be stored. An average of stored past file download speed values is a minimum file download speed that needs to be guaranteed to the user terminal 200.

The critical speed may also refer to a data transmission speed between user terminals and a service operating server (not shown) in an average traffic of the service operating server. The critical speed may be set with one, when the traffic is an average value, of a data transmission speed between a service operating server and all user terminals in the service operating server and a data transmission speed between user terminals, which are measured on average, in order to reduce consumption of a storage space according to storing a history of file download speeds in the speed measuring unit 120.

When the file download speed of the user terminal is less than the critical speed set using the above-mentioned method, the network connection controlling unit 130 controls the user terminal 20 to directly connect to the network of the download server 400 in order for the user terminal 200 to directly download a file from the download server 400 through an allocated network connection.

Through this, service utilization may be improved by guaranteeing the minimum file download speed to users. Especially, in the case of an online game service that frequently supplies files to users due to patch file distributions, its effect is even greater.

Fig. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a network controlling device for file download according to another embodiment. In the description below, overlapping descriptions relating to Fig. 1 will be omitted.

Referring to Fig. 2, a difference between the embodiments of Figs. 1 and 2 is that there is a server network detecting unit 140.

In the embodiment of Fig. 1, the number of the user terminals 200, whose file download speed of less than the critical speed is measured, is at least one. Accordingly, before the user terminal determined that the file download speed is less than the critical speed is connected to the network of the download server 400, a plurality of terminals may be already connected to the network of the download server 400.

If the number of terminals connected to the network of the download server 400 is drastically increased, the traffic of the download server 400 may exceed an allowable traffic, and in this case, an overload occurs on the network of the download server 400, so that files may be downloaded to user terminals at a slower download speed than when being downloaded through the P2P communication method.

Accordingly, the embodiment of Fig 2 further includes the server network detecting unit 140 in order to more efficiently detect the overload on the network of the download server 400 and implement the purpose of the present invention.

The server network detecting unit 140 performs a function for checking whether the user terminal 200 is connectable to the network of the download server 400. In more detail, it is determined whether the user terminal 200 is connectable to the network of the download server 400 by checking a network environment of the download server 400.

The network environment of the download server 400 that the server network detecting unit 140 checks refers to a network traffic of the download server 400. However, in another embodiment of the present invention, an average data transmission speed of the download server 400, the number of terminals connected, and an available bandwidth may be included in the network environment of the download server 400 that the server network detecting unit 140 checks.

The server network detecting unit 140 may receive information on the traffic in the network of the download server 400 and a traffic value that is increased when the current user terminal 200 to be connected is additionally connected to the download server 400, from a network management means (not shown) of the download server 400.

The traffic value, which is increased when the current user terminal 200 is additionally connected to the download server 400, may have a size set by an integer times of a unit size of data that the download server 400 uploads, i.e., that are transmitted to the user terminal 200. That is, the size of data that the download server 400 uploads increases the traffic during data transmission. Additionally, when the download server 400 directly transmits files to the user terminal 200 directly, the size set by an integer times of the unit size of data that the download server 400 uploads is repeatedly transmitted to the user terminal 200. Accordingly, the increased traffic may become the size set by an integer times of the unit size of data that the download server 400 uploads.

Additionally, an increased traffic value may be set with an average value of the traffic values increased when terminals were connected in the past. Moreover, information on a traffic increased when connection attempt is made according to the property of the user terminal 200 may be directly received from the user terminal 200.

On receiving a current traffic value in the network of the downloader server 400 and a traffic value increased when the user terminal to be connected is connected to the download server 400, the server network detecting unit 140 determines whether the sum of two traffic values is less than a predetermined critical traffic value.

The critical traffic value of the present invention may be 90% of the maximum traffic value of the network traffic that the download server 400 provides for data transmission. However, the setting of the critical traffic value may vary during a server operation.

On the basis of a determination result, if the sum of the two traffic values is less than the critical traffic value, the server network detecting unit 140 transmits a signal, which indicates that the user terminal 200 is connectable to the network of the download server 400, to the network connection controlling unit 130. Through this, the network connection controlling unit 130 connects the user terminal 200 to the download server 400 in order to control the download server 400 to transmit files to the user terminal 200 directly.

Through the server network detecting unit 140, an overload on the network of the download server 400 is prevented, thereby guaranteeing a sufficient download speed. Additionally, in terms of server operations, an efficient server operation may be possible by minimizing server operating costs.

Fig.3 is a configuration view illustrating a network system for file download according to an embodiment. In the description below, overlapping descriptions relating to Figs. 1 and 2 will be omitted.

Referring to Fig. 3, the network system for file download may include at least one user terminal 310, a ticket issue controlling device 101, a ticketing server 500, and a download server 400.

A group 300 of the user terminals 310 refers to a group where a plurality of user terminals are connected via a P2P communication network. Each of the user terminals 310 is connected to other terminals in a network through a P2P communication method, and is connected to an external server, for example, the ticket issue controlling device 101, the ticketing server 400, and the download server 400, via a wide communication network.

The ticket issue controlling device 101 is connected to the user terminal 310 to measure a file download speed through the P2P network of the user terminal 310 for a predetermined time from a file download start That is, functions of the access detection unit 110 and the speed measuring unit 120 are provided.

The ticket issue controlling device 101 performs a function for transmitting network information on the user terminal 310 if the measured filedownload speed is less than a critical speed, in correspondence to the function of the speed measuring unit 120 of Fig. 1. The network information on the user terminal 310 corresponds to the information on the user terminal of Fig. 1, and for example, may be the ID of a user accessing a service operating server or the IP address of the user terminal 310 accessing the same.

The ticket issue controlling device 101 is separated from the ticketing server 500 as shown in Fig. 3. That is, the ticket issue controlling device 101 may be provided as a separate device from the ticketing server 500, but may be provided being integrated with the ticketing server 500.

The ticketing server 500 receives network information on the user terminal 310 from the ticket issue controlling device 101. Then, the ticketing server 500 issues a direct connection ticket to the user terminal 310 corresponding to the network information.

Issuing the direct connection ticket refers to transmitting data corresponding to the direct connection ticket to the user terminal 310. The direct connection ticket is data having a predetermined size, and includes a code that authenticates a direction connection with the download server 400 in the data.

The ticketing server 500 issues a ticket to theuser terminal 310 and transmits data including information that the ticket is issued to the user terminal 310 to the download server 400 simultaneously. The information that is transmitted from the ticketing server 500 to the download server 400 includes a signal for notifying the ticket issue and network information on the user terminal 310 received from the ticket issue controlling device 101.

The download server 400 receives information that the ticket is issued to the user terminal 310 from the ticketing server 500, and waits for an access of the user terminal 310. When the user terminal 310 requests an access to the download server 400 on receiving the ticket, the download server 400 verifies the effectiveness of the ticket and authenticates a connection suitability of the user terminal 310 in comparison with the network information.

If the effectiveness of the user terminal 310 is authenticated, the download server 400 transmits files stored therein to the user terminal 310.

The ticketing server 500 may further include a function for checking a network environment of the download server 400 according to the present invention. That is, before the ticket is issued, a signal is transmitted to check a network environment of the download server 400. As mentioned with reference to Fig. 1, that is to prevent the overload on the network of the download server 400.

Once receiving a current network environment, for example, current traffic information, from the download server 400, the ticketing server 500 issues the ticket to the user terminal 310 if a total value, to which a traffic value increased when the user terminal 310 is connected to the download server 400 is added, is less than a predetermined critical traffic value. The overlapping description relating to the increased traffic value of Fig. 2 will be omitted.

Referring to Fig. 4, one difference between the network system for file download according to another embodiment of the present invention and the network system for file download according to the embodiment of Fig. 3 is that there is no ticket issue controlling device 101 of Fig. 3.

In the embodiment of Fig. 4, a user terminal 200 measures a communication speed with another user terminal 310. That is, the user terminal 200 performs the function for measuring a file download speed of Figs. 1 to 3.

The user terminal 200 measures an average file download speed for a predetermined timeright after downloading a file. If the measured file download speed is less than a critical speed, the user terminal 200 directly transmits a connection ticket request signal to the ticketing server 500. A description relating to the critical speed was mentioned with reference to Figs. 1 to 3.

When the ticketing server 500 receives the ticket request signal from the user terminal 200, it checks a network environment of the download server 400 in order to determine whether the user terminal 200 is connectable to the network of the download server 400, and then, issues a ticket to the user terminal according to a determination result thereof. Features on the checking of the network environment of the download server 400 and its detailed features are the same as those described with reference to Figs. 1 to 3.

According to another embodiment of Fig. 4, the user terminal 200 continuously transmits a file download speed to the ticketing server 500, and the ticketing server 500 compares an average value of the received file download speeds with a stored critical speed for a predetermined time in order to issue a ticket to the user terminal 200.

In Fig. 5, determining whether to add a user terminal to a user terminal by comparing an increased traffic with the network environment information of the download server 400 in the descriptionsof Figs. 1 to 4 is shown as an example

Referring to the graph of Fig. 5, a normal traffic of the download server is set with T1, and three terminals attempt to access the download server. That is, there are three terminals having a less file download speed than a critical speed, for example. First, after a terminal p1 accesses the download server and measures a file download speed, in case that the download speed is less than a critical speed, the terminal P1 receives a ticket through operations of Figs. 1 to 4. This means that the network connection controlling unit 130 controls the terminal P1 to directly access the download server 400 as described with of Fig. 1.

When the terminal P2 receives a ticket and connects to the network of the download serverthrough the ticket, the download server transmits a file to the terminal P1 at the timing T1. As the file is transmitted from the download server to the terminal p1, a traffic is increased by dT, and thus, its size becomes T2. The increased amount of a traffic dT may have a size set by an integer times of a unit size of data that the download server uploads.

Like the terminal P1, a terminal p2 may also access the download server at the timing T2 to download a file, and also at this time, a traffic on the network of the download server is increased by dT at the timing T2 and becomes T3.

However, the terminal P3 cannot connect to the network of the download server. The reason is that when the terminal P3 connects to the network of the download server, as shown in a dotted graph 601, as the traffic on the network of the download server exceeds the critical traffic value Tm, the ticket issue is rejected for a stable operation of the download server.

At this point, the ticket issue to the terminal P3 is rejected, and the traffic value on the network of the download server maintains the traffic value T3 less than the critical traffic value Tm.

Fig. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a network controlling method for file download according to an embodiment. In the description below, overlapping descriptions relating to Figs. 1 to 5 will be omitted.

In the description below, each operation in the flowcharts of Figs. 6, 7, and 8 may be performed by the network controlling device for file download or each component ofthe network system mentioned with reference to Figs. 1 to 4. However, besides the above-mentioned components, it is apparent that each operation may be performed by one processor and server.

Referring to Fig. 6, the network controlling method for file download according to an embodiment of the present invention includes detecting an access of a user terminal to a P2P network (i.e., a communication network) in operation S10. Operation S10 refers to the same operation that the access detecting unit 110 of Fig. 1 performs.

Then, once a user terminal accesses a p2P network and starts to download a file, a file download speed is measured for a predetermined time (for example, 15 sec) after the file download starts in operation S20. This corresponds to the function that the speed measuring unit 120 of Fig. 1 perfomrs.

Then, the network connection controlling unit 130 determines whether the file download speed measured in operation S20 is less then a critical speed in operation S30. If the file download speed isnot less than the critical speed on the basis of a determination result of operation S30, the network connection controlling unit 130 controls the user terminal to continuously download a file via the P2P network in operation S50.

Additionally, if the file download speed is less than the critical speed on the basis of a determination result of operation S30, the network connection controlling unit 130 controls the user terminal to access the download server to download the file in operation S40. That is, the download server directly transmits the file to the user terminal in operation S40.

The description of Fig. 7 corresponds to that of Fig. 2. Thus, like the difference between Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, when Fig. 7 is compared with Fig. 6, a series of operations for determining whether to directly connect a user terminal to a network of a download server by checking a network environment of the download server are added.

That is, after operations S10 to S30 are performed, in case that it is determined the file download speed is less than the critical speed, a server network detecting unit checks the network environment of the download server in operation S31. The network environment of the download server refers to a current traffic value of the download server as mentioned above, but besides that, may further include an average data transmission speed of the download server, the number of terminals connected, and available bandwidth.

When the current traffic value of the download server is measured in operation S31, it is determined the sum of the measured traffic value and the amount of a traffic increased when a user terminal is additionally connected to a network exceeds the critical traffic value in operation S32.

If it is determined that the sum of the measured traffic value and the amount of a traffic increased when a user terminal is additionally connected to a network is less than the critical traffic value on the basis of a determination result of operation S32, the connection controlling unit 130 controls the user terminal to connect to the download server in order to download a file in operation S40.

If it is determined that the sum exceeds the critical traffic value on the basis of a determination result of operation S32, operation S50 of Fig. 6 is performed so that the file is continuously delivered from another user terminal to the user terminal via the P2P network.

Fig. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a network controlling method for file download according to another embodiment. In the description below, overlapping descriptions relating to Figs. 1 to 7 will be omitted.

In the embodiment of Fig, 8, each operation performed on the network system of Figs. 3 and 4 is shown. In the embodiment of Fig. 8, a user terminal, a ticket issue controlling device, a ticketing server, and a download server perform each operation. As mentioned with reference to Fig. 3, since the ticket issue controlling device may be integrated with the ticketing server, each operation of Fig. 8 that the ticket issue controlling device may be understood as being performed by the ticketing server.

Referring to fig. 8, firstly, a user terminal accesses a P2P network, and starts to download a file in operation S100.

Then, the user terminal, the ticket issue controlling device, or the ticketing server measures a file download speed of the user terminal for a predetermined time in operation S110. Once operation S110 is performed, it is determined in operation S120 whether the file download speed is less than a critical speed.

On the basis of a determination result of operation S120, if it is determined that the file download speed is less than the critical speed, the ticket issue controlling device request a ticket issue to the ticketing server in operation S130. Of course, if the ticketing server performs operation S120, operation S130 may be omitted.

After that, the ticketing server performs operations S31 and S32 of Fig. 7 for checking a network environment of the download server, and then, performs operation S140 for issuing a ticket in correspondence to the ticket issue request.

The user terminal receives a ticket issued in operation S140 and transmits the ticket to the download server in operation S150. Of course, the network information of the ticket and user terminal is delivered from the ticketing server to the download server as mentioned with reference to Figs. 3 and 4.

The download server, which receives theticket from the user terminal and the network information of the ticket and user terminal from the ticketing server in operation S150, performs an authentication procedure on the user terminal, and the user terminal directly downloads a file from the download server after the authentication procedure in operation S160. In operation S160, that is, the download server directly transmits a file to the user terminal.

If the download speed is not less than the critical speed, the user terminal continuously downloads the file via the P2P network in operation S170.

Claims

A network controlling device for downloading file, comprising:

an access detecting unit for detecting an access of a user terminal to a P2P network in order to download a file;

a speed measuring unit measuring a file download speed of the user terminal, which is detected by the access detecting unit, via the P2P network for a predetermined time after the file download starts; and

a network connection controlling unit controlling the user terminal to access a network of a download server in order for the download server to directly transmit a file to the user terminal if the file download speed measured by the speed measuring unit is less than a critical speed.
The network controlling device of claim 1, wherein the critical speed is an average value of values obtained by measuring download speeds for the predetermined time in other user terminals that download the file.
The network controlling device of claim 1, further comprising a server network detecting unit checking a network environment of the download server in order to check whether the user terminal is connectible to the network of the download server.
The network controlling device of claim 3, wherein the server network detecting unit transmits a signal, which notifies that the user terminal is connectible to the network of the download server, to the network connection controlling unit if a value obtained by adding a traffic increased when the user terminal is additionally connected to the download server to a current traffic on the network of the download server is less than a predetermined critical traffic value.
The network controlling device of claim 4, wherein the network connection controlling unit connects the user terminal to the network of the download server when receiving the signal, which notifies that the user terminal is connectable to the network of the download server, from the server network detecting unit.
The network controlling device of claim 4, wherein the increased traffic is a size set by an integer times of a unit size of data that the download server uploads.
A network system for file download, comprising:

at least one user terminal connected to a P2P network;

a ticket issue controlling device measuring a file download speed of the user terminal via the P2P network for a predetermined time after the file download starts, and transmitting network information on the user terminal if the measured file download speed is less than a critical speed;

a ticketing server issuing a direct connection ticket to the user terminal by using the network information received from the ticket issue controlling device; and

a download server directly transmitting a file to the user terminal when receiving the ticket from the user terminal.
The network system of claim7, wherein the critical speed is an average value of values obtained by measuring download speeds for the predetermined time in other user terminals that download the file.
The network system of claim7, wherein the ticketing server is configured to check a network environment of the download server in order to check whether issuing the ticket is available to the user terminal.
The network system of claim 9, wherein the ticketing server issues the ticket to the user terminal if a value obtained by adding a traffic increased when the user terminal is additionally connected to the download server to a current traffic on the network of the download server is less than a predetermined critical traffic value.
A network controlling method for downloading file comprising:

detecting by an access detecting unit an access of a user terminal to a P2P network in order to download a file;

measuring by a speed measuring unit a file downloadspeed of the detected user terminal via the P2P network for a predetermined time after a file download start; and

controlling by a network connection controllingunit the user terminal to access a network of a download server in order for the download server to directly transmit a file to the user terminal if the measured file download speed is less than a critical speed.
The network controlling method of claim 11, wherein the critical speed is an average value of values obtained by measuring download speeds for the predetermined time in other user terminals that download the file.
The network controlling method of claim 11, further comprising checking by a server network detecting unit a network environment of the download server in order to check whether the user terminal is connectible to the network of the download server.
The network controlling method of claim 13, wherein the checking of the network environment comprises transmitting a signal, which notifies that the user terminal is connectible to the network of the download server, to the network of the download server if a value obtained by adding a traffic increased when the user terminal is additionally connected to the download server to a current traffic on the network of the download server is less than a predetermined critical traffic value.
The network controlling method of claim 14, wherein the controlling of the user terminal comprises connecting the user terminal to the network of the download server when receiving the signal, which notifies that the user terminal is connectible to the network of the download server, from the server network detecting unit.