CN101146213A - VoD network and ordering method - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention discloses a video-on-demand network, which employs QAM equipment and HFC network between an IP-based backbone network and a set-top box (STB). The STB sends uplink data to the IP-based backbone network via an IP network channel, and the IP-based backbone network sends down-link data to the STB via a radio-frequency channel of the HFC network. The invention also discloses a video-on-demand method. With the inventive technical proposal, the HFC network based on radio frequency (RF) data transmission can transmit down-link data with large data volume via the radio frequency with relatively-larger bandwidth resource, to solve the congestion problem of the down-link data. Contrarily, the up-link data with smaller data volume are transmitted based on the IP protocol. The invention avoids the large-scale reconstruction of the existing network, saves the cost, and can efficiently improve the use experience of the user.

Description

VoD network and order method

Technical field

The present invention relates to the VoD network technical field, more particularly, the VoD network and the order method that relate to a kind of QAM of utilization equipment and hfc plant and upstream data is separated with downlink data.

Background technology

Video request program is emerging industry, has vast market prospect, and at present, VoD network commonly used is based on the VoD network of IP, and up, downlink data all adopts the IP agreement to transmit on the lP network.Because the video signal information amount is huge, takies a lot of transmission bandwidths, often causes blocking up of network, particularly, carries out a sowing time simultaneously as a large amount of users, descending data are often owing to bandwidth becomes slow inadequately.If existing network is transformed, then need expensive cost.

Further analyze the service traffics of VOD service, can find, upstream data (normally STB (set-top box) is to the IP Information On Demand or the control information of backbone network) data volume is very little, and downlink data (normally backbone network is to the video/audio signal data of STB) amount of information is huge, and main network congestion all occurs on the descending passage.

So, the hfc plant (hybrid fiber coax) of utilizing radio frequency to carry out transfer of data becomes a kind of new solution, the downlink data that data volume is huge is by the abundant relatively more radio frequency transmission of bandwidth resources, the problem of blocking up of downlink data will be alleviated greatly, and, still use the lP agreement to transmit for the less upstream data of data volume.Like this, can avoid large-scale redevelopment, save cost, can effectively improve user's experience again simultaneously existing network.

Summary of the invention

The VoD network and the order method that the purpose of this invention is to provide a kind of QAM of utilization equipment (quadrature amplitude modulation conversion equipment) and hfc plant and upstream data is separated with downlink data.Lower-cost hfc plant is applied in the VoD network, to make operator will effectively utilize existing hfc plant resource more, on hfc plant, realize the interactive digital television business with lower cost, for expansion interactive digital TV business provides multiple access scheme.

In the interactive TV scheme of HFC, with respect to IPTV (internet television) system, to introduce after the QAM equipment, the control information between STB and the marginal flow media services engine cache is transmitted by different paths respectively with video stream data.Because up order request amount of information is minimum, can deliver to VOD (video request program) head end by any IP network, descending video flowing is then sent to the subscriber computer top box by the hfc plant of having used QAM equipment.

QAM equipment is a kind ofly digital media signal can be modulated into the equipment that radiofrequency signal is transmitted on hfc plant.QAM equipment generally is deployed in fringe node, is input as the IP data, is output as radio frequency (RF) signal.

Difference based on the VoD network of hfc plant and existing lPTV system is, flow processs such as the access authentication of STB, information browse are identical, mutual by IP network, after user's order request is redirected to the marginal flow server, streaming server is not directly given STB video flowing by the lP Network Transmission, but export video flowing to QAM equipment with appropriate package form, QAM is modulated into radio frequency (RF with video flowing, Radio Frequency), be transferred to STB by hfc plant, STB carries out the demodulation sign indicating number to video flowing.

According to a first aspect of the invention, a kind of VoD network is provided, between IP-based backbone network and STB, use QAM equipment and hfc plant, STB utilizes the IP network passage to the upstream data that IP-based backbone network sends, and the downlink data that IP-based backbone network sends to STB utilizes the radio-frequency channel of hfc plant.

According to one embodiment of the invention, this VoD network comprises:

IP-based backbone network;

Marginal flow media services engine and marginal flow media services engine cache are connected to IP-based backbone network, receive data from backbone network;

QAM equipment is connected to marginal flow media services engine, receives the data from marginal flow media services engine;

Hfc plant links to each other with QAM equipment by radio frequency link, with the form transmission data of radio frequency;

STB links to each other with hfc plant by radio frequency link;

The IP communication network is connected between marginal flow media services engine and the STB, carries out the IP agreement and connects;

Wherein, the upstream data from STB to IP-based backbone network is by the transmission of IP communication network, and the downlink data from IP-based backbone network to STB transmits by QAM equipment and hfc plant, wherein, and QAM equipment output radio frequency rf signal.

According to one embodiment of the invention, this VoD network comprises SiteServer LBS, is positioned at the backbone network of described IP, in CDN network (content distributing network), comprising:

The GSLB device can link to each other communicatedly with STB, receives the order request from STB;

At least one local load balancing device is connected to the GSLB device, and each local load balancing utensil has an area information, and each local load balancing device can be connected to STB communicatedly;

Each described local load balancing device is also connected to:

At least one media services controller, each described media services controller can link to each other communicatedly with content controller, also can be connected to described STB communicatedly;

At least one described QAM equipment, each described QAM equipment can link to each other communicatedly with at least one media services controller, also can be connected to described STB communicatedly; Wherein

Comprise a request area information in the order request of described STB, described GSLB device is preserved routing table, routing table writes down the area information of local load equalizer, and described GSLB device is selected the local load balancing device of the area information that is complementary in routing table according to the request area information;

Described local load balancing device with the area information that is complementary is inquired about the load state of its media services controller that connects and QAM equipment, if load state allows for described set-top box service is provided, then provide service for described STB by the local load balancing device of being chosen and the media services controller that is connected thereof and QAM equipment; If load state does not allow for described STB service is provided, then described local load balancing device is to the report of GSLB device, and the GSLB device is to described STB report request failure.

According to one embodiment of the invention, this VoD network comprises that also the Streaming Media package separates packet system, comprising:

The TS casing device will be packaged into the TS stream format by the digital signal that the video/audio signal coding forms, and add TS packet header;

The UDP casing device is connected in described TS stream casing device, also is connected in backbone network, TS stream is packaged into the UDP form, and adds UDP and TCP/IP packet header, sends QAM equipment to by backbone network;

UDP unpacks device, is arranged in QAM equipment, removes UDP and TCP/lP packet header, extracts TS stream from the UDP form, and is transferred to hfc plant by radio frequency rf signal, and hfc plant is transferred to STB with the form that TS flows with radio frequency rf signal;

TS unpacks device, is arranged in described STB, and TS stream is reduced into digital signal, and has the decoding chip among the STB that digital signal decoding is become video/audio signal.

Preferable, the GSLB device is divided into several zones with the address of all VoD networks, and each zone is served by a local load balancing device, and this local load balancing utensil has and should the corresponding area information in zone; Wherein

The local load balancing device is changed to user mode with this QAM resource simultaneously toward QAM equipment and the udp port sending zone information set;

STB is in the frequency and the PID receiving area information that set in advance or other approach obtain.

According to a second aspect of the invention, provide a kind of VOD method, be used for using between based on the backbone network of lP and set-top box STB the VoD network of QAM equipment and hfc plant, this method comprises:

Utilize the IP network passage to carry out the transmitting uplink data that STB sends to IP-based backbone network;

Utilize the radio-frequency channel of hfc plant to carry out the downlink data transmission that IP-based backbone network sends to STB.

According to one embodiment of the invention, described VoD network comprises:

IP-based backbone network;

Marginal flow media services engine and marginal flow media services engine cache are connected to the backbone network based on lP, receive data from backbone network;

QAM equipment is connected to marginal flow media services engine, receives the data from marginal flow media services engine;

Hfc plant links to each other with QAM equipment by radio frequency link, with the form transmission data of radio frequency;

STB links to each other with hfc plant by radio frequency link;

The IP communication network is connected between marginal flow media services engine and the STB, carries out the IP agreement and connects;

The transmitting uplink data flow process is as follows, and STB is transferred to IP-based backbone network with the IP agreement by the IP communication network with upstream data;

The downlink data transmission flow process is as follows, backbone network based on lP arrives marginal flow media services engine and marginal flow media services engine cache with downlink data transmission, be transferred to QAM equipment again, QAM equipment is modulated into radio frequency with downlink data and is transferred to hfc plant, and hfc plant is transmitted modulated downlink data to STB with radio frequency.

According to one embodiment of the invention, described VOD method also comprises the load balancing step, comprising:

By the order request of the reception of the GSLB device in the SiteServer LBS from STB; Comprise a request area information in the described order request;

The GSLB device is selected the local load balancing device of the area information that is complementary in routing table according to the request area information, described routing table is preserved by the GSLB device, the area information of the local load balancing device in the routing table record SiteServer LBS;

Local load balancing device with the area information that is complementary is inquired about the load state of its media services controller that connects and QAM equipment, if load state allows for described STB service is provided, then provide service for described STB by the local load balancing device of being chosen and the media services controller that is connected thereof and QAM equipment; If load state does not allow for described STB service is provided, then described local load balancing device is to the report of GSLB device, and the GSLB device is to described STB report request failure.

According to one embodiment of the invention, comprise that also the Streaming Media package unpacks step, comprising:

To be packaged into the TS stream format by the digital signal that the video/audio signal coding forms, and add TS packet header;

TS stream is packaged into the UDP form, and adds UDP and TCP/IP packet header, send QAM equipment to by backbone network;

QAM equipment will be removed UDP and TCP/IP packet header, extract TS stream from the UDP form, and be transferred to hfc plant by radio frequency rf signal;

Hfc plant is transferred to STB with the form that TS flows with radio frequency rf signal;

STB is reduced into digital signal with TS stream, and has the decoding chip among the STB that digital signal decoding is become video/audio signal.

Preferable, the GSLB device is divided into several zones with the address of all VoD networks, and each zone is served by a local load balancing device, and this local load balancing utensil has and should the corresponding area information in zone; Wherein

The local load balancing device is changed to user mode with this QAM resource simultaneously toward QAM equipment and the udp port sending zone information set;

STB is in the frequency and PID (packets of information identification code) the receiving area information that set in advance or other approach obtain.

Adopt technical scheme of the present invention, utilize radio frequency to carry out the hfc plant of transfer of data, the downlink data that data volume is huge is by the abundant relatively more radio frequency transmission of bandwidth resources, alleviate the problem of blocking up of downlink data greatly, and, still use the IP agreement to transmit for the less upstream data of data volume, avoided large-scale redevelopment to existing network, save cost, can effectively improve user's experience again simultaneously.

Description of drawings

Feature, character and the advantage of above-mentioned other of the present invention will become more obvious by the explanation below in conjunction with drawings and Examples, identical in the accompanying drawings Reference numeral is represented identical feature all the time, wherein,

Fig. 1 is the structured flowchart according to the VoD network of one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is according to the structured flowchart of SiteServer LBS of the present invention and operation principle block diagram;

Fig. 3 is the business relations figure according to each assembly in the VoD network of the present invention;

Fig. 4 is the schematic diagram according to area information distribution in the VoD network of the present invention;

Fig. 5 is that Streaming Media package according to the present invention is separated the structured flowchart of packet system;

Fig. 6 unpacks flow process according to the present invention to the Streaming Media package of MPEG 4 formatted datas;

Fig. 7 unpacks flow process according to the present invention to the Streaming Media package of MPEG 2 formatted datas;

Fig. 8 is to the Streaming Media packet structure figure of MPEG 4 formatted datas according to the present invention;

Fig. 9 embeds the structure chart that indicates head according to the present invention in the RTP/RTCP bag;

Figure 10 splits the schematic diagram of RTP/RTCP bag to different TS bags according to the present invention;

Figure 11 is the flow chart according to the VOD method of one embodiment of the invention.

Embodiment

The VoD network and the order method that the purpose of this invention is to provide a kind of QAM of utilization equipment and hfc plant and upstream data is separated with downlink data.Lower-cost hfc plant is applied in the VoD network.According to the present invention, a kind of VoD network is provided, between IP-based backbone network and STB, use QAM equipment and hfc plant, STB utilizes the IP network passage to the upstream data that IP-based backbone network sends, and the downlink data that IP-based backbone network sends to STB utilizes the radio-frequency channel of hfc plant.

With reference to figure 1, Fig. 1 is the structured flowchart according to the VoD network of one embodiment of the invention, and this VoD network 100 comprises:

IP-based backbone network 102;

Marginal flow media services engine 104 and marginal flow media services engine cache 105 are connected to IP-based backbone network 102, receive data from backbone network 102;

QAM equipment 106 is connected to marginal flow media services engine 104, receives the data from marginal flow media services engine;

Hfc plant 108 links to each other with QAM equipment 106 by the radio frequency link, with the form transmission data of radio frequency;

STB 110, link to each other with hfc plant 108 by radio frequency link;

IP communication network 112 is connected between marginal flow media services engine 104 and the STB 110, carries out the IP agreement and connects;

Wherein, upstream data from STB 110 to IP-based backbone network 102 is by 112 transmission of IP communication network, transmit by QAM equipment 106 and hfc plant 108 from the downlink data of IP-based backbone network 102 to STB 110, wherein, QAM equipment 106 output radio frequency rf signals.

In the interactive TV scheme of HFC, with respect to the IPTV system, to introduce after the QAM equipment, the control information between STB and the marginal flow media services engine cache is transmitted by different paths respectively with video stream data.Because up order request amount of information is minimum, can deliver to the VOD head end by any IP network, descending video flowing is then sent to user STB by the hfc plant of having used QAM equipment.

QAM equipment is a kind ofly digital media signal can be modulated into the equipment that radiofrequency signal is transmitted on hfc plant.QAM equipment generally is deployed in fringe node, is input as the IP data, is output as the RF radiofrequency signal.

Difference based on the VoD network of hfc plant and existing IPTV system is, flow processs such as the access authentication of STB, information browse are identical, mutual by IP network, after user's order request is redirected to the marginal flow server, streaming server directly is not transferred to STB to video flowing by IP network, but export video flowing to QAM equipment with appropriate package form, QAM is modulated into radio frequency (RF with video flowing, Radio Frequency), be transferred to STB by hfc plant, STB carries out the demodulation sign indicating number to video flowing.

Load-balancing technique

In order to utilize the HFC resource better and to improve transmitting speed, the present invention is the application load balancing technology in hfc plant, is applied in based on the load balancing in the video on-demand system of hfc plant to comprise GSLB and local load balancing.

The GSLB major function is to safeguard the availability and the load information of each node, and according to the principle of property nearby the user is redirected to nearby node.Different with the IP network block exchange mode, hfc plant is used RF-wise transmission program, does not therefore exist on hfc plant " suboptimum node ".Be that GSLB is thought highly of directed result and had only two kinds: be redirected to optimum node or return error message.The implementation of overall situation route is: be the attribute of STB increase area information (with the form of Region ID), this attribute-bit user belongs to which zone (as affiliated sub-headend, optical node etc.) on the hfc plant.Safeguard the corresponding lists of STB Region ID and service node in the GSLB device.When STB sends order request, have Region ID in the request.The GSLB device is inquired about the service node of this Region ID correspondence, and this order request is redirected on the local load balancing device of this node.

The function of local load balancing equipment is management node content and service ability information, according to loading condition, provides service for the user selects specific stream service-Engine.Different with existing IPTV system, the load information of local load balancing device streaming server in wanting management node, also need the channel resource of safeguarding that QAM equipment can be used, and select appropriate Service Source for the user according to the loading condition of channel resource and streaming server.

Fig. 2 is according to the structured flowchart of the SiteServer LBS of one embodiment of the invention and operation principle block diagram.

With reference to shown in Figure 2, a SiteServer LBS 200 links to each other with content controller 302 with STB 300, QAM equipment 208 (QAM equipment 208 is considered to be SiteServer LBS 200 assembly in addition) in the VoD network, and wherein, concrete connected mode is as follows:

GSLB device 201 can link to each other communicatedly with STB 300, receives the order request from STB 300;

At least one local load balancing device 202 is connected to GSLB device 201, and each local load balancing device 202 has an area information, and each local load balancing device 202 can be connected to STB 300 communicatedly; Need to prove, though in Fig. 2, only show a local load balancing device 202, but according to technical scheme of the present invention, can comprise a plurality of local load balancing devices 202, serve different zones respectively, these local load balancing devices 202 all are connected to GSLB device 201;

Each local load balancing device 202 is also connected to:

At least one media services controller 204, each media services controller 204 can link to each other communicatedly with content controller 302, also can be connected to STB 300 communicatedly;

At least one QAM equipment 208, this QAM equipment 208 are exactly the QAM equipment 106 described in Fig. 1, and each QAM equipment 208 can link to each other communicatedly with at least one media services controller 204, also can be connected to STB 300 communicatedly; Need to prove equally,,, can comprise a plurality of media services controllers 204 and a QAM equipment 208, wherein according to technical scheme of the present invention though in Fig. 2, only show a media services controller 204 and a QAM equipment 208

Comprise a request area information (Region ID) in the order request of STB 300, GSLB device 201 is preserved routing table, routing table writes down the area information (Region ID) of local load equalizer 202, and GSLB device 201 is selected the local load balancing device 202 of the area information (Region ID) that is complementary in routing table according to the request area information;

Have the local load balancing device 202 inquiry media services controllers 204 that it connected of the area information (Region ID) that is complementary and the load state of QAM equipment 208, if load state allows for STB 300 service is provided, then provide service for STB 300 by the local load balancing device of being chosen 202 and the media services controller 204 that is connected thereof and QAM equipment 208; If load state does not allow for STB 300 service is provided, then local load balancing device 202 is to 201 reports of GSLB device, and GSLB device 201 is to STB 300 report request failures.

Continuation wherein also comprises listing browser (EPG) 304 with reference to figure 2, is used to browse electric program menu, simultaneously, has also defined a series of interface in the operation principle block diagram of the SiteServer LBS of embodiment shown in Figure 2:

Interface between interface A:EPG 304 and the STB 300.STB 300 browses program request EPG304 and goes up programme information, and EPG 304 returns the URL (URL(uniform resource locator)) of film, and the IP address of URL is the IP address of GSLB device 201;

Interface B: the interface between GSLB device 201 and the STB 300.GSLB device 201 carries out static routing according to the Region ID of STB 300, STB 300 is redirected to the local load balancing device 202 of corresponding region (Region);

Interface C: the interface between local load balancing device 202 and the STB 300.Local load balancing device 202 is selected corresponding media services controller 204 and QAM equipment 208 resources according to the load state of current media service controller 204 and QAM equipment 208, provides service to STB 300;

Interface D: the interface between media services controller 204 and the STB 300.STB 300 and media services controller 204 are play alternately, are withdrawed from, operation informations such as F.F., rewind down; Media services controller 204 returns to the required relevant information of frequency Frequency/SID QAM equipment such as (Service Identifiers) 208 that STB 300 accepts program; STB 300 reports to media services controller 204 and is specifying QAM equipment 208 resources to can't accept the mistake of data;

Interface between interface E:QAM equipment 208 and the STB 300.QAM equipment 208 sends video flowing by the CabIe network to STB 300;

Interface F: the interface between GSLB device 201 and the local load balancing device 202.Local load balancing device 202 is to GSLB device 201 report activity and loading conditions.

Interface G: the interface between local load balancing device 202 and the media services controller 204.Media services controller 204 can satisfy the relevant parameter information of QAM equipment 208 of bandwidth requirement to local load balancing device 202 application: SessionID, QAM IP, UDP port, Frequency, lnput Sid, Output Sid etc.; Media services controller 204 is reported the use release conditions of STB to QAM equipment 208 resources; Media services controller 204 is reported the information that STB 300 accepts specific QAM device resource data failure to local load balancing device 202;

Interface H: the interface between original contents controller 302 and the media services controller 204.The film file is downloaded (FTP downloads and streaming is downloaded); Agent plays;

Interface I: the interface between media control server 204 and the QAM equipment 208.Media control server 204 sends the TS packet on IP that specifies QAM equipment 208 and udp port.

In concrete application process, GSLB device 201 can be divided into several zones with the address of all VoD networks, each zone is served by a local load balancing device 202, and this local load balancing device 202 has and should the corresponding area information in zone (Region ID); When STB300 sent order request, its request area information (Region ID) was regional corresponding with these STB 300 addresses.

Simultaneously, according to embodiments of the invention, local load balancing device 202 is also preserved following information: area information, basic frequency information, main pid information, alternative frequency information, alternative pid information.Simultaneously, local load balancing device 202 to QAM equipment 208 that it connected carry out the PID configuration and udp port is managed, set the corresponding relation of udp port and PID, the media services controller 204 that is connected when local load balancing device 202 is when local load balancing device 202 request resource are served STB, except distributing bandwidth, also need local load balancing device 202 to provide the information of udp port and PID, so that media services controller 204 sends media datas to QAM equipment 208 to media services controller 204.

In order to tackle the situation of the area dividing variation that may occur, local load balancing device 202 can also be configured to regularly media services controller 204, QAM equipment 208 and STB that it connected be carried out the area information configuration, makes the media services controller 204, QAM equipment 208 and the STB that belong to same local load balancing device 202 have corresponding area information.

Generally speaking, in the load-balancing technique of the present invention, the entity of main management is its local load balancing device of administering in the GSLB device, and the local load balancing device is known as the child node of GSLB device.According to needs based on the video on-demand system of hfc plant, bound the relation of local load balancing device and its pairing QAM equipment, this binding is finished by RegionID.

The GSLB device can be according to the information of property nearby of IP scope, and when configuration certain priority and weight are set, according to the suitable child node of these information searchings---local load balancing device.In the HFC-VOD system, the Region ID that adds during according to STB request service searches static routing table, and the user is redirected to the nearest service node of distance users----local load balancing device on the hfc plant; If there is not RegionID, just the IP access way was then carried out route according to former IPTV mode.

And the entity that the local load balancing device is faced has GSLB device, QAM equipment and media services controller.The GSLB device tentatively distributes according to property principle nearby, and the local load balancing device is then according to the service application needs, and the information such as service ability load balancing of media services controller are further distributed.

The local load balancing device is according to the configuration of applied business, and the information of the load value of each media services controller, service scenario, and configuration such as certain priority, weight, search suitable media services controller by the algorithm of intelligence and provide service for STB.The local load balancing device is equally also supported the allocation strategy of custom script, provides the greater flexibility and the degree of freedom for the user searches to distribute to whole child node.

The local load balancing device need be accepted the management and monitoring of GSLB device, uses when providing information such as load, current service situation to carry out the route assignment algorithm for the GSLB device.And the local load balancing device also needs to monitor its child node media services controller, inquires about the information such as load, current service of each child node, uses for the route assignment algorithm of local load balancing device self.

The local load balancing device need judge at first whether QAM also has resource----frequency resource, media services controller resource more than needed whether to have available when the request of distributing user.If there is not corresponding QAM resource to use in the zone of the RegionID of this local load balancing management, perhaps the service ability of media services controller is full, just returns the prompting of corresponding " service ability arrives ".If the service ability of QAM resource and media services controller all has residue, the local load balancing device will be selected corresponding QAM (and concrete QAM resource), the media services controller is this STB provides service.

According to the needs based on the video on-demand system of hfc plant, the local load balancing utensil has pair function of the management of QAM resource:

The local load balancing device also has pairing hfc plant essential information, comprises RegionID, provides basic frequency information, main pid information, alternative frequency information, alternative pid information.

The local load balancing device also has the area information configuration feature, it is the configuration of RegionID, and can dispose the local load balancing device and regularly on the QAM of appointment equipment, send RegionID, so that STB can be at the area information that obtains own residing network from QAM.

The local load balancing device can also be to the management of each regional frequency and bandwidth, need discharge bandwidth when service finishes for it distributes bandwidth during STB request service, when available bandwidth is not enough, can not provide service to STB.

The local load balancing device can also comprise equipment mark and mailing address to the management of the QAM equipment in each zone.

The local load balancing device can also be to configuration and the management of the udp port and the PID of each QAM equipment.Can set the udp port of reception of QAM equipment and the relation of pairing PID, when flowing service controller when local load balancing device request resource is served STB, except distributing bandwidth, also need to provide the information of udp port and PID, so that the stream service controller sends media data to QAM to the stream service controller.These udp ports also need dynamic assignment and release as bandwidth with pid information.During concrete configuration, the initial udp port that the user can certain Frequency of assigned ip QAM, and the step-length between initial PID, the PID numbering increases so in batches, and can make amendment to the pid information of the udp port correspondence of single QAM equipment.

Media control server

In SiteServer LBS of the present invention, another important device is a media control server.At first, with reference to figure 3, Fig. 3 is the business relations figure that adopts each assembly in the VoD network of SiteServer LBS of the present invention.Content server 310 in the VoD network medium, media services controller 312, local load balancing device 314 all are the parts of SiteServer LBS of the present invention, and the relation between they and QAM equipment 316, the STB 318 is as follows:

Carrying out the mutual and media data of ISMA ProtocoI (internet stream media federation protocol) between media services controller 312 and the content server 310 obtains; Media services controller and content server carry out the Signalling exchange of the RTSP (real-time streaming protocol) of standard, and obtain the media data that the original contents server sends by TCP.

Carry out the operation layer authentication between media services controller 312 and the local load balancing device 314; Media services controller and local load balancing device carry out the mutual of operation layer, and the RegionID that reports program request STB to the local load balancing device identifies, and obtains the channel of a free time from the local load balancing device, is used for the transmission of media data.The parameter that channel is relevant comprises the IP of QAM equipment and udp port, the frequency of output, the PID of output etc.

SPTS (single program stream) data flow of transmission UDP encapsulation between media services controller 312 and the QAM equipment 316; The media services controller is sealed by UDP message and is adorned a plurality of TS packets, transmits the TS packet to QAM equipment.The transmission of the only corresponding SPTS of each udp port (SPTS).Each SPTS comprises PAT (Program Association Table), PMT (Program Map Table) and corresponding TS (transmission code stream) packet of DATA (data), PAT and PMT are used for composition situation (several basic streams of informing that this SPTS SPTS flows substantially, each basic stream type), make the TS data that QAM equipment can lock faster needs reception, and filter other invalid interfering datas.The TS packet that each UDP message is carried is 1～7 not to be waited.

It is mutual to carry out RTSP between media services controller 312 and the STB 318.The signaling of media services controller and STB key-course is based on the RTSP of standard RFC2326, and carries out part expansion (expansion of following RFC2326 requires) according to the needs in using.The expansion back is mutual by RTSP's, and STB can upload the RegionID sign, can obtain frequency, the PID of data from the media services controller.

The media services controller is at first judged this user's access way after the request of accepting this user, whether carry the x-RegionID option, if HFC inserts, the media services controller will be served the QAM resource of this STB to the application of local load balancing device; If apply for successfully, the media services controller will provide corresponding order program service for this user.

The media services controller is the fringe node of whole contents distributing network content route system, is responsible for finally offering user's streaming media service.According to the needs based on the video on-demand system of hfc plant, the media services controller needs to assist the local load balancing device carry out the management of QAM resource when handling applied business.

The media services controller is based on an important ring in the video on-demand system of hfc plant, with various piece in the system certain getting in touch is arranged all.At first it is connecting control signaling mutual that terminal STB and STB carry out RTSP.Secondly it is connecting QAM equipment, transmits the TS packet that needs forwarding to QAM.It is also connecting the CDN network, need initiate authentication and report state to the CDN network for any order request.It is also connecting the original contents server at last, if user's program request portion film, this film is not on media services controller local disk (promptly not hitting), the media services controller need provide service in agency's (Proxy) mode to the user to the order program service of this film of original contents server requests.At video on-demand system, increased following mechanism based on hfc plant:

1) increases keepalive mechanism

Under the Proxy working method, the media services controller can send " Options " order to the original contents server, should connect with keep-alive.

What order sent is spaced apart 30 seconds, if the original contents server did not receive this order in 70 seconds, then will disconnect this connection, finishes to play.

2) increase the Set_Parameter command process

When file is played to when last, the original contents server will send the Set_Parameter order, and the particular content in the order is " this plays normal termination "

The media services controller need be accepted the real-time monitoring of local load balancing, and the routing algorithm use of information such as load, current service situation for the local load balancing device is provided.

The media services controller needs the connection request of treatment S TB, carries out the relevant judgement of applied business, and whether decision allows to provide the service of streaming medium content.Whether relevant judgement comprises STB by authentication, and whether the content of STB request can provide, and whether the media services controller surpasses its service ability.

According to needs based on the video on-demand system of hfc plant, the media services controller is expanded, when STB request service, the media services controller need be to the resource of report of local load balancing device and application QAM, and obtain the input port information of corresponding QAM, so that the media data of STB request is sent to STB by corresponding QAM equipment.After STB play to finish or withdraws from unusually, the media services controller will be reported to the local load balancing device, discharges corresponding resource.

The distribution of area information

According to the present invention, the GSLB device is divided into several zones with the address of all VoD networks, and each zone is served by a local load balancing device, and this local load balancing utensil has and should the corresponding area information in zone.With reference to figure 4, Fig. 4 is the schematic diagram according to area information distribution in the VoD network of one embodiment of the invention; Wherein

402. the local load balancing device is changed to user mode with this QAM resource simultaneously toward QAM equipment and the udp port sending zone information set;

404.STB in the frequency and the PI D receiving area information that set in advance or other approach obtain.

The Streaming Media package is separated packet system

Owing in VoD network of the present invention, used QAM equipment and hfc plant, therefore the stream media format that just needs a kind of suitable QAM equipment and hfc plant, the present invention also provides package to separate packet technology, separate packet system such as the Streaming Media subpackage, with reference to shown in Figure 5, Fig. 5 is a structured flowchart of separating packet system 500 according to the Streaming Media package of one embodiment of the invention, and this Streaming Media package is separated packet system 500 and comprised:

TS casing device 502 will be packaged into the TS stream format by the digital signal that the video/audio signal coding forms, and add TS packet header; TS casing device 502 normally is positioned on the content server that the video/audio program is provided, because this server all is to be connected in backbone network 102 usually, therefore TS casing device 502 is illustrated as being connected to backbone network 102 (by the following UDP casing device 504 that will describe) in Fig. 5.

UDP casing device 504 is connected in TS stream casing device 502, also is connected in backbone network 102, TS stream is packaged into the UDP form, and adds UDP and TCP/IP packet header, sends QAM equipment 106 to by backbone network 102.Need explanation, usually, QAM equipment 106 is connected to backbone network 102 by marginal flow media services engine 104 and marginal flow media services engine cache 105, does not describe in detail at this.

UDP unpacks device 506, is arranged in QAM equipment 106, is shown the QAM equipment 106 that is connected among Fig. 5, and in the application of reality, UDP unpacks device 506 and can integrate with QAM equipment 106, also can separate.UDP unpacks device 506 and removes UDP and TCP/IP packet header, extracts TS stream from the UDP form, and is transferred to hfc plant 108 by radio frequency rf signal, and hfc plant 108 is transferred to STB 110 with the form that TS flows with radio frequency rf signal.

TS unpacks device 508, be arranged in STB 110, be shown among Fig. 5 and be connected in STB 110, in the application of reality, TS unpacks device 508 and can integrate with STB 110, also can separate, TS unpacks device 508 TS stream is reduced into digital signal, and there is the decoding chip (not shown, to those skilled in the art, it is technique known that STB 110 comprises decoding chip) among the STB 110 that digital signal decoding is become video/audio signal.

According to embodiment shown in Figure 5, be the situation that video/audio signal forms by the MPEG4 coding for stream medium data, this system 500 also comprises:

RTP/RTCP (RTP/RTCP Real-time Transport Control Protocol) casing device 501, connect TS casing device 502, to be packaged into the RTP/RTCP form by the digital signal that the video/audio signal coding forms, add RTP/RTCP packet header, again the RTP/RTCP bag is transferred to TS casing device 502 and is packaged into the TS form; And

RTP/RTCP unpacks device 509, be arranged in STB 110, connect TS and unpack device 508, earlier TS stream is reduced into the RTP/RTCP form, further be transferred to TS again and unpack device 508 and be reduced into digital signal, and digital signal decoding is become video/audio signal by the decoding chip among the STB 110.

Said that above two kinds of the most frequently used coded formats are MPEG 2 and MPEG 4.Data at these two kinds of coded formats are described respectively below.

At first, for MPEG 2 coded formats, Fig. 7 unpacks flow process according to one embodiment of the invention to the Streaming Media package of MPEG2 formatted data.MPEG2 form program adopts the mode directly be packaged into TS stream to transmit, and such transmission means requires minimumly to terminal, as long as can watch the set-top box of DVB program, just can accept and decodes program.But consider conserve bandwidth and storage, generally do not adopt MPEG2 to realize video request program.Present case is the mode that MPEG 2 signals is packaged into RTP over TS, transmits again.As shown in Figure 7, the flow process of package/unpack is roughly as follows:

At first, at memory device, such as content server or connecting on other equipment of backbone network, file is deposited with the file format of MPEG2.

Afterwards, the TS casing device reads file data and is packaged into the TS packet mode, adds UDP packet header and TCP/IP packet header by the UDP casing device again, and sends to QAM equipment by backbone network.

UDP unpacks device (for example being arranged in QAM equipment) to carry out UDP and unpacks and TS bag taken out and demodulation is made Radio Frequency signal and is transferred to STB by hfc plant, and at QAM equipment place, data have reverted to the form of TS stream again.

STB receives after the TS data and to unpack device by TS it is carried out the TS broadcast that unpacks and decode, and in the drawings, the data at STB place still are illustrated as the form of TS stream.

Program for the MPEG4/H.264 coding according to the difference of decoding terminals mode, has two kinds of package forms to select.Comprise that the mode that adopts RTP over TS transmits and adopt the mode of MPEG4/H.264 over TS to encapsulate.What adopt at present is the mode of RTP over TS.Below be that example describes just with RTP over TS.With reference to figure 6, Fig. 6 unpacks flow process according to one embodiment of the invention to the Streaming Media package of MPEG 4 formatted datas:

At first, at memory device, such as content server or connecting on other equipment of backbone network, file is deposited with MPEG 4 file formats.

The RTP/RTCP casing device reads file, is packaged into the RTP/RTCP form earlier, is transferred to the packet header that the TS casing device adds TS then, is transferred to the UDP casing device again and adds U DP packet header and TCP/IP packet header, sends to QAM equipment by backbone network then.

UDP unpacks device to carry out UDP and unpacks the TS data are taken out and be modulated into the RadioFrequency signal and be transferred to STB by hfc plant;

After STB receives the TS data, unpack device by TS the TS header data is removed, the beared information of taking-up TS is RTP/RTCP bag data just, and the RTP/RTCP that offers among the STB unpacks device.

RTP/RTCP among the STB unpacks device RTP/RTCP is wrapped processing data information, solves the data of MPEG 4 forms, at last again by the MPEG4/H.264 decoding chip to the audio, video data broadcast of decoding.

The packet that offers QAM equipment is the UDP bag.Carrying the transport stream TS packet in the UDP bag, the interior TS bag of each UDP bag is 1～7 not to be waited.Carried the RTP/RTCP bag in the TS data flow, the video/audio format data in the RTP/RTCP bag after the carrying encoded (MPEG 2 or MPEG 4 codings).Have more one embodiment of the invention, the package form of MPEG 4 coded format data is as follows, and with reference to figure 8, Fig. 8 is that structure is as follows according to the Streaming Media packet structure figure of one embodiment of the invention to MPEG 4 formatted datas:

IP head (IP Header), UDP head (UDP Header), TS head (TS Header), RTP/RTCP head (RTP Header), MPEG 4 format signals carryings (PayIoad MPEG4/H.264).

Consider the transmission characteristic of QAM equipment and hfc plant, the RTP/RTCP bag that transmits the audio frequency and video that belongs to different content simultaneously in single elementary stream ES is reasonable, such as the packet at four streams of single ES transmission.In order to distinguish the RTP/RTCP that these adhere to different content separately, before the RTP/RTCP bag, add one and embedded the sign head, Embedded Binary head such as 4 bytes, distinguish these stream by the passage ID that is included in wherein, and the inspection of integrality is provided at regrouping process for RTP/RTCP by length byte Length.

Like this, the data of same RTP/RTCP bag are split to be assigned in one or several TS bags, comprises in the RTP/RTCP form embedding indicating head, is used for discerning the data that belong to same RTP/RTCP bag that are positioned at different TS bags.

The form of an example Embedded Binary head of embedding sign head recited above is as follows, as shown in Figure 9, Fig. 9 indicates head according to embedding in one embodiment of the invention RTP/RTCP bag, i.e. the structure chart of Embedded Binary head, and this Embedded Binary head comprises:

The initial symbol " $ " of 1 byte;

The passage ID of 1 byte;

The length byte Length of 2 bytes.

Assign in one or several TS bags because the data of same RTP/RTCP bag are split, just need by following processing procedure:

The RTP/RTCP casing device becomes the RTP/RTCP packet with the video/audio data coding;

Data in the RTP/RTCP bag belong to different audio frequency and/or track of video respectively, each RTP/RTCP comprises that the embedding of 4 bytes indicates head, such as Embedded Binary head, be used to identify the length of the affiliated audio frequency of RTP/RTCP bag and/or video track and record RTP/RTCP bag;

The TS casing device splits the RTP/RTCP bag in a plurality of TS packets, and puts beginning flag on the TS at RTP/RTCP place data packet head;

When the UDP casing device installed to the TS data envelope in the UDP message bag, the TS bag of each UDP message bag carrying was 1～7.

Figure 10 splits the schematic diagram of RTP/RTCP bag to different TS bags according to one embodiment of the invention; With reference to embodiment shown in Figure 10, concrete package step comprises:

The RTP/RTCP casing device becomes RTP/RTCP data packet length maximum with the video/audio data coding and is no more than 1416;

These RTP/RTCP bag data belong to different track Track (comprising Voice ﹠ Video) respectively, therefore before each RTP/RTCP packet, add the Embedded Binary head of 4 bytes, be used to identify the length of affiliated Track of RTP/RTCP and record RTP/RTCP bag.

These RTP/RTCP bags are split in a plurality of TS packets, and on the TS at RTP/RTCP place data packet head, put beginning flag, indicate such as Start Unit Indicate.Need to prove, with reference to shown in Figure 7, together split the assigning in a plurality of TS packets of a part that the anterior staggered head (InterleaveHead) of RTP/RTCP bag also wraps as RTP/RTCP.

At last the TS data envelope is installed in the UDP message bag, the TS bag of each UDP message bag carrying is 1～7 not to be waited.

Since the adaptive capacity that QAM equipment changes code stream relatively a little less than, and present stage film source code check change not too steady.Therefore Streaming Media relies on the strategy of giving out a contract for a project on the traditional ethernet to tend to cause give out a contract for a project sometime too fast, and QAM equipment buffer memory is not enough and cause overflowing (Overflow).

At this situation, need when transmitting Streaming Media, control dynamically the code stream of each program request stream, make code stream steady as far as possible, and reduce or eliminate QAM equipment to overflow (Overflow) unusual.

Thus, the system 500 with reference to shown in Figure 5 had increased by two following devices before QAM equipment 106:

Speed-limiting control device 510, speed-limiting control device 510 is set a congestion window, the data volume that record current time sheet has sent, the data that send in each timeslice are limited, and when new timeslice arrives, congestion window will be cleared, begin the data volume that adds up and send in the past, when a certain segment encode flows through big congestion window and is filled, will stop to give out a contract for a project, reattempt to next timeslice and send;

Accel control 512, set a pre-buffer memory prebuffer, be illustrated in the maximum data that can send in advance in the process of giving out a contract for a project, when the progress that sends does not also reach the amount of prebuffer appointment in advance, to under the condition that bandwidth allows, send, meet or exceed prebuffer in advance up to progress with maximum.

Speed-limiting control device 510 has precedence over accel control 512, only just operates accel control 512 under the prerequisite that speed-limiting control device 510 allows to send.

Like this, speed-limiting control device 510 and accel control 512 are mainly started with from two aspects and are made code stream smooth-out.At first be the Control for Speed Limitation of speed-limiting control device 510, by introducing a congestion window, the data volume that record current time sheet has sent limits the data that send in each timeslice.When new timeslice arrives, congestion window will be cleared, and begin the data volume that adds up and send in the past.

When a certain segment encode of film source flows through big congestion window and is filled, will stop to give out a contract for a project, reattempt to next timeslice and send.So just can limit the peak value of code stream, violent code stream fluctuation not occur.But this control algolithm may reduce packet sending speed, the buffer memory quantity of terminal is reduced, even consume light.The cooperation of acceleration control algolithm that need be by accel control 512 just can prevent the appearance of this class situation.Quicken control and introduce a pre-buffer memory prebuffer again, be illustrated in the maximum data that can send in advance in the process of giving out a contract for a project.When the progress that sends did not also reach the amount of prebuffer appointment in advance, the transmission of will doing the best under the condition that bandwidth allows (sending with maximum) met or exceeded prebuffer in advance up to progress.When code stream is little, can multiple give the data in some follow-up prebuffer scopes like this, when code stream became big, the buffer memory of reduction of speed terminal can not consume light soon yet.Simultaneously the startup stage of program request, can shorten start-up time, user experience effect preferably is provided by this acceleration.

These two kinds of controls, Control for Speed Limitation is top-priority, only quickens control under the prerequisite that Control for Speed Limitation allows to send and just might operate.By this a pair of Control for Speed Limitation and acceleration control algolithm, it is steady relatively just to make code stream change violent relatively film source output code flow in certain limit, trends towards cbr (constant bit rate).

The STB flow process of starting shooting

According to one embodiment of the invention, the start flow process of STB is as follows:

After the STB start, broadcasting DHCP request, request distributes legal IP address;

Be connected in the DHCP+ server response STB request of backbone network, be STB distributing IP address;

After STB obtained legitimate ip address, at first visit was connected in the TView-ADS of backbone network, carried out the authentication of STB legitimacy;

TView-ADS submits to digital TV operation support system with the identity information of STB and authenticates;

Digital TV operation support system returns to ADS with authentication result, if the user logins first, then area information (Region ID) information of this STB is given and returns to ADS;

ADS is that STB distributes the unique session indications (SessionID) of the overall situation, according to the adaptive result of terminal the URL of EPG is returned to STB.If the user logins first, also need the Region ID retrography of STB is returned STB;

The STB visit is connected in the upgrade server TView-US of backbone network, judges whether software needs to upgrade.

Upgrade if desired, then after software upgrading, restart, get back to the first step; If need not to upgrade, then continue;

STB reports to starting log the monitoring server MS that is connected in backbone network;

STB browses program and carries out program request according to the corresponding EPG Server of EPG URL visit that TView returns.

STB program request flow process

According to one embodiment of the invention, the start flow process of STB is as follows:

The user browses EPG, certain program of program request;

EPG is to Digital Television operation management system request mandate

The Digital Television operation management system checks whether the user has bought this content, as charges paid return authorization information then, if pay then return failure information;

If the authorized information of EPG then GSLB device entry address and token Token are returned to STB, otherwise return the unwarranted prompting page;

STB visits the GSLB device, has Token and the area information Region ID of this STB in the access request;

The GSLB device is searched static routing table according to the Region ID of STB, and the user is redirected the nearest service node of distance users---local load balancing device on the hfc plant;

STB visits the local load balancing device of this node, has Region ID in the access request;

The local load balancing device is selected the media services controller according to film information and load, returns the URL of STB to selected media services controller.If service ability is full, then return the information of " service ability is full ", or the URL of this information is arranged, the local load balancing device is safeguarded the URL that plays failure;

The request of STB access medium service controller is play;

The media services controller is to authentication administrative system request door chain authentication (verification token);

Authentication administrative system returns the door chain authentication result;

If authentication is passed through, the media services controller is reported the RegionlD of this request and the bandwidth of broadcast to the local load balancing device, application QAM device resource; Otherwise answer STB " authentification failure,

Denial of service " information;

If the QAM device resource is enough, the local load balancing device is replied QAM equipment resource information (QAM IP, QAM UDP port, Frequency, Input SID, Output SId); If QAM device resource deficiency is then returned the information of " service ability is full ", or the URL of this information is arranged;

If authentication and the success of application QAM device resource, the media services controller is replied STB and is allowed to play, and informs the programme content that obtains OutputSID on the specific frequency of STB (Frequency); Otherwise return corresponding failure information: " authentification failure, denial of service ", " service ability is full " or the URL of this prompting is arranged;

The media services controller sends the user capture content to QAM equipment with specific package form, and the sid value in the packet is lnput SID; If content is not in this locality, the media services controller obtains the original contents service to the original contents server and provides service in the PROXY mode;

QAM equipment is broadcasted the form that video data is modulated into RF by specific channel at intranodal, STB obtains the program that has specific Output SID in the corresponding TS stream on specific channel;

After playing end, STB sends to the media services controller and finishes playing request;

The media services controller is replied STB and is confirmed to finish to play;

The media services controller is received and is finished after the playing request or when finding that this STB no longer is in connection status, notice local load balancing device discharges resource;

The media services controller is to broadcast information such as authentication administrative system report playing duration.

VOD method

The present invention also provides a kind of VOD method, is used for using between IP-based backbone network and STB the VoD network of QAM equipment and hfc plant, and this method comprises:

Utilize the IP network passage to carry out the transmitting uplink data that STB sends to IP-based backbone network;

Utilize the radio-frequency channel of hfc plant to carry out the downlink data transmission that IP-based backbone network sends to STB.

With reference to Figure 11, Figure 11 is the flow chart according to the VOD method of one embodiment of the invention, and this method is used for the VoD network of array structure down:

IP-based backbone network;

Marginal flow media services engine and marginal flow media services engine cache are connected to IP-based backbone network, receive data from backbone network;

QAM equipment is connected to marginal flow media services engine, receives the data from marginal flow media services engine;

Hfc plant links to each other with QAM equipment by radio frequency link, with the form transmission data of radio frequency;

STB links to each other with hfc plant by radio frequency link;

The IP communication network is connected between marginal flow media services engine and the STB, carries out the IP agreement and connects;

This method 1100 comprises:

1102. the transmitting uplink data flow process is as follows, STB is transferred to IP-based backbone network with the IP agreement by the IP communication network with upstream data;

1104. the downlink data transmission flow process is as follows, IP-based backbone network arrives marginal flow media services engine and marginal flow media services engine cache with downlink data transmission, be transferred to QAM equipment again, QAM equipment is modulated into radio frequency with downlink data and is transferred to hfc plant, and hfc plant is transmitted modulated downlink data to STB with radio frequency.

According to one embodiment of the invention, this VOD method also comprises the load balancing step, comprising:

By the order request of the reception of the GSLB device in the SiteServer LBS from STB; Comprise a request area information in the described order request;

The GSLB device is selected the local load balancing device of the area information that is complementary in routing table according to the request area information, described routing table is preserved by the GSLB device, the area information of the local load balancing device in the routing table record SiteServer LBS;

Local load balancing device with the area information that is complementary is inquired about the load state of its media services controller that connects and QAM equipment, if load state allows for described STB service is provided, then provide service for described STB by the local load balancing device of being chosen and the media services controller that is connected thereof and QAM equipment; If load state does not allow for described STB service is provided, then described local load balancing device is to the report of GSLB device, and the GSLB device is to described STB report request failure.

According to one embodiment of the invention, comprise that also the Streaming Media package unpacks step, comprising:

To be packaged into the TS stream format by the digital signal that the video/audio signal coding forms, and add TS packet header;

TS stream is packaged into the UDP form, and adds UDP and TCP/IP packet header, send QAM equipment to by backbone network;

QAM equipment will be removed UDP and TCP/IP packet header, extract TS stream from the UDP form, and be transferred to hfc plant by radio frequency rf signal;

Hfc plant is transferred to STB with the form that TS flows with radio frequency rf signal;

STB is reduced into digital signal with TS stream, and has the decoding chip among the STB that digital signal decoding is become video/audio signal.

In addition, the GSLB device is divided into several zones with the address of all VoD networks, and each zone is served by a local load balancing device, and this local load balancing utensil has and should the corresponding area information in zone; Wherein

The local load balancing device is changed to user mode with this QAM resource simultaneously toward QAM equipment and the udp port sending zone information set;

STB is in the frequency and the PID receiving area information that set in advance or other approach obtain.

Adopt technical scheme of the present invention, utilize radio frequency to carry out the hfc plant of transfer of data, the downlink data that data volume is huge is by the abundant relatively more radio frequency transmission of bandwidth resources, alleviate the problem of blocking up of downlink data greatly, and, still use the lP agreement to transmit for the less upstream data of data volume, avoided large-scale redevelopment to existing network, save cost, can effectively improve user's experience again simultaneously.

The foregoing description provides to being familiar with the person in the art and realizes or use of the present invention; those skilled in the art can be under the situation that does not break away from invention thought of the present invention; the foregoing description is made various modifications or variation; thereby protection scope of the present invention do not limit by the foregoing description, and should be the maximum magnitude that meets the inventive features that claims mention.

Claims (10)

1. VoD network, it is characterized in that, between IP-based backbone network and set-top box STB, use QAM equipment and hfc plant, STB utilizes the IP network passage to the upstream data that IP-based backbone network sends, and IP-based backbone network utilizes the hfc plant passage to the downlink data that STB sends.

2. VoD network as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that, comprises

IP-based backbone network;

Marginal flow media services engine and marginal flow media services engine cache are connected to IP-based backbone network, receive data from backbone network;

QAM equipment is connected to marginal flow media services engine, receives the data from marginal flow media services engine;

Hfc plant links to each other with QAM equipment by radio frequency link, with the form transmission data of radio frequency;

STB links to each other with hfc plant by radio frequency link;

The IP communication network is connected between marginal flow media services engine and the STB, carries out the IP agreement and connects;

Wherein, the upstream data from STB to IP-based backbone network is by the transmission of IP communication network, and the downlink data from IP-based backbone network to STB transmits by QAM equipment and hfc plant, wherein, and QAM equipment output radio frequency rf signal.

3. VoD network as claimed in claim 2 is characterized in that described VoD network comprises SiteServer LBS, is arranged in described IP-based backbone network, comprising:

The GSLB device can link to each other communicatedly with STB, receives the order request from STB;

At least one local load balancing device is connected to the GSLB device, and each local load balancing utensil has an area information, and each local load balancing device can be connected to STB communicatedly;

Each described local load balancing device is also connected to:

At least one media services controller, each described media services controller can link to each other communicatedly with content controller, also can be connected to described STB communicatedly;

At least one described QAM equipment, each described QAM equipment can link to each other communicatedly with at least one media services controller, also can be connected to described STB communicatedly; Wherein

Comprise a request area information in the order request of described STB, described GSLB device is preserved routing table, routing table writes down the area information of local load equalizer, and described GSLB device is selected the local load balancing device of the area information that is complementary in routing table according to the request area information;

Described local load balancing device with the area information that is complementary is inquired about the load state of its media services controller that connects and QAM equipment, if load state allows for described STB service is provided, then provide service for described STB by the local load balancing device of being chosen and the media services controller that is connected thereof and QAM equipment; If load state does not allow for described STB service is provided, then described local load balancing device is to the report of GSLB device, and the GSLB device is to described STB report request failure.

4. VoD network as claimed in claim 3 is characterized in that, this VoD network comprises that also the Streaming Media package separates packet system, comprising:

The TS casing device will be packaged into the TS stream format by the digital signal that the video/audio signal coding forms, and add TS packet header;

The UDP casing device is connected in described TS stream casing device, also is connected in backbone network, TS stream is packaged into the UDP form, and adds UDP and TCP/IP packet header, sends QAM equipment to by backbone network;

UDP unpacks device, is arranged in QAM equipment, removes UDP and TCP/IP packet header, extracts TS stream from the UDP form, and is transferred to hfc plant by radio frequency rf signal, and hfc plant is transferred to STB with the form that TS flows with radio frequency rf signal;

TS unpacks device, is arranged in described STB, and TS stream is reduced into digital signal, and has the decoding chip among the STB that digital signal decoding is become video/audio signal.

5. VoD network as claimed in claim 4, it is characterized in that, the GSLB device is divided into several zones with the address of all VoD networks, and each zone is served by a local load balancing device, and this local load balancing utensil has and should the corresponding area information in zone; Wherein

The local load balancing device is changed to user mode with this QAM resource simultaneously toward QAM equipment and the udp port sending zone information set;

STB is in the frequency and the PID receiving area information that set in advance or other approach obtain.

6. a VOD method is characterized in that, is used for using between IP-based backbone network and STB the VoD network of QAM equipment and hfc plant, and this method comprises:

Utilize the IP network passage to carry out the transmitting uplink data that STB sends to IP-based backbone network;

Utilize the radio-frequency channel of hfc plant to carry out the downlink data transmission that IP-based backbone network sends to STB.

7. VOD method as claimed in claim 6 is characterized in that, described VoD network comprises:

IP-based backbone network;

Marginal flow media services engine and marginal flow media services engine cache are connected to IP-based backbone network, receive data from backbone network;

QAM equipment is connected to marginal flow media services engine, receives the data from marginal flow media services engine;

Hfc plant links to each other with QAM equipment by radio frequency link, with the form transmission data of radio frequency;

STB links to each other with hfc plant by radio frequency link;

The IP communication network is connected between marginal flow media services engine and the STB, carries out the IP agreement and connects;

The transmitting uplink data flow process is as follows, and STB is transferred to IP-based backbone network with the IP agreement by the IP communication network with upstream data;

The downlink data transmission flow process is as follows, IP-based backbone network arrives marginal flow media services engine and marginal flow media services engine cache with downlink data transmission, be transferred to QAM equipment again, QAM equipment is modulated into radio frequency with downlink data and is transferred to hfc plant, and hfc plant is transmitted modulated downlink data to STB with radio frequency.

8. VOD method as claimed in claim 7 is characterized in that, described VOD method also comprises the load balancing step, comprising:

By the order request of the reception of the GSLB device in the SiteServer LBS from STB; Comprise a request area information in the described order request;

The GSLB device is selected the local load balancing device of the area information that is complementary in routing table according to the request area information, described routing table is preserved by the GSLB device, the area information of the local load balancing device in the routing table record SiteServer LBS;

Local load balancing device with the area information that is complementary is inquired about the load state of its media services controller that connects and QAM equipment, if load state allows for described STB service is provided, then provide service for described STB by the local load balancing device of being chosen and the media services controller that is connected thereof and QAM equipment; If load state does not allow for described STB service is provided, then described local load balancing device is to the report of GSLB device, and the GSLB device is to described STB report request failure.

9. VOD method as claimed in claim 8 is characterized in that, comprises that also the Streaming Media package unpacks step, comprising:

To be packaged into the TS stream format by the digital signal that the video/audio signal coding forms, and add TS packet header;

TS stream is packaged into the UDP form, and adds UDP and TCP/IP packet header, send QAM equipment to by backbone network;

QAM equipment will be removed UDP and TCP/IP packet header, extract TS stream from the UDP form, and be transferred to hfc plant by radio frequency rf signal;

Hfc plant is transferred to STB with the form that TS flows with radio frequency rf signal;

STB is reduced into digital signal with TS stream, and has the decoding chip among the STB that digital signal decoding is become video/audio signal.

10. VOD method as claimed in claim 9, it is characterized in that, the GSLB device is divided into several zones with the address of all VoD networks, each zone is served by a local load balancing device, and this local load balancing utensil has and should the corresponding area information in zone; Wherein

The local load balancing device is changed to user mode with this QAM resource simultaneously toward QAM equipment and the udp port sending zone information set;

STB is in the frequency and the PID receiving area information that set in advance or other approach obtain.

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