Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04L12/00—Data switching networks
  • H04L12/02—Details
  • H04L12/16—Arrangements for providing special services to substations
  • H04L12/18—Arrangements for providing special services to substations for broadcast or conference, e.g. multicast
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04L67/00—Network arrangements or protocols for supporting network services or applications
  • H04L67/50—Network services
  • H04L67/51—Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04L67/00—Network arrangements or protocols for supporting network services or applications
  • H04L67/50—Network services
  • H04L67/55—Push-based network services

Definitions

• the invention relates to the distribution of data in a multicast network (also called “multicast network") comprising at least one multicast group (also called “multicast group”), each multicast group being supplied with various data by source servers of data (also called “source servers”), this data can then be read remotely by user terminals connected to the multicast network.
• a multicast network also called “multicast network”
• multicast group also called “multicast group”
• source servers also called “source servers”
• the multicast mechanism for example Internet (“IP”) or other, today allows to broadcast on a multicast architecture the same information to an almost unlimited number of users.
• multicast Internet technology also called technology "IP Multicast”
• I 1 IETF Internet Engineering Task Force
• I 1 IETF Internet Engineering Task Force
• I 1 IETF reassigned a range of IP addresses (so-called class D) to date from 224.0.1.0 to 239.255.255.255.
• a protocol called IGMP Internet Group Management Protocol
• IGMPv2 Internet Group Management Protocol
• the user makes a request 40, via its terminal 300, a multicast content, identified by an IP address (IP class 224.0.0.0/8), with this IGMPv2 protocol.
• IP class 224.0.0.0/8 IP address
• the query-information provided by IGMPv2 then acts as a control interface between the user 300 and the network 200.
• the network protocols are then loaded.
• the IGMPv2 however has a limitation: today several source servers (101, 102, 103, ...) can emit on the same address
• IP multicast When a user 300 makes an IGMPv2 request for a stream
• IGMPv3 IGMP version 3
• This interface allows a user 300 to request (at 40) not only a single multicast address but the pair (multicast address, address of the source server 103).
• IGMPv3 therefore allows the terminal 300 to receive the multicast IP stream data from only the source server (s) it has requested.
• IGMPv3 allows filtering by the source server and offers greater flexibility in the deployment of multicast services. It can be seen in FIG. 2 that the user terminal 300 only receives the stream 53 (represented by a full arrow) from the source server 103 that it has requested, and not the data streams 51 and 52 respectively originating from the source servers. 101 and 102 (represented by dashed and star arrows, respectively).
• multicast technology gives the possibility of easily combining the offers of a plurality of service providers (ie source servers) on various transmission systems, and with the multiplication of services offered (television, telephone, data and internet applications).
• service providers ie source servers
• multiplication of services offered television, telephone, data and internet applications.
• a plurality of service providers ie source servers
• bit rates low bit rate, ADSL bit rate, cable bit rate, etc.
• data transmission media cable, telephone network, terrestrial, optical, etc.
• 300 receiving terminals computer, mobile phone, PDA, STB, ...)
• this choice of server (s) source "blind"" is not suitable, for example the service to which the user is subscribed and / or the terminal he uses.
• a first objective of the invention is to enable the user 300 to discover multicast source servers, in particular for the IGMPv3 protocol.
• a second object of the invention is to provide the user 300 with characteristics of multicast sources so that he can establish an intelligent choice of multicast content.
• a third objective of the invention is thus to generate an optimization of multicast architectures and "intelligent" multicast services.
• the invention proposes, according to a first aspect, a method for distributing data in a multicast network (also called “multicast network”) comprising at least one multicast group (also called “multicast group”) , characterized in that it comprises the implementation of a remote announcement server capable of making available to one or more receivers useful data relating to one or more data source servers and / or to the streams delivered by these, each data source server can deliver data on at least one multicast group, said useful data being readable later so that a choice of one or more of these source servers can then be established by via selection means, and in that said payloads comprise at least one of the following fields: identification of each source server; bandwidth of the stream delivered by each source server; identification of terminals adapted to each source server; availability of each source server; priorities given to a source server vis-à-vis another source server.
• said useful data comprise information on the location of each source server.
• the useful data are made available in a structured format, for example using tags in XML format; a first additional step of receiving and reading the useful data by at least one of the receivers, and a second additional step consisting in said choice of one or more source servers from the reading of the useful data by means of said means of selection;
• the receiver is a multicast server (also called a "multicast server"), and the selection means are located on this multicast server or on a user terminal then receiving at least a portion of the useful data broadcast by the multicast server;
• the receiver is a user terminal, and the selection means are located on this user terminal;
• the advertisement server delivers the useful information on a unicast network (also called “unicast network”);
• the advertisement server delivers the useful information on a multicast network, the ad server then itself being a data source server that can deliver the payload data to at least one multicast group;
• the selection means are actuated manually or are actuated automatically by an executable adapted from selected selection parameters;
• the useful data relating to each source server are then stored in memory in at least one user terminal; the method further comprises the implementation of an application software that makes it possible to consult the useful data stored in memory, to allow manual or automatic selection of at least one source server among those for which the useful data are stored from selected selection parameters, to issue a request to each data server thus selected, and to receive a data stream from each source server thus required;
• the request is of type IGMPv3.
• the invention proposes a computer program implementing the above method.
• the invention proposes an advertisement server connected to a multicast network (also called “multicast network”) comprising at least one multicast group (also called “multicast group”), characterized in that is capable, remotely, of making available to one or more receivers useful data relating to one or more data source servers and / or the streams delivered by them, each data source server being able to deliver data on at least one multicast group, said useful data being able to be read later so that a choice of one or more of these source servers can then be established via selection means, and in that said useful data include at least one of the following fields: identification of each source server; bandwidth of the stream delivered by each source server; identification of terminals adapted to each source server; availability of each source server; priorities given to a source server vis-à-vis another source server.
• the structured format is an XML format
• the ad server is itself a data source server that can deliver the payload on at least one multicast group.
• the invention provides a computer program adapted to be implemented on an ad server according to the above characteristics.
• the invention proposes a user terminal comprising reception means for receiving via a network at least a portion of the useful data broadcast by an announcement server according to the above characteristics.
• the invention proposes a computer program that can be implemented on the user terminal above.
• the invention proposes a system for distributing data in a multicast network (also called “multicast network”) comprising at least one multicast group (also called “multicast group”), characterized in that includes:
• At least one remote data source server At least one remote data source server
• Said ad server Means for reading useful data provided remotely by the advertisement server;
• Means for selecting at least one data source server from the read user data are provided.
• multicast server Also called “multicast server”
• the selection means are located on this multicast server or on a user terminal then receiving at least a portion of the useful data broadcast by the multicast server;
• the reading means are included in a user terminal, and in that the selection means are located on this user terminal;
• the selection means can be actuated manually or can be activated automatically by an executable adapted from selected selection parameters; the system further comprises a memory for storing the useful data relating to each source server;
• this memory is included in at least one user terminal
• the system further comprises means for storing and implementing an application software that makes it possible to consult the useful data stored in memory, to allow manual or automatic selection of at least one source server among those for which the user data is stored at from selected selection parameters, to send a request to each data server thus chosen, and to receive a data stream from each source server thus required; the request is of type IGMPv3.
• Figure 1 schematically shows an operating mechanism of version 2 of IGMP (denoted IGMPv2).
• FIG. 2 schematically represents an operating mechanism of IGMP version 3 (denoted IGMPv3).
• Figure 3 schematically shows the main parts included in a data broadcast system according to the invention.
• FIG. 4 represents a data distribution system in a multicast network according to the invention, accompanied by illustrative examples of implementation.
• FIG. 5 represents a method of implementing a method according to the invention at the level of the user.
• FIGS. 6a and 6b show a first example of application of the invention for, respectively, the case of a WAN type network and a radio-type network.
• Figure 7 shows a second example of application of the invention.
• FIG. 8 represents a third example of application of the invention.
• the system that can implement the invention is composed of three main parts:
• the set 100 of the data source servers The set 100 of the data source servers;
• the network 200 The network 200;
• the set 300 of the user terminals The set 300 of the user terminals.
• the set 100 of the source servers covers any type of source servers supplying one or more multicast group (s). Each of these source servers is therefore identified by its personal IP address and a multicast group address.
• These source servers can be simple "passive" data sources (thus delivering simple information on the user's request) or "active” data sources (which allow a certain distance interactivity with the user by means of an interface).
• the data sent can be of any type (sound, videos, files, television, etc.).
• the network 200 comprises at least one multicast portion, that is to say that it comprises at least one multicast server managing at least one multicast group. These multicast groups are supplied with data by the set 100 of the source servers.
• the network 200 may also include transmissions in unicast mode (also called "unicast"), particularly as regards the transmission of data to certain users.
• unicast also called "unicast”
• Internet service providers can encapsulate this data in IP format.
• IP routers including those that relay packets across the entire Internet, which manage to date much of I 1 IP multicast and unicast.
• the transmission of data can be carried out by any possible means: telephone network, cable network, optical fiber, airway (satellite, by means of base stations, relays, etc.), or other ...
• the set 300 of the user terminals receives the data streams sent by source servers via the network 200.
• These user terminals may be of any type, such as a fixed computer 301, a laptop 302, a personal digital assistant 303 ( or “PDA” for “Personal Digital Assistant"), a mobile phone 304, a set-top box 305 (or “STB” for “Set Top Box”), an IGMP gateway 306.
• the set 300 of these terminals must necessarily be able to connect to the network 200 (via for example an IP interface), and therefore include means to connect to it and possibly navigate there.
• a terminal can thus have a multicast IP interface, for example with IGMPv3 multicast capabilities.
• the invention applies very well to IP multicast architectures (fixed network, wireless, mobile) that support the IGMPv3 interface.
• an advertisement server 400 is to be added to the architecture of the system according to the invention.
• This advertisement server 400 is located on the network 200. Its role is to announce multicast source servers (referenced here 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106) and to inform on useful data (such as characteristics related).
• this advertisement server 400 is connected (via the network 200 multicast or private unicast) to specific source servers (101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106), these supplying one or more multicast groups. .
• the ad server 400 can thus know the bit rate, the address, the bandwidth, the location of each of the source servers. These characteristics can be calculated at the level of the advertisement server and / or provided by each of the source servers concerned. In particular, these characteristics can be regularly updated.
• This advertisement server 400 is thus able to organize and structure these characteristics of source servers to then make available to one or more receivers (such as a user terminal, an operator or another server) useful data relating to the source servers and / or feeds delivered by them.
• This useful data delivered by the ad server is chosen to aid a judicious subsequent choice (established at the user terminal, an operator or a server) of one or more of these source servers.
• This useful data may comprise at least one of the following information:
• the ad server may also, in addition or alternatively, provide at least one of the following useful data:
• suitable terminals can be identified to each source server by analyzing the throughput of each source server.
• one source server may be given priority over another, since both source servers provide the same type of data, on the basis that they do not have the same technical characteristics (not the same bandwidth, not the same flow, etc.).
• a priority may be assigned to a first source server with respect to a second source server when the terminal used is a mobile phone, and instead a priority may be assigned to the second source server with respect to the first source server.
• source server when the terminal used is a computer connected to the ADSL it will be possible to use, for example, the useful data rate or location to determine the priorities).
• this useful data is structured.
• XML tags tained in a useful data file
• the advertisement server 400 therefore implements a useful data model defined by the invention.
• a computer program comprising instructions necessary for carrying out the method according to the invention can be implemented on the advertisement server 400.
• a user terminal may comprise reception means and a program computer for receiving via the network 200 at least a portion of the useful data broadcast by the announcement server.
• SourceClassifier a source server of IGMPv3 type
• NetworkLocationlnformation of type "string”; This element is a character string that provides information on the location of the source server (in accordance with the previously mentioned useful data item (2)).
• the location can for example be a set ("pool") of IP addresses, a GSM cell, a GPS coordinate, a Wifi terminal, etc.
• This tag can allow a network operator to distribute on its network several sources for the same flow.
• the user 301 will select, thanks to this beacon, the source server 101, and the user 310 the source server 102, for localization reasons, and even if the source servers 101 and 102 feed the server. same multicast group on which the users 301 and 310 are connected. The propagation of the multicast stream is thus limited and the transit times of the multicast stream are thus improved.
• Example of use It can make it possible to define for the same stream several source servers delivering each the same content but to different bit rates (eg 512Kbit / s, 1 Mbps, 2Mbits / s ). The user can then connect to the source that delivers the stream in accordance with its service contract, ie with the bandwidth it has in reception.
• bit rates eg 512Kbit / s, 1 Mbps, 2Mbits / s
• the user 304 (here using a terminal of "mobile phone” type) will thus rather choose the source server 103 which delivers 64kBytes / s whereas the user 311 (using here a terminal of "computer” type on ADSL ”) will instead choose the source server 104 which delivers 1 M Bytes / s), even if the source servers 103 and 104 feed the same multicast group on which the users 304 and 31 1 are connected.
• - TargetTerminalInformation of type string; This element provides technical characteristics on the terminal that targets the source (according to the useful data (5) previously mentioned).
• Example of use It can prevent a multicast source server from transmitting permanently. For example, stop 3 out of 4 multicast source servers in off-peak hours.
• the advertisement server 400 then delivers this useful data in 60 in multicast mode (the ad server 400 is then itself a data source server) or in unicast mode through the same network as the streams. multicast or through a separate network.
• the protocol for announcing and selecting IGMP multicast sources can be as follows:
• the broadcast multicast IP address must be known to the terminals.
• This useful data (or the "structured" file, for example in XML) are then received and read remotely from the advertisement server 400, by at least one of the receivers which required this payload, the receiver being for example a user terminal 301, 310, 304, 311, 305 or 312 and / or a server relaying these data to terminals, multicast or unicast.
• This choice can be made at the receiver itself.
• the selection means are then located on this receiver.
• the receiver is a server or an operator
• at least part of the useful data can then be transmitted (by means of a "multicast” or “unicast” mode) to the user terminal (301, 310, 304,
• the selection means are then located on this terminal.
• the selection means can be operated manually (keyboard, mouse, touch screen, ...) or be automatically activated for example by an executable adapted from selected selection parameters.
• the useful data relating to each source server are then optionally stored in memory, for example at the user terminal or at a server.
• the user 301, 310, 304, 311, or 312 can then, in the knowledge of the useful data relating to the source servers, send a request 40 to the source server (s) that he has selected (s) so that the it sends him in 50 the data he possesses.
• This request 40 may for example be of IGMPv3 type (as defined above).
• the user connects, via the user interface 1200 of his terminal, to the channel of the multicast source server advertisement server (for example IGMPv3) or connects to an Internet server (which itself retrieved the useful data from the advertisement server) and then retrieves the useful data (ie, for each multicast group, the list of source servers and the useful data).
• the multicast source server advertisement server for example IGMPv3
• an Internet server which itself retrieved the useful data from the advertisement server
• the user then stores in 20 in the memory 1300 of the terminal the payload.
• the transport protocol may include a specific mechanism for detecting a possible updating of the useful data taking into account the selections that have just been made from the multicast sources.
• the useful data can then be used by an application layer 1400 (i.e. an application software) provided in the terminal, to establish the choice of a multicast source in an "intelligent" manner, from these useful data.
• the application software 1400 thus makes it possible to consult the useful data stored in memory, and to make it possible to choose manually or automatically (via selection means) at least one source server among those for which the user data is stored. If this choice is established automatically, it may however be dependent on predetermined general selection parameters, or previously determined by the user.
• This application software 1400 once the selection is made, makes it possible to send a request 40 to each data server thus selected, and to receive at 50 a data stream from each source server thus required.
• This application layer 1400 may also update the useful database (located in the memory 1300), taking into account the selection that has just been made.
• the method of the invention makes it possible, on the one hand, to announce to the user the source servers and, on the other hand, to offer a means of classifying these source servers according to certain criteria, thereby enabling a user ( via its multicast group or its unicast connection) to choose the most appropriate multicast source for it.
• the invention thus makes it possible to define how the user terminal can discover and choose, knowingly, one or more server (s) source (s), and for example subscribe (by storing in memory 1300).
• Example 1 Referring to Figure 6, this first example illustrates an application of said tag "NetworkLocationlnformation".
• This tag provides information on the location of the source servers 101 and 102 of a multicast stream.
• this beacon can be used by a fixed terminal 301, for example located on a WAN type network 200, to receive the stream 50 (after request 40) of the nearest multicast source server 101 or else , this time referring to FIG. 6b, by a mobile terminal 303 to cling to the source server diffusing in its cell (here it can be seen that the mobile terminal 303 moves 90, it then passes from the cell 201 to the cell 202 , and can change source server (from 101 to 102) thanks to the location tag).
• said tag "Bandwidthlnformation" is used in this example to allow terminals 301 heterogeneous (in terms of rates) to hang on to the source server 102 that delivers the service in accordance with their service contract.
• a terminal 301 connected to an ADSL link 512Kbits will connect to the source delivering the service at a rate of 512Kbits while a second terminal with an upper bandwidth, for example equal to 2Mbits, will connect to the source server 101 delivering the same service but at a much higher quality than the 512Kbit source.
• This tag can be used, for example, in a context where a terminal 303 has several network interfaces, for example a mobile terminal with a GPRS interface and a UMTS interface.
• the use of the "TargetTerminalInformation" tag can be used to characterize which terminals are targeted by a source server 101 or 102. It can therefore be considered that a source server 101 is responsible for broadcasting on the network 201 a service for GPRS terminals and another source server 102 is responsible for broadcasting on the network 202 the same service for UMTS terminals. During the displacement 90 of the terminal 303, the latter will then be able to switch from a GPRS interface to a UMTS interface, without losing the data received.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
• Signal Processing (AREA)
• Data Exchanges In Wide-Area Networks (AREA)
• Information Transfer Between Computers (AREA)

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• 2004
  • 2004-09-13 FR FR0409676A patent/FR2875356A1/fr active Pending
• 2005
  • 2005-09-12 US US11/662,810 patent/US20080075077A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2005-09-12 WO PCT/FR2005/050728 patent/WO2006030152A1/fr active Application Filing
  • 2005-09-12 EP EP05798962A patent/EP1794983A1/de not_active Withdrawn

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