KR101405462B1 - Method of handover between communication network and broadcast network, communication network handover controller, broadcast network handover controller - Google Patents

Abstract

There is provided a method for performing a handover between a communication network and a broadcasting network in a handover control apparatus of a first network corresponding to one of a communication network and a broadcasting network. A method of performing a handover includes searching a second network capable of providing broadcast content broadcasted in a first network, performing a handover preparation procedure between a handover control apparatus of a second network, a communication network and a broadcasting network, Transmitting a broadcast content broadcast on a first network to a handover control apparatus of a second network and transmitting a message requesting the terminal to watch broadcast content broadcasted on the first network through a second network do.
Since the handover procedure is started at the network end, group handover to a plurality of terminals is possible.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a handover method between a communication network and a broadcasting network for providing broadcasting contents, a communication network handover control apparatus, and a broadcasting network handover control apparatus for providing broadcast contents, and a broadcast network handover control apparatus,

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a broadcast content providing method, and more particularly, to a handover method between a communication network and a broadcast network for providing broadcast contents.

With the development of IT technology, terminals including both communication network receivers and broadcasting network receivers are becoming popular. The broadcast contents may be provided through a communication network or a broadcasting network.

The user terminal may receive paid broadcast content (e.g., a soccer game) via a communication network. At this time, if the number of users receiving the broadcast contents through the communication network increases, the burden on the communication network becomes large. The user terminal may receive broadcast content (e.g., a baseball game) via a broadcast network. If the broadcast content is forcibly terminated according to the regular broadcast schedule, the user may desire to continue watching the broadcast content. In such cases, a handover procedure is required between the broadcasting network and the communication network.

A general handover procedure between the broadcasting network and the communication network is initiated at the request of the terminal. That is, the terminal continually measures the surrounding radio signal and reports the measurement result to the network to which the terminal is currently connected. The network which has reported the measurement result from the terminal determines a handover operation according to a predetermined criterion, and the terminal requests resource reservation to the network to be handed over (i.e., the target network). Accordingly, the terminal can continuously receive the broadcast contents through the handover operation between the communication network and the broadcasting network and the resumption of the broadcasting service.

However, the general handover operation between the communication network and the broadcasting network is limited to the specific terminal requesting the corresponding handover. Therefore, when a group handover is required for a plurality of terminals due to a change in the state of the network, it is difficult to perform a proper handover operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a handover method between a communication network and a broadcasting network.

A method for performing a handover between a communication network and a broadcasting network in a handover control apparatus of a first network corresponding to one of a communication network and a broadcasting network according to an embodiment of the present invention includes the steps of A handover control apparatus for a second network, a handover preparation procedure between a communication network and a broadcasting network, a step for providing a handover control apparatus of a second network with broadcast contents And transmitting a message requesting the terminal to view the broadcast content broadcast on the first network through the second network.

A method for performing a handover between a communication network and a broadcasting network in a handover control apparatus of a first network corresponding to one of a communication network and a broadcasting network according to another aspect of the present invention includes: The method comprising: receiving a first message inquiring about availability of the same broadcast content broadcasted on the network and inquiring about available resources of the first network; determining whether the broadcast content is provided and available resources in response to the first message; Receiving a third message requesting advance preparation for providing the broadcast content from a handover control apparatus of a second network; and transmitting, by the terminal, the broadcast content in response to the third message, Transmitting a fourth message including information necessary for reception, transmitting the broadcast content from the handover control device of the second network In step, and it comprises a terminal for providing the broadcast content.

The handover control apparatus of the first network, which is one of the communication network and the broadcasting network, performs the handover between the communication network and the broadcasting network according to an embodiment of the present invention, Selecting at least one second network capable of providing the broadcast contents by referring to information on availability of the broadcast contents received from the peripheral second network and information on available resources, And a transmitting and receiving unit for transmitting a message for requesting the terminal to receive the broadcast content from the at least one second network, .

Since the handover procedure is started in the network, a group handover operation for a plurality of terminals is possible.

When the number of users receiving broadcasting contents through a communication network increases, the broadcasting contents reception can be switched to a broadcasting network. Accordingly, the operator of the communication network can reduce the load of the communication network, and the user can receive the same broadcast content at a low price.

When the specific broadcast content transmitted through the broadcast network is forcibly terminated, the reception of the broadcast content can be switched to the communication network. Accordingly, the user can continuously receive the broadcast content.

1 is a block diagram of a broadcast content providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a block diagram illustrating a handover control apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a flowchart illustrating a handover method from a communication network to a broadcasting network according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a flowchart illustrating a handover method from a broadcasting network to a communication network according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 illustrates a broadcast content providing system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG.
FIG. 6 shows a system in which a system supporting 3GPP MBMS (Multimedia Broadcast / Multicast Service) is used as a communication network, a DVB-IPDC (IP Datacasting) system is used as a broadcasting network, and a communication network and a broadcasting network support IEEE 802.21 MIH (Media Independent Handover) FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a handover method from a communication network to a broadcasting network according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 shows a system in which a system supporting 3GPP MBMS (Multimedia Broadcast / Multicast Service) is used as a communication network, a DVB-IPDC (IP Datacasting) system is used as a broadcasting network, a communication network and a broadcasting network support IEEE 802.21 MIH (Media Independent Handover) FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a handover method from a broadcasting network to a communication network according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so that those skilled in the art can easily carry out the present invention. The present invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. In order to clearly illustrate the present invention, parts not related to the description are omitted, and similar parts are denoted by like reference characters throughout the specification.

Throughout the specification, when an element is referred to as "comprising ", it means that it can include other elements as well, without excluding other elements unless specifically stated otherwise.

In this specification, a terminal includes a mobile station (MS), a mobile terminal (MT), a subscriber station (SS), a portable subscriber station (PSS), a user equipment , An access terminal (AT), an access terminal (AT), and the like, and may include all or some of functions of a terminal, a mobile station, a mobile terminal, a subscriber station, a mobile subscriber station, a user equipment, .

In this specification, an access point (AP) is a base station (BS), a radio access station (RAS), a node B, an evolved NodeB (eNodeB) (BS), a base transceiver station (BTS), a mobile multihop relay (MMR) -BS, and the like, or may be a function of all or a part of an access node, a base station, a radio access station, a node B, an eNodeB, a base transceiver station, .

1 is a block diagram of a broadcast content providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

1, a broadcast content providing system 100 includes a content providing server 110, a network handover control apparatus 120, a network handover control apparatus 130, a communication network 140, a broadcasting network 150, (160).

The content providing server 110 provides broadcast contents to the network handover control device 120 or the broadcast network handover control device 130 via the Internet. Broadcast content refers to media content such as real-time TV broadcast and user-requested video. The broadcast content may also refer to a generic data file.

In a case where the terminals 140 view broadcasting contents through a communication network and the broadcasting contents need to be serviced to the terminals through the broadcasting network, the network handover controller 120 performs a handover procedure to the broadcasting network. That is, the network handover control device 120 selects an appropriate broadcasting network capable of providing the corresponding broadcasting contents, and provides the selected broadcasting contents to the terminal.

In a case where the terminals 140 are watching broadcast content through a broadcasting network and it is necessary to transmit the broadcast content to the terminals through the communication network, the broadcasting network handover controller 130 performs a handover procedure to the communication network. That is, the network handover controller 130 selects an appropriate communication network capable of providing the corresponding broadcasting contents, and provides the selected broadcasting network with the corresponding broadcasting contents.

The communication network 140 refers to a mobile communication network and a wireless communication network that provide a bidirectional data communication service and a broadcasting service. For example, the communication network includes mobile communication networks such as 3GPP (3 ^rd Generation Partnership Project) and 3GPP2, and wireless networks such as WiMAX and WLAN (Wireless Local Access Network).

The broadcasting network 150 refers to a wired broadcasting network, a satellite broadcasting network, and a mobile broadcasting network for providing a unidirectional broadcasting service to the terminal 160. For example, the broadcasting network includes Digital Video Broadcasting-Handheld (DVB-H), MediaFLO, and Advanced Television Systems Committee-Mobile / Handheld (ATSC-M / H).

The communication network handover control apparatus 120 and the broadcasting network handover control apparatus 130 are shown as being independent from the communication network 140 and the broadcasting network 150 respectively but the communication network handover control apparatus 120 is connected to the communication network 140 And the broadcasting network handover control device 130 may be a part of the configuration included in the broadcasting network 150. [

The terminal 160 receives broadcasting contents through the communication network 140 or the broadcasting network 150. For this, the terminal 160 includes both the communication network receiving unit 161 and the broadcasting network receiving unit 162. The terminal 160 may be a portable mobile terminal.

2 is a block diagram illustrating a handover control apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The handover control apparatus refers to the network handover apparatus 120 or the broadcast network handover apparatus 130. Here, the network providing the broadcast contents to the terminal is referred to as a serving network, and the network to which the terminal desires to handover is referred to as a target network.

2, the handover control apparatus 200 includes a broadcast content checking unit 210, a network searching unit 220, a network selecting unit 230, a message setting unit 240, and a transmitting / do.

When the handover control apparatus 200 is a handover control apparatus of the serving network, the broadcast content checking unit 210 identifies broadcast contents that need to be converted to the target network among the broadcast contents currently provided by the serving network .

The network search unit 220 searches for a target network capable of providing the identified broadcast content. There may be more than one target network searched.

The network selector 230 selects an appropriate target network capable of providing the identified broadcast content from the searched target network.

The message configuration unit 240 configures a message to be transmitted to and received from the handover control apparatus of the target network and the terminal 160 for the handover procedure from the serving network to the target network.

The transceiver unit 250 transmits and receives a message configured in the message configuration unit 240 to and from the handover control equipment and the terminal 160 of the target network.

Meanwhile, when the handover control apparatus 200 is a handover control apparatus of the target network, the message configuration unit 240 configures a message to be transmitted to and received from the handover control apparatus of the serving network and the terminal 160 And the transceiver unit 250 transmits and receives the message configured in the message configuration unit 240 to and from the handover control apparatus and terminal 160 of the serving network.

Hereinafter, a handover procedure from a communication network to a broadcasting network will be described. When the number of terminals viewing the same broadcast content increases in the communication network, the network handover control apparatus can provide the broadcast content to the broadcast content.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a handover method from a communication network to a broadcasting network according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, the network handover control device 120 determines whether there is broadcast content that increases the load on the communication network (S300). For example, when the number of terminals viewing the same broadcasting contents exceeds a predetermined range, it can be determined that the broadcasting contents are increasing the load on the communication network. Step S300 may be performed periodically or non-periodically.

When it is confirmed that there is a broadcast content that increases the load of the communication network, the network handover control device 120 searches for a broadcasting network capable of providing the corresponding broadcasting content (S310). The broadcasting network capable of providing the broadcasting contents may be a broadcasting network providing the corresponding broadcasting contents or a broadcasting network which plans to provide the broadcasting contents in the future. There may be more than one broadcast network searched.

The network handover control device 120 transmits an inquiry message to the network handover control device 130 of the searched broadcasting network (S320). When there are a plurality of searched broadcasting networks, the network handover control device 120 may transmit inquiry messages to a plurality of the network handover control devices 130. The inquiry message is a message inquiring whether or not the broadcasting network can provide the broadcasting contents confirmed to increase the load of the communication network and whether the available network resources exist in the broadcasting network. The inquiry message may include information on the broadcast content that has been confirmed to increase the load on the communication network. For example, the information on the broadcast content may include media information and session information. The media information may include audio encoding information and video encoding information, and the session information may include channel information, service identification information, address information, and transmission time information.

The network handover control device 130 transmits a response message to the inquiry message received from the network handover control device 120 at step S330. The response message indicates whether the broadcast network can provide broadcast content that has been confirmed to increase the load on the network and whether there is available network resources.

The network handover control device 120 refers to the response message received from the network handover control device 130 to determine whether the corresponding broadcasting network can provide the terminal 160 with the broadcast content that is confirmed to increase the load of the communication network . When receiving a plurality of response messages from the plurality of network handover control devices 130, an appropriate broadcast network is selected by referring to the plurality of response messages received in operation S340. At this time, the selected broadcasting network may be at least one.

The network handover control apparatus 120 transmits a preparation preparation request message for the corresponding broadcast content to the broadcasting network handover control apparatus 130 of the selected broadcasting network at step S350. The advance preparation request message includes information of the content providing server 110 that provides broadcast content that has been confirmed to increase the load of the communication network.

The network handover control device 130 transmits a response message to the advance preparation request (S360), and prepares to provide the broadcast contents confirmed to increase the load on the communication network. The response message to the preparation request includes information necessary for the terminal 160 to receive the broadcast content through the broadcasting network. For example, the response message to the advance preparation request may include time information on which the broadcast network provides the broadcast content and network resources (e.g., channel) information that the broadcast network has allocated to provide the broadcast content. If the broadcast content is charged, the response message to the advance preparation request may include encryption information, i.e., an encryption key.

On the other hand, in the case where network resources previously agreed between the broadcasting network operator and the communication network operator exist, the network resources allocated to provide broadcasting contents that the broadcasting network is found to increase the load of the communication network may be a previously negotiated network resource. On the other hand, if there is no previously negotiated network resource, the broadcasting network allocates some of the currently used network resources to provide the broadcast content. For example, the broadcasting network can allocate network resources providing broadcast contents with a small number of viewers or broadcast contents that are expected to be firstly terminated to provide broadcast contents confirmed to increase load on the network . When the broadcasting network allocates the network resource currently being used, the response message to the preliminary preparation request may further include the expected end time information of the broadcast content being provided through the allocated network resource. Accordingly, the communication network provides the broadcast content to the terminal until the estimated end time, and requests the broadcast network to provide the broadcast content after the estimated end time. Accordingly, it is possible to avoid the problem of interruption of broadcasting contents provided in network resources currently in use.

The network handover control device 120 delivers the broadcast content confirmed to increase the load of the communication network to the network handover control device 130 (S370). When the response message for the advance preparation request includes the estimated end time information of the broadcast contents currently provided through the allocated network resource, the network handover control device 120 may transmit the broadcast content after the expected end time have.

In step S380, the network handover control device 120 transmits a request message to the terminal 160 using the broadcast content through the communication network to access the selected broadcast network and continuously watch the broadcast content. At this time, the request message includes information of the selected broadcasting network. If there is more than one selected broadcast network, the request message may include information of one or more broadcast networks. The request message is transmitted to a plurality of terminals in a multicast or broadcast manner and does not request a response message from the terminal.

After the terminal 160 accesses the broadcasting network selected by the communication network handover control device 120, the terminal 160 requests the broadcasting network handover control device to provide the corresponding broadcasting contents (S390). When there are a plurality of selected broadcasting networks, the terminal 160 may select one of a plurality of broadcasting networks and connect them.

Hereinafter, a handover procedure from the broadcasting network to the communication network will be described. When a specific broadcast content is to be forcibly terminated according to a broadcast schedule for providing broadcast content in a broadcast network, the broadcast network handover control device enables the terminal to continuously watch the broadcast content through the communication network.

4 is a flowchart illustrating a handover method from a broadcasting network to a communication network according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, the broadcasting network handover control device 130 determines whether there is broadcast content to be continuously provided through a communication network (S400). The broadcast contents to be continuously provided through the communication network may be broadcast contents that are currently being provided through the broadcasting network but are about to be forcibly terminated or broadcast contents that have already been forcibly terminated. For example, a baseball game is longer than the schedule of a broadcast schedule, and the baseball game must be terminated before the game ends. Step S400 may be performed periodically or non-periodically. At this time, the broadcasting network handover controller 130 may collect information about the broadcast content. For example, the information on the broadcast content may include media information and session information. The media information may include audio encoding information and video encoding information, and the session information may include channel information, service identification information, address information, and transmission time information.

If the presence of the broadcast content to be continuously provided through the communication network is confirmed, the network handover control device 130 searches for a communication network capable of providing the broadcast content (S410). The communication network capable of providing the corresponding broadcasting contents may be a communication network providing the corresponding broadcasting contents or a communication network which plans to provide the broadcasting contents in the future. There may be more than one network retrieved.

The network handover control device 130 transmits an inquiry message to the network handover control device 120 of the searched communication network (S420). If there are a plurality of retrieved communication networks, the broadcasting network handover control device 130 may transmit the inquiry message to the plurality of communication network handover control devices 120. The inquiry message is a message inquiring whether the communication network can provide the broadcasting contents to be continuously provided through the communication network and whether the available network resources exist in the communication network. The inquiry message may include information on broadcast contents that are forcibly terminated in the broadcast network collected in step S400 and should be continuously provided through the communication network.

The network handover control device 120 transmits a response message to the inquiry message received from the network handover control device 130 (S430). The response message indicates whether or not the communication network can provide the broadcast contents and whether there is available network resources.

The broadcast network handover control device 130 refers to the response message received from the network handover control device 120 and provides the broadcast content to the terminal 160 through the communication network It is judged whether or not it can be done. When a plurality of response messages are received from the plurality of network handover control devices 120, an appropriate communication network is selected by referring to the received plurality of response messages (S440). At this time, the selected communication network may be at least one.

The broadcasting network handover control device 130 transmits a preparation preparation request message for the corresponding broadcast content to the network handover control device 120 of the selected communication network at step S450. The advance preparation request message includes information of the content providing server 110 that is forcibly terminated in the broadcasting network and provides broadcasting contents to be continuously provided through the communication network.

The network handover control device 120 transmits a response message to the advance preparation request (S460), and is prepared to provide broadcast contents that are forcibly terminated in the broadcast network and continuously to be provided through the communication network. The response message to the advance preparation request includes information necessary for the terminal 160 to receive the broadcast content through the communication network. For example, the response message to the advance preparation request may include time information for providing the broadcast content by the communication network and network resource (e.g., channel) information allocated by the communication network to provide the broadcast content.

The broadcast network handover controller 130 forwards the broadcast content, which is forcibly terminated in the broadcast network, to be continuously provided through the communication network to the network handover controller 120 (S470). When the response message for the advance preparation request includes the expected end time information of the broadcast contents currently provided through the allocated network resource, the broadcast network handover control device 130 may deliver the broadcast content after the expected end time .

Then, the network handover controller 130 transmits a request message to the terminal 160 using the broadcast content through the broadcasting network to access the selected communication network and continuously watch the corresponding broadcast content (S480). At this time, the request message includes information of the selected communication network. If the selected communication network is more than one, the request message may include information of one or more communication networks. The request message is transmitted to a plurality of terminals in a multicast or broadcast manner and does not request a response message from the terminal.

After the terminal 160 accesses the communication network selected by the broadcasting network handover control device 130, the terminal 160 requests the communication network handover control device to provide the corresponding broadcasting contents (S490). When there are a plurality of selected communication networks, the terminal 160 may select one of a plurality of communication networks and connect them. If the selected communication network is a communication network in which the terminal 160 is already connected, a separate connection procedure may not be performed.

Hereinafter, a handover method between a communication network and a broadcasting network will be described as an example when a 3GPP MBMS (Multimedia Broadcast / Multicast Service) system is used as a communication network and a DVB-IPDC (IP Datacasting) system is used as a broadcasting network.

FIG. 5 illustrates a broadcast content providing system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG.

5, a broadcast / multicast service center (BM-SC) 520, which is a communication network handover control device, receives broadcasting contents from a broadcasting contents providing server 510, To the terminals 560 in the form of broadcast or multicast transmission. The BM-SC 520 is connected to the radio access network through the core network 521. The core network may include a Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN) and a Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN).

A service application (SA) 530, which is a broadcast network handover control device, receives broadcast contents from the broadcast contents providing server 510 and transmits the broadcast contents to the terminals 560 in a broadcast transmission form. The SA 530 may be directly connected to the broadcast access network 550 or may be connected to the broadcast access network 550 through a service manager 531.

The radio access network 540 of the communication network includes, for example, a GERAN (GSM EDGE Radio Access Network), a UTRAN (Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network), an E-UTRAN (Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network) Wireless access network.

The broadcast access network 550 may be one of, for example, DVB-H, T-DMB, MediaFLO, ATSC-M / H and a broadcast access network to be developed in the future.

The terminal 560 includes both the MBMS receiving unit 561 as a communication network receiving unit and the DVB-IPDC receiving unit 562 as a broadcasting network receiving unit and receives broadcasting contents through the wireless access network 540 or the broadcasting access network 550.

The BM-SC 520 and the SA 530 are connected to a data interface and a control interface. The BM-SC 520 transmits the broadcast contents, which have been provided to the terminal 560 through the wireless access network 540 of the 3GPP MBMS system, to the terminal 560 through the broadcast access network 550 of the DVB- And the SA 530 perform preparations through the control interface, and the BM-SC 520 delivers the corresponding broadcast contents to the SA 530 through the data interface. The SA 530 provides the broadcast content received from the BM-SC 520 to the terminal 560 through the broadcast access network 550.

Conversely, in order to provide broadcast contents, which have been provided to the terminal 560 through the broadcast access network 550 of the DVB-IPDC system, to the terminal 560 through the radio access network 540 of the MBMS system, ) And the SA 530 perform a preparatory operation through the control interface and the SA 530 delivers the corresponding broadcast contents to the BM-SC 520 via the data interface. The BM-SC 520 provides the broadcast content received from the SA 530 to the terminal 560 through the radio access network 540.

FIG. 6 shows a system in which a system supporting 3GPP MBMS (Multimedia Broadcast / Multicast Service) is used as a communication network, a DVB-IPDC (IP Datacasting) system is used as a broadcasting network, and a communication network and a broadcasting network support IEEE 802.21 MIH (Media Independent Handover) FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a handover method from a communication network to a broadcasting network according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG.

Referring to FIG. 6, the BM-SC 520 determines whether there is broadcast content that increases the load on the communication network (S600). For example, a plurality of terminals connected to a communication network can join the specific multicast session using the multicast-mode scheme of the MBMS to view the same broadcast contents through the multicast transmission. If the number of UEs subscribed to a specific multicast session and the number of base stations (e.g., RNC (Radio Network Controllers) in a WCDMA network) serving the UEs exceeds a predetermined range, the multicast tree The number of branches of the multicast tree may be increased to increase the load on the network. If the number of terminals subscribed to a specific multicast session exceeds a predetermined range but the number of base stations servicing the terminals does not exceed a predetermined range, It can be judged that the load of the communication network is not increased. In case of using the IEEE 802.21 MIH (Media Independent Handover) method, the MIH function may be used as an MIH event type. In this case, It is possible to pass the object to the network handover control device.

If the broadcast content that increases the burden on the communication network is confirmed, the BM-SC 520 searches for a broadcast network capable of providing the broadcast content (S610). For example, the BM-SC 520 may obtain information on a neighboring broadcast network from a 3GPP Access Network Discovery Support Functions (ANDSF) server. As another example, the BM-SC 520 may obtain information about the surrounding broadcast network from the MIH information server. And a list of broadcasting networks that are providing the broadcasting contents or plans to transmit the broadcasting contents in the future as information on the surrounding broadcasting network.

In step S620, the BM-SC 520 selects an appropriate broadcast network to provide the corresponding broadcast content from the provided list of the neighboring broadcast networks. The BM-SC 520 may transmit an inquiry message for handover to the SA 530, and may select an appropriate broadcasting network by referring to the response message received from the SA 530.

The BM-SC 520 performs a preparation procedure for handover through the control interface with the selected broadcasting network 530 in step S630, and delivers the corresponding broadcasting content through the data interface in step S640.

 In step S650, the BM-SC 520 requests the terminals 160 using the broadcast content to access the selected broadcast network and continuously watch the corresponding broadcast content. One example of the request message uses an MIH protocol message. Table 1 or Table 2 below shows an MIH_SAP (Service Access Point) primitive for sending and receiving a corresponding MIH protocol message.

The MIH_SAP (Service Access Point) primitive for transmitting and receiving MIH protocol messages in Tables 1 and 2 includes handover direction information (HandoverDirection), information about the corresponding broadcast content (TargetProgramDescription), selected broadcast network information (TargetNetworkInfoList) Time (LinkActionExecutionDelay, see IEEE Std 802.21-2008) information, and link action list (LinkActionList, see IEEE Std 802.21-2008). Here, the handover direction information (HandoverDirection) indicates a handover from a communication network to a broadcasting network or a handover from a broadcasting network to a communication network. The selected broadcasting network information (TargetNetwroksInfoList) represents the selected broadcasting network list and service providing information. The MIH command message may be multicast to a plurality of terminals. The MIH protocol messages transmitted through the MIH_SAP primitives in Tables 1 and 2 are transmitted to the MIH users of the terminals 560 subscribed to the corresponding multicast session through the multicast session.

Accordingly, the terminals 560 access the broadcasting network, and when the broadcasting contents are provided through the broadcasting network, they leave the multicast session of the communication network. If the terminal 560 is unable to access the broadcasting network or is unable to receive the broadcasting contents through the broadcasting network, the terminals can continuously receive the broadcasting contents through the communication network.

FIG. 7 shows a system in which a system supporting 3GPP MBMS (Multimedia Broadcast / Multicast Service) is used as a communication network, a DVB-IPDC (IP Datacasting) system is used as a broadcasting network, a communication network and a broadcasting network support IEEE 802.21 MIH (Media Independent Handover) FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a handover method from a broadcasting network to a communication network according to an embodiment of the present invention.

7, the SA 530 is forcibly terminated in the broadcasting network to check whether there is broadcast content to be continuously provided through the communication network (S700), and searches for a communication network capable of providing the broadcast content (S710) . For example, the SA 530 may obtain information on the neighboring network from the 3GPP Access Network Discovery Support Functions (ANDSF) server. As another example, the SA 530 may obtain information about the peripheral network from the MIH information server. And a list of broadcasting networks that are providing the broadcasting contents or plans to transmit the broadcasting contents in the future as information on the peripheral communication network.

The SA 530 selects an appropriate communication network for providing the corresponding broadcast content from the provided peripheral communication network list (S720). The SA 530 transmits an inquiry message for handover to the BM-SC 520 and selects an appropriate communication network by referring to the response message received from the BM-SC 520. [

The SA 530 performs a preparation procedure for handover through the BM-SC 520 of the selected communication network and the control interface (S730). For example, the terminal 560 can transmit information necessary for receiving the broadcast content to the terminal 560 through a service announcement. Then, the SA 530 delivers the corresponding broadcast content to the BM-SC 520 of the selected communication network via the data interface (S740).

 In step S750, the SA 530 accesses the selected communication network through the broadcasting network to the terminals 560 using the broadcasting contents to continuously view the corresponding broadcasting contents. One example of the request message uses an MIH protocol message. Table 1 or Table 2 shows an MIH_SAP (Service Access Point) primitive for sending and receiving a corresponding MIH protocol message.

The MIH_SAP (Service Access Point) primitive for transmitting and receiving the MIH protocol messages of Tables 1 and 2 includes handover direction information (HandoverDirection), information about the broadcast contents (TargetProgramDescription), selected communication network information (TargetNetwroksInfoList) Time (LinkActionExecutionDelay, see IEEE Std 802.21-2008) information, and link action list (LinkActionList, see IEEE Std 802.21-2008). Here, the handover direction information (HandoverDirection) indicates a handover from a communication network to a broadcasting network or a handover from a broadcasting network to a communication network. The selected communication network information (TargetNetwroksInfoList) represents the selected communication network list and the service providing information. The MIH command message may be multicast to a plurality of terminals. The MIH protocol messages transmitted through the MIH_SAP primitives in Tables 1 and 2 are transmitted to the MIH users of the terminals 560 subscribed to the corresponding multicast session through the multicast session.

Accordingly, the terminals 560 access the communication network and receive the corresponding broadcasting contents through the communication network. If the terminals 560 are already connected to the communication network, a separate connection procedure may not be required.

The embodiments of the present invention described above are not implemented only by the apparatus and method, but may be implemented through a program for realizing the function corresponding to the configuration of the embodiment of the present invention or a recording medium on which the program is recorded.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments, It belongs to the scope of right.

Claims (19)

A method for handover between a communication network and a broadcasting network in a handover control apparatus of a first network corresponding to one of a communication network and a broadcasting network,
Searching for a second network capable of providing the same broadcasting contents broadcast in the first network,
Performing a handover preparation procedure between the handover control apparatus of the second network and the communication network and the broadcasting network,
Transmitting broadcast content broadcasted in the first network to a handover control apparatus of the second network, and
Transmitting a message requesting the terminal to watch broadcast content broadcasted on the first network through the second network
≪ / RTI > The method according to claim 1,
The step of performing the preparation procedure includes:
Transmitting, to the handover control apparatus of the second network, a first message inquiring whether the second network is capable of providing broadcast content broadcasted in the first network and whether available network resources exist in the second network; ,
Receiving a second message including information on whether the broadcast content can be provided in response to the first message and whether there is available network resources;
Transmitting a third message requesting preparation of the broadcast content to the handover control apparatus of the second network by referring to the second message; and
Receiving a fourth message including information necessary for the terminal to receive the broadcast content in a second network in response to the third message
≪ / RTI > 3. The method of claim 2,
If there are a plurality of searched second networks,
Wherein the transmitting the first message comprises transmitting the first message to handover control devices of the plurality of second networks,
The transmitting of the third message may include selecting at least one second network among the plurality of second networks by referring to the second message,
And transmitting the third message to a handover control device of at least one selected second network. 3. The method of claim 2,
Wherein the third message includes information of a content providing server providing the broadcast content. 3. The method of claim 2,
Wherein the information required for receiving the broadcast content includes network resource information allocated for the broadcast content in the second network. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the request message is transmitted to the plurality of terminals through a multicast or broadcast transmission scheme when the terminal has a plurality of terminals. The method according to claim 1,
When the first network is the communication network, the second network is the broadcasting network,
Wherein if the first network is the broadcasting network, the second network is the communication network. A method for performing a handover between a communication network and a broadcasting network in a handover control apparatus of a first network corresponding to one of a communication network and a broadcasting network,
Receiving a first message from a handover control device of a second network to inquire about available broadcast resources of the first network and whether broadcast content identical to the broadcast content broadcast in the second network is provided by the first network,
Transmitting a second message including information on availability of the broadcast content and information on the available network resources in response to the first message,
Receiving a third message from the handover control apparatus of the second network requesting advance preparation for providing the broadcast content,
Transmitting a fourth message including information necessary for the terminal to receive the broadcast content in response to the third message,
Receiving the broadcast content from the handover control apparatus of the second network, and
Providing the broadcast content to the terminal
≪ / RTI > 9. The method of claim 8,
Wherein the fourth message includes information on network resources allocated by the first network to provide the broadcast content. 10. The method of claim 9,
Wherein the fourth message further includes expected end time information of the other broadcast contents when broadcast contents different from the broadcast contents currently being broadcast in the second network are provided through the allocated resources. 9. The method of claim 8,
When the first network is the communication network, the second network is the broadcasting network,
Wherein if the first network is the broadcasting network, the second network is the communication network. A handover control apparatus of a first network corresponding to one of a network and a broadcasting network for performing a handover between a communication network and a broadcasting network,
A broadcast content confirmation unit for confirming broadcast contents to be continuously provided through the second network,
A second network selector for selecting at least one second network capable of providing the broadcast contents by referring to information about availability of the broadcast contents received from the peripheral second network and information about available resources,
Transmitting to the at least one second network a preliminary preparation request message for handover and transmitting a message requesting the terminal to view the broadcast content through the at least one second network,
/ RTI > 13. The method of claim 12,
The transmission / reception unit transmits a message inquiring whether the broadcast content can be provided to the neighboring second network and whether the available network resource exists, and determines whether the broadcast content can be provided from the neighboring second network, And if the presence of the response message is present. 13. The method of claim 12,
Wherein the advance preparation request message includes information of a content providing server that provides the broadcast content. 13. The method of claim 12,
Wherein the transceiver further receives information necessary for the terminal to receive the broadcast content in response to the advance preparation request. 16. The method of claim 15,
Wherein the information necessary for receiving the broadcast content includes network resource information allocated by the second network to provide the broadcast content. 17. The method of claim 16,
Wherein the information required to receive the broadcast content further includes expected end time information of the other broadcast contents when other broadcast contents are currently provided through the allocated resources. 13. The method of claim 12,
Wherein the request message is transmitted to the plurality of terminals by a multicast or broadcast transmission scheme when the plurality of terminals are a plurality of terminals. 13. The method of claim 12,
When the first network is the communication network, the second network is the broadcasting network,
Wherein when the first network is the broadcasting network, the second network is the communication network.

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