KR19980037015A - Dynamic Creation and Lifecycle Management of Video Conferencing Service Objects in Open Networks - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention introduces a session concept of a video conferencing service applicable to various types of multimedia services in an open communication network based on a connection connection between a client and a server, thereby creating a service, that is, a service session between multiple service users and a video conferencing service provider system. It relates to methods and procedures for creating objects, shaping objects, and managing their life-cycles. This client and server system uses a broadband communication network (B-ISDN) as a transport network, and establishes a distributed processing environment in each system, regardless of the number of users or conference groups requiring video conferencing service, and an object that conducts a conference. Perform services regardless of their location. According to the present invention, when a service session is created, which is a service call connection between service users who want to use a video conferencing service, a method of separating a service user's connection shape management and a service control performed based on the connection shape, and a service user. We devised two methods to separate the specific service shape and control part and the service shape and control part which are applied to all users. Therefore, the present invention is portable and easy to maintain, which can be commonly applied to various types of multimedia services, and a method of constructing and creating reusable service session objects, session management of conference groups, characteristics of services, and roles of service users. The object can be shaped according to this, and the life cycle of the object can be efficiently managed until the end of the service.

Description

Dynamic Creation and Lifecycle Management of Video Conferencing Service Objects in Open Networks

The present invention is to introduce the object-oriented analysis, design and implementation technology and distributed processing environment (DPE) technology to the communication network called B-ISDN to establish the multimedia service structure and to introduce it to the video conferencing application service development In particular, in an open communication network based on a connection connection between a client and a server in a distributed environment, a method of constructing and creating a service session object commonly applicable to various types of multimedia services, session management of a meeting group, service The present invention relates to a method of dynamically creating a videoconferencing service object and managing a lifecycle in an open communication network for shaping an object according to its characteristics and the role of a service user and managing the lifecycle of the object until the end of service.

There are many examples of adopting the object-oriented concept in the development of conventional application services at home and abroad, and there are many examples of application technologies incorporating distributed environment techniques. However, there is no case in which each of these technologies is developed from the perspective of the network operator of the network such as B-ISDN, and when these technologies are applied, the necessary functions or objects are defined as structures having different shapes according to services. In addition, the reuse of objects and the expansion of object functions are defined as a mixture of feature-specific features (eg, conference floor control, voting function, etc.) between a feature or service object in a single object or service object. This has led to an increase in maintenance costs.

Looking at the relationship between the conventional service and the communication network, in order to provide a service to a service user, a new communication network depending on the characteristics of the service and the user environment is constructed. Examples include a telephone network for a telephone user, a dedicated FAX network for a FAX user, and a data transmission network for data communication such as a PC. As a result, service providers have been trying to reduce the cost of each network to be constructed according to the service and the cost of maintaining the network. The communication network created by reflecting this trend is an integrated information network (ISDN). This ISDN provides a solution for disparate media to be delivered and serviced through a single network. However, in recent years, the demands of users using a communication network have increased the speed of communication, the multimedia of information, and the spread of personal computers (PCs) has not been able to reflect this trend in ISDN, and regardless of the bandwidth, high speed A communication network capable of transmitting information has been required, and a broadband-ISDN has emerged as a solution. If the network is built as a large national backbone network, it will be able to meet the needs of users by providing high-speed information transfer and utilizing various media.

However, the service should be considered not only from the service user's point of view, but also from the viewpoint of the service provider or service provider. The user's terminal environment, the scope of service provided by the service user, the type of service providing system provided by the communication network, Complex relationships between service providers and different service providers can be considered.

That is, even if the same communication network is established, the service configuration may vary and control procedures may be heterogeneous depending on the service provider providing the specific service. In addition, mutual agreements should be made between network operators. To solve these problems is an open communication network.

Open communication network is a new concept of software architecture that allows network management object and service management object to be shared or accessed in object unit on distributed processing environment. It is a unified logical structure for the design and construction of network resources. By presenting the principles and principles, this paper proposes a rapid service provision and flexible service call connection procedure by reusing the software with efficient network management. The open network is intensively researched by TINA-C (Telecommunication Information Networking Architecture-Consotium), which is composed of the world's largest telecommunications operators, Bellcore in the US, BT in the UK and NTT in Japan.

In particular, TINA-C establishes the concept of session in relation to multimedia services, which is a signaling method for establishing service call between service user and service provider (access session), and service call connection method between service end users. Session) and the connection method (communication session) between the actual network resources and the user media environment, and the results of this research activity are being promoted to become international standardization.

In the present invention, in order to create a service session object that can be commonly applied to multimedia services, and to manage the object shape and the life cycle of the object according to the characteristics of the service and the role of the service user, the connection shape management of the service user and this connection type Two technical solutions have been devised to separate the service control that is performed in the above, and to separate the service shape and control part specific to the service user and the service shape and control part that are commonly or collectively applied to all users.

1 is a block diagram of a video conferencing system to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a main object of the video conference service system of FIG. 1.

3 is a flow diagram illustrating the dynamic creation of a service session object.

4 is a flowchart illustrating shaping an object according to a service user role;

5 is a lifecycle management flow diagram of a service session object.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a service access control management object, a service creation object, a service application control management object, a service session control management object, and a service application control management object of a user constituting a video conferencing service system in an open communication network. And dynamically generating service objects including a service session management object of the user; A second step of shaping the created service objects with a role of a user and a user terminal environment; Simultaneously with the object shaping, by performing a third process of managing the life cycle of each service object until the video conferencing service ends, the object portability to other systems is easy, and the user function expansion is facilitated. According to the present invention, the maintenance cost can be reduced, the object can be easily applied to the change of the shape of the user terminal, and the life cycle of the object including the creation of the reusable object can be efficiently managed.

The present invention provides a method for separating service control performed based on the connection shape management of the service user and the service user when creating a service session that is a service call connection method between service users who want to use the video conference service. We devised two methods to separate the service shape and control part specific to the service shape and the service shape and control part applied to all users in common or collectively.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

First, the present invention provides a video conferencing service composed of objects as shown in FIG. 2 in an open communication network in which service providing systems and service user systems are interconnected based on a B-ISDN communication network and a distributed processing environment as shown in FIG. 1. If there is a service creation request or a meeting participation request of a service user on the system, a process of dynamically creating objects for service execution and a process of creating an object by dividing it into a service application function and a connection configuration management function during the creation process are performed. It is configured as shown in FIG. In FIG. 4, the generated objects are shaped according to the shape of the user terminal and the role of the user in the conference, and the procedures of connecting each object are illustrated. In FIG. 5, the life cycle management until the created objects are destroyed is illustrated in FIG. 5. The process is illustrated.

1 is a diagram illustrating a connection between a broadband communication network (B-ISDN), a service user system, and a service providing system to which the present invention is applied, and shows an example of an open communication network.

The service user system 104, 105, 107, 108, 109, 110, the video conferencing service system 101, the service access control management system 102 and the network configuration and resource management system 103 are the B-ISDN communication network 106. If you have all of the ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) communication protocols for connection to the system, a Distributed Processing Environment is installed on top of it. The video conferencing service system 101 is composed of objects for providing a service session, which is a service call connection method between the service users 104, 105, 107, 108, 109, and 110 who want to use the video conferencing service. . Communication between each object of the system 101 and communication with other systems 102, 103, 104, 105, 107, 108, 109, and 110 are connected through a B-ISDN communication network and a distributed processing environment to provide service. Perform the operation for. The service access management control system 102 is composed of objects for an access session, which is a signaling method for setting up a service call between the service user 104, 105, 107, 108, 109, 110 and the video conferencing service system 102. . The network configuration and resource management system 103 is composed of objects for a communication session, which is a connection method between an actual communication network resource and a user media environment, and the service user systems 104, 105, 107, which are determined by the video conferencing service system 101. 108, 109, 110 receives the connection type and user environment information, allocates a physical communication link and performs a connection between the service user system. The service user system 104, 105, 107, 108, 109, 110 is a user of the video conferencing service, which is equipped with a user program for using the service, an ATM communication protocol, and a codec card for processing multimedia. do.

2 is a block diagram illustrating detailed objects constituting the videoconferencing service system of FIG. 1, including a service creation object 208, a user service application control management object 202, 204, 206, 213, 215, and 217. Service session management objects 203, 205, 207, 214, 216, and 218, service application control management object 209 and 211, and service session management object 210 and 212.

2 is a configuration diagram of an object illustrated in the videoconferencing service system 201.

It requires six users to use video conferencing, which is divided into two conference groups, where User 1 and User 4 are chairs of each meeting group, and User 1, User 2, and User 3 participate in Meeting Group 1 It is assumed that user 4, user 5, and user 6 participate in meeting group 2.

This prerequisite can be extended in many ways, such as the number of conference groups, the number of users, and when the chairman is the chair of another conference group.

When the video conferencing service system 201 is initially started, the service creation object 208 is driven as a server, and the remaining objects are not created in the service creation object 208 unless the user creates a service request. The object creation method in the service creation object 208 is a dynamic object creation method that can generate several objects by assigning a unique identifier to one object having the same designed and implemented function. The service application control management object (209, 211) and the service session management object (210, 212) are each created in the service creation object (208) when requesting the creation of a meeting group (session) at the request of the chairperson user. Let's do it.

The service creator object 208 is operated as a server when the video conferencing service system is initially started, waiting for a service creation request of a service user, and generates the remaining objects of the video conferencing service system according to the requested content and the role of the user. Referring to the conference group 1, if the user 1 (chairman) requested the service, the user 1 service session management object 202 that controls and manages the user 1 session and the function that operates specifically for the service ( Example: User 1 who controls the voice) Creates a service application control management object 202 and oversees the session connection geometry (eg point-to-point connection, point-to-multipoint connection) between service users according to the meeting name defined by the chairperson user. To create a service session control management object 210 that controls and manages a service application control management object 209 that controls application functions (eg, granting of votes, voting control) of the overall service. If the user is a general user instead of a chairman, a user service session management object 205 or 207 for session management of the user and a user service application control management object 204 or 206 for service application control are created.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a dynamic generation process of objects constituting the videoconferencing service system of FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 2, a video conferencing service in which three service users participate in one conference group is illustrated. The process of creating a session object is shown using a data flow diagram.

User 1, the chairperson, connects to the service access control management object of the service access control management system (102 in FIG. 1) through a distributed processing environment and requests video conference participation (301). This includes the role (in this case, chairman), the meeting group name, the user's service registration information, and the user terminal environment (eg PC, H.261codec, input port name, output port name). After judging whether the video conferencing service request of the user 1, who is the chairman, is legitimate, the service access control management object connects with the service creation object of the video conferencing service system (101 in FIG. 1) through a distributed processing environment, and requests service creation. 302) transmit the information delivered from the service user.

The service creation object receives this request, determines whether the user's role is a chairman or a general participant, and since the user is the chairman, a service session that collectively controls and manages sessions according to the meeting group name (session) defined by the chairman user. A service application control overall management object for controlling the overall management object and the application of the overall service is generated, and the result thereof is notified to the service creation object (303, 304). In addition, it creates a User 1 service session management object that controls and manages User 1's session and a User 1 service application control management object that performs control functions (eg, voice control and voting control) that operate specifically for the service. Notify the service creation object (305, 306). The service creation object connects the service session creation result of the user, who is the chairperson, through the distributed processing environment, and delivers the result to the service user 1 through the service access control management object (307). Thereafter, the shaping process (FIG. 4) and the life cycle management process (FIG. 5) of the generated objects are driven (308).

Service user 2 (or service user 3) connects with the service access control management object through a distributed processing environment to request video conference participation (309 or 315), and conveys the same information as the chair user. The role of this is a regular participant. The service access control management object receives the service creation request to determine the legitimacy of the service registration information and connects the service creation object of the video conferencing service system 101 through the distributed processing environment to request user service session creation (309 or 315). Information transmitted from the service user. Since the service creation object requires the general user to create a user service session (310 or 316), the service creation object creates a user service session management object for session management of the user and a user service application control management object for service application control. To the service creation object (311 and 312 or 317 and 318). The service creation object delivers the user service session creation result of user 2 (or user 3) to service user 2 (or user 3) through the service control management object (313 or 319). Thereafter, the shaping process (FIG. 4) and the life cycle management process (FIG. 5) of the created objects are driven (314 or 320). The order of the sequence of requesting the creation of a service session through the service participation request of these two service users does not matter which user first.

FIG. 4 illustrates a process of shaping the objects created in FIG. 3, and assumes that User 2 requests to join a video conference before User 3.

The service creator object connects to the user 1 service application control management object through a distributed processing environment and transfers the service subscription information of the user 1, who is the chairman, and the application control right specifically assigned to the service, to perform a shaping procedure (401). At the same time, the service creator object connects to the user 1 service session management object through a distributed processing environment, and performs shaping procedure by transferring the service subscription information of user 1, the user's terminal environment information, and fine wire control authority, as the chairman (402). .

Thereafter, the user 1 service application control managed object is connected through the service application control general management object and the distributed processing environment, and transmits the user service scope and authority of the user 1 (403). Formation of authority to make decisions and say / accept. At the same time, the User 1 service session management object is connected with the service session management object and the distributed processing environment to transmit user shape information of the user 1 and the session control authority of the chairman (404). It shall be configured to have the authority to control the type of connection (eg point-to-point connection, point-to-multipoint connection) between service user terminals participating in this conference. Thereafter, the user 1 service application control management object and the user 1 service session management object are connected through the distributed processing environment, and are connected to the application object of the service user 1 (405, 406).

The service creator object connects to the user 2 service application control management object through a distributed processing environment, and performs shaping procedure by transferring the service subscription information of the user 2 and the application control range specifically assigned to the service. At the same time, the service creator object connects to the user 2 service session management object through the distributed processing environment, transfers the service subscription information of the user 2 and the terminal environment information of the user 1 (step 408).

Thereafter, the user 2 service application control management object connects the service application control overall management object with the distributed processing environment, and transmits the application service range of the user 2 (409).

At the same time, the user 2 service session management object connects with the service session management object and the distributed processing environment, and transmits user shape information of the user 2 (410). Thereafter, the user 2 service application control management object and the user 2 service session management object are connected through the distributed processing environment, and are connected to the application object of the service user 2 (411 and 412). The service creator object connects to the user 3 service application control management object through a distributed processing environment, and delivers the service subscription information of the user 3 and the application control range specifically assigned to the service to perform a shaping procedure (413). At the same time, the service creator object connects to the user 3 service session management object through the distributed processing environment, transfers the service subscription information of the user 3 and the terminal environment information of the user 3 to perform a shaping procedure (414).

Thereafter, the user 3 service application control management object connects with the service application control overall management object through a distributed processing environment, and transmits the application service range of the user 3 (415). At the same time, the user 3 service session management object connects the service session overall management object with the distributed processing environment and transmits user 3 terminal shape information (416).

Thereafter, the user 3 service application control management object and the user 3 service session management object are connected through the distributed processing environment, and are connected to the application object of the service user 3 (417 and 418). When the processes 401 to 418 are all completed, video conferencing between user 1, user 2, and user 3 is performed.

FIG. 5 illustrates a lifecycle management process of the objects created in FIG. 3, on the assumption that user 3 leaves the meeting while performing a video conference, and then all meetings are terminated according to a request for ending the meeting of user 1, the chairman. do.

In FIG. 3, after the service creation object creates all the service related objects of user 1, user 2, and user 3 participating in the video conference, the service creation object is a service application control overall management object, a service session general management object, and a user of each user. By monitoring the status of the application control managed object and the user service session managed object (501, 502, 503, 504, 505, 506, 507, 508), it manages the life cycle of the object, and specific objects are destroyed by the occurrence of specific situations. If so, the object is re-created and shaped according to the corresponding procedures of FIGS. 3 and 4.

Then, when the user 3 service session management object receives the service 3 management session management object (509) during the life cycle management of the object (509), it passes it to the service session management object (510), and the service session management object is the list of conference participants. Retrieves the list of the service user 3 and the allocated resources, and requests the service creation object to remove the service session objects of the user 3 (511). Thereafter, the service creation object removes the user 3 service application control management object and the user 3 service session management object (512, 513), and deletes the corresponding object of user 3 in the life cycle management procedure.

Thereafter, when Service User 1 and Service User 2 conduct a meeting, and User 1, who is the chairman, requests the User 1 service session management object to terminate the meeting (514), the User 1 service session management object sends it to the service session management object. Forward the chairman's request to terminate the meeting (515). The service session general management object then notifies the service user 2 of the end of the meeting (518) and simultaneously requests the service session object to remove the service session (meeting group name) (516). The service creation object receives this request and simultaneously removes the user service application control management object and the user service session management object of the service user 1 and the service user 2 (517, 518, 520, 521), and the user 1 and the life cycle management procedure. Delete the object of User 2. Thereafter, the service creation object removes the service application control management object and the service session management object (522 and 523), and deletes the object from the life cycle management procedure. Thereafter, the service creation object waits for the service creation request of the user as shown in FIG.

As described above, the method for dynamically creating and shaping a video conferencing service object and the life cycle management method of the object of the present invention are easy to portability of a service object to another system in a distributed environment. Maintenance costs such as function expansion can be reduced, and the life cycle of objects including the creation of objects can be efficiently managed, as well as the shaping of objects that can easily adapt to changes in the shape of the user terminal.

The present invention provides a method of separating a service user's connection shape management and service control performed on the connection shape when creating a service session of a video conferencing service, a service shape and a control part specific to the service user, and all users. Alternatively, it has two characteristics to separate the service shape and control part that are applied as a whole, and it is easy to port the object to other systems, reduce the maintenance cost according to the expansion of user functions, and easily change the shape of the user terminal. Its purpose is to apply shaping and to efficiently manage the life cycle of objects, including the creation of reusable objects.

Claims (5)

Services including service access control management object, service creation object, service application control management object, service session management object, user service application control management object and user service session management object that constitute video conferencing service system in open network A first step of dynamically generating objects; A second step of shaping the created service objects with a role of a user and a user terminal environment; And a third process of managing the life cycle of each service object until the video conference service is terminated at the same time as the object shaping process. Life cycle management method. The method of claim 1, wherein the first process is A first step in which user 1, the chairperson, connects to a service access control management object through a distributed processing environment and requests to participate in a video conference; A second step of determining, by the service access control management object, whether the request is valid and connecting the service creation object with the distributed processing environment to request service creation; If the service creation object that received this service creation request is chairman by determining whether the user's role is a chairman or a general participant, and chairs the service session control administered object and service application control according to the meeting group name (session) defined by the chairman user Creating a management object, creating a service session management object of the user 1 and the service management object of the user application 1, and notifying the service creation object of the result; A fourth step of connecting, through the distributed processing environment, the service session creation result of the user whose service creation object is the chairman by this notification, and delivering it to the service user 1 through the service access control management object; If the video conference participation requester is a general participant, the service creation request is received by the service access control management object to determine the legitimacy of the service registration information, and then the user service session is created by connecting the service creation object with the distributed processing environment. A fifth step; Creating a user service session management object and a service application control management object by a service creation object that has received the user service session creation request, and then receiving a response notification on a result thereof; And Dynamic creation of a video conferencing service object in an open communication network, comprising the seventh step of the service creation object receiving the response notification delivering the result of the user service session creation of the general participant to the general participant through the service access control management object. And life cycle management methods. The method of claim 1, wherein the second process User 1's service application control is managed through the distributed application environment and the service application control management object of the user 1, and the user's service subscription information and the application control rights specifically assigned to the service are transferred and shaped, and user 1's service subscription. Transmitting and shaping information, a terminal environment, and session control authority; After the shaping, the user 1, the chairperson, is connected to the service application control management object and the distributed processing environment by the user 1 service application control management object so that the user 1, the chairman, has the authority such as voting decision-making right and acceptance / rejection. A second step of transmitting the application service range and the authority of the user 1; At the same time as the second step, when the video conference is performed, the user session, which is the chairperson, is distributed with the service session management object and the service session management object by the user session management object. A third step of connecting through the environment and transmitting user shape information of the user 1 and session control authority of the chairman; When the User 1 service application control administered object and User 1 service session managed object are connected with the service user 1's application object through distributed processing environment, A fourth step in which the service creation object conveys and shapes the service subscription information of the user 2 and the service application control range through the user 2 service application control management object and the distributed processing environment; A fifth step of shaping and transmitting the service subscription information of the user 2 and the terminal environment information of the user 2 through the user 2 service session management object and the distributed processing environment by the service generation object; Service Application Control by User 2 Service Application Control Administered Object The user 2 service session management object manages service session control object and distributed processing environment by transmitting the application service scope of User 2 through the management object and distributed processing environment. Transmitting a terminal shape information of user 2 through a sixth step; The seventh step of linking the user 2 service application control management object and the user 2 service session management object with the application object of the service user 2 through a distributed processing environment to perform a video conference between users, the video in an open communication network Dynamic creation and lifecycle management of conference service objects. The method of claim 3, wherein And a plurality of user service application control management objects, user service session management objects, and service users. The method of claim 1 or 4, wherein the third process is performed. After all the service-related objects of the users who participated in the video conference by the service creation object in the second process, the service application control management object, service session management object, user application control management object and user service of each user Monitoring a state of a session management object to manage a life cycle of the object, and creating and shaping the object again by the first and second processes when a specific object is destroyed due to occurrence of a specific situation; A second step of forwarding the request by the user service session management object to the service session managing object when the service user requests to leave the meeting during the life cycle management of the object; A third step of requesting, by the service session general management object, the service creating object to remove the service session objects of the withdrawal user after retrieving the list of the withdrawal service user and the allocated resources from the list of conference participants according to the delivered request; A fourth step of the service creation object removing the withdrawal user's service application control management object and the user service session management object according to the removal request and deleting the corresponding object of the withdrawal user in a lifecycle management procedure; A fifth step of forwarding the request to the service session managing object when the service user 1 and the service user 2 who do not leave the meeting request the user service session managing object to terminate the meeting during the meeting; A sixth step of notifying the service user 2 of the meeting termination by the service session managing object which has received this request, and requesting the service generating object to remove the service session; The service creation object that received the removal request removes the user service application control administered objects of the service user 1 and the service user 2 and the user service session managed objects at the same time, and then deletes the corresponding objects of the user 1 and the user 2 in the life cycle management procedure. A seventh step; And After removing the service application control management object and service session management object, and deleting the object in the life cycle management procedure, the video-conference in the open communication network comprising the eighth step of waiting for the service creation request of the user service creation object Dynamic creation and lifecycle management of a service object.