KR20080050254A - Network system for session controlling of multi-channel broadcast based on ims and operating method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

A network system for controlling an IMS(IP Multimedia Subsystem)-based multi-channel broadcast session and its operation method are provided to create a new service through an application of an end-to-end multimedia session and a multicast session. An IMS(120) relays a channel session setting request operation between STBs(Set Top Boxes)(111,112) and a multi-channel broadcast server(150) requests reservation of resources for setting the channel session according to whether or not the multi-channel broadcast server accepts it. A resource and accept control system(130) determines whether to accept the resource reservation in response to the resource reservation request of the IMS. Multicast routers(141,14N) transfer broadcast data of a channel transmitted from the multi-channel broadcast server to the STBs according to a channel group joining request of the STBs.

Description

IMS-based multi-channel broadcast session control network system and operation method thereof {Network system for session controlling of multi-channel broadcast based on IMS and operating method

The present invention relates to a multi-channel broadcasting session control method, and more particularly, to a multi-channel broadcasting session control network system based on IP Multimedia Subsystems (IMS), which is a basic platform for integrated control of wired and wireless networks, and a method of operating the same. will be.

The present invention is derived from the research conducted as part of the IT new growth engine core technology development project of the Ministry of Information and Communication [Task management number: 2005-S-058-01, Task name: ALL-IP-based integrated network / service control technology] .

In the conventional multi-channel broadcasting service such as cable TV, all channels that can be serviced to all users are provided by using a dedicated broadcasting network, and in the case of a paid channel, the presence or absence of viewing at the user terminal is determined by scrambling by encryption.

However, in the case of IPTV's multi-channel broadcasting service using the IP-based Internet network, all channels cannot be delivered due to the line bandwidth limited to end users connected by xDSL (x Digital Subscriber Line). In addition, only some of the limited network resources should be allocated to provide other types of communication services.

In the existing multi-channel broadcasting of IPTV, an allowable band and service information (address and port information) is pre-assigned to a multicast router of an access network through access authentication of a user terminal so that the user terminal can receive IPTV. Make sure

However, this method is cumbersome to go through a separate authentication process in order to use other IP multimedia services of this next-generation wired and wireless communication network through the user terminal.

In addition, it is inconvenient to manage the control network according to the provided service and to provide new or complex services to the telecommunications service provider.

IMS is an IP-based next-generation communication platform that integrates wired and wireless networks and provides a foundation for convergence services such as convergence of broadcast broadcasting.

However, current IMS provides session control limited to end-to-end service and cannot control multicast session such as multi-channel broadcast service.

As such, in the case of the multi-channel broadcasting service of the existing IPTV, all channels cannot be delivered due to the bandwidth of a line limited to end users, and only some of the limited network resources must be allocated to provide other types of communication services. As a result, it is difficult to efficiently provide and manage a multi-channel broadcasting service of IPTV.

According to an aspect of the present invention as a means for solving the above problems, relaying the channel session establishment request operation between the set-top box and the multi-channel broadcast server, and establishes the channel session in accordance with the acceptance of the multi-channel broadcast server An IP multimedia subsystem for requesting resource reservation for; A resource and admission control system for determining whether to accept a resource reservation in response to a resource reservation request of the IP multimedia subsystem; And at least one multicast router transmitting broadcast data of the channel transmitted from the multichannel broadcast server to the settop box according to a channel group join request of the settop box. .

Here, the IP multimedia subsystem relays the channel multicast session establishment request and requests resource reservation through a proxy call / session control function, and the resource and admission control system accepts the resource reservation through a policy decision function. Upon determining whether or not, the resource and admission control system provides the token required for resource reservation upon acceptance of the resource reservation.

The multi-channel broadcast server provides channel group information upon acceptance of a channel session establishment request, and the set-top box requests channel session establishment through a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) and through IGMP (Internet group management protocol). Request to join a specific channel group.

According to another aspect of the present invention, as a means for solving the above problems, the first step of the IP multimedia subsystem forwards the channel session establishment request to the multi-channel broadcast server when the set-top box requests a channel session; When the multi-channel broadcasting server accepts the channel session establishment request and provides channel group information, the IP multimedia subsystem acquires a token necessary for resource reservation through the resource and admission control system, and then the channel group information. Providing a second step with the set top box; And when the set-top box transmits an IGMP message having the token and the channel group information, joining the set-top box to the corresponding channel group.

And the first step includes receiving a channel session establishment request of the set-top box and forwarding the channel session establishment request to the multi-channel broadcast server by referring to a service profile by the IP multimedia subsystem.

And the second step includes requesting QoS permission for the channel session establishment from the resource and admission control system when the IP multimedia subsystem receives the channel group information from the multichannel broadcast server; The resource and admission control system granting the QoS entitlement and providing the token; And forwarding, by the IP multimedia subsystem, the channel group information and the token to the set top box.

And in the third step, when the IGMP message having the token and the channel group information is received from the set-top box, the at least one multicast router continuously delivers the IGMP message to the multi-channel broadcasting server while interpreting the IGMP message. step; Receiving, by the multicast router, the IGMP message, requesting a QoS authority by providing a token included in the IGMP message to the resource and admission control system; And if the resource and admission control system grants QoS entitlement, the multicast router receiving the IGMP message includes joining the set top box to the channel group.

As described above, the IMS-based multi-channel broadcast session control network system and its operation method can manage not only end-to-end multimedia sessions but also multicast sessions using IMS while using the existing multicast router. . Accordingly, by managing resources more efficiently, it is possible to reduce the management cost of optical resources.

In addition, by controlling the state of the multicast session through IMS, it provides the possibility to create new services through the application of end-to-end multimedia sessions and multicast sessions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, in describing in detail the operating principle of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, if it is determined that the detailed description of the related known function or configuration may unnecessarily obscure the subject matter of the present invention, the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In addition, the same reference numerals are used for parts having similar functions and functions throughout the drawings.

1 is a block diagram of an IMS-based multi-channel broadcast session control network system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the multi-channel broadcast session control network system of the present invention includes an IMS 120, a resource and admission control system (RACS) 130, an IP transmission network 140, and a multi-channel. The broadcast server 150 includes a plurality of STBs 111 and 112 connected to the IMS 120, the IP transmission network 140, and the multi-channel broadcast server 150.

Each of the plurality of STBs 111 and 112 searches for a channel to be watched using channel information provided by the multi-channel broadcasting server 150, and then, for the corresponding channel to the IMS 120 through the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP). Request session setup. In response to receiving the channel group ID and the token required for resource reservation, the IP transmission network 140 requests the broadcast data of the viewing channel to be provided to the IP transmission network 140 through the Internet group management protocol (IGMP).

The IMS 120 performs multimedia session control of the IP transport network 140 for each of the plurality of STBs 111 and 112.

To this end, the IMS 120 serves as an input boundary for transmitting the control message of the STB into the IMS 120, and serves as an interworking point of the control network for controlling the quality of service (QoS) of the underlying network. Pro-Call Session Control Function (hereinafter referred to as P-CSCF) 121, and through this receives a call / session control service request of a specific STB, multi-channel broadcast server 150 according to the subscriber service profile And the response of the multi-channel broadcast server 150 to the corresponding STB.

The RACS 130 manages resources of the IP transmission network 140 and performs admission control of resources required for session establishment. To this end, the RACS 130 allows the resource reservation request from the P-CSCF 121 or the resource reservation request from the IP transport network 140 based on a quality of service (QoS) policy. Policy Decision Function (PDF) 131 is provided.

The IP transport network 140 includes a plurality of multicast routers 141 to 14N having a multicast function to support a multi-channel broadcasting service, and through this, multicast session data corresponding to each of the plurality of STBs 111 and 112. Form a multicast path to provide.

Of course, the IP transport network 140 may include other network devices that perform functions other than a plurality of multicast functions in some cases.

The multi-channel broadcast server 150 provides a broadcast service for a plurality of programs and content for each channel, and responds to the session establishment request of the STBs 111 and 112 relayed by the IMS 120.

As such, the IMS-based multi-channel broadcast session control network system of the present invention performs both a resource reservation request and a resource reservation operation through the IMS 120 and the RACS 130.

2 is a flowchart illustrating an IMS-based multichannel broadcast session control method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 2, the user of the STB2 112 is receiving channel 1 service (S1), and the multi-channel broadcasting server 150 transmits the broadcast data of channel 1 to the STB2 112 through the IP transmission network 140 for this purpose. Assume that the state provided by (S2).

In this state, if the STB1 111 wants to receive the channel 1 service, the STB 1 111 transmits a message requesting the channel session establishment for the channel 1 to the IMS 120 through the SIP (S3). 120 transmits the received message to the multi-channel broadcasting server 150 with reference to the subscriber service profile for STB1 111 (S4).

 If the multi-channel broadcasting server 150 allows viewing of channel 1 to the STB1 111 in response to this, and outputs a session establishment response message including the group ID of the channel 1 to the IMS 120 (S5), The IMS 120 requests the RACS 130 to grant permission for the resource for the STB1 111 to watch channel 1 (S6).

The RACS 130 generates a token required for resource reservation with permission of QoS resources and provides it to the IMS 120 (S7), and the IMS 120 provides a group ID and a token to the STB1 111 together. (S8).

The STB1 111 then generates an IGMP message including the group ID and the token provided by the IMS 120 and sends it to the multicast router 1 141 adjacent thereto (S9) and the multicast router 1 141. Multicast routers (142, 142) including the continue to forward the multi-channel broadcast server 150 while interpreting the IGMP message (S10).

If the multicast router receiving the IGMP message through S10 is already a multicast session of channel 1, the multicast router transfers the token included in the IGMP message to the RACS 130 and requests confirmation of resource reservation authority (S11).

When the RACS 130 grants the resource reservation authority in response (S12), the broadcast data of the channel 1 is copied and multicasted to the STB1 111 (S13).

The STB1 111 notifies the multi-channel broadcast server 150 that the session setup for the channel 1 is completed when the session setup for the channel 1 is completed and the broadcast data of the channel 1 is started through the above processes.

The present invention described above is not limited to the above-described embodiments and the accompanying drawings, and it is common in the art that various substitutions, modifications, and changes can be made without departing from the technical spirit of the present invention. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

1 is a block diagram of an IMS-based multi-channel broadcast session control network system according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

2 is a flowchart illustrating an IMS-based multichannel broadcast session control method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Claims (11)

An IP multimedia subsystem for relaying a channel session establishment request operation between a set-top box and a multichannel broadcast server and requesting resource reservation for establishing the channel session according to whether the multichannel broadcast server is accepted; A resource and admission control system for determining whether to accept a resource reservation in response to a resource reservation request of the IP multimedia subsystem; And And at least one multicast router for transmitting broadcast data of the channel transmitted from the multichannel broadcast server to the settop box according to a channel group join request of the settop box. The system of claim 1, wherein the IP multimedia subsystem is Relaying the channel multicast session establishment request and requesting resource reservation through a proxy call / session control function. 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the resource and admission control system And determining whether to accept the resource reservation through a policy decision function. The method of claim 1, wherein the multi-channel broadcast server And providing channel group information upon acceptance of the channel session establishment request. The system of claim 1, wherein the resource and admission control system is And a token necessary for resource reservation upon acceptance of resource reservation. The method of claim 4 or 5, wherein the set top box A multi-channel broadcast session control network system, comprising requesting a channel session setup through a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) and joining a specific channel group through an Internet group management protocol (IGMP). The method of claim 6, wherein the set top box And generating an IGMP message including the channel group information and the token and requesting joining to the channel group. A method of operating a network system for controlling a multichannel broadcast session between a set-top box and a multichannel broadcast server, including an IP multimedia subsystem, a resource and admission control system, and at least one multicast router. When the set-top box requests channel session establishment, the IP multimedia subsystem forwarding the channel session establishment request to a multi-channel broadcast server; When the multi-channel broadcasting server accepts the channel session establishment request and provides channel group information, the IP multimedia subsystem acquires a token necessary for resource reservation through the resource and admission control system, and then the channel group information. Providing a second step with the set top box; And And when the set-top box transmits an IGMP message having the token and the channel group information, joining the set-top box to a corresponding channel group. The method of claim 8, wherein the first step Receiving a channel session establishment request of the set top box; And And transmitting, by the IP multimedia subsystem, the channel session establishment request to the multi-channel broadcast server with reference to a service profile. The method of claim 8, wherein the second step When the IP multimedia subsystem receives the channel group information from the multichannel broadcast server, requesting the resource and admission control system to grant QoS authority for the channel session establishment; The resource and admission control system granting the QoS entitlement and providing the token; And  And transmitting, by the IP multimedia subsystem, the channel group information and the token to the set top box. The method of claim 8, wherein the third step Receiving the IGMP message having the token and the channel group information from the set top box, the at least one multicast router continuing to forward the multi-channel broadcast server while interpreting the IGMP message; Receiving, by the multicast router, the IGMP message, requesting a QoS authority by providing a token included in the IGMP message to the resource and admission control system; And If the resource and admission control system grants QoS entitlement, the multicast router receiving the IGMP message includes joining the set-top box to the channel group. Way.

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