KR20080060262A - Media sharing - Google Patents

Abstract

A method of distributing media from a network based content server to two or more clients participating in a burst-based service session. The method comprises, following establishment of said session, joining the content server to the session as a further participating client, sending a media grant to the content server, and delivering the requested media from the content server to the other participating clients.

Description

Media Sharing {MEDIA SHARING}

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for sharing media in a push-to-talk session.

Walkie-talkie type services have long been popular with users who want to quickly communicate simple messages between each other. Conventionally, such a service has been provided by a two-way portable radio, which uses a dedicated portion of the radio spectrum, but the user uses a similar terminal and is portable. Only communicate with a small group of preselected users that are within the relatively short operating range of the radio. More recently, these services have been introduced in the United States to piggyback on existing cellular telephone infrastructures. However, these services were virtually proprietary and prevented users from communicating between multiple operator networks.

In an attempt to broaden the use of walkie-talkie-like services, industry grouping, known as the Open Mobile Alliance (www.openmobilealliance.org), provides the Internetworkability of walkie-talkie services offered over cellular networks. The goal was to standardize appropriate protocols that allow for internetwork operability. Services established by various standards are known as Push to Talk Over Cellular (PoC). The PoC uses the IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) to handle the establishment and control of PoC sessions through a PoC server (which acts as SIP ASs). The PoC suggests that related voice data be sent over a packet switched access network. In the case of GSM and UMTS, this would be a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) or 3G access network. In other network architectures, similar packet switched access networks will be used to transmit talk data. Push-to-talk service may also be provided over a circuit switched access network, although this is not a desirable choice. The current state of the PoC is set to Release 1.0.

The requirements for PoC Release 2 are now described. These include the requirements for sharing media content between PoC users in a PoC, that is, a push-to-watch type service. The media may be stored on a content server in a user equipment (“PoC Client”) or network.

The invention relates not only to push-to-talk type services such as, for example, push-to-talk over cellular (PoC), but also to related enhanced services, which are burst based services. The term "burst based" service is used herein as the generic name of such a service.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of distributing media from a network-based content server to two or more clients participating in a burst-based service session, the method comprising:

Incorporating a content server into the session as an additional participating client, in accordance with the establishment of the session;

Sending a media acknowledgment to the content server; And

Delivering the requested media from the content server to another participating client.

The invention is particularly applicable to distributing media from network-based content servers to clients participating in push-to-talk over cellular (PoC) sessions, particularly in accordance with PoC Release 1.0, 2.0 or future enhancements of the same protocol.

Advantageously, said burst-based service session is established using session initiation protocol (SIP) signaling, and said content server is coupled to the session as an additional participating client by sending SIP INVITE to the content server. The SIP INVITE may be sent from the controlling SIP application server as a result of the server receiving a SIP REFER message from one of the participating clients. In particular, the SIP REFER includes a SIP URI identifying the content server in the REFER-to header.

The requested media can be identified by a URI parameter appended to the URI of the content server. Alternatively, the media may be identified in the "escaped" header of the SIP REFER message.

Preferably, after distribution of the media from the content server is complete, the content server is removed from the ongoing session. Where the SIP protocol is used to establish a session and add to the content server as a participating client, the content server may be removed by one of the participating clients sending a SIP REFER (BYE) request to the control server. Alternatively, the content server can be removed by itself by sending a SIP BYE request to the control server.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a client terminal capable of participating in a burst-based service session with one or more other client terminals, the terminal comprising:

Means for establishing a burst based service session with one or more other client terminals;

Means for causing an invitation to then be sent to an ongoing session to a network-based content server, the invitation identifying the media to be shared with the participating client terminal; And

Means for receiving the identified media from the content server after the content server has joined the session as a participating client.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a content server for use in distributing media to two or more clients participating in an ongoing burst-based service session.

Means for coupling the content server to an ongoing session as a participating client;

Means for receiving a media grant from the control session server; And

Means for transmitting the requested media for delivery to another participating client.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of distributing media from a network-based content server to two or more clients participating in a burst-based service session controlled by a session control server, the method comprising:

In accordance with the establishment of the session, sending an HTTP request from a session control server to a content server;

Upon receipt of the request at the content server, identifying the media identified in the HTTP request; And

Delivering the identified media from the content server to the participating client.

Advantageously, said burst based service session is established using session initiation protocol (SIP) signaling. The method includes one of the participating clients sending a media burst request to the control server that includes an HTTP URL identifying a content server. In response to receiving this message, the session control server issues and sends the HTTP request. The media identified by the content server is returned to a session control server that distributes the media to participating clients.

According to a fifth aspect of the invention, there is provided a session control server for use in controlling in a burst based service session comprising two or more participating clients, the server comprising:

Means for establishing a session between two or more participating clients;

Means for receiving a media burst request from one of the clients including an HTTP URL identifying a content server on which media is stored;

Means for generating an HTTP request and sending it to the content server; And

Means for receiving media from the content server and delivering the media to participating clients.

According to a sixth aspect of the invention, there is provided a user terminal for use in a burst based service session comprising one or more other participating client terminals, the terminal comprising:

Means for sending a media burst request to the control server, the media burst request including an HTTP URL identifying a content server on which media is stored during an ongoing session with one or more other participating client terminals; And

Means for receiving media from the content server via the control server.

1 shows a signal flow diagram according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

2 shows a signal flow diagram according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

The following discussion presents two solutions to the problem of having the content server distribute one or more media types to participants in a push-to-talk over cellular (PoC) session. To facilitate this media sharing, three major issues must be addressed:

How does the PoC server understand that users share media?

How does the PoC server identify media?

How does a PoC user tell the content server what they want to share in a PoC session?

A first aspect includes adding a content server as a PoC client to a PoC session, where the content server is (temporarily) added to the PoC session. To illustrate this method, consider an ongoing PoC session between PoC client A and PoC client B, each PoC client having a participating PoC server (PoC servers A and B), the session being a controlling PoC server. Controlled by (PoC Server X). Figure 1 shows the main SIP request and SIP response for this method, where the PoC Release 1.0 names "Talk Burst Request", "Talk Burst idle", etc. "Media Burst Request", "Media Burst Idle", etc. The message sequence is as follows:

PoC client A sends a SIP REFER request to INVITE the content server to an ongoing PoC session. The SIP REFER request is included in the "Refer-to" header, and a content server that maintains the media is requested. The media itself is identified by a Universal Resource Indicator (URI) parameter at the address of the content server, or in a "escaped" header file.

The PoC server (X) receives the SIP REFER request and, as a result, invites the PoC content server as if it were an ordinary PoC user using the SIP INVITE.

The content server accepts the invitation and sends a SIP 200 OK (INVITE) response. PoC server X sends a SIP NOTIFY request to the PoC client to indicate that the content server is allowed.

Upon receipt of a SIP NOTIPY request indicating that the content server has accepted the invitation, the PoC client A may request permission to send an image on behalf of the content server, for example. This is done using a media burst request message.

PoC server X approves the request and informs not only PoC client B (media burst acquiring message) but also PoC client A and content server (media burst acknowledgment message).

The content server sends the media to a PoC server (media burst), and the PoC server (X) distributes the media to all participants who can receive this type of media.

Once the media is sent, the content server sends a Media Burst Release message, and the PoC server distributes information (media burst pause) that the floor is idle for this media type.

When the PoC client A receives the media burst pause message, it can establish a content server from the PoC session by a SIP REFER (BYE) request. An alternative means of achieving the same result is a content server leaving the PoC session by SIP BYE request.

The solution illustrated in FIG. 1 has the advantage that neither the PoC client nor the PoC server in the network needs to inform that the content server is a PoC client.

An alternative solution to the problem of having the content server distribute one or more media types to participants in a PoC session is to use an HTTP URL instead of a SIP address to identify the media to be shared. For example, suppose a user stores some media on a content server or searches on the Internet to find some interesting media that he or she wants to share. 2 shows a simplified media flow implementing this method. The media flow is as follows:

PoC client A sends a media burst request message requesting permission to send media (e.g., picture) on behalf of another user. The address of the other user is an HTTP URL, for example "http://my-content-op.net/user/~u29052467/pictures/vacatio n05 / kalle.jpg".

When PoC server X receives a media burst request message containing an HTTP address (instead of a SIP URI), it sends an HTTP GET request to the content server.

The content server returns the file identified by the HTTP GET request in the HTTP 200 "OK" response.

PoC server X sends a media burst acknowledgment message to PoC client A, sends a media burst acquisition message to PoC client B, and starts transmitting media (media burst).

Once the media is distributed, the PoC server X sends a media burst pause message to the participant (including the content server) to indicate that some messages may also request permission to send the media.

While the media sharing process is in progress, one or the other of the PoC users grants permission to send a talk burst at the PoC client A that the PoC user can talk to the image shared with the PoC user at the PoC client B. Request to control PoC server (X). This case is not illustrated by way of example.

An alternative solution (of FIG. 2) has the advantage that the signaling requirements are minimal. Another advantage is that the solution can be used to share media stored on any PoC "unrecognized" web server as long as the (control) PoC server is authorized to fetch media. On the other hand, it can also be used to share a limited size of media; For example, a solution for sharing streaming video cannot be used.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that various changes may be made in the above-described embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, although the present invention is described above with reference to PoC, the present invention is applicable to other burst-type services, such as, for example, instant messaging services.

Claims (18)

A method of distributing media from a network-based content server to two or more clients participating in a burst-based service session, the method comprising: Incorporating the content server into the session as an additional participating client, in accordance with the establishment of the session; Sending a media acknowledgment to the content server; And Delivering the requested media from the content server to another participating client. 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: delivering the requested media to two or more clients participating in a burst-based service session. The method of claim 1, And the burst-based service is push-to-talk over cellular. 2. A method for distributing media from a network-based content server to two or more clients participating in a burst-based service session. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The burst based service session is established using session initiation protocol (SIP) signaling, and the content server is coupled to the session as an additional participating client by sending SIP INVITE to the content server. A method for distributing media from a network-based content server to two or more clients participating in the network. The method of claim 3, wherein The SIP INVITE is transmitted from a control SIP application server as a result of the server receiving a SIP REFER message from one of the participating clients from a network-based content server to two or more clients participating in a burst-based service session. How to distribute media. The method of claim 4, wherein And wherein the SIP REFER includes a SIP URI identifying the content server in a REFER-to header to distribute media from a network-based content server to two or more clients participating in a burst-based service session. The method of claim 5, And wherein the requested media is identified by a URI parameter appended to a URI of the content server. The method of claim 1, wherein the media is distributed from a network-based content server to two or more clients participating in a burst-based service session. The method of claim 5, And wherein the media is identified in a " escaped " header of a SIP REFER message. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, After the distribution of the media from the content server is complete, removing the content server from the ongoing session; providing media from the network-based content server to the two or more clients participating in the burst-based service session. How to dispense. The method of claim 8, When added to claim 3, the content server is removed by one of the participating clients sending a SIP REFER (BYE) request to the control server, wherein at least two clients participating in the burst based service session. To distribute media from network-based content servers. The method of claim 8, When added to claim 3, the content is removed by the content server sending a SIP BYE request to the control server from a network based content server to at least two clients participating in a burst based service session. How to distribute media. A client terminal capable of participating in a burst-based service session with one or more other client terminals, Means for establishing a burst based service session with one or more other client terminals; Means for causing an invitation to then be sent to a network based content server in the ongoing session, the invitation identifying a media to be shared with a participating client terminal; And Means for receiving the identified media from the content server after the content server is joined to the session as a participating client; capable of participating in a burst-based service session with one or more other client terminals. A content server used to distribute media to two or more clients participating in an ongoing burst-based service session, Means for coupling the content server to the ongoing session as a participating client; Means for receiving a media grant from the control session server; And Means for transmitting the requested media for delivery to another participating client, wherein the content server is used to distribute the media to two or more clients participating in an ongoing burst-based service session. A method of distributing media from a network-based content server to two or more clients participating in a burst-based service session controlled by a session control server, Sending an HTTP request from the session control server to the content server in accordance with the establishment of the session; Upon receipt of the request at the content server, identifying the media identified in the HTTP request; And Delivering the identified media from the content server to the participating client, wherein the media is distributed from a network-based content server to two or more clients participating in a burst-based service session controlled by a session control server. The method of claim 13, Distributing media from a network-based content server to two or more clients participating in a burst-based service session controlled by a session control server, wherein the burst-based service session is established using session initiation protocol (SIP) signaling. Way. The method according to claim 13 or 13, Sending a media burst request comprising an HTTP URL identifying the content server from one of the participating clients to the control server, and in response to receiving the message, generating the HTTP request at the session control server. And transmitting them to the content server. The method of claim 1, further comprising: transmitting media from a network-based content server to two or more clients participating in a burst-based service session controlled by a session control server. The method according to any one of claims 13 to 15, And distributing media from a network-based content server to two or more clients participating in a burst-based service session controlled by a session control server, wherein the HTTP request is HTTP GET. A session control server used to control a burst-based service session that includes two or more participating clients, Means for establishing a session between two or more participating clients; Means for receiving a media burst request from one of the clients including an HTTP URL identifying a content server on which media is stored; Means for generating an HTTP request and sending it to the content server; And Session control server for use in controlling in a burst based service session comprising two or more participating clients, comprising means for receiving media from the content server and delivering the media to participating clients. A user terminal used in a burst based service session comprising one or more other participating client terminals, Means for sending a media burst request to the control server, the media burst request including an HTTP URL identifying a content server on which media is stored during an ongoing session with one or more other participating client terminals; And A user terminal for use in a burst-based service session comprising one or more other participating client terminals, comprising means for receiving media from the content server via the control server.

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