RU2654369C1 - Method for bandwidth management, iptv terminal device and communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: electrical communication engineering.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to bandwidth management in television networks for transmitting data over IP (IPTV). Said result is achieved by the following, a list of usage of the bandwidth of home network resources is dynamically supported in the IPTV terminal device in the home network; before starting an IPTV service requiring bandwidth, IPTV terminal device requests the bandwidth required by the IPTV service; current residual bandwidth of the home network is calculated in accordance with a locally supported bandwidth usage list, and it is estimated whether the current residual bandwidth of the home network satisfies the bandwidth required by the IPTV service; if so, the IPTV service request for bandwidth is successful and the service can be started; at the same time, the IPTV terminal updates the bandwidth usage list and transmits the first bandwidth update notification to other IPTV terminal devices in the home network to notify them of the need to perform the same update of the bandwidth usage list.

EFFECT: technical result is solving the problem of conflict at the resource level because of the lack of reasonable bandwidth management in the home IPTV network.

11 cl, 7 dwg

Description

Technical field

The present invention relates to the field of communication and, in particular, to a method for managing bandwidth, a terminal device for television in data networks over IP (IPTV) protocol and a communication system.

State of the art

IPTV is a system that transmits television information using a broadband network as a medium, is a new technology that combines the Internet, multimedia and communications, and provides home users with interactive services such as real-time video streaming, video recording, video on demand , browsing, online games, voice, distance learning, telemedicine services and e-commerce. A set-top box (STB) is an IPTV terminal device in a user's home. STB accesses the network through an asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL) or local area network (LAN); the user side of the STB is connected to the television. The STB has a standardized single I / O interface and supports two-way symmetric or asymmetric communication. STB performs the function of transferring information from the network to the user or from the user to the network and converting the transmission media format to the display device media format. Through STB, the user can receive the corresponding services from the IPTV system of operators. The main function of the IPTV service, as well as a function superior to traditional television, is the recording of the program of active channels, which is welcomed by most users and attracts the attention of operators and equipment suppliers. Recording can be implemented through network recording and local recording. However, due to copyright, cost and other factors, many operators implement the recording function through local recording.

FIG. 1 is a network diagram of a digital video recorder (DVR) for an entire home. As shown in FIG. 1, the house may have several STBs. Since local recording requires a hard drive, several STBs with a hard drive, a DVR are required, and at the same time, several STBs without a hard drive may also be available. The user can install one of the STBs with the hard drive as the master STB, the DVR hub, and the DVR and STB hub form a home network called an entire home DVR. The program recording plan added by the user is transferred to the STB in the house via the subscription server. All STBs in the DVR for the entire home can view the subscription plan and record without recognition. In the DVR for the whole house, there is only one STB with a hard disk, and the remaining STBs with a hard disk in the house serve as independent STBs, slave DVRs that do not use a subscription plan and a recorded program together with STB in the DVR for the whole house. At the same time, mobile electronic devices such as a tablet or phone can also access the home and view the program directory or play program information through the Digital Home Network Alliance (DLNA) protocol and STB. The home-based DVR for the whole house and the MCSP-based STB component architecture can allow the user to add and view the subscription plan for active channel programs, and view and play the recorded program on the STB without a hard disk, so the user can use the same function as DVR, on a relatively inexpensive STB without a hard drive. However, there is still no reasonable solution to the control problem aimed at using broadband sources on the STB, DVR and mobile terminal in the home network, which causes problems due to the insufficient bandwidth of the home network and access to the service is not continuous if the IPTV service is simultaneously launched by several terminal devices; and furthermore, due to the aforementioned restriction, in order to prevent the aforementioned conflict, currently the mobile terminal accessing the home network typically looks at the program directory or only plays program information from the STB, but cannot directly view the video materials, which reduces satisfaction user experience.

The essence of the invention

An embodiment of the present invention provides a bandwidth management method, an IPTV terminal device, and a communication system that solve a resource level conflict problem due to a lack of reasonable bandwidth control in an existing home network.

To solve the above problem, an embodiment of the present invention provides a bandwidth control method, including:

installation on the terminal device of television in the data transmission networks over IP (IPTV) of the home network of a bandwidth usage list containing current information about the use of the bandwidth of the home network;

after receiving the first bandwidth update notification transmitted by other IPTV terminal devices in the home network, the IPTV terminal device updates the bandwidth usage list in accordance with the first bandwidth update notification; and

before starting the IPTV service, which requires bandwidth occupancy, a request by the IPTV terminal device for the bandwidth required by the IPTV service; in determining that the current residual bandwidth of the home network satisfies the bandwidth required by the IPTV service according to the bandwidth usage list, while applying for the IPTV service bandwidth is successful according to the bandwidth usage list - updating the bandwidth usage list ; and transmitting the first bandwidth update notification to other IPTV terminal devices in the home network.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the method further includes:

when the IPTV service stops, the bandwidth occupied by the IPTV service is released by the IPTV terminal device, the bandwidth utilization list is updated, and the second bandwidth update notification is sent to other IPTV terminal devices in the home network; and

after receiving the second bandwidth update notification sent by other IPTV terminal devices in the home network, the IPTV terminal device updates the bandwidth usage list in accordance with the second bandwidth update notification.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the bandwidth usage list contains information about the currently running IPTV service, the bandwidth occupied by each IPTV service, and information about the IPTV terminal device in which each IPTV service is located; wherein the method further includes:

if the IPTV terminal device serves as the master terminal device in the home network, collecting statistics on the total bandwidth occupied by the IPTV services in the bandwidth usage list; if the total bandwidth occupied by IPTV services in the bandwidth use list is greater than or equal to the total bandwidth of the home network, transmit to the IPTV terminal device, where at least one IPTV service is in the bandwidth use list, commands to stop at least one service IPTV in accordance with a predefined principle. In one embodiment of the present invention, the IPTV terminal device is an STB, DVR, or a mobile terminal.

To solve the aforementioned problem, an embodiment of the present invention further provides an IPTV terminal device, comprising: a resource access module, a resource management module, an information transmitting module, and an information receiving module;

the resource requesting module is configured to transmit, before starting the IPTV service, requiring bandwidth utilization, a request for bandwidth utilization to the resource management module, while the request for using the bandwidth contains the bandwidth required by the IPTV service;

the resource management module is configured to set a bandwidth usage list containing current bandwidth usage information of the home network that owns the IPTV terminal device, to send to the resource request module a success message about bandwidth usage after receiving a request for bandwidth usage and determining in accordance with the bandwidth usage list of the fact that the current residual bandwidth of the home network satisfies TVOC transmittance required IPTV service, update the list of bandwidth, generating a first update notifications bandwidth and update the list of bandwidth utilization according to the first notice of updating bandwidth taken module receiving information from other IPTV terminal devices in the home network;

the information transfer module is configured to transmit the first notification of a bandwidth update generated by the resource management module to other IPTV terminal devices in the home network; and

the information receiving module is configured to receive a first notification of a bandwidth update transmitted by other IPTV terminal devices in the home network.

In one embodiment of the present invention further comprises a resource release module configured to release bandwidth occupied by the IPTV service when the IPTV service is stopped;

the resource management module is further configured to update upon freeing up the bandwidth occupied by the IPTV service, the bandwidth usage list, generating a second bandwidth update notification and updating the bandwidth usage list in accordance with the second bandwidth update notification received by the information receiving module from other IPTV terminal devices in the home network;

the information transfer module is further configured to send a second notification about the bandwidth update generated by the resource management module to other IPTV terminal devices in the home network; and

the information receiving module is further configured to receive a second bandwidth update notification transmitted by other IPTV terminal devices in the home network.

In one embodiment of the present invention further comprises a resource ordering module; the bandwidth usage list contains a list of currently running IPTV services, the bandwidth occupied by each of the IPTV services, and information about the IPTV terminal device in which each IPTV service is located; the resource sequencing module is configured to collect, when the IPTV terminal device serves as the master terminal device in the home network, statistics on the total bandwidth occupied by the IPTV services from the bandwidth usage list, and if the total bandwidth occupied by the IPTV services from the list bandwidth usage is greater than or equal to the total bandwidth of the home network, transmitted to the IPTV terminal device, where the bandwidth usage list on at least one IPTV service is running, commands to stop at least one IPTV service in accordance with a predetermined principle.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the IPTV terminal device is an STB, DVR, or a mobile terminal.

In one embodiment of the present invention, if the IPTV terminal device is a DVR, then the IPTV terminal device further comprises a DVR recording module; DVR recording module, resource requesting module and resource management module are implemented in the same process.

To solve the aforementioned problem, an embodiment of the present invention further provides a communication system comprising at least two of the above-described IPTV terminal devices; at least two IPTV terminal devices belong to the same home network and communicate with each other.

To solve the above problem, an embodiment of the present invention further provides a computer program and its medium; a computer program contains a program command; the program command, when executed by the IPTV terminal device, makes it possible for the terminal device to implement the aforementioned bandwidth control method.

Advantageous effects of embodiments of the present invention are as follows:

in accordance with a bandwidth management method, an IPTV terminal device, and a communication system provided by an embodiment of the present invention, a bandwidth usage list containing current information about using a home network bandwidth is set on an IPTV terminal network device of a home network; after receiving the first bandwidth update notification sent by other IPTV terminal devices in the home network, the IPTV terminal device updates the local bandwidth usage list in accordance with the first bandwidth update notification; and before starting the IPTV service requiring bandwidth occupancy, the IPTV terminal device requests the bandwidth required by the IPTV service; the current residual bandwidth of the home network is calculated in accordance with the locally supported bandwidth utilization list, and it is judged if the current residual bandwidth of the home network satisfies the bandwidth required by the IPTV service; if so, then the IPTV service request for bandwidth is successful and the service can be started; at the same time, the IPTV terminal updates the bandwidth usage list and transmits to the other IPTV terminal devices in the home network a first notification of the bandwidth update to notify them of the need for the same bandwidth usage list update. Thus, in an embodiment of the present invention, all IPTV terminal devices in a home network can locally dynamically maintain a bandwidth usage list, and if it is desired to start an IPTV service occupying a bandwidth, then bandwidth access can be primarily implemented locally, and only in the event that the call is successful, the service can be started, which can significantly avoid a conflict at the level of bandwidth resources; if the IPTV terminal is a tablet, phone or other mobile terminals accessing the home network, these mobile terminals can very well provide bandwidth resource management, which makes it possible to simultaneously play videos on several STBs and mobile terminals without conflict at the bandwidth level, in this way, the user can play the video directly on the mobile terminal, which leads to a better user experience.

A brief description of the graphic materials

In FIG. 1 illustrates a structural layout of a home network layout;

in FIG. 2 illustrates a flowchart 1 of a bandwidth control method in accordance with Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

in FIG. 3 illustrates a flowchart 2 of a bandwidth control method in accordance with Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

in FIG. 4 illustrates a design diagram 1 of an IPTV terminal device in accordance with Embodiment 2 of the present invention;

in FIG. 5 illustrates a block diagram 2 of an IPTV terminal device in accordance with Embodiment 2 of the present invention;

in FIG. 6 illustrates a construction diagram 3 of an IPTV terminal device in accordance with Embodiment 2 of the present invention; and

in FIG. 7 illustrates a structural diagram of a home network layout in accordance with Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

Preferred Embodiments of the Present Invention

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in conjunction with the accompanying graphic materials. It should be noted that the embodiments in the application and the features in the embodiments can be randomly combined with each other, provided there is no conflict. In addition, although a logical sequence is shown in the flow diagram, in some cases, the steps presented or described may be performed in a sequence different from that in this document.

Embodiment 1

For a better understanding of the present invention, in the embodiment, some terms are explained first.

A “home network” in an embodiment is a network consisting of all IPTV terminal devices in a home connected under the control of an IPTV server via a home gateway. As shown in FIG. 1, the home network in the embodiment is constituted by STB 1, STB 2 and a master DVR, another separate DVR n and mobile terminals represented by a mobile phone connected in FIG. 1 running an IPTV server through a home gateway. Each aforementioned terminal is an IPTV terminal device in a home network.

As shown in FIG. 2, a home network bandwidth control method in an embodiment includes the following steps.

Step 201: A bandwidth usage list is set up on the IPTV terminal device of the home network, containing current information on the use of the bandwidth of the home network.

Step 202: after receiving the first bandwidth update notification sent by other IPTV terminal devices in the home network, the IPTV terminal device updates the local bandwidth usage list in accordance with the first bandwidth update notification.

Step 203: Before starting the IPTV service requiring bandwidth occupancy, the IPTV terminal device requests the bandwidth required by the IPTV service.

Step 204: the IPTV terminal device requests the current remaining bandwidth of the home network in accordance with the local bandwidth usage list.

Step 205: the IPTV terminal device evaluates whether the current residual home network bandwidth matches the bandwidth required by the IPTV service; if so, then proceeds to step 206; otherwise, referring to step 207.

Step 206: If the IPTV bandwidth service is successful, the IPTV terminal device updates the bandwidth usage list and transmits to the other IPTV terminal devices in the home network a first bandwidth update notification to notify them that the same bandwidth usage list needs to be updated. .

Step 207: if the IPTV service accessing the bandwidth is unsuccessful, the IPTV service does not start.

As you can see, in the embodiment, all IPTV terminal devices in the home network can locally maintain a bandwidth usage list containing the bandwidth usage status of the home network. If the IPTV terminal device needs to start the IPTV service consuming bandwidth resources, then the current remaining bandwidth of the home network is requested in accordance with the locally supported bandwidth utilization list, and then an assessment is made whether the residual bandwidth satisfies the bandwidth required by the IPTV service; if so, the appeal is successful; otherwise, the call is unsuccessful and the service does not start. Thus, the bandwidth control method in an embodiment has at least the following advantages.

1. The home network bandwidth utilization list is dynamically maintained on each IPTV terminal device in the home network, and therefore, the IPTV service bandwidth can be accessed locally on each IPTV terminal device without the need for information interaction between devices, thus effective coordination and management of bandwidth resources, and time delay of information interaction between devices can be avoided;

2. The IPTV terminal device in an embodiment may be an STB, DVR or a mobile terminal, such as a mobile phone or tablet, and thus, when the mobile terminal accesses the home network, the coordination and management of the above bandwidth resources can also be performed locally so that when playing the video on the mobile terminal there is no conflict at the level of bandwidth resources; the user can play the video directly on the mobile terminal, thus, it is possible to significantly increase the satisfaction of the user experience;

3. Bandwidth control in an embodiment is a control that takes an IPTV service as a unit, that is, it is a service-based bandwidth control; if a service is started or stopped, the current situation with bandwidth resources is updated accordingly, which can ensure the best use of the bandwidth resources of the home network.

Of course, in the embodiment, we will also select one of all IPTV terminal devices in the home network as the master device, and the rest as slave devices; then the bandwidth usage list is dynamically supported only on the master; when other slave devices need to start the IPTV service occupying the bandwidth, they can send the request for the use of bandwidth to the master device, in this case, the request contains the bandwidth required by the IPTV service; after receiving the request, the master device locally evaluates whether the remaining bandwidth resources satisfy the required bandwidth, and transmits the result of the call back to the slave device. For example, the installation of FIG. 1 of the master DVR as the master and the installation of STB 1, STB 2, another separate DVR n and the mobile phone as slave devices.

As shown in FIG. 3, optionally based on what is shown in FIG. 2, the bandwidth control method in the embodiment further includes the following steps:

Step 208: when the IPTV service stops, the IPTV terminal device releases the bandwidth occupied by the IPTV service and updates the bandwidth utilization list;

Step 209: the IPTV terminal device transmits to the other IPTV terminal devices in the home network a second bandwidth update notification to notify them of the need for the same update; and

Step 210: The IPTV terminal receiving the second bandwidth update notification updates the local bandwidth usage list.

It should be noted that forms of content stored by the bandwidth usage list in an embodiment may include any of the following forms.

1. The currently occupied total bandwidth of the home network or the currently remaining total bandwidth of the home network are stored;

2. Information is stored about the IPTV service currently running on each IPTV terminal device in the home network (for example, the uniform resource locator (URL) of each IPTV service) and the bandwidth occupied by each IPTV service; and

3. Based on the above form 2, information about the IPTV terminal device in which each of the IPTV services is located (for example, the terminal ID) can also be stored in order to subsequently conveniently organize and manage the IPTV service.

In an embodiment, the IPTV terminal device may request the bandwidth required for use by the IPTV service, in particular through the IPTV service URL.

In an embodiment, when the IPTV terminal device transmits bandwidth update notification to other terminal devices in the home network, the bandwidth update notification may include a bandwidth usage list updated by the IPTV terminal device, and from other terminal devices after receiving the notification, it is only necessary to replace directly local bandwidth usage list; the bandwidth update notification may also contain information about the bandwidth change (for example, the bandwidth occupied when starting up some IPTV service, or the bandwidth released when some IPTV service is stopped), and other IPTV terminal devices after receiving the notification, respectively update the local bandwidth usage list in accordance with the change information.

In an embodiment, when the used bandwidth of the home network reaches a critical upper limit and several IPTV terminals (for example, mobile phones and DVR devices) are simultaneously accessing the bandwidth, a situation may arise in which each call is successful, but the actual The total bandwidth exceeds the limit. Therefore, in an embodiment, to implement efficient sequencing after the occurrence of such a situation, one of the IPTV terminal devices in the home network can be selected as the master terminal device, and the other IPTV terminal devices serve as slave terminal devices; at this stage, there is information about the currently running IPTV services, the bandwidth occupied by each IPTV service, and information about the IPTV terminal device, with each IPTV service stored in the bandwidth usage list. After receiving the update notification from other slave terminal devices, the master terminal device accordingly updates the local bandwidth usage list. Then, if it is determined by collecting statistics that the total bandwidth occupied by the IPTV services is greater than or equal to the total bandwidth of the home network, a command to stop the IPTV service is sent to the IPTV terminal device if at least one IPTV service in the bandwidth is in according to the pre-established principle.

In an embodiment, the preset principle may be to stop the most recently started IPTV service in a time sequence or to randomly select to stop at least one of the currently running IPTV services, or to select according to the priority of each of the IPTV services, with the lowest service to be stopped priority, or the immediate shutdown of a service occupying the maximum bandwidth or minimum bandwidth among the currently running IPTV services, etc.

In an embodiment, when the IPTV terminal device serving as the master terminal device has problems (for example, a power failure), another IPTV terminal device can be selected as the master terminal device from the remaining interrupted slave devices. The selection method may be a direct or random selection of one of the other slave devices as the master terminal device, or a selection in accordance with the time spent on the line of each slave terminal device of the slave terminal device with the longest time spent on the line as the master terminal device, or setting that IPTV terminal devices of different types have different priorities, and then the choice as the master terminal device one of the terminal devices with the highest priority, etc.

Embodiment 2

In an embodiment, an IPTV terminal device is disclosed, which may be an STB, DVR, or a mobile terminal. An IPTV terminal device includes a processor, program memory, and data memory; as shown in FIG. 4, the IPTV terminal device comprises: a resource access module, a resource management module, an information transmission module, and an information receiving module; wherein

the resource requesting module is configured to transmit, before starting the IPTV service, requiring bandwidth utilization, a request for bandwidth utilization to the resource management module, while the request for using the bandwidth contains the bandwidth required by the IPTV service;

the resource management module is configured to set a bandwidth usage list, wherein the bandwidth usage list contains information about the current bandwidth usage of the home network to which the IPTV terminal device belongs; resource management module - after receiving a request for using the bandwidth and determining, in accordance with the list of bandwidth usage, that the current remaining bandwidth of the home network satisfies the bandwidth required by the IPTV service, it is additionally configured to transmit messages about that applying for bandwidth is successful by updating the bandwidth usage list and generating the first gender update notification transmission wasps; and updating the bandwidth usage list in accordance with the first notification of bandwidth update received by the module for receiving information from other IPTV terminal devices in the home network;

the information transfer module is configured to transmit the first notification of a bandwidth update generated by the resource management module to other IPTV terminal devices in the home network; and

the information receiving module is configured to receive a first notification of a bandwidth update transmitted by other IPTV terminal devices in the home network.

As shown in FIG. 5, the IPTV terminal device may further comprise a resource release module configured to release bandwidth occupied by the IPTV service when the IPTV service is stopped;

the resource management module is further configured to update upon freeing up the bandwidth occupied by the IPTV service, the bandwidth usage list, generating a second bandwidth update notification and updating the bandwidth usage list in accordance with the second bandwidth update notification received by the information receiving module from other IPTV terminal devices in the home network;

the information transfer module is further configured to transmit a second notification on updating the bandwidth generated by the resource management module to other IPTV terminal devices in the home network; and

the information receiving module is further configured to receive a second bandwidth update notification transmitted by other IPTV terminal devices in the home network.

As shown in FIG. 6, the IPTV terminal device further comprises a resource ordering module. In an embodiment, the bandwidth usage list stores a list of currently running IPTV services, the bandwidth occupied by each IPTV service, and information about the IPTV terminal device in which each of the IPTV services is stored. Resource sequencing module — if the IPTV terminal device serves as the master terminal device in the home network and by collecting statistics it is determined that the total bandwidth occupied by the IPTV services in the bandwidth usage list is greater than or equal to the total bandwidth of the home network — it is configured to transmitting to the IPTV terminal device, where at least one IPTV service is in the bandwidth usage list, instructions to stop the IPTV service in accordance with a predefined principle.

In an embodiment, the IPTV terminal device may further comprise a selection module configured to select as the master terminal device — if the IPTV terminal device serving as the master terminal device has problems (for example, a power failure) of another IPTV terminal device from other slave interrupted devices. The selection method may be a direct or random selection of one of the other slave devices as the master terminal device, or a selection in accordance with the time spent on the line of each slave terminal device of the slave terminal device with the longest time spent on the line as the master terminal device, or setting that IPTV terminal devices of different types have different priorities, and then the choice as the master terminal device one of the terminal devices with the highest priority, etc.

In an embodiment, the master terminal device and the slave terminal devices have the same status when accessing the bandwidth or releasing the bandwidth of the home network, so there is no master-slave control here; and the master terminal device will perform a single ordering only when the bandwidth exceeds the limit.

In an embodiment where a DVR is present, the IPTV terminal device further comprises a DVR recording module; optionally, in an embodiment, it is established that the DVR recording module, the resource requesting module, and the resource management module are implemented in the same process; that is, the DVR recording function and the bandwidth level conflict management DVR are implemented in the same process, so when bandwidth control and bandwidth control are performed locally, there is no need for call switching among several processes, but only one the process, that is, the connection between the components will not be involved (the process corresponds to the component), which significantly increases the processing speed; at the same time, the DVR can accept the same resource utilization list during local bandwidth management and bandwidth conflict management without the need to maintain a list in each process, which avoids the atypical situation caused by the difference of several lists.

Embodiment 3

For a better understanding of the present invention, its use is also illustrated with reference to a specific home network.

As shown in FIG. 7, the home network in an embodiment comprises a master DVR (DVR concentrator), a separate DVR (Non DVR, hereinafter referred to as a slave DVR), and a mobile terminal, for example, a mobile phone. In this case, the DVR is the master terminal device in the home network; the slave DVR and the mobile terminal are slaves. Both the master DVR and the slave DVR contain an IPTV component and a DVR component; the DVR component comprises a recording and control module, and each of the functional modules for implementing bandwidth resource management, as shown in Embodiment 2 (collectively referred to as bandwidth level conflict management module). At the same time, the DVR component further comprises a recording / reproducing module UI. The mobile terminal comprises a program information UI module for viewing / transmitting / playing video and each of the functional modules for implementing bandwidth resource management, as shown in Embodiment 2 (collectively referred to as bandwidth level conflict management module). Based on the structure of the home network, the bandwidth resource management process is as follows.

The bandwidth-level conflict management module in the master DVR takes on a single control over the use of the bandwidth resources of the entire house and processes a local request for bandwidth and bandwidth utilization; the bandwidth level conflict management module in the slave DVR takes care of updating the home bandwidth usage list and processing the local bandwidth usage request; the bandwidth level conflict management module in the mobile terminal is provided for the mobile terminal's UI module as a dynamic lib library and takes care of updating the bandwidth usage list and processing the local bandwidth usage request, etc., which is specifically the following.

If there is an IPTV service in the master DVR that requires bandwidth access, the bandwidth-level conflict management module in the master DVR evaluates whether there is a conflict in the locally maintained bandwidth usage list, namely, evaluates whether the current remaining bandwidth is satisfactory home network IPTV service requirements; if so, then the bandwidth request is successful, the local bandwidth list is updated, and new bandwidth information is transmitted to the home network in multicast mode; after receiving new bandwidth information, other terminals update the local bandwidth list.

If there is an IPTV service in the master DVR that requires bandwidth access, the bandwidth-level conflict management module in the master DVR evaluates whether there is a conflict in the locally maintained bandwidth usage list, namely, evaluates whether the current remaining bandwidth is satisfactory IPTV service requirements; if so, then the bandwidth request is successful, the local bandwidth list is updated, and new bandwidth information is transmitted to the home network in multicast mode; after receiving new bandwidth information, other terminals update the local bandwidth list.

If the IPTV service requiring bandwidth access is located in the mobile terminal, then the conflict control module at the bandwidth level in the mobile terminal evaluates according to the locally supported bandwidth utilization list whether there is a conflict, namely, evaluates whether the current residual home network bandwidth requirements of the IPTV service; if so, then the bandwidth request is successful, the local bandwidth list is updated, and new bandwidth information is transmitted to the home network in multicast mode; after receiving new bandwidth information, other terminals update the local bandwidth list.

Accordingly, if the IPTV service in the master DVR stops, releasing some bandwidth resources, then the bandwidth level conflict management module in the master DVR updates the local bandwidth usage list and transmits the freed bandwidth to the home network in multicast mode; after receiving the released bandwidth, other terminals update the local bandwidth list.

If the IPTV service stops in the slave DVR, freeing up some bandwidth resources, then the bandwidth-level conflict management module in the slave DVR updates the local bandwidth usage list and transmits the released bandwidth to the home network in multicast mode; after receiving the released bandwidth, other terminals update the local bandwidth list.

If the IPTV service stops at the mobile terminal, freeing up some bandwidth resources, then the bandwidth-level conflict management module in the mobile terminal updates the local bandwidth usage list and transmits the released bandwidth to the home network in multicast mode; after receiving the released bandwidth, other terminals update the local bandwidth list.

In an embodiment, if the bandwidth information is multicast, a sequence of resource requests / resource releases can be recognized according to a UTC timestamp.

In an embodiment, the updated bandwidth information and key information recorded in the bandwidth usage list may comprise service resource URLs, and bandwidth in the home network is controlled based on the URL.

If the home network bandwidth is used up to a critical upper limit, and the master DVR, slave DVR and mobile terminal, respectively, simultaneously apply for bandwidth resources, then a situation may arise in which each of them successfully applies for bandwidth resources, however, the actual total bandwidth exceeds the limit; after the master DVR receives an update notification indicating that the slave DVR or mobile terminal has added bandwidth, and accordingly updates the local bandwidth usage list, if it has been found through collected statistics that the actual usage has exceeded the limit, then in accordance with the current priority of each IPTV service, it is feasible to cancel the occupation of resources by the low priority IPTV service and notify the corresponding terminal about the release Detecting bandwidth resources and stopping the IPTV service (for example, stopping video playback); when services are stopped because resources are reserved, the terminal device can run an event report to notify the UI that the user should be prompted to stop playback due to conflicts.

As you can see, in the embodiment, the bandwidth control of the master terminal device and the bandwidth control of the slave terminal device has the same status when accessing the bandwidth and releasing the bandwidth of the home network, and therefore there is no master control terminal; only when the bandwidth exceeds the limit, the bandwidth control module of the master terminal device performs a single processing.

In the above process, the bandwidth control in the service-based home network is the control of the home bandwidth in accordance with the service resource URLs; if there is a service being used or released, the bandwidth lists on all terminal devices in the house are updated in real time, which ensures the best use of the home bandwidth and avoids the problem that when the control is based on the terminal, some device does not work and use bandwidth is low.

As mentioned above, through technical solutions provided by an embodiment of the present invention, bandwidth level conflict management in a mobile device like a tablet can be implemented by splitting bandwidth level conflict management as a dynamic lib library; uniform planning and conflict management at the bandwidth level by means of the master terminal device reduces the processing complexity on other terminal devices in the home network, expands the detection capabilities of the mobile device’s bandwidth, makes it possible to play video materials on the mobile terminal in conditions of limited home bandwidth and increases user experience satisfaction .

Those skilled in the art can understand that all or part of the steps in the aforementioned method can be performed by appropriate hardware to which instructions have been issued through a program; the program may be stored on a computer-readable storage medium such as read-only memory, magnetic disk, CD, etc. Optionally, all or part of the steps of the aforementioned embodiment may also be implemented using one or more integrated circuits. Accordingly, each module / unit in the above embodiment may be implemented in the form of hardware or in the form of a functional module of hardware. The present invention is not limited to any particular form of combination of hardware and software.

Of course, the present invention may also have many other embodiments; based on the absence of departure from the nature and essence of the present invention, those skilled in the art should be able to make appropriate modifications and changes in accordance with the present invention, however, these corresponding modifications and changes should be within the scope of legal protection of the claims of the present invention.

Industrial applicability

According to the bandwidth management method disclosed by an embodiment of the present invention, a home network bandwidth utilization list is dynamically maintained on each IPTV terminal device in the home network, and bandwidth IPTV service can be implemented locally on each IPTV terminal device in information interaction between devices, thus, it is possible to improve the coordination and management of band resources ropuskaniya and time delay can be avoided when the interaction between the information devices. When the mobile terminal gains access to the home network, there is no conflict at the level of bandwidth resources when playing video on the mobile terminal, and the user can play the video directly on the mobile terminal, thus, the user experience satisfaction can be significantly increased and the best use of the band resources can be achieved. home network bandwidth.

Claims (26)

1. A method for managing bandwidth, including: installation on the terminal device of television in the data transmission networks over IP (IPTV) of the home network of a bandwidth usage list containing current information about the use of the bandwidth of the home network; after receiving the first bandwidth update notification sent by other IPTV terminal devices in the home network, updating the bandwidth utilization list in accordance with the first bandwidth update notification by the IPTV terminal device; and before starting the IPTV service requiring bandwidth occupancy, a request by the IPTV terminal device for the bandwidth required by the IPTV service; in determining that the current residual bandwidth of the home network satisfies the bandwidth required by the IPTV service according to the bandwidth usage list, while applying for the IPTV service bandwidth is successful according to the bandwidth usage list - updating the bandwidth usage list ; and transmitting the first bandwidth update notification to other IPTV terminal devices in the home network. 2. The method according to p. 1, further comprising: when the IPTV service stops, the bandwidth occupied by the IPTV service is released by the IPTV terminal device, the bandwidth utilization list is updated, and the second bandwidth update notification is sent to other IPTV terminal devices in the home network; and after receiving the second bandwidth update notification sent by other IPTV terminal devices in the home network, the IPTV terminal device updates the bandwidth usage list in accordance with the second bandwidth update notification. 3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the bandwidth usage list contains information about the currently running IPTV service, the bandwidth occupied by each IPTV service, and information about the IPTV terminal device in which each IPTV service is located ; wherein the method further includes: if the IPTV terminal device serves as the master terminal device in the home network, collecting statistics on the total bandwidth occupied by the IPTV services in the bandwidth usage list; if the total bandwidth occupied by IPTV services in the bandwidth use list is greater than or equal to the total bandwidth of the home network, transmit to the IPTV terminal device, where at least one IPTV service is in the bandwidth use list, commands to stop at least one IPTV services in accordance with a predefined principle. 4. The method according to p. 1 or 2, characterized in that the IPTV terminal device is a television set-top box (STB), digital video recorder (DVR) or mobile terminal. 5. A television terminal device in IP data transmission networks (IPTV), comprising a resource access module, a resource management module, an information transmission module, and an information receiving module; the resource requesting module is configured to transmit, before starting the IPTV service, requiring bandwidth utilization, a request for bandwidth utilization to the resource management module, while the request for using the bandwidth contains the bandwidth required by the IPTV service; the resource management module is configured to set a bandwidth usage list containing current bandwidth usage information of the home network that owns the IPTV terminal device, to send to the resource request module a success message about bandwidth usage after receiving a request for bandwidth usage and determining in accordance with the bandwidth usage list of the fact that the current residual bandwidth of the home network satisfies TVOC transmittance required IPTV service, update the list of bandwidth, generating a first update notifications bandwidth and update the list of bandwidth utilization according to the first notice of updating bandwidth taken module receiving information from other IPTV terminal devices in the home network; the information transfer module is configured to transmit the first notification of a bandwidth update generated by the resource management module to other IPTV terminal devices in the home network; and the information receiving module is configured to receive a first notification of a bandwidth update transmitted by other IPTV terminal devices in the home network. 6. The IPTV terminal device according to claim 5, further comprising a resource release module configured to release bandwidth occupied by the IPTV service when the IPTV service is stopped; the resource management module is further configured to update upon freeing up the bandwidth occupied by the IPTV service, the bandwidth usage list, generating a second bandwidth update notification and updating the bandwidth usage list in accordance with the second bandwidth update notification received by the information receiving module from other IPTV terminal devices in the home network; the information transfer module is further configured to send a second notification about the bandwidth update generated by the resource management module to other IPTV terminal devices in the home network; and the information receiving module is further configured to receive a second bandwidth update notification transmitted by other IPTV terminal devices in the home network. 7. The IPTV terminal device according to claim 5 or 6, further comprising a resource sequencing module; the bandwidth usage list contains a list of currently running IPTV services, the bandwidth occupied by each of the IPTV services, and information about the IPTV terminal device in which each IPTV service is located; the resource sequencing module is configured to collect, when the IPTV terminal device serves as the master terminal device in the home network, statistics on the total bandwidth occupied by the IPTV services from the bandwidth usage list, and if the total bandwidth occupied by the IPTV services from the list bandwidth usage is greater than or equal to the total bandwidth of the home network, transmitted to the IPTV terminal device, where the bandwidth usage list on at least one IPTV service is running, commands to stop at least one IPTV service in accordance with a predetermined principle. 8. The IPTV terminal device according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the IPTV terminal device is a television set-top box (STB), a digital video recorder (DVR), or a mobile terminal. 9. The IPTV terminal device according to claim 8, characterized in that if the IPTV terminal device is a DVR, the IPTV terminal device further comprises a DVR recording module; DVR recording module, resource requesting module and resource management module are implemented in the same process. 10. A communication system comprising at least two of the above-described television terminal devices in data networks over IP (IPTV) according to any one of paragraphs. 5-9; at least two IPTV terminal devices belong to the same home network and communicate with each other. 11. Machine-readable medium for performing by the terminal device television in data networks over IP (IPTV) method according to any one of paragraphs. 1-4.

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