WO2006128491A1 - Method for transmitting information in a multicast environment - Google Patents
Method for transmitting information in a multicast environment Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2006128491A1 WO2006128491A1 PCT/EP2005/011543 EP2005011543W WO2006128491A1 WO 2006128491 A1 WO2006128491 A1 WO 2006128491A1 EP 2005011543 W EP2005011543 W EP 2005011543W WO 2006128491 A1 WO2006128491 A1 WO 2006128491A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- individual information
- server
- identification number
- user device
- network
- Prior art date
Links
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
- H04L12/00—Data switching networks
- H04L12/02—Details
- H04L12/16—Arrangements for providing special services to substations
- H04L12/18—Arrangements for providing special services to substations for broadcast or conference, e.g. multicast
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a method for transmitting information to an individual end-user device in a multicast environment.
- Multi-media services are increasingly provided to customers.
- Examples of multi-media services are triple-play services whereby voice, Internet/data and video related services are provided.
- triple-play service provisioning takes place in a multicast environment.
- Multicast is communication between a single sender and multiple receivers on a network. Typical use include the distribution of video such as video on demand.
- Standards are being developed to support multicasting over a TCP/IP network (such as the Internet).
- IP Multicast An example of such a standard is IP Multicast.
- IP Multicast In relation to multicast environments the problem of transmitting single messages to an individual receiver has been identified. This can be relevant in an architecture wherein a residential gateway at the customer's location is used for the interfacing between the end-user devices and the broadband network.
- IP-addresses have been assigned to the end-user devices, i.e. an end-user device can be addressed by means of its private IP-address by other end-user device comprised by the private domain.
- private IP-addresses are not defined in the public domain, i.e. it is not possible from a device in the public domain to address a specific end-user device as a destination device by means of a private IP-address. This is because only public IP- addresses are defined in the public domain. So, although a public IP-address is assigned to the residential gateway, the end-user devices behind the residential gateway cannot be addressed individually because the private IP-addresses of the end-user devices are not known in the public domain.
- a known solution for this problem is the mechanism of port forwarding in the residential gateway. However, a drawback of this known solution is that additional configuration steps in relation to the residential gateway are required. According to another known solution a dedicated channel can de defined between the sender and a receiving end-user device. However, the amount of simultaneousiy active channels can then be considerably high.
- individual information can be transmitted via a barker channel between a server and an individual end-user device.
- the present invention enables, inter alia, individual information that is addressed to a specific customer to appear on the television screen. This is accomplished by transmitting the individual information via the barker channel from a server to the set-top box via which the television is connected to the access infrastructure.
- an identification number can be added to the individual information.
- the present invention makes use of the insight that set-top boxes already are provided with a unique code. As a result of this, the adding to the individual information of an identification number that is related to the unique code of a specific set-top box enables to individually address set-top boxes.
- a barker channel can be used for transmitting generic information to end-user devices.
- IP addresses are used for the identification of the end-user devices.
- IP related network environments this is a problem since it is not possible then to address from the public domain one specific end-user device.
- the scope of this invention is not limited to IP related networks; also other types of networks wherein private addressing is applied are considered.
- the end-user devices referred to above can be part of a home network of a customer, although corporate local network environments are not excluded in this invention. Typically there is a broadband network to which customer network environments and corporate network environments are connected by means of an access network.
- Several communication services may be provided via such an infrastructure, for instance data services, Internet, voice and digital video services (Triple Play).
- the IP protocol is used combined with other communication protocols such as FTTH (fiber to the home), ADSL (asymmetric digital subscriber line) or VDSL (very high speed digital subscriber line).
- An end-user device can for example be a personal computer system, a television set, a set-top box or a telephone. However, an end-user device can also be any other type of device that resides at the customer premise such as a residential gateway, a DSL modem or a set-top box.
- the access infrastructure may be comprised of copper, fiber or wireless components (or a combination of these).
- the communication path between a customer premise and a public telephone exchange is partly comprised of fiber, i.e. between the public telephone exchange and the DSLAM there is fiber, while between the DSLAM and the customer premise there is copper wire.
- the access infrastructure is a mobile infrastructure enabling mobile end-user devices (such as 3G and 4G handsets) to connect to a network.
- the present invention enables, inter alia, individual information addressed to a specific customer to appear on the television screen. This is accomplished by transmitting this individual information via the barker channel from a server to the set-top box via which the television is connected to the access infrastructure.
- Individual information in this context can for instance be data that appears on the television screen indicating that the customer has received a phone
- an identification number to the individual information that is to be transmitted via the barkerchannel.
- the present invention makes use of the insight that set-top boxes already are provided with a unique code. As a result of this, adding to the individual information of an identification number that is related to the unique code of a specific set-top box enables that specific set-top box to be addressed.
- an end-user device may be equipped (for instance by means of software measures) to detect the identification number that is added to individual information. In the case that the identification number equals (or is related to) the unique code of the end-user device, the end-user device will process the individual information. If, however, the identification number does not equal (or relate) to the unique code of a set-top box, then that settop box won't process the individual information.
- FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an architecture whereby a customer environment (8) is connected to a broadband network (1).
- FIG. 2 is a block diagram in which the concept of transmitting individual information to an end-user device in a multicast environment is depicted.
- FIG. 1 shows a network (1), such as a broadband network, via which services such as triple play services can be provided to customers.
- the network (1) can be based on any type of communication technology such as FTTH (fiber to the home), ADSL, VDSL, MPLS, or mobile communication protocols.
- a server (2) is connected to the network (1).
- the server (2) can for instance host a video server, although it is also possible that more than one media applications are hosted by server (2).
- the architecture is based on the IP protocol although this is not a limitation in relation to the present invention.
- DSLAM 9 (Digital Subscriber Line
- the DSLAM (9) is in general part of an access infrastructure and may be operated by the same party that operates the network (1). Implementations of the access infrastructure between the customer environment (8) and the network (1) may be different, dependent on the technology (ADSL, VDSL, etc.) to be supported.
- the DSLAM (9) takes connections from many customers and aggregates them onto a single, high-capacity connection to the network (1).
- a DSLAM (9) is generally flexible and able to support multiple types of DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) in a single central office, and different varieties of protocol and modulation.
- different customer environments (8) may be connected via a copper wire (xDSL) to the DSLAM (9).
- the DSLAM (9) may for instance support ADSL whereby the DSLAM (9) is connected to the network (1) via a fiber infrastructure.
- the customer environment (8) can be connected to the DSLAM (9) by means of for instance a residential gateway (3)
- the residential gateway (3) is network device located at the customer premise that interfaces between the home network (comprising end-user devices) and the public access network (comprising e.g. the DSLAM (9)).
- the residential gateway (3) may also be able to connect the end-user devices that reside at the customer location (8).
- End- user devices may for instance be a personal computer (4) via which data or Internet services may be provided, a television (6) that is connected to the residential gateway (3) via a set-top box (STB) (5) for the provisioning of digital and/or interactive television, and an IP telephone (7) for the provisioning of IP telephony.
- STB set-top box
- IP telephone for the provisioning of IP telephony.
- the provisioning of this combination of services is often called triple play.
- a broadcast based architecture in relation to the network (1). For example, there may be 50 television channels and 100 radio channels broadcasted from the video server (which is hosted by server (2)) to the DSLAM's (9). Between the customer environment (8) and a DSLAM (9), however, there might be used a multicast mechanism instead of a broadcast mechanism. When a set- top box (5) has registered to a particular channel (one of the set of 100 television channels) this channel will be routed by the DSLAM (9) to the residential gateway to which the STB (5) is connected. Registration in a multicast environment can for instance be accomplished using the Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP).
- IGMP Internet Group Management Protocol
- a barker channel (12) that is defined between the server (2) and the STB (5) additional information can be provided to the customer.
- This additional information can for instance be background information relating the television program that is watched by the customer or any type of promotional information.
- the customer can request for the additional information but in general the same information is being broadcasted to all the customers and each customer may choose whether or not to receive the information.
- the barker channel (12) will provide data and system information on all content and services being broadcasted.
- the client derives a menu of services available on the network from the barker channel (12).
- Client software in the STB (5) will use the barker channel (12) to capture material regardless of the channel in which it appears.
- the client software will filter and capture or display content based on metadata tags attached to the content.
- FIG. 2 shows a number of aspects that are part of amethod according to the present invention for an architecture similar to that of FIG. 1.
- This method enables individual information (10) to be transmitted to an individual STB (5), i.e. information that is intended for a specific customer. This in contrary to the additional information that normally can be received by a STB (5) via a barker channel.
- individual information (10) is sent by the server (2) via the barker channel (12).
- the server (2) can add for addressing purposes an identification number (11) to the individual information (10).
- STB's already have a unique code that can be a reference for the identification code (11), i.e. the unique code can be used to address a set-top box (5).
- the individual information (10) comprises an announcement to a specific customer or end-user device informing that customer or end-user device that, for instance, a message is available at server (2). After having received this announcement the customer or end-user device is able to retrieve the message from server (2).
- the way for retrieving the message can be according to any type of communication scheme or protocol. Not only messages can be retrieved but also any other type of information such as software updates, files and multi-media applications.
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (4)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
AU2005332492A AU2005332492A1 (en) | 2005-06-01 | 2005-10-25 | Method for transmitting information in a multicast environment |
US11/920,389 US20090028153A1 (en) | 2005-05-12 | 2005-10-25 | Method for Transmitting Information in a Multicast Environment |
EP05798044A EP1891773A1 (en) | 2005-06-01 | 2005-10-25 | Method for transmitting information in a multicast environment |
CA002610168A CA2610168A1 (en) | 2005-06-01 | 2005-10-25 | Method for transmitting information in a multicast environment |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US68615705P | 2005-06-01 | 2005-06-01 | |
US60/686,157 | 2005-06-01 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO2006128491A1 true WO2006128491A1 (en) | 2006-12-07 |
Family
ID=35385546
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/EP2005/011543 WO2006128491A1 (en) | 2005-05-12 | 2005-10-25 | Method for transmitting information in a multicast environment |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP1891773A1 (en) |
AU (1) | AU2005332492A1 (en) |
CA (1) | CA2610168A1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2006128491A1 (en) |
Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5990972A (en) * | 1996-10-22 | 1999-11-23 | Lucent Technologies, Inc. | System and method for displaying a video menu |
US6305019B1 (en) * | 1997-01-13 | 2001-10-16 | Diva Systems Corporation | System for interactively distributing information services having a remote video session manager |
US20040190699A1 (en) * | 2001-06-05 | 2004-09-30 | Bell Canada | Method and system for facilitating telecommunications service provisioning and service assurance |
-
2005
- 2005-10-25 WO PCT/EP2005/011543 patent/WO2006128491A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 2005-10-25 CA CA002610168A patent/CA2610168A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2005-10-25 AU AU2005332492A patent/AU2005332492A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2005-10-25 EP EP05798044A patent/EP1891773A1/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5990972A (en) * | 1996-10-22 | 1999-11-23 | Lucent Technologies, Inc. | System and method for displaying a video menu |
US6305019B1 (en) * | 1997-01-13 | 2001-10-16 | Diva Systems Corporation | System for interactively distributing information services having a remote video session manager |
US20040190699A1 (en) * | 2001-06-05 | 2004-09-30 | Bell Canada | Method and system for facilitating telecommunications service provisioning and service assurance |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
AU2005332492A1 (en) | 2006-12-07 |
EP1891773A1 (en) | 2008-02-27 |
CA2610168A1 (en) | 2006-12-07 |
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