WO2008049364A1

WO2008049364A1 - Method for transmitting information via channel network

Info

Publication number: WO2008049364A1
Application number: PCT/CN2007/070905
Authority: WO
Inventors: Xinxing Pang; Chungen Liu; Haiqiang Yang; Weizhong Li; Zhigang Wu; Peng Yan; Xinghe Huang; Zhenzhong Dai
Original assignee: Star Software Technology Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2006-10-20
Filing date: 2007-10-16
Publication date: 2008-05-02
Also published as: ZA200903452B; CN1972232A

Abstract

A method for transmitting the information via the channel network includes:11) sending the information ordering request to the information providing end by the information consumption end,the said request specifies the required information content;12)determining the time for sending the information based on the resource of information transmission system according to the information ordering request of each information consumption end;13)receiving the information during the determined time by the information consumption end;14)storing the received information which may be used by the information consumer at the appropriate time into the nonvolatile memory by the information consumption end.

Description

Method for transmitting information through a network channel

This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 200610150639.3, entitled "A Method for Transmitting Information Through a Network Channel", filed on October 20, 2006, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by reference. In the application.

Technical field

The present invention relates to information technology, and more particularly to a method of transmitting information over a network channel. Background technique

With the development of electronic technology and information technology, a variety of information transmission systems for transmitting information through network channels have been produced. For example, using the Internet to transmit a variety of information has become an important means of daily work and entertainment. In addition, there are various broadcast television networks that can transmit audio and video information in broadcast form.

For the information transmission method, various information transmission methods need to consider the immediacy of information transmission and the effectiveness of information transmission. In other words, the information needs to be transmitted to the required terminal in time.

Under the existing network channel transmission system, many methods are used to achieve timely and effective information transmission. The most important way is to use the instant transmission method. In this way, the information consumer sends a request for information to the information provider through the network, and the information provider sends the information required by the information consumer to the information consumer. It is characterized by the fact that once the information consumer requests information, the requested information provides a break and responds immediately. For example, browsing news through the Internet and instant on-demand video festivals through cable television are all such methods. This method is characterized by strong immediacy and is ready to be sent at any time. However, because the usage habits of information consumers are often very similar, channel resources are both wasted and congested. It is difficult for users to obtain information smoothly during peak hours, and the channel resources in the trough period are not fully utilized. The above situation makes the utilization of channel resources extremely unreasonable.

Another way of transmitting information is that the information consumer subscribes to a certain information provider for a certain aspect of information, which information does not exist at the time, but is collected by the information provider (such as a server, etc.). Once the information provider collects the information, it immediately sends the information to the information consumer according to the information request previously submitted by the user. The characteristic of this method is that the information consumption end proposes the type of the demand information, and the information providing end immediately sends the information to the information consumption end when the information is generated. For example, subscribing to a web page for every news is the way to do it. In this way, when sending information relies on the generation of information, the problem of effectively utilizing channel resources is also not considered. There is also a method of information transmission, in which information is played out by the information provider, and the user who needs the information receives the information on a specific channel when needed. Today's TV, radio, etc. are all using this method. In this way, all available transport channels can be utilized on the surface to achieve full utilization of channel resources. However, since the information transmitted in the channel is determined by the information providing end, the user who is the information consumer cannot directly participate, and thus, many information transmitted on the channel is not required by the information consumer, resulting in invalid transmission of information, wasting the channel. Resources. The above-mentioned situation is the case of audio and video programs transmitted by current television and broadcasting systems.

In summary, the channel transmission system in the prior art cannot adequately adjust the channel resources, resulting in invalid, idle or congested channel transmission information.

Summary of the invention

In view of the problems existing in the existing method of transmitting information through a channel network, the technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a method capable of fully utilizing the channel transmission capability and performing information transmission reasonably and efficiently. By using this method, it is possible to ensure that the network channel transmits information required by the information consumer, and can fully utilize the channel resources to avoid channel congestion and idleness caused by unreasonable channel utilization.

The invention provides a method for transmitting information through a channel network, including:

11) the information consumer sends a subscription information request to the information provider, where the content of the required information is specified;

12) determining, according to the resource information of the information transmission system, the time for transmitting the information according to the subscription information request of each information consumer;

13) the information consumer receives the information at the determined time;

14) The information consumer stores the received information in a non-volatile memory, and the information consumer can use it at an appropriate time.

Preferably, before the step 11), the method further includes:

21) a directory in which the information providing end sends the information that can be provided to the information consumer;

In the step 11), when the information consumer sends the order information request, the information of the desired order is selected according to the directory.

Preferably, the information is an audio and video program, and the information directory includes an identifier of the audio and video program and an introduction.

Preferably, the step 12) includes 41) determining, according to the experience data of the information provider and the channel network resource utilization, the real-time status of the resource utilization, and the status of the subscription information of each information consumer, determining a schedule for transmitting the subscription information to each information consumer; when the channel is a bidirectional channel, At the same time, consider the device usage status of the information consumer;

42) Send the schedule to the information consumer.

Preferably, the order information request described in step 11) includes a deadline for the information consumer to obtain the information. If the order information does not include a deadline for the consumer to obtain the information, the system may set a rule to automatically determine the deadline; When the time at which the information is transmitted is determined in step 12), the cut-off time is considered at the same time.

Preferably, the step 13) includes:

61) the information providing end sends information transmission start information to the information consuming end before the determined sending time arrives;

62) The information consumption terminal starts receiving the subscription information according to a time point determined by the activation information.

Preferably, in the step 61), the information providing end sends the information transmission initiation information to the information consumption end, including the channel used for transmitting the information; in the step 62), the information consumption end receives the information on the channel.

Preferably, the channel network is: Internet, local area network, wireless broadcast network, cable television network, wired telephone network, mobile telephone network.

Preferably, the channel network is a broadcast network, and information is sent from the information providing end to the information consuming end in a broadcast form in the network.

Preferably, the information consumption end of the broadcast network is divided into a plurality of service groups as a client, and the same channel in the same service group transmits the same information in a broadcast manner.

Preferably, when the broadcast network is a one-way broadcast network, the client sends a subscription information request by using a mobile phone short message, a voice call, the Internet, or the like.

Preferably, the broadcast network constitutes a video on demand system, the client is a set top box, the set top box has a non-volatile memory or is connected to a non-volatile memory; and the information providing end is a video on demand system background.

Preferably, in the step 13), the set top box receives the information at the determined time, and receives the information at the determined time and at a frequency determined by the background of the video on demand system. Preferably, when the video on demand system sends information in the background, the information is broadcast to a service group where the client that subscribes to the specific program is located.

The basic idea of the present invention is that when the information consumption end has a storage device such as a nonvolatile memory, the information consumption terminal pre-orders the information required by itself to the information providing end. The information providing end determines the reasonable time for transmitting the information according to the utilization status of the network channel, and transmits the information according to the information. The information consumer stores the received information on a non-volatile memory that can be used by the information consumer when needed.

The method provided by the invention can effectively adjust network channel resources, avoid waste and congestion of channel resources, and fully meet the needs of information consumers, and improve the effectiveness of information transmission.

The method provided by the invention is especially suitable for use in a video on demand system composed of a broadcasting system such as a cable television network. In such a system, the channel resources are limited, the amount of information transmission is large, and the consumption time of the information consumer has great similarity, so that the problems of channel congestion and idleness are serious. By using the method provided by the invention, information can be sent according to the user's order request, and reasonable scheduling can be performed, and the transmission capability of the network idle time can be fully utilized to transmit the required program and information to the information consumption end local to the information consumer. The consumer stores the program on a local storage device. When the information consumer needs it, the stored program can be read and viewed from the local storage device. Therefore, the method provided by the present invention can greatly improve the channel resource utilization of the video on demand system at the expense of immediacy. At the same time, the method can avoid invalid program transmission by broadcasting programs to a specific service group according to the order of the information consumer, thereby improving the effectiveness of system resource utilization. Since the information consumer stores a lot of required programs locally, the demand for on-demand can be greatly reduced. Therefore, the method can significantly reduce the transmission time of the video on demand system during peak hours.

In summary, the method provided by the present invention is an effective way to fully utilize the transmission capability of network channel resources, and can play the role of clipping peaks and valleys, thereby realizing efficient use of channel resources.

DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a flow chart of a first embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a flow chart of a second embodiment of the present invention.

detailed description

A first embodiment of the present invention provides a method of transmitting information over a channel network, the method being based on a certain channel network. The so-called channel is a channel for transmitting information by using optical paths, circuits, and the like. A channel network is a network formed by optical paths, circuits, and the like for information transmission. The method can be used for various channel networks, packages Including the Internet, local area networks, wireless broadcast networks, cable television networks, wired telephone networks, mobile telephone networks, and the like. The method is used for transmitting information of an information providing end of a channel network having information to an information consumption end of the channel network that requires information, and the information consumption end has a nonvolatile memory for storing information. The method is characterized in that the information consuming end provides a request for subscribing to a certain information to the information providing end, and the information providing end sends the information to the information consuming end according to the request and according to the resource condition of the channel network at an appropriate time. The information consumer stores the information on a non-volatile memory. When required by the information consumer, the subscription information can be obtained from the local non-volatile memory at any time. The detailed process for implementing the method will be described below in conjunction with FIG.

Please refer to FIG. 1, which is a flowchart of a first embodiment of the present invention.

Step S101: The information providing end sends a directory of the information that can be provided to the information consumption end.

Since the object of the present invention is to improve the efficient use of channel resources, it is necessary to first understand the needs of information consumers. The needs of information consumers are generally based on certain content prompts for them to make choices. Therefore, the information provider as the information owner should provide a directory of information owned by itself and send it to the information consumer for the user to select. The directory should include the number of the content of the content for the user to select; it can also include an introduction to the content of the message. For example, if the information is a video program, the user can use the profile to make a judgment as to whether or not the information is needed. The content introduction can also be a simple title, for example, the user can know whether he or she is interested in reading according to the news title.

Step S102: The information consumption end sends a subscription information request to the information providing end, where the content of the required information is specified.

The order request of the information consumer is a prerequisite for information transmission. The order request is based on the steps

The information catalog in S101 is selected by the information consumer. The content of the request includes the number of the required information and may also include the deadline for the information. For example, you need to get a video show within 24 hours.

Step S103: Determine, according to the resource condition of the information transmission system, a schedule for sending the subscription information to each information consumption end.

The information transmission system refers to a complete information transmission system composed of an information providing end, a channel network and various information consumption ends. According to the resource situation of the information transmission system, according to the experience data of the information providing end and the channel network resource utilization, the real-time status of the system resource utilization, and the status of each information consumption terminal ordering information, it is determined that the order information is sent to each information consumption end. schedule. when When the information transmission system is a two-way information transmission system, when determining the schedule information of the subscription information, the device usage status of the information consumption end may also be considered.

Here, we can know the status of the resources of the entire messaging system in time. Therefore, we can know when the information transmission system has sufficient resources and when resources are tight. In particular, it can be known in the channel network. Channel resources are particularly tight, when channel resources are abundant. Further, information can be transmitted in a reasonable manner using resources, especially in a period of abundant channel resources. If the information ordering request also includes the deadline for ordering information, the deadline should also be considered as one of the basis for determining the timetable. If the information ordering request does not include the deadline for ordering information, the system can determine a deadline for it. The specified deadline of the system can prevent the subscription information from becoming too late due to the long delivery time. Since the use of channel resources has a certain regularity in a general channel network, it is actually possible to sum up the empirical data of some channel resource usage for use in setting a schedule. For example, in the 24 hours a day, the peak period of channel resource utilization has a certain regularity; and during the week, the channel resource utilization also has certain regularity, and these rules can also be utilized. In addition, depending on the characteristics of the specific channel network, the schedule may also consider the status of the subscription information of each information consumer. For example, for a broadcast network divided into service groups, the status of each client subscription information of the same service group needs to be considered. When a service group that subscribes to the same information has more information in a service group, the information should be preferentially transmitted. In addition, it is also necessary to consider the deadline in the information consumer subscription information request, or the deadline specified by the system, to ensure delivery to the information consumer before the deadline is reached.

Step S104: Send the schedule to the information consumption end.

The timetable allows the information consumer to know when it is ready to receive the information, and therefore must first be sent to the information consumer. If it is a point-to-point information transmission network, it is sent by the information provider to the designated information consumer. If it is a broadcast network, the information provider sends a unified broadcast schedule to each information consumer that falls on the same broadcast network.

Step S105: The information providing end sends information transmission start information to the information consumer before the determined sending time arrives.

Although the schedule is already available, the specific time of information transmission may be slightly changed. The purpose of the information transmission initiation information is to synchronize the information transmission of the information provider with the information reception of the information consumer. If it is a broadcast channel network, the information transmission start message also needs to specify a transmission letter. The channel number of the message so that the information consumer receives it on the channel.

Step S106: The information consumption end starts receiving the subscription information according to a time point determined by the startup information.

In the case of a broadcast network, the information consumer receives the subscription information on the designated channel at the specified time.

Step S107: The information consumer stores the received information in a non-volatile memory.

The reason why the present invention can realize information ordering is that it has a non-volatile memory for storing information on the information consumption side. This memory provides the possibility for information to be stored locally in the information consumer, allowing the use of information to be extended. For systems that do not have information storage means, they must be consumed while obtaining information. Therefore, it is not possible to use subscription to achieve information consumption.

The information consumption of the ordering method is actually to relax the time for transmitting information on the channel, and the information can be transmitted by using the channel idle time.

The method for transmitting information through a channel network provided by the present invention is particularly suitable for a broadcast system with limited channel resources. In this system, the video on demand system background is used as an information providing terminal for providing a video program to a client as an information consumer. The method provided by the present invention is applied to a video on demand system based on a cable television network, and a subscription-based video on demand method can be provided on the basis of the original system, so as to fully utilize the channel resources of the cable television network.

The video on demand system on which the above-mentioned subscription video on demand is implemented is characterized by the following aspects. 1. The video on demand system broadcasts video programs in a broadcast manner, and the smallest unit for transmitting video program files is a service group, that is, all clients in the same service group necessarily receive the same program at the same frequency. For each service group, programs can be broadcast simultaneously at different frequency points of the same line; in a digital video on demand system, multiple programs can be simultaneously transmitted at the same frequency point.

2. The video on demand system can be a two-way system or a one-way system. In the two-way system, the client can directly send the program order information to the background of the video on demand system through the television network. If the system is a one-way system, program subscriptions are required with other communication devices.

Based on the video on demand system described above, a second embodiment of the present invention provides a subscription video on demand method. 2 is a flow chart of a subscription video on demand method provided by the present invention. The following description will be made in conjunction with the flowchart.

In step S201, program preparation is performed. The so-called program preparation is to store the digitized video program file in the background of the video on demand system, and generate other information related to the file, for example, the content introduction of the program, the on-demand price, the related on-demand record, etc., and the information can be sent to the client. Provided so that the user can select a program based on this.

Step S202, generating a program directory.

This step is to generate related directories according to various video program files stored in the background of the video on demand system. The purpose of this directory is to classify video program files according to the operator's plan. Generate a search directory to provide to the user for user inquiries.

Step S203: The client accesses the program directory.

In the two-way video on demand system, the client receives the client control, generates the relevant access instruction and sends it to the background of the video on demand system, and the access instruction is used to query the program directory in the background of the video on demand system; the video on demand system background according to the instruction In the client identifier, the query obtains the service group where the client is located, and broadcasts the program directory to the service group. The program directory information includes the identity of the query client, and the client sends the program directory information to the client according to the identity identifier, and then reads the program directory information.

In the one-way video on demand system, the client information sending end receives the customer control, and sends the relevant access request to the client information receiving end through the short message, the voice call, the login webpage, etc., and receives the client information. The end is converted into an access instruction that can be received by the system background, and sent to the background of the system. In the background of the system, the registration information is queried by the mobile phone number, the client identifier for issuing the access command and the service group in which the access command is issued are obtained, and the program directory information is sent to the service group. The program directory information includes the identity of the query client, and the client sends the program directory information to the client according to the identity identifier, and then reads the program directory information.

Step S204, selecting a subscription program according to the program directory.

After the client obtains the program directory, it receives the user's selection, selects a suitable program in the program directory, and generates a subscription program list.

If the video on demand system is a two-way system, the user can make the selection directly through the client's input and output unit and generate a list of subscription programs directly at the client.

If the video on demand system is a one-way system, the user can use the mobile phone short message, voice call, network login, etc. to edit the related short message according to the program directory obtained by the client or generate a list of the ordered program by means of voice call, network login, and the like. Step S205, sending a subscription program request to the background of the video on demand system.

After the user selects the generated list of the program, the order program request is generated in combination with the corresponding command and the request, and the order program request is sent to the background of the video on demand system. The order program request includes a list of programs to be ordered, the order program request further including a program identification of the desired order program; a client identification for ordering the program; and related order information such as the time of the program.

In a two-way video on demand system, the subscription program request is generated at the client and transmitted from the client to the system via the network of the television network.

In the one-way video on demand system, the subscription program request is generated at the client information receiving end and directly transmitted to the system background.

Step S206: The video on demand system receives the subscription program request sent by each client in the background and performs corresponding processing.

After receiving the subscription program request from the client, the video on demand system needs to query the user management unit for the related record of the client according to the request, and determine whether it has the right to subscribe to the program. If the right to order the program, the order is recorded for billing.

Step S207: The video on demand system generates a program play schedule according to the subscription program request of each client and the system load condition.

After receiving the subscription program request from each client of different service groups, the video on demand system generates a program play schedule according to the load condition of the video on demand system. The program play schedule must be determined by considering all aspects of the system.

The comprehensive consideration of various aspects is based on the comprehensive consideration of the working characteristics of the video on demand system. First, the video on demand system is a broadcast system, and the broadcasted program must be broadcast to all clients of a service group in units of service groups. Therefore, when broadcasting a program, it is necessary to consider the order of each client of the service group, so as to maximize The degree meets the needs of each client of the service group. Secondly, for the video on demand system, a video program file must be completely transmitted and cannot be decomposed and transmitted in the form of a data packet. This requires that a video program file be transmitted at the beginning, and the system must be sufficient for the entire transmission process. The bandwidth can meet all the tasks of the video on demand system. Considering the above situation, it is also necessary to consider that the video on demand system needs to complete the point-and-click task at the same time. Therefore, the system needs to reserve enough system load to complete the time. Point-and-click tasks that may occur, this is It is necessary to estimate the system load that can be used to transmit the subscription program according to the cyclical changes of the system load; another factor to be considered is the time when the client subscribes to a certain program, and should strive for the scheduled viewing time at the client. The program was completely transferred and saved to the client. In short, after comprehensively considering the above situation, it is possible to obtain a reasonable broadcast schedule of the scheduled program to achieve full use of system resources.

Step S208: Before the program is played according to the play schedule, the video on demand system generates a program play notification instruction in the background, and transmits the program to the client that subscribes to the program.

Since the client needs to adjust the frequency of playing the program to receive the program after the program is started, it is necessary to have a system background to notify the program before the program is played, so that the background broadcast and the client's reception can be synchronized. If the schedule is played only according to the program, the program may not be correctly received between the system background and the client due to non-synchronization. The play notification command also includes related information such as a channel number of the broadcast program.

Step S209: The video on demand system starts broadcasting the predetermined program on the designated channel through the cable television network to the designated service group at the time specified by the program play schedule.

Step S210: The client that subscribes to the program receives the broadcast program on the designated channel according to the play notification instruction, and stores the program in the storage unit for playing.

The client that subscribes to the program receives the broadcast program at a specified time and a designated frequency according to the play notification instruction; meanwhile, the broadcast program is stored in a storage unit located at the client. When the client is a set top box, the set top box may have a storage unit dedicated to storing video program files. Of course, the storage unit may also be a storage unit independent of the set top box. As long as it is located at the client end, the user can conveniently read the video program file stored in the storage unit at any time.

Through the above process, the video on demand system multicasts the video program file ordered by the client to the service where the client is located according to the subscription information of the client, and the client receives and stores the video program file. So that you can play it later.

The above is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and it should be noted that those skilled in the art can also make several improvements and retouchings without departing from the principles of the present invention. It should be considered as the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

Rights request

A method for transmitting information through a channel network, comprising:

13) the information consumer receives the information at the determined time;

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein before the step 11), the method further comprises:

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the information is an audio and video program, and the information directory includes an identifier of an audio and video program and an introduction.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step 12) comprises

41) determining, according to the experience data of the information provider and the channel network resource utilization, the real-time status of the resource utilization, and the status of the subscription information of each information consumer, determining a schedule for transmitting the subscription information to each information consumer; when the channel is a bidirectional channel, At the same time, consider the device usage status of the information consumer;

42) Send the schedule to the information consumer.

The method according to claim 1, wherein the order information request in step 11) includes a deadline for the information consumer to obtain the information, and if the order information does not include the deadline for the consumer to obtain the information. At the time, the system can set the rule to automatically determine the cut-off time; when determining the time at which the information is sent in the step 12), the cut-off time is simultaneously considered.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step 13) comprises:

62) The information consumption terminal starts to receive the subscription information according to a time point determined by the startup information.

The method according to claim 6, wherein in the step 61), the information providing end sends the information transmission initiation information to the information consumption end, including the channel used for transmitting the information; the step 62) The information consumer receives information on the channel.

The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the channel network is: the Internet, a local area network, a wireless broadcast network, a cable television network, a wired telephone network, and a mobile telephone network.

The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the channel network is a broadcast network, and information is transmitted from the information providing end to the information consumption end in a broadcast form in the network.

The method according to claim 9, wherein the information consumption end of the broadcast network is divided into a plurality of service groups as a client, and the same channel in the same service group transmits the same information in a broadcast manner.

The method according to claim 10, wherein when the broadcast network is a one-way broadcast network, the client sends a subscription information request by using a mobile phone short message, a voice call, the Internet, or the like.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the broadcast network constitutes a video on demand system, the client is a set top box, and the set top box has a nonvolatile memory or is connected to a nonvolatile memory; The end is the background of the video on demand system.

The method according to claim 12, wherein in the step 13), the set top box receives the information at the determined time, at the determined time, and at a frequency determined by the background of the video on demand system. Receive information.

The method according to claim 13, wherein when the video on-demand system sends information, the information is broadcast to a service group where the client that subscribes to the specific program is located.