WO2008148282A1 - Methods and devices for receiving multimedia service and assistant receiving multimedia service - Google Patents

Methods and devices for receiving multimedia service and assistant receiving multimedia service Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2008148282A1
WO2008148282A1 PCT/CN2008/000303 CN2008000303W WO2008148282A1 WO 2008148282 A1 WO2008148282 A1 WO 2008148282A1 CN 2008000303 W CN2008000303 W CN 2008000303W WO 2008148282 A1 WO2008148282 A1 WO 2008148282A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
service
multimedia service
multimedia
address
network
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/CN2008/000303
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Qingshan Zhang
Songwei Ma
Renxiang Yan
Haibo Wen
Original Assignee
Alcatel Lucent
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Alcatel Lucent filed Critical Alcatel Lucent
Priority to KR1020147024905A priority Critical patent/KR101508918B1/ko
Priority to EP08706481.2A priority patent/EP2166762B1/en
Priority to US12/451,331 priority patent/US8898712B2/en
Priority to KR1020107000070A priority patent/KR101447495B1/ko
Publication of WO2008148282A1 publication Critical patent/WO2008148282A1/zh

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N7/00—Television systems
    • H04N7/16—Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems
    • H04N7/173—Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal
    • H04N7/17309—Transmission or handling of upstream communications
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L61/00—Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
    • H04L61/50—Address allocation
    • H04L61/5069—Address allocation for group communication, multicast communication or broadcast communication
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L65/00—Network arrangements, protocols or services for supporting real-time applications in data packet communication
    • H04L65/60—Network streaming of media packets
    • H04L65/61—Network streaming of media packets for supporting one-way streaming services, e.g. Internet radio
    • H04L65/611—Network streaming of media packets for supporting one-way streaming services, e.g. Internet radio for multicast or broadcast
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/20—Servers specifically adapted for the distribution of content, e.g. VOD servers; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/25—Management operations performed by the server for facilitating the content distribution or administrating data related to end-users or client devices, e.g. end-user or client device authentication, learning user preferences for recommending movies
    • H04N21/262—Content or additional data distribution scheduling, e.g. sending additional data at off-peak times, updating software modules, calculating the carousel transmission frequency, delaying a video stream transmission, generating play-lists
    • H04N21/26283—Content or additional data distribution scheduling, e.g. sending additional data at off-peak times, updating software modules, calculating the carousel transmission frequency, delaying a video stream transmission, generating play-lists for associating distribution time parameters to content, e.g. to generate electronic program guide data
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/43—Processing of content or additional data, e.g. demultiplexing additional data from a digital video stream; Elementary client operations, e.g. monitoring of home network or synchronising decoder's clock; Client middleware
    • H04N21/434—Disassembling of a multiplex stream, e.g. demultiplexing audio and video streams, extraction of additional data from a video stream; Remultiplexing of multiplex streams; Extraction or processing of SI; Disassembling of packetised elementary stream
    • H04N21/4345—Extraction or processing of SI, e.g. extracting service information from an MPEG stream
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/47—End-user applications
    • H04N21/482—End-user interface for program selection
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/47—End-user applications
    • H04N21/482—End-user interface for program selection
    • H04N21/4821—End-user interface for program selection using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/60—Network structure or processes for video distribution between server and client or between remote clients; Control signalling between clients, server and network components; Transmission of management data between server and client, e.g. sending from server to client commands for recording incoming content stream; Communication details between server and client 
    • H04N21/61—Network physical structure; Signal processing
    • H04N21/6106—Network physical structure; Signal processing specially adapted to the downstream path of the transmission network
    • H04N21/6125—Network physical structure; Signal processing specially adapted to the downstream path of the transmission network involving transmission via Internet
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/60—Network structure or processes for video distribution between server and client or between remote clients; Control signalling between clients, server and network components; Transmission of management data between server and client, e.g. sending from server to client commands for recording incoming content stream; Communication details between server and client 
    • H04N21/63—Control signaling related to video distribution between client, server and network components; Network processes for video distribution between server and clients or between remote clients, e.g. transmitting basic layer and enhancement layers over different transmission paths, setting up a peer-to-peer communication via Internet between remote STB's; Communication protocols; Addressing
    • H04N21/64—Addressing
    • H04N21/6405—Multicasting
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/60—Network structure or processes for video distribution between server and client or between remote clients; Control signalling between clients, server and network components; Transmission of management data between server and client, e.g. sending from server to client commands for recording incoming content stream; Communication details between server and client 
    • H04N21/63—Control signaling related to video distribution between client, server and network components; Network processes for video distribution between server and clients or between remote clients, e.g. transmitting basic layer and enhancement layers over different transmission paths, setting up a peer-to-peer communication via Internet between remote STB's; Communication protocols; Addressing
    • H04N21/643—Communication protocols
    • H04N21/64322—IP
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/60—Network structure or processes for video distribution between server and client or between remote clients; Control signalling between clients, server and network components; Transmission of management data between server and client, e.g. sending from server to client commands for recording incoming content stream; Communication details between server and client 
    • H04N21/65—Transmission of management data between client and server
    • H04N21/658—Transmission by the client directed to the server
    • H04N21/6581—Reference data, e.g. a movie identifier for ordering a movie or a product identifier in a home shopping application
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/60—Network structure or processes for video distribution between server and client or between remote clients; Control signalling between clients, server and network components; Transmission of management data between server and client, e.g. sending from server to client commands for recording incoming content stream; Communication details between server and client 
    • H04N21/65—Transmission of management data between client and server
    • H04N21/658—Transmission by the client directed to the server
    • H04N21/6582—Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/80—Generation or processing of content or additional data by content creator independently of the distribution process; Content per se
    • H04N21/83—Generation or processing of protective or descriptive data associated with content; Content structuring
    • H04N21/84—Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N7/00—Television systems
    • H04N7/16—Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems
    • H04N7/173—Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal
    • H04N7/17309—Transmission or handling of upstream communications
    • H04N7/17318—Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N7/00—Television systems
    • H04N7/16—Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems
    • H04N7/173—Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal
    • H04N7/17345—Control of the passage of the selected programme
    • H04N7/17354—Control of the passage of the selected programme in an intermediate station common to a plurality of user terminals

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to communication networks, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for assisting a user terminal to receive multimedia services in a communication network and a method and apparatus for receiving multimedia services by a user terminal.
  • the first step is to NSP (Network).
  • the multimedia service management device of the Service Provider (Network Service Provider) requests to allocate a multicast network address for the multimedia service for the transmission of the multimedia service.
  • the multimedia service guide device (or the Program Guide Server, usually provided by the ICP) generates a multimedia service guide (or program guide) based on information such as the multicast network address and the multimedia service content description assigned by the multimedia service management device.
  • the user terminal When the user terminal receives the multimedia service, the user terminal first receives a multimedia service guide of various multimedia services provided by the ICP from the multimedia service guide device, where the multimedia service guide includes information such as a multimedia service name, a multimedia service content description, and the multimedia The multicast network address corresponding to the service, and displays information such as the multimedia service name and the multimedia service content description on the screen.
  • the user selects the multimedia service to be viewed according to the multimedia service name displayed on the screen and the multimedia service content description, and the user terminal joins the multicast corresponding to the multicast network address of the multimedia service according to the multimedia service selected by the user. Group to receive the multimedia service and display it on the screen.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a network topology structure in which a user terminal receives a multimedia service through a multimedia service guide in a prior art, where a user terminal is located in a user network, a multimedia service management device is located in an NSP network, a multimedia service guide device, and a multimedia service service.
  • the server is located in the ICP network.
  • 2 is a flow chart showing a system method for a user terminal to receive multimedia services using a multimedia service guide in the network topology shown in FIG. 1.
  • the multimedia service management device notifies the multimedia service guide device of the multicast network address allocated for the multimedia service via one or more routers, and may also notify the multimedia network address of the multicast network address allocated for the multimedia service.
  • the service server (this step is not shown in Figure 2), or otherwise informs the multimedia service server.
  • the multimedia service guide device generates a multimedia service guide according to the received multicast network address of the multimedia service and the multimedia service content description, and the multimedia service content description and the like may be sent by the multimedia service management device along with the multicast network address.
  • the multimedia service guide device may also be obtained in other manners, for example, pre-stored in the multimedia service guide device by the ICP.
  • step bl the user terminal sends a message requesting to receive the multimedia service guide to the multimedia service guide device, and secondly, in step b2, the user terminal receives the multimedia service guide from the multimedia service guide device. . Then, according to the multimedia service selected by the user, in step b5, the user terminal joins the multicast group corresponding to the multicast network address of the selected multimedia service, and finally, in step b6, the user terminal receives the multimedia service from the multimedia service server. .
  • the multicast network address (that is, the IP multicast address) has limited resources.
  • the multimedia service management device needs to reclaim the multicast network address for allocation to other multimedia services, so the multimedia service management device needs to constantly adjust the allocation of the multicast address.
  • the multimedia service management device When the multimedia service management device reassigns the multicast network address, the content of the multimedia service guide in the multimedia service guide device needs to be adjusted accordingly, and the multimedia service guide device needs to communicate frequently with the multimedia service management device; Since the multicast network address of the multimedia service is dynamically changed, the user terminal needs to frequently communicate with the multimedia service guide device to obtain the latest multicast network address of the multimedia service, which wastes a lot of network bandwidth.
  • the present invention provides a new multimedia service guide solution to assist a user terminal in receiving multimedia services.
  • the multimedia service management device notifies the network server of the service identifier and the service address of the multimedia service, and notifies the multimedia service guide device of the service identifier of the multimedia service.
  • the multimedia service guide device generates a multimedia service guide containing the service identifier.
  • the user terminal queries the network server for the service address corresponding to the multimedia service according to the service identifier contained therein, and then obtains the multimedia service according to the service address.
  • a method for assisting a user terminal to acquire a multimedia service in a multimedia service management apparatus of a communication network includes the following steps: C. setting a service identifier and a service address of the multimedia service Notifying the network server, and notifying the multimedia service guide device of the service identifier of the multimedia service.
  • the method further comprises the steps of: a. receiving an allocation request message from the network device for requesting allocation of a service resource for the multimedia service; b. according to the allocation request message, for the multimedia The service assigns a service address and/or a service identifier; after step b, the method further comprises the step of: - transmitting the assigned service address and/or service identifier to the network device.
  • a method for acquiring a multimedia service in a user terminal of a communication network comprising the steps of: i. transmitting, to the multimedia service guide device, a request for receiving a multimedia service guide Receiving a request message; ii. receiving a multimedia service guide from the multimedia service guide device, where the multimedia service guide includes a service identifier of each multimedia service; iii. transmitting a first query message to the network server according to the service identifier of the multimedia service selected by the user The first query message is used to query a service address corresponding to the service identifier of the selected multimedia service; iv. receiving a first response message from the network server, where the first response message includes the selected And corresponding to the service address of the service identifier of the multimedia service; v. acquiring the selected multimedia service according to the corresponding service address.
  • a multimedia industry in a communication network includes the following steps: - sending a second query message to the network server, where the second query message is used to query the multicast corresponding to the service identifier of the multimedia service Receiving a second response message from the network server, the second response message includes a multicast network address corresponding to the service identifier of the multimedia service; and performing the multimedia service by using the multicast network address Transfer.
  • a method for providing a multimedia service guide to a user terminal in a multimedia service guide device of a communication network includes the following steps: A. receiving a request from the user terminal for request Receiving a receiving request message of the multimedia service guide; B. transmitting a multimedia service guide to the user terminal, where the multimedia service guide includes a service identifier of each multimedia service.
  • an auxiliary device for assisting a user terminal to acquire a multimedia service in a multimedia service management device of a communication network includes: a notification device, configured to use a service identifier of the multimedia service The service address notifies the network server, and notifies the multimedia service guide device of the service identifier of the multimedia service.
  • the auxiliary device further includes: a first receiving device, configured to receive an allocation request message from the network device for requesting to allocate a service resource for the multimedia service; and a distributing device, configured to use, according to the allocation request message,
  • the multimedia service allocates a service address and/or a service identifier;
  • the first sending device is configured to send the allocated service address and/or service identifier to the network device.
  • a service acquiring apparatus for acquiring a multimedia service in a user terminal of a communication network, includes: a second sending apparatus, configured to send a request to a multimedia service guide apparatus Receiving a receiving request message of the multimedia service guide; a second receiving device, configured to receive a multimedia service guide from the multimedia service guide device, where the multimedia service guide includes a service identifier of each multimedia service; and a third sending device, configured to select, according to the user
  • the service identifier of the specified multimedia service sends a first query message to the network server, where the first query message is used to query a service address corresponding to the service identifier of the selected multimedia service; Receiving a first response message from the network server, where the first response message includes a service address corresponding to the service identifier of the selected multimedia service; and acquiring means, configured to use, according to the corresponding service Address, obtaining the selected multimedia service.
  • a service transmitting apparatus for transmitting a multimedia service in a multicast manner in a multimedia service server of a communication network, which includes: a fourth sending device, configured to send a a second query message, configured to receive a multicast network address corresponding to the service identifier of the multimedia service, and a fourth receiving device, configured to receive a second response message from the network server, where the second response message includes a multicast network address corresponding to the preset service identifier of the multimedia service; and a multicast transmission device, configured to perform the multimedia service transmission by using the multicast network address.
  • a guide providing apparatus for providing a multimedia service guide to a user terminal in a multimedia service guide apparatus of a communication network, comprising: a fifth receiving apparatus, configured to receive from a user a receiving request message of the terminal for requesting to receive the multimedia service guide; a fifth sending device, configured to send a multimedia service guide to the user terminal, where the multimedia service guide includes a service identifier of each multimedia service.
  • the multimedia service management device (usually provided by the NSP) can more easily redistribute the service address.
  • the service identifier of the multimedia service is usually fixed.
  • the multimedia service management device reassigns the service address, it only needs to notify the network server of the NSP (usually provided by the NSP) that the service address corresponding to the service identifier of the multimedia service changes.
  • the multimedia service guide device (usually provided by the ICP), that is, when the management device of the multimedia service reassigns the service address, the multimedia service guide device does not need to update the content of the multimedia service guide.
  • the user terminal also does not need to communicate frequently with the multimedia service guide device.
  • the network service server can query the service address corresponding to the service identifier of the multimedia service to send the multimedia service, so the management device of the multimedia service enters the service address. There is also no need to notify the multimedia service server when the line is reassigned.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a network topology structure in which a user terminal receives a multimedia service by using a multimedia service guide in the prior art
  • FIG. 2 is a flow chart of a system method for receiving a multimedia service by a user terminal using a multimedia service guide in the prior art
  • FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a network topology structure of a user terminal receiving a multimedia service by using a multimedia service guide according to an embodiment of the present invention
  • FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a system method for a user terminal to receive a multimedia service by using a multimedia service guide according to an embodiment of the present invention
  • FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a method for assisting a user terminal to acquire a multimedia service in a multimedia service management apparatus of a communication network according to an embodiment of the present invention
  • FIG. 6 is a user terminal of a communication network according to an embodiment of the present invention
  • FIG. 7 is a flow chart of a method for transmitting multimedia services in a multicast manner in a multimedia service server of a communication network according to an embodiment of the present invention
  • FIG. 8 is a flow chart of a method for providing a multimedia service guide to a user terminal in a multimedia service guide device of a communication network according to an embodiment of the present invention
  • FIG. 9 is a multimedia diagram of a communication network according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 10 is a structural block diagram of a service acquiring apparatus for acquiring a multimedia service in a user terminal of a communication network according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 11 is a structural diagram of a service transmitting apparatus for transmitting a multimedia service in a multicast manner in a multimedia service server of a communication network according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • Figure 12 is a block diagram showing the structure of a guide providing apparatus for providing a multimedia service guide to a user terminal in a multimedia service guide device of a communication network according to an embodiment of the present invention. detailed description
  • FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a network topology structure in which a user terminal receives a multimedia service by using a multimedia service guide according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • the user terminal is located in the user network
  • the multimedia service management device and the network server are located in the NSP network
  • the multimedia service guide device and the multimedia service server are located in the ICP network.
  • a network server is added to the NSP network shown in Figure 3.
  • FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing a system method for a user terminal to receive multimedia services using a multimedia service guide in the network topology shown in FIG. 3.
  • the multimedia service management device notifies the network server of the service identifier of the multimedia service and the corresponding service address, and notifies the multimedia service guide device of the service identifier of the multimedia service via one or more routers in step A2, where The execution of steps A1 and A2 is in no particular order.
  • the service identity and service address of the multimedia service may be allocated by the multimedia service management device at the request of the multimedia service server or other network device, or may be obtained by other means.
  • the service identifier may be set by the ICP.
  • the service address may also adopt the unicast network address of the multimedia service server itself.
  • the multimedia service management device allocates a service identifier and/or a service address to the multimedia service at the request of the multimedia service server or other network device, it is also required to notify the multimedia service server or other service identifier and/or service address of the allocated multimedia service.
  • Internet equipment When the multimedia service management device allocates a service identifier and/or a service address to the multimedia service at the request of the multimedia service server or other network device, it is also required to notify the multimedia service server or other service identifier and/or service address of the allocated multimedia service.
  • the multimedia service guide device generates a multimedia service guide according to the received service identifier of the multimedia service and the multimedia service content description.
  • the multimedia service content description and the like may be the multimedia service management device along with the multicast network address.
  • the sent may also be obtained by the multimedia service guide device in other manners, including but not limited to being pre-stored by the ICP in the multimedia service guide device.
  • the multimedia service guide includes service identifiers of respective multimedia services.
  • step B1 the user terminal sends a message requesting to receive the multimedia service guide to the multimedia service guide device.
  • step B2 the user terminal receives the multimedia service from the multimedia service guide device. guide.
  • step B3 the user terminal sends a first query message to the network server to query the service address corresponding to the service identifier of the multimedia service according to the service identifier of a multimedia service selected by the user in the multimedia service guide;
  • step B4 the user terminal receives the first response message from the network server, where the first response message includes the service address corresponding to the service identifier of the multimedia service.
  • step B5 the user terminal joins the multicast group corresponding to the multicast network address.
  • step B6 the user terminal receives the multimedia service from the multimedia service server.
  • IGMP Internet Group Management Protocol, Internet Protocol Management Protocol, for the IPv4 protocol.
  • 4 Multicast Listener Discovery, Multicast Listener Discovery, for IPv6 Protocol Reports the message to the router closest to the user terminal to join the multicast group.
  • the router sends the join message (join message) of the join group to the previous hop router in the direction of the root node of the multicast tree after receiving the IGMP report message or the MLD report message. .
  • the router receives the corresponding multimedia service and forwards the multimedia service to the user terminal.
  • the IGMP protocol RRC2236
  • the MLD protocol RRC2710
  • the multicast communication protocol such as the PIM-SM protocol
  • step B5 the user terminal sends a service reception request message requesting to receive the multimedia service to the multimedia service server corresponding to the unicast network address, and then, in step B6, the user terminal receives the message from the user terminal.
  • Multimedia services for multimedia service servers For the case where the multimedia service is sent in the multicast mode, if the multimedia service server only knows the service identifier of the multimedia service, before sending the multimedia service, the network server needs to query the network server for the service address corresponding to the service identifier of the multimedia service to perform the multimedia service. Send.
  • the service identifier of the multimedia service includes a domain name or other identifier that can uniquely represent the multimedia service
  • the service address includes a unicast network address (ie, an IP unicast address) and a multicast network address (ie, IP multicast address)
  • the network server is the domain name resolution server.
  • multimedia services in the present invention include, but are not limited to, various audio and video services such as network television programs, distance learning, remote video conferences, and network broadcasts.
  • ICP is also not limited to multimedia service operators, but also includes personal multimedia service publishers.
  • FIG. 5 is a flow chart of a method for assisting a user terminal in acquiring multimedia services in a multimedia service management apparatus of a communication network according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • the multimedia service management apparatus receives an allocation request message from the network device for requesting allocation of a service resource for the multimedia service, where the network device may be any network that can communicate with the multimedia service management apparatus.
  • Devices including but not limited to multimedia service servers, are typically located in an ICP network.
  • Service resources include business identifiers and/or business addresses.
  • the service identifier includes a domain name or other identifier that uniquely represents the multimedia service, and the service address includes an IP multicast address and an IP unicast address.
  • the multimedia service management device allocates a service address and/or a service identifier for the multimedia service.
  • the allocation process can be divided into the following three situations: 1) The ICP has set the service identity of the multimedia service, and the multimedia service management device only assigns the service address; 2) The ICP has obtained the service address of the multimedia service, and the multimedia service management The device only assigns a service identifier; 3) The multimedia service management device allocates a service identifier and a service address for the multimedia service.
  • the multimedia service server can transmit the multimedia service by using the unicast address of the multimedia service server itself.
  • the network device does not need to request the multimedia service management device to allocate a service address for the multimedia service.
  • the multimedia service management apparatus may describe the multimedia service content included in the distribution request message according to The part of the service identifier or the specified content specifies a complete service identifier for the multimedia service.
  • the distribution request message sent by the network device to the multimedia service management device includes a description that the program is a music program, or is allocated
  • the first character string of the specified domain name in the request message is "music”
  • the allocation request message may further include information about the IPTV operator, such as the domain name of the existing Web site.
  • the multimedia service management device may allocate a domain name to the multimedia service according to the program content description and related information of the IPTV operator. For example, when CCTV wants to broadcast a music channel, it can assign a domain name of "music.cctv.com.cn" to the channel as a service identifier.
  • the multimedia service For the case where the multimedia service is sent in the multicast mode, the multimedia service needs to be assigned a service address for the multimedia service, and the service identifier corresponding to the multimedia service may be specified by the ICP in whole or in part, or may be managed by the multimedia service.
  • the device allocates a service identifier to the multimedia service according to related information such as a description of the multimedia service content.
  • the multimedia service management device notifies the network server of the service identifier and the service address of the multimedia service, notifies the multimedia service guide device of the service identifier of the multimedia service, and sends the service address and/or the service identifier to the Network equipment.
  • the multimedia service management device only needs to assign a service address to the multimedia service, and then notifies the network server of the service address allocated for the multimedia service and the preset service identifier; Notifying the multimedia service guide device; and transmitting the assigned service address to the network device.
  • the multimedia service management device only needs to assign the service identifier to the multimedia service; then, the service identifier assigned to the multimedia service and the service address obtained by the ICP are notified to the network server; and the assigned service identifier is notified to the multimedia.
  • the service guide device transmits the assigned service identifier to the network device.
  • the multimedia service management device allocates a service identifier and a service address for the multimedia service, and then notifies the network server of the assigned service identifier and the service address; notifies the multimedia service guide device of the assigned service identifier; and sends the assigned service identifier and the service address to The network device.
  • the multimedia service server can use the unicast network address of the multimedia service server to transmit the multimedia service, and the multimedia service management device does not need to allocate the service address for the multimedia service, and the service identifier of the multimedia service can also be pre-
  • steps S1 1 to S13 are not essential steps of the present invention, but are only described as a preferred embodiment.
  • FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing a method for acquiring multimedia services in a user terminal of a communication network in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
  • step S21 the user terminal transmits a reception request message for requesting reception of the multimedia service guide to the multimedia service guide device.
  • step S22 the user terminal receives the multimedia service guide from the multimedia service guide device, and the multimedia service guide includes the service identifier of each multimedia service.
  • the user terminal sends a first query message to the network server according to the service identifier of the multimedia service selected by the user, where the first query message is used to query the service corresponding to the service identifier of the selected multimedia service. address.
  • the network server is a domain name resolution server
  • the service identifier includes a domain name or other identifier that uniquely represents the multimedia service
  • the service address is an IP address, including an IP unicast address or IP multicast. address.
  • the user terminal sends a DNS query message to the domain name resolution server to query the IP address corresponding to the domain name of the multimedia service selected by the user.
  • step S24 the user terminal receives a first response message from the network server, the first response message including a service address corresponding to the service identifier of the selected multimedia service.
  • the user terminal acquires the selected multimedia service according to the corresponding service address.
  • the corresponding service address is a multicast network
  • the network address is added to the multicast group corresponding to the multicast network address to obtain the selected multimedia service.
  • IPv4 IGMP report message
  • IPv6 MLD report message
  • the user terminal communicates with the server corresponding to the unicast network address to obtain the selected multimedia service.
  • Figure 7 is a flow chart showing a method for transmitting multimedia services in a multicast manner in a multimedia service server of a communication network in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
  • step S31 the multimedia service server sends a second query message to the network server, where the second query message is used to query the multicast network address corresponding to the service identifier of the multimedia service.
  • step S32 the multimedia service server receives a second response message from the network server, where the second response message includes a multicast network address corresponding to the service identifier of the multimedia service.
  • step S33 the multimedia service server performs the transmission of the multimedia service by using the multicast network address.
  • the service identifier includes a domain name or other identifier that uniquely represents the multimedia service
  • the network server is a domain name resolution server
  • the multicast network address is an IP multicast address.
  • the multimedia service server sends a DNS query message to the domain name resolution server to query the IP address corresponding to the domain name of the multimedia service selected by the user, that is, the IP multicast address, and then uses the IP multicast address to transmit the multimedia service.
  • Figure 8 is a flow diagram showing a method for providing a multimedia service guide to a user terminal in a multimedia service guide device of a communication network in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
  • the multimedia service guide may also be pre-stored in the multimedia service guide device by the ICP, when the multimedia service guide device receives the reception request message from the user terminal for requesting to receive the multimedia service guide, the pre-stored multimedia service refers to Send it to the user terminal in the south.
  • the multimedia service guide is also generated by the multimedia service guide device after receiving the service identifier of each multimedia service sent by the multimedia management device.
  • Figure 8 shows a flow chart of the method of this preferred embodiment.
  • the multimedia service guide device receives the service identification of the respective multimedia services from the multimedia management device.
  • the service identity includes a domain name or other identifier that uniquely represents the multimedia service.
  • the multimedia service guide device generates the multimedia service guide according to the service identifier of each multimedia service.
  • the multimedia service guide further includes other information such as a content description of each multimedia service, and the other information may be sent by the multimedia service management device along with the service identifier, or may be obtained by the multimedia service guide device in other manners.
  • the other means include, but are not limited to, pre-stored in the multimedia service guide device by the ICP.
  • step S43 the multimedia service guide device receives a reception request message from the user terminal for requesting reception of the multimedia service guide.
  • step S44 the multimedia service guide device sends a multimedia service guide to the user terminal, where the multimedia service guide includes the service identifier of each multimedia service.
  • step S41 and step 42 are not essential steps of the present invention, and are only used as a preferred embodiment. Describe.
  • the method flow shown in FIG. 8 is only a schematic diagram of the process of transmitting the multimedia service guide to the user terminal for the first time after the multimedia service guide device first generates the multimedia service guide or the multimedia service guide content update, and subsequently receives other user terminals.
  • the multimedia service guide generated in step S42 is directly sent to other user terminals.
  • the multimedia service guide device needs to update the content of the multimedia service guide and notify each user terminal to update; or each user terminal requests the multimedia service management device to update the multimedia periodically or irregularly.
  • Business guide if the multimedia service provided by the ICP is increased or decreased, the multimedia service guide device needs to update the content of the multimedia service guide and notify each user terminal to update; or each user terminal requests the multimedia service management device to update the multimedia periodically or irregularly.
  • FIG 9 is a block diagram showing the construction of an auxiliary device for assisting a user terminal in acquiring multimedia services in a multimedia service management device of a communication network according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • the auxiliary device 10 comprises a first receiving device 1 1 , a dispensing device 12 , a notification device 13 and a first transmitting device 14 .
  • the auxiliary device 10 includes other sub-devices involved in the preferred embodiment, and those skilled in the art, based on the teachings of the present application, should understand that only the notification device 13 is a device necessary for implementing the present invention, other sub- The device is an optional device.
  • the multimedia service server can use the unicast network address of the multimedia service server to transmit the multimedia service, and the multimedia service management device does not need to allocate the service address for the multimedia service, and the service identifier of the multimedia service can also be pre- set up.
  • the service address and the service identifier corresponding to the multimedia service may be stored in advance in the notification device 13, and the notification device 13 notifies the network server of the service identifier and the service address of the multimedia service, and notifies the multimedia service guide device of the service identifier of the multimedia service.
  • the multimedia service management device may assign a service address and/or a service identifier to the multimedia service.
  • the service identifier can also be preset by the ICP.
  • the first receiving device 11 receives an allocation request message from a network device for requesting allocation of a service resource for the multimedia service
  • the network device may be any network device that can communicate with the multimedia service management device, including but Not limited to a multimedia service server, the network device is typically located in an ICP network.
  • Service resources include business identifiers and/or business addresses.
  • the service identifier includes a domain name
  • the service address includes an IP multicast address and an IP unicast address.
  • the allocating means 12 allocates a service address and/or a service identifier for the multimedia service according to the allocation request message.
  • the allocation process may include the following three scenarios: 1) The ICP has set the service identifier of the multimedia service, and the multimedia service management device only assigns the service address; 2) The ICP has obtained the service address of the multimedia service, and the multimedia service management device only allocates the service 3) The multimedia service management device allocates a service identifier and a service address for the multimedia service.
  • the multimedia service server can transmit the multimedia service by using the unicast address of the multimedia service server itself.
  • the multimedia service management apparatus may allocate a complete service identifier to the multimedia service according to the description of the multimedia service content included in the distribution request message or the part specified content of the service identifier. For example, for an IP topology-based network topology, when an IPTV operator wants to play a music program, the distribution request message sent by the network device to the multimedia service management device includes a description that the program is a music program, or is allocated The first character string of the specified domain name in the request message is "music", and the allocation request message may further include information about the IPTV operator, such as the domain name of the existing Web site.
  • the multimedia service management device may allocate a domain name to the multimedia service according to the program content description and related information of the IPTV operator. For example, when CCTV wants to broadcast a music channel, it can assign a domain name of "music.cctv.com.cn" to the channel as a service identifier. For the case where the multimedia service is sent in the multicast mode, the multimedia service needs to be assigned a service address for the multimedia service, and the service identifier corresponding to the multimedia service may be specified by the ICP in whole or in part, or may be managed by the multimedia service.
  • the device allocates a service identifier to the multimedia service according to related information such as a description of the multimedia service content.
  • the notification device 13 notifies the network server of the service identifier and the service address of the multimedia service, and notifies the multimedia service guide device of the service identifier of the multimedia service.
  • the first transmitting device 14 transmits the assigned service address and/or service identifier to the network device.
  • the distribution device 12 When the ICP has set the service identifier of the multimedia service, the distribution device 12 only needs to assign the service address to the multimedia service; then, the notification device 13 notifies the network server of the service address allocated for the multimedia service and the preset service identifier, and will pre- The service identifier is set to notify the multimedia service guide device; the first sending device 14 sends the allocated service address to the network device.
  • the distribution device 12 When the ICP has obtained the service address of the multimedia service, the distribution device 12 only needs to assign the service identifier to the multimedia service; then the notification device 13 notifies the network server of the service identifier assigned for the multimedia service and the service address obtained by the ICP, and the assigned service The service identifier notifies the multimedia service guide device; the first transmitting device 14 transmits the assigned service identifier to the network device.
  • the distribution device 12 will assign a service identifier and a service address to the multimedia service, and then the notification device 13 notifies the network server of the assigned service identifier and service address, and will allocate The service identifier informs the multimedia service guide device; the first sending device 14 transmits the assigned service identifier and the service address to the network device.
  • FIG 10 is a block diagram showing the structure of a service acquisition apparatus for acquiring multimedia services in a user terminal of a communication network according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • the service obtaining device 20 includes a second transmitting device 21, a second receiving device 22, a third transmitting device 23, a third receiving device 24, and an obtaining device 25.
  • the second transmitting device 21 transmits a reception request message for requesting reception of the multimedia service guide to the multimedia service guide device.
  • the second receiving device 22 receives the multimedia service guide from the multimedia service guide device, and the multimedia service guide includes the service identifier of each multimedia service.
  • the third sending device 23 sends a first query message to the network server according to the service identifier of the multimedia service selected by the user, where the first query message is used to query a service address corresponding to the service identifier of the selected multimedia service.
  • the network server is a domain name resolution server
  • the service identifier includes a domain name or other identifier that uniquely represents the multimedia service
  • the service address is an IP address.
  • the user terminal sends a DNS query message to the domain name resolution server to query the IP address corresponding to the domain name of the multimedia service selected by the user, including an IP unicast address or an IP multicast address.
  • the third receiving device 24 receives the first response message from the network server, and the first response message includes a service address corresponding to the service identifier of the selected multimedia service.
  • the obtaining means 25 acquires the selected multimedia service according to the corresponding service address. If the corresponding service address is a multicast network address, the acquiring device 25 joins the multicast group corresponding to the multicast network address to obtain the selected multimedia service. Specifically, for the network topology based on the IP protocol, the obtaining device 25 may Join the multicast group by sending an IGMP Report Message (IPv4) or MLD 4 Advertisement Message (IPv6) to the router closest to the user terminal. For a detailed multicast communication process, reference may be made to the IGMP protocol (RFC2236) or the MLD protocol (RFC2710) and the multicast communication protocol (such as the PIM-SM protocol). When the corresponding service address is a unicast network address, the obtaining means 25 communicates with the server corresponding to the unicast network address to obtain the selected multimedia service.
  • IPv4 IGMP Report Message
  • MLD 4 Advertisement Message IPv6
  • the obtaining means 25 communicates with the server corresponding to the unicast network
  • FIG 11 is a block diagram showing the structure of a service transmitting apparatus for transmitting a multimedia service in a multicast manner in a multimedia service server of a communication network according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • the service transmitting device 30 includes a fourth transmitting device 31, a fourth receiving device 32, and a multicast transmitting device 33.
  • the fourth sending device 31 sends a second query message to the network server, where the second query message is used to query the multicast network address corresponding to the service identifier of the multimedia service.
  • the fourth receiving device 32 receives a second response message from the network server, where the second response message includes a multicast network address corresponding to the service identifier of the multimedia service.
  • the multicast transmitting device 33 performs the transmission of the multimedia service using the multicast network address.
  • the service identifier includes a domain name or other identifier that uniquely represents the multimedia service
  • the network server is a domain name resolution server
  • the multicast network address is an IP multicast address.
  • the fourth sending device 31 sends a DNS query message to the domain name resolution server to query the IP address corresponding to the domain name of the multimedia service selected by the user, that is, the IP multicast address, and then the multicast receiving device 33 receives the received data from the fourth receiving device 32.
  • the IP multicast address in the DNS response message of the domain name resolution server transmits the multimedia service.
  • FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing the structure of a guide providing apparatus for providing a multimedia service guide to a user terminal in a multimedia service guide apparatus of a communication network according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • the guide providing device 40 includes a sixth receiving device 41, a generating device 42, a fifth receiving device 43, and a fifth transmitting device 44.
  • the guide The providing device 40 includes other sub-devices involved in the preferred embodiment, and those skilled in the art will understand from the teachings of the present application that only the fifth receiving device 43 and the fifth transmitting device 44 are necessary for implementing the present invention. Other sub-devices are optional.
  • the multimedia service guide may also be pre-stored in the multimedia service guide device by the ICP, when the fifth receiving device 43 receives the reception request message from the user terminal requesting to receive the multimedia service guide, the sixth transmitting device 44 will pre-store the multimedia.
  • the business guide can be sent to the user terminal.
  • the multimedia service guide may also be generated by the multimedia service guide device after receiving the service identity of each multimedia service sent from the multimedia management device.
  • the sixth receiving device 41 receives the service identification of the respective multimedia services from the multimedia management device.
  • the service identifier includes a domain name or other identifier that uniquely represents the multimedia service.
  • the generating device 42 generates the multimedia service guide according to the service identifier of each multimedia service.
  • the multimedia service guide further includes other information such as a content description of each multimedia service, and the other information may be sent by the multimedia service management device along with the service identifier, or may be obtained by the generating device 42 in other manners. This includes, but is not limited to, pre-stored in the multimedia service guide device by the ICP.
  • the fifth receiving device 43 receives a reception request message from the user terminal for requesting reception of the multimedia service guide.
  • the fifth sending device 44 sends a multimedia service guide to the user terminal, where the multimedia service guide includes a service identifier of each multimedia service.

Description

接收多媒体业务以及
辅助接收多媒体业务的方法与装置 技术领域
本发明涉及通信网络， 尤其涉及通信网络中辅助用户终端接收 多媒体业务的方法与装置以及用户终端接收多媒体业务的方法与装 置。 背景技术
在目前的组播业务中 , 当 ICP(Intemet Content Provider, 因特网 内容提供商)或者多媒体业务发布者想要发送多媒体业务时（如 IPTV 运营商想要开播一个电视频道） ， 首先要向 NSP ( Network Service Provider,网络服务提供商）的多媒体业务管理装置申请为该多媒体业 务分配一个组播网络地址， 用于该多媒体业务的发送。 多媒体业务 指南装置（或者节目指南服务器， Electronic Program Guide Server, 通 常由 ICP提供）根据多媒体业务管理装置分配的组播网络地址以及 多媒体业务内容描述等信息，生成多媒体业务指南（或者节目指南）。 当用户终端接收多媒体业务时， 用户终端首先接收来自多媒体业务 指南装置的由 ICP提供的各种多媒体业务的多媒体业务指南， 该多 媒体业务指南中包括多媒体业务名称、 多媒体业务内容描述等信息 以及该多媒体业务对应的组播网络地址， 并在屏幕上显示多媒体业 务名称以及多媒体业务内容描述等信息。 用户根据显示在屏幕上的 多媒体业务名称以及多媒体业务内容描述等信息选择想要收看的多 媒体业务， 用户终端根据用户选择的要收看的多媒体业务， 加入该 多媒体业务的组播网络地址对应的组播组， 以接收该多媒体业务， 并在屏幕上显示。
图 1 示出了现有技术中， 用户终端通过多媒体业务指南接收多 媒体业务的网络拓朴结构图， 用户终端位于用户网络中， 多媒体业 务管理装置位于 NSP网络中， 多媒体业务指南装置和多媒体业务服 务器位于 ICP网络中。 图 2示出了图 1所示的网络拓朴结构中， 用 户终端利用多媒体业务指南接收多媒体业务的系统方法流程图。 首 先， 在步骤 al 中， 多媒体业务管理装置经由一个或多个路由器将为 多媒体业务分配的组播网络地址通知给多媒体业务指南装置， 也可 以一并将为多媒体业务分配的组播网络地址通知多媒体业务服务器 (图 2中未示出该步骤） ， 或者以其它方式通知多媒体业务服务器。 多媒体业务指南装置根据接收到的多媒体业务的组播网络地址以及 多媒体业务内容描述等信息， 生成多媒体业务指南， 多媒体业务内 容描述等信息可以是随着组播网络地址一起由多媒体业务管理装置 发送来的， 也可以是多媒体业务指南装置以其它的方式获得的， 例 如， 由 ICP预先存储在多媒体业务指南装置中。
当用户终端接收多媒体业务时， 首先， 在步骤 bl 中， 用户终端 向多媒体业务指南装置发送请求接收多媒体业务指南的消息， 其次， 在步骤 b2中， 用户终端接收来自多媒体业务指南装置的多媒体业务 指南。 然后， 根据用户选定的多媒体业务， 在步骤 b5中， 用户终端 加入选定的多媒体业务的组播网络地址对应的组播组， 最后在步骤 b6中， 用户终端接收来自多媒体业务服务器的多媒体业务。
由于目前组播数据包的传输基本上基于 IPv4协议， 组播网络地 址 （即 IP组播地址） 资源有限， 当多媒体业务管理装置分配给某个 多媒体业务的组播网络地址不再使用时， 多媒体业务管理装置需要 收回该组播网络地址， 以分配给其它的多媒体业务使用， 所以多媒 体业务管理装置需要经常调整组播地址的分配。 当多媒体业务管理 装置对组播网络地址进行重新分配时， 多媒体业务指南装置中的多 媒体业务指南的内容需要进行相应的调整， 多媒体业务指南装置需 要与多媒体业务管理装置频繁通信； 对用户终端来说， 由于多媒体 业务的组播网絡地址是动态变化的， 用户终端需要频繁地与多媒体 业务指南装置通信以获得多媒体业务的最新组播网络地址， 这样浪 费了很多网络带宽。 发明内容
本发明为了解决现有技术的上述缺陷， 提供了一种新的多媒体 业务指南的解决方案， 以辅助用户终端接收多媒体业务。 多媒体业 务管理装置将多媒体业务的业务标识与业务地址通知网络服务器， 并将多媒体业务的业务标识通知多媒体业务指南装置。 多媒体业务 指南装置生成包含业务标识的多媒体业务指南。 用户终端从多媒体 业务指南装置获取多媒体业务指南后， 根据其中包含的业务标识向 网络服务器查询多媒体业务对应的业务地址， 然后根据业务地址获 得多媒体业务。
根据本发明的第一个方面， 提供了一种在通信网络的多媒体业 务管理装置中用于辅助用户终端获取多媒体业务的方法， 其中， 包 括以下步骤： C. 将多媒体业务的业务标识与业务地址通知网络服务 器， 并将所述多媒体业务的业务标识通知多媒体业务指南装置。
优选地， 在所述步骤 c之前还包括以下步骤： a. 接收来自网络 设备的用于请求为所述多媒体业务分配业务资源的分配请求消息； b. 根据所述分配请求消息， 为所述多媒体业务分配业务地址和 /或业 务标识； 在步骤 b 之后还包括以下步骤： - 将所述分配的业务地址 和 /或业务标识发送给所述网络设备。
根据本发明的第二个方面， 提供了一种在通信网络的用户终端 中用于获取多媒体业务的方法， 其中， 包括以下步骤： i. 向多媒体 业务指南装置发送用于请求接收多媒体业务指南的接收请求消息； ii. 接收来自多媒体业务指南装置的多媒体业务指南， 该多媒体业务 指南中包含各个多媒体业务的业务标识； iii. 根据用户选定的多媒 体业务的业务标识向网络服务器发送第一查询消息， 该第一查询消 息用于查询与该选定的多媒体业务的业务标识相对应的业务地址； iv. 接收来自所述网络服务器的第一响应消息， 该第一响应消息中包 含与所述选定的多媒体业务的业务标识相对应的业务地址； v. 根据 所述相对应的业务地址， 获取所述选定的多媒体业务。
根据本发明的第三个方面， 提供了一种在通信网络的多媒体业 务服务器中用于以组播方式发送多媒体业务的方法， 其中， 包括以 下步骤： - 向网络服务器发送第二查询消息， 该第二查询消息用于 查询与多媒体业务的业务标识所对应的组播网络地址； - 接收来自 网络服务器的第二响应消息， 该第二响应消息中包含与所述多媒体 业务的业务标识所对应的组播网络地址； - 利用所述组播网络地址 进行所述多媒体业务的传送。
根据本发明的第四个方面， 提供了一种在通信网络的多媒体业 务指南装置中用于向用户终端提供多媒体业务指南的方法， 其中， 包括以下步骤： A. 接收来自用户终端的用于请求接收多媒体业务指 南的接收请求消息； B. 发送多媒体业务指南给所述用户终端， 该多 媒体业务指南中包含各个多媒体业务的业务标识。
根据本发明的第五个方面， 提供了一种在通信网络的多媒体业 务管理装置中用于辅助用户终端获取多媒体业务的辅助装置， 其中， 包括： 通知装置， 用于将多媒体业务的业务标识与业务地址通知网 络服务器， 并将所述多媒体业务的业务标识通知多媒体业务指南装 置。
优选地， 该辅助装置还包括： 第一接收装置， 用于接收来自网 络设备的用于请求为所述多媒体业务分配业务资源的分配请求消 息； 分配装置， 用于根据所述分配请求消息， 为所述多媒体业务分 配业务地址和 /或业务标识； 第一发送装置， 用于将所述分配的业务 地址和 /或业务标识发送给所述网络设备。
根据本发明的第六个方面， 提供了一种在通信网络的用户终端 中用于获取多媒体业务的业务获取装置， 其中， 包括： 第二发送装 置， 用于向多媒体业务指南装置发送用于请求接收多媒体业务指南 的接收请求消息； 第二接收装置， 用于接收来自多媒体业务指南装 置的多媒体业务指南， 该多媒体业务指南中包含各个多媒体业务的 业务标识； 第三发送装置， 用于根据用户选定的多媒体业务的业务 标识向网络服务器发送第一查询消息， 该第一查询消息用于查询与 该选定的多媒体业务的业务标识相对应的业务地址； 第三接收装置， 用于接收来自所述网络服务器的第一响应消息， 该第一响应消息中 包含与所述选定的多媒体业务的业务标识相对应的业务地址； 获取 装置， 用于根据所述相对应的业务地址， 获取所述选定的多媒体业 务。
根据本发明的第七个方面， 提供 一种在通信网络的多媒体业 务服务器中用于以组播方式发送多媒体业务的业务发送装置， 其中， 包括： 第四发送装置， 用于向网络服务器发送第二查询消息， 该第 二查询消息用于查询与多媒体业务的业务标识所对应的组播网络地 址； 第四接收装置， 用于接收来自网络服务器的第二响应消息， 该 第二响应消息中包含与所述多媒体业务的预设业务标识所对应的组 播网络地址； 组播传送装置， 用于利用所述组播网络地址进行所述 多媒体业务的传送。
根据本发明的第八个方面， 提供了一种在通信网络的多媒体业 务指南装置中用于向用户终端提供多媒体业务指南的指南提供装 置， 其中， 包括： 第五接收装置， 用于接收来自用户终端的用于请 求接收多媒体业务指南的接收请求消息； 第五发送装置， 用于发送 多媒体业务指南给所述用户终端， 所述多媒体业务指南中包含各个 多媒体业务的业务标识。
通过使用本发明的方法和装置， 使得多媒体业务管理装置 （通 常由 NSP提供） 能更加方便地对业务地址进行重新分配。 由于多媒 体业务的业务标识通常固定不变， 多媒体业务管理装置对业务地址 进行重新分配时，仅需要通知 NSP的网络服务器（通常由 NSP提供） 多媒体业务的业务标识对应的业务地址的变化即可， 而无需通知多 媒体业务指南装置 （通常由 ICP提供） ， 即当多媒体业务的管理装 置对业务地址进行重新分配时， 多媒体业务指南装置不需要进行更 新多媒体业务指南的内容。 用户终端也不需要频繁地与多媒体业务 指南装置通信。 并且， 多媒体业务服务器在发送多媒体业务之前， 可以向网络服务器查询多媒体业务的业务标识对应的业务地址， 以 进行多媒体业务的发送， 因此多媒体业务的管理装置对业务地址进 行重新分配时， 也无需通知多媒体业务服务器。 附图说明
通过阅读以下参照附图对非限制性实施例所作的详细描述，本发明 的其它特征、 目的和优点将会变得更明显。 其中， 相同或相似的附图标 记代表相同或相似的方法步骤或者装置。
图 1 为现有技术中用户终端利用多媒体业务指南接收多媒体业 务的网络拓朴结构示意图；
图 2 为现有技术中用户终端利用多媒体业务指南接收多媒体业 务的系统方法流程图；
图 3 为根据本发明的一个具体实施方式的用户终端利用多媒体 业务指南接收多媒体业务的网络拓朴结构示意图；
图 4 为根据本发明的一个具体实施方式的用户终端利用多媒体 业务指南接收多媒体业务的系统方法流程图；
图 5 为根据本发明的一个具体实施方式在通信网络的多媒体业 务管理装置中用于辅助用户终端获取多媒体业务的方法流程图； 图 6 为根据本发明的一个具体实施方式在通信网络的用户终端 中用于获取多媒体业务的方法流程图；
图 7 为根据本发明的一个具体实施方式在通信网络的多媒体业 务服务器中用于以组播方式发送多媒体业务的方法流程图；
图 8 为根据本发明的一个具体实施方式在通信网络的多媒体业 务指南装置中用于向用户终端提供多媒体业务指南的方法流程图； 图 9 为根据本发明的一个具体实施方式在通信网络的多媒体业 务管理装置中用于辅助用户终端获取多媒体业务的辅助装置的结构 框图；
图 10为根据本发明的一个具体实施方式在通信网络的用户终端 中用于获取多媒体业务的业务获取装置的结构框图；
图 1 1为根据本发明的一个具体实施方式在通信网络的多媒体业 务服务器中用于以组播方式发送多媒体业务的业务发送装置的结构 框图；
图 12为根据本发明的一个具体实施方式在通信网络的多媒体业 务指南装置中用于向用户终端提供多媒体业务指南的指南提供装置 的结构框图。 具体实施方式
图 3 为根据本发明的一个具体实施方式的用户终端利用多媒体 业务指南接收多媒体业务的网络拓朴结构示意图。 用户终端位于用 户网络中， 多媒体业务管理装置与网络服务器位于 NSP网络中， 多 媒体业务指南装置与多媒体业务服务器位于 ICP网络中。 与图 1 所 示的网络拓朴结构不同的是， 图 3所示 NSP网络中增加了一个网络 服务器。
图 4示出了图 3所示的网络拓朴结构中， 用户终端利用多媒体 业务指南接收多媒体业务的系统方法流程图。
首先， 在步骤 A1 中， 多媒体业务管理装置将多媒体业务的业务 标识与对应的业务地址通知网络服务器，并在步骤 A2中经由一个或 多个路由器将多媒体业务的业务标识通知多媒体业务指南装置， 这 里步骤 A1与 A2的执行不分先后。 多媒体业务的业务标识与业务地 址可以是由多媒体业务管理装置应多媒体业务服务器或者其它的网 络设备的请求而分配的， 也可以通过其它的方式获得。 例如， 业务 标识可以是由 ICP设定的， 当多媒体业务服务器以单播方式发送多 媒体业务时， 业务地址也可以采用多媒体业务服务器自身的单播网 络地址。 当多媒体业务管理装置应多媒体业务服务器或其它网络设 备的请求为多媒体业务分配业务标识和 /或业务地址时， 还需要将所 分配的多媒体业务的业务标识和 /或业务地址通知多媒体业务服务器 或其它网络设备。
多媒体业务指南装置根据接收到的多媒体业务的业务标识以及 多媒体业务内容描述等信息， 生成多媒体业务指南。 多媒体业务内 容描述等信息可以是随着组播网络地址一起由多媒体业务管理装置 发送来的， 也可以是由多媒体业务指南装置以其它方式获得， 所述 其它方式包括但不限于由 ICP预先存储在多媒体业务指南装置中。 该多媒体业务指南中包含各个多媒体业务的业务标识。
当用户终端接收多媒体业务时， 首先， 在步骤 B 1 中， 用户终端 向多媒体业务指南装置发送请求接收多媒体业务指南的消息； 其次， 在步骤 B2中，用户终端接收来自多媒体业务指南装置的多媒体业务 指南。
接着， 在步骤 B3中， 用户终端根据用户选定的在多媒体业务指 南中的一个多媒体业务的业务标识， 向网络服务器发送第一查询消 息来查询该多媒体业务的业务标识所对应的业务地址； 在步骤 B4 中， 用户终端接收来自网络服务器的第一响应消息， 该第一响应消 息中包含该多媒体业务的业务标识所对应的业务地址。
然后， 如果业务地址为组播网络地址， 则在步骤 B5中， 用户终 端加入该组播网络地址对应的组播组。 最后， 在步骤 B6中， 用户终 端接收来自多媒体业务服务器的多媒体业务。 对于基于 IP协议的网 络拓朴结构， 用户终端发送 IGMP ( Internet Group Management Protocol, Internet 组管理协议， 用于 IPv4协议） 4艮告消息或 MLD ( Multicast Listener Discovery, 多播侦听发现， 用于 IPv6协议）报 告消息到离用户终端最近的路由器以加入组播组。 如该路由器运行 PIM-SM组播协议， 则该路由器接收到 IGMP报告消息或者 MLD报 告消息后， 向组播树根节点的方向发送加入组播组的加入消息（join 消息） 给上一跳路由器。 加入组播组之后， 该路由器会接收到相应 的多媒体业务， 并将该多媒体业务转发给用户终端。 详细的组播通 信过程可参考 IGMP协议 （ RFC2236 ) 或者 MLD协议 （ RFC2710 ) 以及组播通信协议 （如 PIM-SM协议等） ， 本发明对此不作赘述。
如果业务地址为单播网络地址， 则在步骤 B5中， 用户终端向该 单播网络地址对应的多媒体业务服务器发出请求接收多媒体业务的 业务接收请求消息， 然后， 在步骤 B6中， 用户终端接收来自多媒体 业务服务器的多媒体业务。 对于多媒体业务以组播方式发送的情形， 如果多媒体业务服务 器只知晓多媒体业务的业务标识， 在发送多媒体业务之前， 还需要 向网络服务器查询该多媒体业务的业务标识所对应的业务地址以进 行多媒体业务的发送。
对于基于 IP协议的网络拓朴结构， 多媒体业务的业务标识包括 域名或其他可唯一地表示该多媒体业务的标识， 业务地址包括单播 网络地址（即 IP单播地址）与组播网络地址（即 IP组播地址） ， 网 络服务器即是域名解析服务器。
需要说明的是， 本发明中的多媒体业务包括但不限于网络电视 节目、 远程教学、 远程视频会议、 网络广播等各个音视频业务。 ICP 也不限于多媒体业务运营商， 还包括个人多媒体业务发布者。
图 5 为根据本发明的一个具体实施方式在通信网络的多媒体业 务管理装置中用于辅助用户终端获取多媒体业务的方法流程图。
首先， 在步骤 S11 中， 多媒体业务管理装置接收来自网络设备 的用于请求为所述多媒体业务分配业务资源的分配请求消息， 这里 的网络设备可以是任何一台可以与多媒体业务管理装置通信的网络 设备， 包括但不限于多媒体业务服务器， 该网络设备通常位于 ICP 网络中。 业务资源包括业务标识和 /或业务地址。 对于基于 IP协议的 网络拓朴结构， 业务标识包括域名或其他可唯一地表示该多媒体业 务的标识， 业务地址包括 IP组播地址和 IP单播地址。
然后， 在步骤 S12 中， 根据所述分配请求消息， 多媒体业务管 理装置为所述多媒体业务分配业务地址和 /或业务标识。 具体地， 该 分配过程可分为以下三种情形： 1) ICP 已经设定好多媒体业务的业 务标识， 多媒体业务管理装置只分配业务地址； 2) ICP 已经获得多 媒体业务的业务地址， 多媒体业务管理装置只分配业务标识； 3) 多 媒体业务管理装置为多媒体业务分配业务标识与业务地址。
通常， 对于多媒体业务以单播方式发送的情形， 可用多媒体业 务服务器自身的单播地址进行多媒体业务的发送。 此时， 网络设备 无需再请求多媒体业务管理装置为多媒体业务分配业务地址。 多媒 体业务管理装置可根据分配请求消息中包含的多媒体业务内容的描 述或者业务标识的部分指定内容来为该多媒体业务分配一个完整的 业务标识。 例如， 对于基于 IP协议的网络拓朴结构， 当 IPTV运营 商想要播放一个音乐节目时， 在网络设备发送给多媒体业务管理装 置的分配请求消息中包含该节目是音乐节目的描述， 或者在分配请 求消息中指定域名的第一个字符串为 "music", 并且该分配请求消息 中还可包括 IPTV运营商的相关信息， 如已有的 Web网站的域名等 信息。多媒体业务管理装置可根据该节目内容描述以及 IPTV运营商 的相关信息， 为该多媒体业务分配一个域名。 例如， 当中央电视台 想要开播一个音乐频道时， 可为该频道分配一个 "music.cctv.com.cn" 的域名作为业务标识。
对于多媒体业务以组播方式发送的情形， 需要为该多媒体业务 分配一个业务地址以进行多媒体业务的发送， 与该多媒体业务对应 的业务标识可以全部或部分由 ICP指定， 或者也可以由多媒体业务 管理装置根据多媒体业务内容的描述等相关信息来为该多媒体业务 分配一个业务标识。
最后， 在步骤 S13 中， 多媒体业务管理装置将多媒体业务的业 务标识与业务地址通知网络服务器， 将所述多媒体业务的业务标识 通知多媒体业务指南装置； 并将业务地址和 /或业务标识发送给所述 网络设备。
如果 ICP 已经预设好多媒体业务的业务标识， 多媒体业务管理 装置只需为多媒体业务分配业务地址， 然后将为多媒体业务分配的 业务地址以及预设的业务标识通知网络服务器； 将预设的业务标识 通知多媒体业务指南装置； 并将所述分配的业务地址发送给所述网 絡设备。
如果 ICP 已经获得多媒体业务的业务地址， 多媒体业务管理装 置只需为多媒体业务分配业务标识； 然后将为多媒体业务分配的业 务标识以及 ICP 已获得的业务地址通知网络服务器； 将分配的业务 标识通知多媒体业务指南装置； 并将分配的业务标识发送给所述网 络设备。
如果多媒体业务没有预设业务标识， 也没有事先获得业务地址， 多媒体业务管理装置则为多媒体业务分配业务标识与业务地址， 然 后将分配的业务标识与业务地址通知网络服务器； 将分配的业务标 识通知多媒体业务指南装置； 并将分配的业务标识与业务地址发送 给所述网络设备。
对于以单播形式发送的多媒体业务， 可用多媒体业务服务器自 身的单播网络地址来进行多媒体业务的发送， 多媒体业务管理装置 无需再为该多媒体业务分配业务地址， 并且多媒体业务的业务标识 也可以预先设定， 因此步骤 S1 1至 S13不是本发明的必需步骤， 仅 作为一个优选的实施方式， 在此一并进行描述。
图 6 示出了根据本发明的一个具体实施方式在通信网络的用户 终端中用于获取多媒体业务的方法流程图。
首先， 在步骤 S21 中， 用户终端向多媒体业务指南装置发送用 于请求接收多媒体业务指南的接收请求消息。
其次， 在步骤 S22 中， 用户终端接收来自多媒体业务指南装置 的多媒体业务指南， 该多媒体业务指南中包含各个多媒体业务的业 务标识。
接着， 在步骤 S23 中， 用户终端根据用户选定的多媒体业务的 业务标识向网络服务器发送第一查询消息， 该第一查询消息用于查 询与该选定的多媒体业务的业务标识相对应的业务地址。 对于基于 IP 协议的网络拓朴结构， 网络服务器即是域名解析服务器， 业务标 识包括域名或其他可唯一地表示该多媒体业务的标识， 业务地址即 是 IP地址， 包括 IP单播地址或 IP组播地址。 用户终端向域名解析 服务器发送 DNS查询消息来查询用户选定的多媒体业务的域名对应 的 IP地址。
然后， 在步骤 S24 中， 用户终端接收来自所述网络服务器的第 一响应消息， 该第一响应消息中包含与所述选定的多媒体业务的业 务标识相对应的业务地址。
最后， 在步骤 S25 中， 用户终端根据所述相对应的业务地址， 获取所述选定的多媒体业务。 如果所述相对应的业务地址为组播网 络地址， 用户终端则加入该组播网絡地址对应的组播组以获取所述 选定的多媒体业务。 对于基于 IP 协议的网絡拓朴结构， 则是发送 IGMP报告消息 （IPv4 ) 或 MLD 报告消息 （IPv6 ) 到离该用户终端 最近的路由器。 详细的组播通信过程可参考 IGMP协议 （RFC2236 ) 或者 MLD协议（ RFC2710 )以及组播通信协议（如 PIM-SM协议等）， 本发明对此不作赘述。 当所述相对应的业务地址为单播网络地址时， 用户终端则与所述单播网络地址对应的服务器进行通信以获取所述 选定的多媒体业务。
图 7 示出了根据本发明的一个具体实施方式在通信网络的多媒 体业务服务器中用于以组播方式发送多媒体业务的方法流程图。
首先， 在步骤 S31 中， 多媒体业务服务器向网络服务器发送第 二查询消息， 该第二查询消息用于查询与多媒体业务的业务标识所 对应的组播网络地址。
然后， 在步骤 S32 中， 多媒体业务服务器接收来自网络服务器 的第二响应消息， 该第二响应消息中包含与所述多媒体业务的业务 标识所对应的组播网絡地址。
最后， 在步骤 S33 中， 多媒体业务服务器利用所述组播网络地 址进行所述多媒体业务的传送。
对于基于 IP协议的网络拓朴结构， 业务标识包括域名或其他可 唯一地表示该多媒体业务的标识， 网络服务器即是域名解析服务器， 组播网络地址即是 IP组播地址。 多媒体业务服务器向域名解析服务 器发送 DNS查询消息来查询用户选定的多媒体业务的域名对应的 IP 地址，即 IP组播地址，然后利用 IP组播地址进行多媒体业务的传送。
图 8 示出了根据本发明的一个具体实施方式在通信网络的多媒 体业务指南装置中用于向用户终端提供多媒体业务指南的方法流程 图。
由于多媒体业务指南也可以是由 ICP预先存储在多媒体业务指 南装置中， 当多媒体业务指南装置在接收到来自用户终端的用于请 求接收多媒体业务指南的接收请求消息时， 将预存的多媒体业务指 南发送给用户终端即可。 优选地， 该多媒体业务指南也可由多媒体 业务指南装置在接收到来自多媒体管理装置发送的各个多媒体业务 的业务标识之后生成。 图 8示出了这一优选实施例的方法流程图。
首先， 在步骤 S41 中， 多媒体业务指南装置接收来自多媒体管 理装置的所述各个多媒体业务的业务标识。 对于基于 IP协议的网络 拓朴结构， 所述业务标识包括域名或其他可唯一地表示该多媒体业 务的标识。
其次， 在步骤 S42 中， 多媒体业务指南装置根据所述各个多媒 体业务的业务标识， 生成所述多媒体业务指南。 当然， 多媒体业务 指南中还包括各个多媒体业务的内容描述等其它信息， 这些其它信 息可以是随着业务标识一起由多媒体业务管理装置发送来的， 也可 以是由多媒体业务指南装置以其它方式获得， 所述其它方式包括但 不限于由 ICP预先存储在多媒体业务指南装置中。
然后， 在步骤 S43 中， 多媒体业务指南装置接收来自用户终端 的用于请求接收多媒体业务指南的接收请求消息。
最后， 在步骤 S44 中， 多媒体业务指南装置发送多媒体业务指 南给所述用户终端， 该多媒体业务指南中包含各个多媒体业务的业 务标识。
这里需要说明的是， 由于多媒体业务指南也可以是由 ICP预先 存储在多媒体业务指南装置中， 因此， 步骤 S41和步骤 42不是本发 明的必需步骤， 仅作为一个优选的实施方式， 在此一并进行描述。
图 8 中所示的方法流程仅是多媒体业务指南装置第一次生成多 媒体业务指南或者是多媒体业务指南内容更新后第一次向用户终端 发送多媒体业务指南的流程示意图， 对于随后接收到其它用户终端 的用于请求接收多媒体业务指南的接收请求消息时， 将在步骤 S42 中生成的多媒体业务指南直接发送给其它用户终端即可。 当然， 如 果 ICP提供的多媒体业务增加或者减少时， 多媒体业务指南装置需 要更新多媒体业务指南的内容并通知各个用户终端进行更新； 或者 是各个用户终端定期或不定期向多媒体业务管理装置请求更新多媒 体业务指南。
图 9 示出了根据本发明的一个具体实施方式在通信网络的多媒 体业务管理装置中用于辅助用户终端获取多媒体业务的辅助装置的 结构框图。 该辅助装置 10包括第一接收装置 1 1、 分配装置 12、 通 知装置 13以及第一发送装置 14。 为简明起见， 该辅助装置 10包括 了优选实施例中所涉及的其它子装置， 本领域技术人员根据本申请 的教导， 应能理解其中仅通知装置 13 是实施本发明所必要的装置， 其他子装置为可选装置。
对于以单播形式发送的多媒体业务， 可用多媒体业务服务器自 身的单播网络地址来进行多媒体业务的发送， 多媒体业务管理装置 无需再为该多媒体业务分配业务地址， 并且多媒体业务的业务标识 也可以预先设定。 可将多媒体业务对应的业务地址与业务标识预先 存储在通知装置 13 中， 通知装置 13将多媒体业务的业务标识与业 务地址通知网络服务器， 并将所述多媒体业务的业务标识通知多媒 体业务指南装置。
对于以组播形式发送的多媒体业务， 优选地， 可由多媒体业务 管理装置为该多媒体业务分配业务地址和 /或业务标识。 当然， 业务 标识也可以由 ICP预先设定。
首先， 第一接收装置 11接收来自网络设备的用于请求为所述多 媒体业务分配业务资源的分配请求消息， 这里的网络设备可以是任 何一台可以与多媒体业务管理装置通信的网络设备， 包括但不限于 多媒体业务服务器， 该网络设备通常位于 ICP 网络中。 业务资源包 括业务标识和 /或业务地址。 对于基于 IP协议的网络拓朴结构， 业务 标识包括域名， 业务地址包括 IP组播地址和 IP单播地址。
然后， 分配装置 12根据所述分配请求消息， 为所述多媒体业务 分配业务地址和 /或业务标识。 该分配过程可包括以下三种情形： 1) ICP已经设定好多媒体业务的业务标识，多媒体业务管理装置只分配 业务地址； 2) ICP 已经获得多媒体业务的业务地址， 多媒体业务管 理装置只分配业务标识； 3)_多媒体业务管理装置为多媒体业务分配 业务标识与业务地址。 通常， 对于多媒体业务以单播方式发送的情形， 可用多媒体业 务服务器自身的单播地址进行多媒体业务的发送。 此时， 网络设备 无需再请求多媒体业务管理装置为多媒体业务分配业务地址。 多媒 体业务管理装置可根据分配请求消息中包含的多媒体业务内容的描 述或者业务标识的部分指定内容来为该多媒体业务分配一个完整的 业务标识。 例如， 对于基于 IP协议的网络拓朴结构， 当 IPTV运营 商想要播放一个音乐节目时， 在网络设备发送给多媒体业务管理装 置的分配请求消息中包含该节目是音乐节目的描述， 或者在分配请 求消息中指定域名的第一个字符串为" music", 并且该分配请求消息 中还可包括 IPTV运营商的相关信息， 如已有的 Web网站的域名等 信息。多媒体业务管理装置可根据该节目内容描述以及 IPTV运营商 的相关信息， 为该多媒体业务分配一个域名。 例如， 当中央电视台 想要开播一个音乐频道时， 可为该频道分配一个 "music.cctv.com.cn" 的域名作为业务标识。 对于多媒体业务以组播方式发送的情形， 需 要为该多媒体业务分配一个业务地址以进行多媒体业务的发送， 与 该多媒体业务对应的业务标识可以全部或部分由 ICP指定， 或者也 可以由多媒体业务管理装置根据多媒体业务内容的描述等相关信息 来为该多媒体业务分配一个业务标识。
最后， 通知装置 13将多媒体业务的业务标识与业务地址通知网 络服务器， 并将多媒体业务的业务标识通知多媒体业务指南装置。 第一发送装置 14 将所述分配的业务地址和 /或业务标识发送给所述 网络设备。
当 ICP已经设定好多媒体业务的业务标识， 分配装置 12只需为 多媒体业务分配业务地址； 然后， 通知装置 13将为多媒体业务分配 的业务地址以及预设的业务标识通知网络服务器， 并将预设的业务 标识通知多媒体业务指南装置； 第一发送装置 14将所述分配的业务 地址发送给所述网络设备。
当 ICP已经获得多媒体业务的业务地址， 分配装置 12只需为多 媒体业务分配业务标识； 然后通知装置 13将为多媒体业务分配的业 务标识以及 ICP 已获得的业务地址通知网络服务器， 并将分配的业 务标识通知多媒体业务指南装置； 第一发送装置 14将分配的业务标 识发送给所述网络设备。
如果多媒体业务没有预设业务标识， 也没有事先获得业务地址， 则分配装置 12将为多媒体业务分配业务标识与业务地址， 然后通知 装置 13将分配的业务标识与业务地址通知网络服务器， 并将分配的 业务标识通知多媒体业务指南装置； 第一发送装置 14将分配的业务 标识与业务地址发送给所述网络设备。
图 10示出了根据本发明的一个具体实施方式在通信网络的用户 终端中用于获取多媒体业务的业务获取装置的结构框图。 该业务获 取装置 20包括第二发送装置 21、 第二接收装置 22、 第三发送装置 23、 第三接收装置 24以及获取装置 25。
首先， 第二发送装置 21向多媒体业务指南装置发送用于请求接 收多媒体业务指南的接收请求消息。
其次， 第二接收装置 22接收来自多媒体业务指南装置的多媒体 业务指南， 该多媒体业务指南中包含各个多媒体业务的业务标识。
接着， 第三发送装置 23根据用户选定的多媒体业务的业务标识 向网络服务器发送第一查询消息， 该第一查询消息用于查询与该选 定的多媒体业务的业务标识相对应的业务地址。 对于基于 IP协议的 网络拓朴结构， 网络服务器即是域名解析服务器， 业务标识包括域 名或其他可唯一地表示该多媒体业务的标识，业务地址即是 IP地址。 用户终端向域名解析服务器发送 DNS查询消息来查询用户选定的多 媒体业务的域名对应的 IP地址， 包括 IP单播地址或 IP组播地址。
然后， 第三接收装置 24接收来自所述网络服务器的第一响应消 息， 该第一响应消息中包含与所述选定的多媒体业务的业务标识相 对应的业务地址。
最后， 获取装置 25根据所述相对应的业务地址， 获取所述选定 的多媒体业务。 如果所述相对应的业务地址为组播网络地址， 获取 装置 25则加入该组播网络地址对应的组播组以获取所述选定的多媒 体业务。 具体地， 对于基于 IP协议的网络拓朴结构， 获取装置 25可 通过发送 IGMP报告消息（ IPv4 )或 MLD 4艮告消息（ IPv6 )到离该 用户终端最近的路由器， 以加入该组播组。详细的组播通信过程可参 考 IGMP协议 （ RFC2236 ) 或者 MLD协议 （ RFC2710 ) 以及组播通 信协议 （如 PIM-SM协议等） , 本发明对此不作赘述。 当所述相对 应的业务地址为单播网络地址时， 获取装置 25则与所述单播网络地 址对应的服务器进行通信以获取所述选定的多媒体业务。
图 11示出了根据本发明的一个具体实施方式在通信网络的多媒 体业务服务器中用于以组播方式发送多媒体业务的业务发送装置的 结构框图。 该业务发送装置 30包括第四发送装置 31、 第四接收装置 32和组播传送装置 33。
首先， 第四发送装置 31向网络服务器发送第二查询消息， 该第 二查询消息用于查询与多媒体业务的业务标识所对应的组播网络地 址。
然后， 第四接收装置 32接收来自网络服务器的第二响应消息， 该第二响应消息中包含与所述多媒体业务的业务标识所对应的组播 网络地址。
最后， 组播传送装置 33利用所述组播网络地址进行所述多媒体 业务的传送。
对于基于 IP协议的网络拓朴结构， 业务标识包括域名或其他可 唯一地表示该多媒体业务的标识， 网络服务器即是域名解析服务器， 组播网络地址即是 IP组播地址。 第四发送装置 31 向域名解析服务 器发送 DNS查询消息来查询用户选定的多媒体业务的域名对应的 IP 地址， 即 IP组播地址， 然后组播传送装置 33利用第四接收装置 32 接收到的来自域名解析服务器的 DNS响应消息中的 IP组播地址进 行多媒体业务的传送。
图 12示出了根据本发明的一个具体实施方式在通信网络的多媒 体业务指南装置中用于向用户终端提供多媒体业务指南的指南提供 装置的结构框图。 该指南提供装置 40包括第六接收装置 41、 生成装 置 42、 第五接收装置 43和第五发送装置 44。 为简明起见， 该指南 提供装置 40包括了优选实施例中所涉及的其它子装置， 本领域技术 人员根据本申请的教导， 应能理解其中仅第五接收装置 43和第五发 送装置 44是实施本发明所必要的装置，其他子装置为可选装置。
由于多媒体业务指南也可以是由 ICP预先存储在多媒体业务指 南装置中， 当第五接收装置 43在接收到来自用户终端请求接收多媒 体业务指南的接收请求消息时， 第六发送装置 44将预存的多媒体业 务指南发送给用户终端即可。
优选地， 多媒体业务指南也可由多媒体业务指南装置在接收到 来自多媒体管理装置发送的各个多媒体业务的业务标识之后生成。
首先， 第六接收装置 41接收来自多媒体管理装置的所述各个多 媒体业务的业务标识。 对于基于 IP协议的网络拓朴结构， 所述业务 标识包括域名或其他可唯一地表示该多媒体业务的标识。
其次， 生成装置 42根据所述各个多媒体业务的业务标识， 生成 所述多媒体业务指南。 当然多媒体业务指南中还包括各个多媒体业 务的内容描述等其它信息， 这些其它信息可以是随着业务标识一起 由多媒体业务管理装置发送来的， 也可以是由生成装置 42以其它的 方式获得的， 包括但不限于由 ICP预先存储在多媒体业务指南装置 中。
然后， 第五接收装置 43接收来自用户终端的用于请求接收多媒 体业务指南的接收请求消息。
最后， 第五发送装置 44发送多媒体业务指南给所述用户终端， 该多媒体业务指南中包含各个多媒体业务的业务标识。
以上对本发明的具体实施例进行了描述。 需要理解的是， 本发 明并不局限于上述特定实施方式， 本领域技术人员可以在所附权利 要求的范围内做出各种变形或修改。

Claims

权 利 要 求
1. 一种在通信网络的多媒体业务管理装置中用于辅助用户终端 获取多媒体业务的方法， 其中， 包括以下步骤：
c 将多媒体业务的业务标识与业务地址通知网络服务器， 并将 所述多媒体业务的业务标识通知多媒体业务指南装置。
2. 根据权利要求 1所述的方法， 其中， 所述步骤 c之前还包括 以下步骤：
a. 接收来自网络设备的用于请求为所述多媒体业务分配业务资 源的分配请求消息；
b. 根据所述分配请求消息， 为所述多媒体业务分配业务地址和 /或业务标识；
所述步骤 b之后还包括以下步骤：
- 将所述分配的业务地址和 /或业务标识发送给所述网络设备。
3. 根据权利要求 1或 2所述的方法， 其中， 所述业务地址包括 单播网络地址或组播网络地址， 所述业务标识包括域名， 所述网络 服务器包括域名解析服务器。
4. 一种在通信网络的用户终端中用于获取多媒体业务的方法， 其中， 包括以下步骤：
i. 向多媒体业务指南装置发送用于请求接收多媒体业务指南的 接收请求消息；
ii. 接收来自多媒体业务指南装置的多媒体业务指南， 该多媒体 业务指南中包含各个多媒体业务的业务标识；
iii.根据用户选定的多媒体业务的业务标识向网络服务器发送第 一查询消息， 该第一查询消息用于查询与该选定的多媒体业务的业 务标识相对应的业务地址；
iv. 接收来自所述网络服务器的第一响应消息， 该第一响应消息 中包含与所述选定的多媒体业务的业务标识相对应的业务地址；
V. 根据所述相对应的业务地址， 获取所述选定的多媒体业务。
5. 根据权利要求 4所述的方法， 其中， 所述相对应的业务地址 包括组播网络地址， 所述步骤 V包括以下步骤：
- 加入该组播网络地址对应的组播组以获取所述选定的多媒体 业务。
6. 根据权利要求 4所述的方法， 其中， 所述相对应的业务地址 包括单播网络地址， 所述步骤 V包括以下步骤：
- 与所述单播网络地址对应的服务器进行通信以获取所述选定 的多媒体业务。
7. 根据权利要求 4至 6中任一项所述的方法， 其中， 所述业务 标识包括域名， 所述网络服务器包括域名解析服务器。
8. 一种在通信网络的多媒体业务服务器中用于以组播方式发送 多媒体业务的方法， 其中， 包括以下步骤：
- 向网络服务器发送第二查询消息，该第二查询消息用于查询与 多媒体业务的业务标识所对应的组播网络地址；
- 接收来自网絡服务器的第二响应消息，该第二响应消息中包含 与所述多媒体业务的业务标识所对应的组播网络地址；
- 利用所述组播网络地址进行所述多媒体业务的传送。
9. 根据权利要求 8所述的方法， 其中， 所述业务标识包括域名， 所述网络服务器包括域名解析服务器。
10. 一种在通信网络的多媒体业务指南装置中用于向用户终端 提供多媒体业务指南的方法， 其中， 包括以下步骤：
A.接收来自用户终端的用于请求接收多媒体业务指南的接收请 求消息；
B. 发送多媒体业务指南给所述用户终端， 该多媒体业务指南中 包含各个多媒体业务的业务标识。
1 1. 根据权利要求 10所述的方法， 其中， 在所述步骤 A之前还 包括以下步骤：
- 接收来自多媒体管理装置的所述各个多媒体业务的业务标识； - 根据所述各个多媒体业务的业务标识，生成所述多媒体业务指 南。
12. 根据权利要求 10或 1 1 所述的方法， 其中， 所述业务标识 包括域名。
13. 一种在通信网络的多媒体业务管理装置中用于辅助用户终 端获取多媒体业务的辅助装置， 其中， 包括：
通知装置， 用于将多媒体业务的业务标识与业务地址通知网络 服务器， 并将所述多媒体业务的业务标识通知多媒体业务指南装置。
14. 根据权利要求 13所述的辅助装置， 其中， 还包括： 第一接收装置， 用于接收来自网络设备的用于请求为所述多媒 体业务分配业务资源的分配请求消息；
分配装置， 用于根据所述分配请求消息， 为所述多媒体业务分 配业务地址和 /或业务标识；
第一发送装置， 用于将所述分配的业务地址和 /或业务标识发送 给所述网络设备。
15. 根据权利要求 13或 14所述的辅助装置， 其中， 所述业务 地址包括单播网络地址或组播网络地址， 所述业务标识包括域名， 所述网络服务器包括域名解析服务器。
16. —种在通信网络的用户终端中用于获取多媒体业务的业务 获取装置， 其中， 包括：
第二发送装置， 用于向多媒体业务指南装置发送用于请求接收 多媒体业务指南的接收请求消息；
第二接收装置， 用于接收来自多媒体业务指南装置的多媒体业 务指南， 该多媒体业务指南中包含各个多媒体业务的业务标识；
第三发送装置， 用于根据用户选定的多媒体业务的业务标识向 网络服务器发送第一查询消息， 该第一查询消息用于查询与该选定 的多媒体业务的业务标识相对应的业务地址；
第三接收装置， 用于接收来自所述网络服务器的第一响应消息， 该第一响应消息中包含与所述选定的多媒体业务的业务标识相对应 的业务地址； 获取装置， 用于根据所述相对应的业务地址， 获取所述选定的 多媒体业务。
17. 根据权利要求 16所述的业务获取装置， 其中， 所述业务地 址包括组播网络地址， 所述获取装置还用于：
- 加入该组播网络地址对应的组播组以获取所述选定的多媒体 业务。
18. 根据权利要求 16所述的业务获取装置， 其中， 所述网络地 址包括单播网络地址， 所述获取装置还用于：
- 与所述单播网络地址对应的服务器进行通信以获取所述选定 的多媒体业务。
19. 根据权利要求 16至 18 中任一项所述的业务获取装置， 其 中， 所述业务标识包括域名， 所述网络服务器包括域名解析服务器。
20. 一种在通信网络的多媒体业务服务器中用于以组播方式发 送多媒体业务的业务发送装置， 其中， 包括：
第四发送装置， 用于向网络服务器发送第二查询消息， 该第二 查询消息用于查询与多媒体业务的业务标识所对应的组播网络地 址；
第四接收装置， 用于接收来自网络服务器的第二响应消息， 该 第二响应消息中包含与所述多媒体业务的预设业务标识所对应的组 播网络地址；
组播传送装置， 用于利用所述组播网络地址进行所述多媒体业 务的传送。
21. 根据权利要求 20所述的业务发送装置， 其中， 所述业务标 识包括域名， 所述网络服务器包括域名解析服务器。
22. 一种在通信网络的多媒体业务指南装置中用于向用户终端 提供多媒体业务指南的指南提供装置， 其中， 包括：
第五接收装置， 用于接收来自用户终端的用于请求接收多媒体 业务指南的接收请求消息；
第五发送装置， 用于发送多媒体业务指南给所述用户终端， 所 述多媒体业务指南中包含各个多媒体业务的业务标识。
23. 根据权利要求 22所述的指南提供装置， 其中， 还包括： 第六接收装置， 用于接收来自多媒体管理装置的所述各个多媒 体业务的业务标识；
生成装置， 用于根据所述各个多媒体业务的业务标识， 生成所 述多媒体业务指南。
24. 根据权利要求 22或 23所述的指南提供装置， 其中， 所述业 务标识包括域名。
25. 一种在通信网络中的多媒体业务管理装置， 其特征在于， 包 括如权利要求 13至 15中任一项所述的辅助装置。
26. 一种在通信网络中的用户终端， 其特征在于， 包括如权利要 求 16至 19中任一项所述的业务获取装置。
27. 一种在通信网络中的多媒体业务服务器， 其特征在于， 包括 如权利要求 20或 21所述的业务发送装置。
28. 一种在通信网络中的多媒体指南装置， 其特征在于， 包括如 权利要求 22至 24所述的指南提供装置。
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