WO2009033341A1

WO2009033341A1 - System and method for implementing multicast service and internet protocol television (iptv) service by the communication network cell

Info

Publication number: WO2009033341A1
Application number: PCT/CN2007/003752
Authority: WO
Inventors: Yan Xie
Original assignee: Zte Corporation
Priority date: 2007-09-11
Filing date: 2007-12-24
Publication date: 2009-03-19
Also published as: CN101123522B; CN101123522A

Abstract

A system and method for implementing multicast service and internet protocol television (IPTV) service by the communication network cell, wherein the network cell includes a multicast service module and an IPTV service module; the multicast service module is used to implement forwarding of the multicast protocol packet and data; IPTV service module is used to IPTV service management and user authentication. The multicast service cooperates with the IPTV service , so as to independently control the IPTV service to start or close.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a multicast service and an IPTV service, and more particularly to a communication network element, particularly on a network element of an access network. , System and method for realizing the group·! business and network TV business. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION With the increasing popularity of Group 4 and IPTV (Internet Protocol Television, Internet Protocol Television) services, communication devices, especially broadband access devices, generally provide support for multicast and IPTV services. For broadband access network element equipment, the multicast service and the IPTV service are handled by two services, but there is a close relationship between the two. The multicast service is a relatively basic service and does not depend on IPTV. The IPTV service is based on the multicast service and implements more complex management functions, such as program management, user rights authentication, and log management. Implemented in the multicast service. In the actual application model of the multicast and IPTV services, the common ways for the access NE to provide service support are as follows: 1) Only a simple multicast service is implemented, and the access network element only provides support for the multicast service. .

2) The IPTV service is implemented, but the IPTV function is not implemented on the access network, and the access network element only needs to provide support for the multicast service.

3) To carry out the IPTV service, the access network element needs to provide support for the multicast service and the IPTV service. Therefore, the access network element sometimes only needs to provide multicast services, and sometimes it needs to provide both multicast services and IPTV services. Therefore, in order to meet the needs of different application modes, the access network element should be able to flexibly realize the cooperation of the two services: group and ιρτν. However, in the prior art, some access network element devices can only provide multicast service support and cannot support IPTV services. Some access network element devices support multicast services and IPTV services, but in service configuration. It is not flexible enough to enable multicast services and IPTV services at the same time. Some access network elements can not enable IPTV services, but only disable IPTV-related functions, IPTV service modules. The related tasks are still running, occupying resources such as processor and memory. Therefore, the prior art has drawbacks and needs improvement. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a system and method for implementing a multicast service and a network television service by using a communication network element, as a method for coordinating a multicast service and an IPTV service, which can flexibly configure different service application models; When not turned on, system resources are saved. The technical solution of the present invention is as follows: - A system for implementing a multicast service and a network television service by a communication network element, the communication network element includes a multicast service module and an IPTV service module; and the multicast service module is configured to implement multicast protocol messages and data. The IPTV service module is used for IPTV service management and user authentication. When the IPTV service module is set to the non-authentication mode, only the multicast service module is started. When the IPTV service module is set to the authentication mode, the IPTV is started. The service module and the multicast service module work in exchange for each other. In the above system, the system further includes: a multicast service switch, configured to enable or disable a multicast service module, and an IPTV service switch, configured to enable or disable an IPTV service module. In the above system, the IPTV service module further includes a program management unit, a user rights management unit, and a log management unit: a group of 4 program management units for managing group programs; a user rights management unit for managing user rights; and log management The unit is used to manage logs. In the above system, the communication network element is an access network element. A communication network element implements a group of "service and network television service methods, which includes the steps of: Al, starting a multicast service; A2, selecting an IPTV service mode; A3, the IPTV service mode is an authentication mode, and then using the multicast service to start IPTV Service, create IPTV service related tasks, provide IPTV service service; A4, IPTV service mode is non-authentication mode, then close IPTV service, stop IPTV service and release system resources occupied by IPTV service. In the above method, step A3 The IPTV service is provided, which includes: managing the IPTV service and authenticating the user. In the foregoing method, in step A3, managing the IPTV service includes: managing the multicast program, user rights, and logs. In the foregoing method, in step A3, the related tasks of the IPTV service are created, including: initializing the data structure, adding the IPTV service related configuration, creating a timer, notifying the group, and the service module reconfiguring the related data or doing Consistency check and processing of related data. In the foregoing method, in step A4, the system resources occupied by the IPTV service are released, which specifically includes: releasing a timer and a semaphore occupied by the IPTV service. In the foregoing method, in step A4, the system resources occupied by the IPTV service are released, which specifically includes the steps of: clearing the IPTV service related data; and deleting the IPTV service related task. In the above method, the step A3 specifically includes the following at least one operation: the multicast service performs user authentication of the IPTV service when receiving the user join/leave request, and determines whether to accept or reject the user request according to the authentication result; When the multicast service receives the multicast join request, it checks the validity of the request. If the check passes, the authentication of the IPTV service is invoked. If the authentication fails, the request is rejected. If the authentication succeeds, the multicast is continued. The process behind the service sets the hardware multicast forwarding table. When the IPTV service triggers the authentication by the multicast service, it records the related information of the user. When the multicast service receives the group~ leave request, it notifies the IPTV service, and then continues the group. ^ The processing flow of the service, if the departure condition is satisfied, the corresponding forwarding order is deleted in the hardware group. For the IPTV service module, after receiving the user leaving notification, the related user record information is processed; when the multicast service determines that the user needs to leave the group·! group, first notify the ιρτν service; then continue the group ^ "service processing The process, if the leaving condition is met, deletes the corresponding forwarding entry in the hardware multicast forwarding table, and processes the related user record information after the IPTV service is notified; when the IPTV service detects that the user who has joined the multicast group is no longer satisfied to join The condition is to force the user to leave; the IPTV service notifies the group 4 service while recording the user information and generating the log; the multicast service deletes the corresponding entry from the hardware forwarding table after receiving the notification. By implementing the cooperation between the multicast service and the IPTV service, the IPTV service is enabled or disabled independently. Through mode switching, the IPTV service module can reduce the occupancy of the system resources to almost zero when the network element does not enable the IPTV service. On the other hand, when the network element needs to provide the IPTV service, it is convenient to start the service. Flexible configuration of different service application models; and system resources can be saved when the IPTV service is not enabled. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of networking for providing group and IPTV services on an access network element according to the present invention; 2 is a schematic diagram of a relationship between a multicast service and an IPTV service according to the present invention; Figure 3 is a flow chart of the method of the present invention. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail. As shown in FIG. 1 , the present invention provides a system for implementing a multicast service and a network television service by a communication network element, where the method includes a multicast service module, an IPTV service module, and an IPTV service switch; The multicast protocol packet and data are forwarded; the IPTV service module is used for service management and user authentication. For example, the ιρτν service module may further include a group program management unit, a user rights management unit, a log management unit, and the like, for implementing management functions of multicast programs, user rights, logs, and the like. Specifically, in the system of the present invention, the group service and the IPTV service are implemented as two independent modules, and the division of the two is as follows: Group "Service Module implements IGMP protocol (Internet Group Management Protocol), MVR) (Multicast VLAN Registration, multicast virtual LAN registration) management function, responsible for multicast protocol packet processing, and setting the driver group forwarding entry to implement group "protocol packet and data forwarding;

The IPTV service module implements functions such as multicast program management, user rights management, and log management, and provides functional interfaces such as user authentication and logging for the multicast service module. For example, the multicast service module specifically includes: a management submodule, which is responsible for overall control of the multicast module. It also provides data initialization and configuration management interface; IGMP-SNOOPING (Internet Group Management Protocol Listening) protocol module for implementing IGMP-SNOOPING protocol; MVR protocol module for implementing inter-VLAN multicast function according to MVR protocol. For example, the IPTV service module specifically includes: a management sub-module corresponding to an IPTV management task (iptvMgr), which is responsible for overall control of the IPTV module, and provides a data initialization and configuration management interface; an authentication sub-module corresponding to the IPTV authentication task (iptvAc:) Responsible for IPTV user rights management; the log sub-module, corresponding to the IPTV log task (iptvCdr), responsible for establishing a TCP/IP link with the network management server, and responsible for creating, maintaining, and reporting IPTV user logs, thus, by collecting, By collecting and analyzing the user's access log, the system can collect and count various information such as CPU, bandwidth, and user access. The IPTV service switch is configured between the multicast service module and the IPTV service module, and is configured to enable or disable the IPTV service module. That is, the IPTV service switch is used to switch the IPTV service between "non-authentication mode" and "authentication mode". The details are as follows. When the IPTV service is switched from the "non-authentication mode" to the "authentication mode", it is necessary to create an IPTV service-related task. Including initializing the data structure, and adding configuration data related to the IPTV service, which may be added from the configuration file or from the network management server according to the implementation method; creating resources such as semaphores, and starting service related timers, for example, for performing on the user The timer of the service timing, etc.; notifies the multicast service module to reconfigure part of the relevant data or ^ (so the consistency of the related data is checked and processed. When the IPTV service is switched from the "authentication mode" to the "non-authentication mode", The following processes are required: stopping and releasing system resources such as service-related timers and semaphores; clearing IPTV service-related data; deleting IPTV service-related tasks, etc. Moreover, the system may further include a multicast service switch for starting or shutting down The multicast service module. For example, the system may further include an enable switch of the multicast service module. When enabled, the system may receive and process the multicast protocol packet, and set the hardware multicast forwarding table to control the forwarding of the multicast stream. ; Do not receive the processing multicast protocol packet when disabled, even if the IPTV service is in the authentication mode, it will not The interface is not called. In the application model where the network element simply provides the multicast service, the IPTV is set to the "non-authentication mode". At this time, the IPTV is not called according to the processing flow of the multicast service. The IPTV service module does not work. Under the application model of the IPTV service provided by the network element, the IPTV is set to the "authentication mode". At this time, the IPTV service module enters the normal working state; The IPTV service module is authenticated by the IPTV service module. The multicast service module invokes the interface of the IPTV service module when the multicast user joins or leaves the multicast group, and decides to accept or reject the IPTV service based on the authentication result of the IPTV service. The user requests, and the IPTV module also performs operations such as service control and log recording, and in some cases, notifies the multicast service module to leave the user. In the "authentication mode" and "non-authentication mode" switching, Enable/disable the IPTV service module; that is, apply/release the related tasks, timers, and Socket interfaces in the IPTV service module. Add/unload the service data in the memory, etc. As shown in Figure 2, the following describes in detail the exchange of the multicast service module and the IPTV service module: 1) When the multicast service is enabled and the IPTV is set to "non-authentication mode": The IPTV service module does not work. The multicast service completely follows its own processing flow and does not invoke the interface of the IPTV service module. When the group join request is received, the legality of the request is checked according to the configuration of IGMP, MVR, etc. If it is acceptable, the corresponding forwarding entry is set in the hardware multicast forwarding table. When receiving the multicast leave request, check whether the leave condition is met. If yes, delete the corresponding forwarding entry in the hardware multicast forwarding table.

2) When the multicast service is enabled and the IPTV is set to the "authentication mode": The IPTV service module enters the normal working state; when receiving the user join/leave request, the multicast service invokes the interface of the IPTV service module for authentication. And according to the authentication result of the IPTV service, it is decided to receive or reject the user request. When receiving the multicast join request, the multicast service module checks the validity of the request according to the configuration of IGMP and MVR. If the check passes, the authentication interface of the IPTV service module is invoked; if the authentication fails, the request is rejected. If the authentication succeeds, the process following the multicast service is continued, and the hardware multicast forwarding table is set. For the IPTV service module, when the authentication is triggered by the multicast service module, the related information of the user is recorded, so as to manage the user behavior and generate a log. When receiving the multicast leave request, the multicast service module notifies the IPTV service module; and then continues the processing flow of the multicast service. If the leave condition is met, the corresponding forwarding entry is deleted in the hardware multicast forwarding table. For the IPTV service module, after receiving the user leaving notification, the related user record information is processed, such as modifying the status of the user, generating a user browsing log, and the like. When the multicast service module detects that a user port needs to leave the multicast group due to aging timeout, it first notifies the IPTV service module; then, it continues the processing process of the multicast service. If the leave condition is met, the multicast multicast forwarding table is deleted. Forward the entry accordingly. For the IPTV service module, after receiving the user timeout notification, the related user record information is processed. When the IPTV service module detects that a user port that has joined the multicast group no longer meets the joining conditions, such as the preview time, the user is forced to leave. While recording the user information and generating the log, the IPTV service module also notifies the multicast service module to delete the corresponding entry from the hardware forwarding table. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 3, the present invention also provides a method for a communication network element to implement a multicast service and a network television service, including the steps of: Al, select the IPTV service mode; the user can select the IPTV service as the "authentication mode" or the "non-authentication mode". For example, the IPTV service may be switched from the "authentication mode" to the "non-authentication mode", or the IPTV service may be switched from the "non-authentication mode" to the "authentication mode." Steps A1 may also include steps: The multicast service is started. As mentioned above, when the multicast service function is disabled, the system does not receive the multicast protocol packet. At this time, even if the IPTV service is in the authentication mode, it will not work and its interface will not be called.

A2: It is determined whether the IPTV service mode after the handover is an authentication mode, if yes, step A3 is performed; otherwise, step A4 is performed.

A3. Start the IPTV service and create related tasks for the IPTV service, and provide IPTV service services. For example, the related tasks for creating an IPTV service may include the following steps: initializing a data structure, adding configuration data related to the IPTV service, creating a timer, notifying the multicast service module to reconfigure part of related data, or performing consistency check on related data. And processing and so on. For example, the providing the IPTV service may specifically include the steps of: managing the IPTV service and authenticating the user. The managing the IPTV service may specifically include the following steps: a management group, a program, a user, a log, and the like.

A4. Turn off the IPTV service, stop the IPTV service, and release the system resources occupied by the IPTV service. For example, the releasing the system resources occupied by the IPTV service may specifically include the steps of: releasing a timer and a semaphore occupied by the IPTV service. For example, the system resources occupied by the IPTV service may include the following steps: clearing IPTV service related data, deleting IPTV service related tasks, and the like. In this way, the system can control the enabling and disabling of the IPTV service by setting the "authentication mode", thereby creating the task of the IPTV service, providing the IPTV service or stopping the IPTV service and releasing the system resources occupied by the IPTV service. The following is a detailed description of the related data and resources of the IPTV service according to the present invention.

The data related to the IPTV service mainly includes: global configuration, channel data, and number of user rights. According to the package configuration data, etc. These data may occupy a large amount of memory, and the specific value is affected by the capacity of the access network user and the channel and user subscription status of the IPTV service. Taking an access network element with a capacity of several hundred users as an example, depending on the total number of channels and the number of programs opened by the user, the memory space required to store the data may reach several megabytes or even ten or twenty megabytes. On the other hand, IPTV user logs can also consume a lot of memory. The service data can be saved on the network element. In this case, the network element's hard disk or FLASH storage space is also consumed. When the network element IPTV service is started, it can be pushed from the network management to the network element. CPU processing time and bandwidth of the network management channel.

Other system resources used in the IPTV service include timers and semaphores. When IPTV service management needs to periodically monitor the running of the service, a timer needs to be used, and the timing processing itself also takes up the processing time of the CPU. To protect the data, Data access operations use semaphore protection. In actual use, the method of the present invention is applied to a broadband access device, and the related functions can be conveniently implemented under several multicast or IPTV application models. It is to be understood that those skilled in the art can make modifications and changes in accordance with the above description, and all such modifications and changes are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

A system for a communication network element to implement a group service and a network television service, wherein the communication network element includes a multicast service module and an IPTV service module; and the multicast service module is configured to implement a multicast protocol message. The IPTV service module is used for IPTV service management and user authentication. When the IPTV service module is set to the non-authentication mode, only the multicast service module is activated; when the IPTV service is used. When the module is set to the mode 4, the IPTV service module and the multicast service module are activated to work in exchange. The system according to claim 1, wherein the system further comprises: a multicast service switch, configured to enable or disable the multicast service module; and an IPTV service switch, configured to start or shut down the IPTV service module . The system according to claim 1, wherein the IPTV service module further comprises a group preparation program management unit, a user; a f-limited management unit and a log management unit: the multicast program management unit is configured to manage a multicast program; the user 4 is limited to a management unit for managing user rights; and the log management unit is configured to manage logs. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the communication network element is an access network element. A method for a communication network element to implement a multicast service and a network television service, characterized in that it comprises the steps of:

Al, start-up group

Α 2. Select the IPTV business model;

A3. The IPTV service mode is an authentication mode, and the IPTV service is started by using the multicast service, and a related task of the IPTV service is created, and an IPTV service is provided. A4. The IPTV service mode is a non-authentication mode, and the IPTV service is shut down, the IPTV service is stopped, and the system resources occupied by the IPTV service are released.

The method according to claim 5, wherein in the step A3, the providing the IPTV service comprises: managing the IPTV service and authenticating the user.

The method of claim 6, wherein in the step A3, the managing the IPTV service specifically includes: managing the multicast program, user rights, and logs.

The method according to claim 5, wherein in step A3, the task of creating an IPTV service specifically includes: initializing a data structure, adding configuration data related to the IPTV service, creating a timer, and notifying the multicast. The business module reconfigures some of the relevant data or performs consistency check and processing of related data.

The method according to claim 5, wherein, in step A4, the releasing the system resources occupied by the IPTV service comprises: releasing a timer and a semaphore occupied by the IPTV service.

The method according to claim 5, wherein in step A4, the releasing the system resources occupied by the IPTV service comprises: deleting IPTV service related data; and deleting the IPTV service related task.

1 . The method according to claim 5, wherein the step A3 specifically includes the following at least one operation: the multicast service performs user authentication of the IPTV service when receiving the user join/leave request, and according to the authentication The result determines whether to receive or reject the user request; when the multicast service receives the multicast join request, it checks the legality of the request; if the check passes, the authentication of the IPTV service is invoked; if the authentication fails, the request is rejected. If the authentication succeeds, the process following the multicast service is continued, and the hardware multicast forwarding table is set; and the IPTV service records the related information of the user when the multicast service triggers the authentication; the multicast service receives the multicast leaving request. The IPTV service is notified, and then the processing flow of the multicast service is continued. If the leaving condition is met, the corresponding forwarding entry is deleted in the hardware multicast forwarding table. For the IPTV service module, after receiving the user leaving notification, the related user record information is processed; The group 4 service determines that the user needs to leave the multicast group, first notifies the IPTV service; then continues the processing process of the multicast service, and if the leaving condition is met, the corresponding forwarding entry is deleted in the hardware multicast forwarding table, the IPTV service notification After the IPTV service detects that the user who has joined the multicast group no longer satisfies the joining condition, the user is forcibly removed; the IPTV service records the user information and generates the log, The multicast service is notified; after receiving the notification, the multicast service deletes the corresponding entry from the hardware forwarding table.