WO2009095078A1 - Procédé et appareil pour l'obtention de contenu multimédia par l'intermédiaire d'un réseau de communications - Google Patents

Procédé et appareil pour l'obtention de contenu multimédia par l'intermédiaire d'un réseau de communications Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2009095078A1
WO2009095078A1 PCT/EP2008/051177 EP2008051177W WO2009095078A1 WO 2009095078 A1 WO2009095078 A1 WO 2009095078A1 EP 2008051177 W EP2008051177 W EP 2008051177W WO 2009095078 A1 WO2009095078 A1 WO 2009095078A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
user
channel
iptv
fragments
node
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/EP2008/051177
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Robert Skog
Andreas Ljunggren
Original Assignee
Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson (Publ)
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 Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson (Publ) filed Critical Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson (Publ)
Priority to GB1011822A priority Critical patent/GB2469238A/en
Priority to PCT/EP2008/051177 priority patent/WO2009095078A1/fr
Publication of WO2009095078A1 publication Critical patent/WO2009095078A1/fr

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Classifications

    • 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
    • H04N21/442—Monitoring of processes or resources, e.g. detecting the failure of a recording device, monitoring the downstream bandwidth, the number of times a movie has been viewed, the storage space available from the internal hard disk
    • H04N21/44213—Monitoring of end-user related data
    • H04N21/44222—Analytics of user selections, e.g. selection of programs or purchase activity
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N7/00—Television systems
    • H04N7/16—Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems
    • H04N7/162—Authorising the user terminal, e.g. by paying; Registering the use of a subscription channel, e.g. billing
    • H04N7/163—Authorising the user terminal, e.g. by paying; Registering the use of a subscription channel, e.g. billing by receiver means only
    • 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
    • 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
    • H04L65/612—Network streaming of media packets for supporting one-way streaming services, e.g. Internet radio for unicast
    • 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
    • H04N21/23—Processing of content or additional data; Elementary server operations; Server middleware
    • H04N21/236—Assembling of a multiplex stream, e.g. transport stream, by combining a video stream with other content or additional data, e.g. inserting a URL [Uniform Resource Locator] into a video stream, multiplexing software data into a video stream; Remultiplexing of multiplex streams; Insertion of stuffing bits into the multiplex stream, e.g. to obtain a constant bit-rate; Assembling of a packetised elementary stream
    • H04N21/2365—Multiplexing of several video streams
    • 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
    • H04N21/258—Client or end-user data management, e.g. managing client capabilities, user preferences or demographics, processing of multiple end-users preferences to derive collaborative data
    • H04N21/25866—Management of end-user data
    • H04N21/25891—Management of end-user data being end-user preferences
    • 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
    • H04N21/433—Content storage operation, e.g. storage operation in response to a pause request, caching operations
    • H04N21/4331—Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback
    • 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
    • H04N21/4347—Demultiplexing of several video streams
    • 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
    • H04N21/438—Interfacing the downstream path of the transmission network originating from a server, e.g. retrieving MPEG packets from an IP network
    • H04N21/4383—Accessing a communication channel
    • H04N21/4384—Accessing a communication channel involving operations to reduce the access time, e.g. fast-tuning for reducing channel switching latency
    • 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
    • H04N21/45—Management operations performed by the client for facilitating the reception of or the interaction with the content or administrating data related to the end-user or to the client device itself, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies, resolving scheduling conflicts
    • H04N21/466—Learning process for intelligent management, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies
    • H04N21/4667—Processing of monitored end-user data, e.g. trend analysis based on the log file of viewer selections
    • 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
    • H04N21/6582—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
    • H04N21/845—Structuring of content, e.g. decomposing content into time segments
    • H04N21/8456—Structuring of content, e.g. decomposing content into time segments by decomposing the content in the time domain, e.g. in time segments

Definitions

  • the invention relates to the field of obtaining media over a communications network.
  • IPTV IPTV
  • IPTV is typically broadcast using a broadband access network, in which channels are transmitted over a broadband network from a super head-end down to an end-user's set top box (STB).
  • STB set top box
  • Linear content delivery in which all channels in a subscription are simultaneously delivered to a user's set top box (STB), is not suitable for IPTV, as IPTV has limited bandwidth available over a broadband connection.
  • a typical ADSL broadband connection provides a capacity of between 3 and 8 Mbps, and ADSL2 promises to deliver up to 25 Mbps downstream, whereas VDSL can provide a capacity of greater than 30 Mbps.
  • Standard quality MPEG 2 IPTV content requires 2 Mbps per channel, and HDTV will require around 8-10 Mbps per channel.
  • the MPEG 4 standard will approximately halve the bandwidth required to deliver IPTV content with the same quality. Nevertheless, the available bandwidth is a scarce resource, and IPTV solutions must limit the number of channels that can be delivered simultaneously.
  • FIG. 1 illustrates a known way of distributing media in which an IPTV media stream originates in a service provider network 1 , is passed to a core network 2, is further passed into a metro network 3, and finally is sent via access networks 4 to each home network 5 that contains an STB that wishes to receive the media stream.
  • Networks can quickly become saturated due to heavy traffic loads.
  • content can be multicast to reduce bandwidth demands for broadcast TV distribution.
  • Video on Demand (VoD) services can be handled by VoD cache servers located close to the end-user.
  • such caches require additional investment, and many routers would need to be replaced, as existing routers may not support IPTV multicasts.
  • IPTV media stream can be delivered to a STB from another STB, from a media injector from which the stream originates, or from any other peer in the network.
  • An IPTV media stream is typically compressed in order to save bandwidth.
  • An example of a compressed media format is MPEG.
  • MPEG media streams contain different frames, such as l-frames, P-frames and B-frames.
  • l-frames do not depend on data contained in the preceding or following frames, as they contain a complete picture.
  • P-frames provide more compression than l-frames because they utilize data contained in the previous l-frame or P-frame.
  • B-frames are similar to P-frames, except that B-frames interpolate data contained in the following frame as well as the preceding frame.
  • B-frames usually provide more compression than P-frames.
  • every 15th frame or so is an l-frame.
  • P-frames and B-frames might follow an l-frame as follows: IBBPBBPBBPBB(I). The order and number of frames in the sequence can be varied.
  • the average time for switching between channels therefore depends on the length of time between l-frames.
  • the length of time is around 0.5 seconds.
  • the length of time between l-frames can be several seconds.
  • the media stream includes payload data and metadata.
  • the payload data is the media data itself, and is decoded and shown by the receiver.
  • Payload data typically comprises frames as described above.
  • the metadata includes all other data in the media stream. This may be, for example, data describing the payload data, or information establishing signalling between two peers.
  • the media stream is sent in "fragments". Fragments are discrete portions of the media stream containing both the payload data and the metadata.
  • a buffer containing fragments is illustrated in Figure 3.
  • a fragment may contain both metadata about the media stream, and payload data from the media stream itself.
  • the P2P network interface (in, for example, a STB) requests fragments from other P2P peers.
  • the P2P logic is writing fragment number 21 into the buffer and fragment number 17 is sent to the video decoder.
  • a user will switch between channels (referred to as "zapping") frequently.
  • the user joins and leaves P2P networks for specific channels often.
  • the buffer in their STB will no longer build up fragments for that channel, and if a user returns to that channel it will take a significant amount of time to render the media for that channel, as the user's STB will have to build up buffer data once more for the channel.
  • the inventors have realised the problems associated with the prior art and devised an apparatus and method to mitigate the problems and reduce the time it takes for a peer to receive the latest key frame from another peer in the network.
  • a node for use in an IPTV communications network.
  • the node comprises a user prediction function for determining that a user is likely to switch between IPTV channels, and a transmitter for, as a result of the determination, requesting from a remote node fragments for a further IPTV channel that is not currently being viewed by the user.
  • the node is also provided with a receiver for receiving from the remote node the requested fragments; and a memory for storing the received fragments.
  • the node is optionally either a Set Top Box or a proxy node arranged to act on behalf of a Set Top Box.
  • the node can pre-fetch fragments for the channel that the user is likely to switch to. In the event that the user then switches to the further channel, the fragments are already stored in the channel, and the channel can be rendered more quickly than if the node started to fetch fragments for the further channel after the viewer requested to switch to the further channel.
  • the node is optionally adapted to operate in a Peer to Peer IPTV communications network.
  • the node comprises a database of channels, wherein the further IPTV channel is selected from the database.
  • the database may be, for example, a list of the user's "favourite" channels.
  • the user prediction function is optionally arranged to instruct the transmitter to stop requesting fragments for the further IPTV channel after it is determined that the user has not switched between IPTV channels for a predetermined amount of time. In this way, if fragments for the further channel are pre-fetched because the node has determined that the user is zapping between channels, then the node can determine that there is no need to pre-fetch fragments once the user has stopped zapping between channels and has settled on one channel.
  • the memory is optionally arranged to store fragments for both the further IPTV channel that is not currently being viewed by the user, and a channel that is currently being viewed by the user.
  • a method of operating a node in an IPTV communications network comprises determining when a user is likely to switch between IPTV channels. As a result of the determination, fragments for a further IPTV channel are requested from a remote node. The method further comprises receiving from the remote node the requested fragments, and storing the received fragments. The method allows a node to pre-fetch fragments for a channel that a user is not currently watching if it is determined that a user is likely to switch channels, for example when zapping between channels or from habitual user behaviour. In this way, when a user switches to a further channel, the channel can be rendered more quickly, as fragments for that channel have already been received.
  • the method optionally comprises selecting the at least one further channel from a database.
  • a database is a list of user "favourites", or a database of the user's historical channel switching behaviour.
  • the method optionally comprises determining that the user has not switched between IPTV channels for a predetermined amount of time, and stopping requesting from the remote node fragments for the further IPTV channel.
  • the method further comprises determining that the user wishes to view the further IPTV channel, and sending the stored fragments for the further IPTV channel to a media renderer.
  • apparatus for use in receiving media over a communications network, the apparatus comprising means for performing the method described above in the second aspect of the invention.
  • a program for controlling an apparatus to perform the method described above in the second aspect of the invention is provided.
  • a program which, when loaded into an apparatus, causes the apparatus to become an apparatus as described above in the third aspect of the invention.
  • a program described above in either of the fourth or fifth aspects of the invention carried on a carrier medium.
  • the carrier medium is optionally a storage medium.
  • a storage medium containing a program as described above in either of the fourth or fifth aspects of the invention.
  • Figure 1 illustrates schematically in a block diagram an architecture for the distribution of IPTV
  • Figure 2 illustrates schematically in a block diagram an architecture for the distribution of IPTV in a peer to peer network
  • Figure 3 illustrates schematically in a block diagram a buffer in a STB containing data fragments
  • Figure 4 illustrates schematically in a block diagram a media injector and two Set Top Boxes
  • Figure 5 illustrates schematically in a block diagram the signalling required to initiate an IPTV broadcast with a first Set Top Box
  • Figure 6 illustrates schematically in a block diagram the signalling required to initiate an IPTV broadcast with a further Set Top Box
  • Figure 7 illustrates schematically in a block diagram keep alive messages sent by a Set Top Box
  • Figure 8 illustrates schematically the contents of a buffer where a user is viewing a single channel
  • Figure 9 illustrates schematically the contents of a buffer where a user is switching between channels according to an embodiment of the invention
  • Figure 10 is a flow diagram illustrating the steps according to an embodiment of the invention.
  • Figure 11 illustrates schematically in a block diagram a peer node according to an embodiment of the invention.
  • IPTV P2P requires a media injector in order to introduce the IPTV media stream into the network, although the media injector is not a true peer in the network in the sense that it sends media data but does not receive media data from the peers.
  • Figure 4 is a schematic representation of a simple IPTV P2P network 1.
  • the network 1 includes an IPTV server 6 and two STBs STB1 and STB2.
  • Each STB includes a P2P network interface 2, 3 to which is connected a video decoder 9, 1 1.
  • STB1 receives the IPTV media stream from both STB2 and the IPTV Server 6, which injects either streaming content 4 or content from a database 7 using a P2P media injector 8.
  • other network nodes may be peers in the network.
  • FIG. 5 illustrates typical signalling required to initiate an IPTV broadcast with a first STB STB1.
  • the video decoder 9 in STB1 receives an instruction from a user to start channel X. This is relayed to the P2P network interface 2 in STB1 , which sends a request to a STB manager 10 in the IPTV back-end to join channel X.
  • the STB Manager 10 returns a peer list to the P2P function in STB1 , but no IPTV media stream.
  • the peer list includes the P2P media injector 8. Since the media injector can be considered as a peer in the network, it is termed STBO.
  • the P2P function in STB1 then sends a request to join channel X to STBO.
  • STBO receives an IPTV media stream from an IPTV media stream source (for example, from the database 7), and sends a peer list and an IPTV media stream comprising fragments of frames to the P2P network interface of STB1.
  • the P2P network interface of STB1 sends the frames to the video decoder 9 in STB1 , which can then show the IPTV media stream to the user.
  • Figure 6 illustrates typical signalling required to initiate an IPTV broadcast with a further STB STB2.
  • STB1 is already receiving an IPTV media stream from STBO.
  • the P2P network interface in STB2 sends a request join channel X to the STB manager 10.
  • the STB manager 10 returns a peer list but no payload to STB2.
  • the peer list includes STBO and STB1 , as these are both possible sources for the IPTV media stream.
  • the P2P function in STB2 then sends a request to each of STBO and STB1 to join channel X.
  • STBO and STB1 each send a peer list and IPTV data stream to the P2P network interface in STB2, which passes the frames of the IPTV media stream to the video decoder.
  • IPTV media stream is used herein to refer to any kind of media data having real time requirements, and includes Video on Demand, user defined TV content, interactive TV, interactive or co-operative games, or audio media.
  • the media stream is to be delivered to the user such that the user can observe the media content at a constant rate without interruptions or delays. There is some latency in the P2P network, caused by buffers in each STB and the time it takes to establish communication between peers.
  • the term “media stream” need not necessarily refer to the media data injected into the network by a media injector, but can also be used to refer to media data received from other peers in a P2P network.
  • a STB is provided with a set of "favourite" channels that the user often views. Prediction logic is also provided to predict user behaviour and flag up to the STB when a user begins to switch between channels. For example, if a user changes from channel 5 to channel 4 and back again to channel 5, it may be likely that the user will return once more to channel 4. These channels are both on the "favourite" list.
  • the STB therefore keeps "favourite” channels active for a period of time during whilst the user is switching channels.
  • the STB fetches fragments for the favourite channels for a certain amount of time, the time being determined by the prediction logic. For example, the prediction logic may predict that if a user stays with a certain channel for a predetermined amount of time, the user is unlikely to switch to another channel at any time soon, and will therefore stop obtaining fragments for channels that the user is not currently viewing.
  • the STB is therefore keeping favourite channels active for a certain time even when they are not being viewed by the user. If the user subsequently switches to one of the favourite channels, the buffer will already contain fragments for that channel and the STB can immediately start rendering the media. This greatly reduces the amount of time that a user has to wait before seeing the media when switching between favourite channels.
  • the STB re-arranges the memory for the buffer to ensure that fragments relating to more than one channel at a time can be stored. It will be appreciated that for a given memory size, the more channels a STB obtains fragments for, the fewer fragments will be stored for each channel at the STB. This places a limit on the amount of time that a channel can be viewed for before the STB must start to fetch fragments for that channel to enable a viewer to watch it. However, if a user quickly switches between channels then this will not be a problem, as the buffer may not run out of fragments for the user to view before the viewer switches to another channel.
  • a buffer containing fragments for Channel X is illustrated. All of the fragments contain media data and metadata for rendering Channel X.
  • the end user starts "zapping" between Channel Y and Channel Z.
  • the prediction logic in the STB determines that the user is zapping between Channel Y and Channel Z, and rearranges the buffer memory such that fragments containing frames and metadata for both Channel Y and Channel Z are obtained. If the user is currently watching Channel Z, and the STB prediction logic determines that the user is likely to switch back to Channel Y, then the STB will continue to retrieve fragments fro Channel Y and store them in the buffer.
  • the prediction logic will instruct the STB to only fetch fragments relating to Channel Z. Note that the same amount of buffer space might be available whether the STB is obtaining fragments relating to Channel X only, or if the STB is obtaining fragments for Channel X and Channel Y.
  • the user is switching between two channels, but it will be appreciated that the user may be switching between more channels.
  • the same functions can be applied to any peer node in the P2P network.
  • this may be useful for a proxy node acting on behalf of one or more STBs.
  • the proxy node would predict a user's behaviour when the user starts to zap, and pre-fetch and store channels in a buffer such that the channel can be rendered on the user's STB almost immediately if the user switches to that channel.
  • An example of a node that could be used as a proxy node in such a way is a Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer (DSLAM).
  • DSLAM Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer
  • the STB's prediction logic determines that the user is switching between channels. In this example, the user is currently viewing channel Y;
  • the STB requests fragments for channel Z from remote nodes. Note that the end user is not viewing channel Z, but channel Z is in a user's "favourites" list and the user often switches between channel Y and channel Z;
  • the STB receives fragments for channel Z;
  • the STB stores the received channel Z fragments in a buffer, along with fragments for the channel that the user is currently viewing;
  • the user subsequently switches to channel Z, and so the fragments stored in the buffer are sent to a media renderer to allow the user to view channel Z straight away.
  • the STB may receive fragments for many channels that the user is not currently viewing but might reasonably be expected to switch to within a predetermined time period.
  • the peer node 12 is provided with a user prediction function 13 that is used for determining when the end-user starts to switch between channels.
  • a transmitter 14 is also provided fro requesting remote fragments from other peer nodes relating to other IPTV channels than the one the user is currently viewing.
  • a receiver 15 receives the requested fragments, which are then stored in a memory 16. If the user switches to a channel for which fragments are already stored on the memory 16, those fragments are passed to a media renderer 14 to allow the user to view the channel.
  • the peer node 12 may also be provided with a database 17 of "favourite" channels from which the requested channels are selected.
  • the invention provides a pre-fetch function in a peer node such as a STB for use in an IPTV P2P network that is activated if a user begins to switch channels.
  • the pre-fetch function re-arranges the buffer in the STB so that fragments for more than one channel can be handled. Even if fragments for a channel are not sent to the STB video decoder for rendering, the STB will still fetch frames belonging to that channel as long as it is likely that the user will switch to that channel.

Abstract

La présente invention concerne un procédé et un appareil s'utilisant dans un réseau de communications de type IPTV, c'est-à-dire de télévision par Internet. Un nœud comprend une fonction de prédiction des utilisateurs permettant de déterminer si un utilisateur est susceptible de faire une commutation entre canaux IPTV, et un émetteur permettant, en fonction du résultat qui a été déterminé, de demander à un nœud à distance des fragments pour un autre canal IPTV non encore en cours de visionnage par l'utilisateur. Le nœud est également pourvu, d'une part d'un récepteur permettant de recevoir depuis le nœud à distance les fragments demandés, et d'autre part d'une mémoire permettant de stocker les fragments reçus. Cette détermination de l'éventualité qu'un utilisateur commute sur d'autres canaux permet au nœud d'extraire par anticipation des fragments destinés au canal vers lequel l'utilisateur est susceptible de commuter.
PCT/EP2008/051177 2008-01-31 2008-01-31 Procédé et appareil pour l'obtention de contenu multimédia par l'intermédiaire d'un réseau de communications WO2009095078A1 (fr)

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GB1011822A GB2469238A (en) 2008-01-31 2008-01-31 Method and apparatus for obtaining media over a communications network
PCT/EP2008/051177 WO2009095078A1 (fr) 2008-01-31 2008-01-31 Procédé et appareil pour l'obtention de contenu multimédia par l'intermédiaire d'un réseau de communications

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CN101998165A (zh) * 2010-09-19 2011-03-30 中兴通讯股份有限公司 一种iptv系统中频道切换的方法及系统
WO2013160042A1 (fr) * 2012-04-23 2013-10-31 Qarva Ltd. Système pour la récupération de pertes de paquets
WO2014124058A1 (fr) * 2013-02-06 2014-08-14 General Instrument Corporation Procédé de fonctionnement d'un client ip
WO2015000936A1 (fr) * 2013-07-03 2015-01-08 Koninklijke Kpn N.V. Émission en flux d'un contenu segmenté
US10225306B2 (en) 2011-12-29 2019-03-05 Koninklijke Kpn N.V. Controlled streaming of segmented content
US10523723B2 (en) 2014-06-06 2019-12-31 Koninklijke Kpn N.V. Method, system and various components of such a system for selecting a chunk identifier
US11477262B2 (en) 2014-02-13 2022-10-18 Koninklijke Kpn N.V. Requesting multiple chunks from a network node on the basis of a single request message

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DE502005000317D1 (de) * 2004-03-19 2007-03-08 Alfmeier Praez Ag Fahrzeugsitz mit einer schwenkbar gelagerten kopfstütze

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US20040001500A1 (en) * 2002-07-01 2004-01-01 Castillo Michael J. Predictive tuning to avoid tuning delay
US20060075428A1 (en) * 2004-10-04 2006-04-06 Wave7 Optics, Inc. Minimizing channel change time for IP video

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN101998165A (zh) * 2010-09-19 2011-03-30 中兴通讯股份有限公司 一种iptv系统中频道切换的方法及系统
US10225306B2 (en) 2011-12-29 2019-03-05 Koninklijke Kpn N.V. Controlled streaming of segmented content
WO2013160042A1 (fr) * 2012-04-23 2013-10-31 Qarva Ltd. Système pour la récupération de pertes de paquets
WO2014124058A1 (fr) * 2013-02-06 2014-08-14 General Instrument Corporation Procédé de fonctionnement d'un client ip
WO2015000936A1 (fr) * 2013-07-03 2015-01-08 Koninklijke Kpn N.V. Émission en flux d'un contenu segmenté
US10171528B2 (en) 2013-07-03 2019-01-01 Koninklijke Kpn N.V. Streaming of segmented content
US10609101B2 (en) 2013-07-03 2020-03-31 Koninklijke Kpn N.V. Streaming of segmented content
US11477262B2 (en) 2014-02-13 2022-10-18 Koninklijke Kpn N.V. Requesting multiple chunks from a network node on the basis of a single request message
US10523723B2 (en) 2014-06-06 2019-12-31 Koninklijke Kpn N.V. Method, system and various components of such a system for selecting a chunk identifier

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GB201011822D0 (en) 2010-09-01

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