WO2009129728A1

WO2009129728A1 - Broadcast/multicast method, apparatus and system

Info

Publication number: WO2009129728A1
Application number: PCT/CN2009/071353
Authority: WO
Inventors: 朱雷
Original assignee: 华为技术有限公司
Priority date: 2008-04-22
Filing date: 2009-04-20
Publication date: 2009-10-29
Also published as: CN101568068A

Abstract

A broadcast/multicast method, user apparatus, system and application server, the method comprises: transmitting broadcast/multicast media stream provided by the user’s home network to the user through the network bearing provided by the visited network which the user locates.

Description

Broadcast/multicast methods, devices and systems

The present application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 200810027607.3, entitled "Broadcast/Multicast Method and Apparatus", filed on April 22, 2008, the entire contents of .

Technical field

The present invention relates to the field of communications, and in particular, to a broadcast/multicast method, device, and system.

Background technique

Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service (MBMS) can efficiently play a variety of rich multimedia content through the existing Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS) network, enabling mobile users to pass through user equipment. Receive news, weather and traffic forecasts, stock price information, music files, TV shows and streaming services.

Broadcast/multicast services are communications that transfer packets from the same source to multiple destinations, ie, point-to-multipoint communications. The broadcast is mainly used to transmit broadcast services to all user equipments in the network, and multicast is mainly used to transmit multicast services to user equipments that have joined a multicast group in the network.

In the MBMS architecture of the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), the Broadcast Multicast Service Centre (BM-SC) has user management (such as user identity management), content association, Functions such as service management and user notification are also entities that determine the broadcast/multicast network bearers in the network and allocate network bearer resources.

When the user equipment roams to the access network, the application server and the user equipment that provide the broadcast/multicast service are under different network and operator control, that is, the application server is under the control of the user home network and the corresponding operator, and the user equipment is in the access. Under the control of the network and the corresponding operator, in the application of the Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS), the application server in the home network cannot perform broadcast/multicast services for the user equipments that are accessing the network. Summary of the invention

The embodiment of the present invention provides a broadcast/multicast method, device, and system, and implements a broadcast/multicast service for a user equipment that is in a visited network.

The embodiment of the invention provides a broadcast/multicast method, including:

The broadcast/multicast media stream provided by the user's home network is sent to the user through the network bearer provided by the user's access network.

Correspondingly, an embodiment of the present invention further provides a user equipment, including:

a generating unit, configured to generate a message carrying network bearer information provided by the access network of the user for carrying the broadcast/communication media stream;

a sending unit, configured to send the message.

Correspondingly, an embodiment of the present invention further provides a system, including:

The proxy call session control function entity and the user equipment provided by the embodiment of the present invention, wherein the proxy call session control function entity is configured to receive the message; or

The multimedia broadcast/multicast service network and the user equipment provided by the embodiment of the present invention, wherein the multimedia broadcast/multicast service network is configured to send, to the user equipment, the broadcast/multicast media provided by the access network for carrying The streaming network carries information.

Correspondingly, an embodiment of the present invention further provides an application server, including:

An obtaining unit, configured to obtain a broadcast/multicast media stream provided by the user home network;

And a sending unit, configured to send the broadcast/multicast media stream to the user by using a network bearer provided by the access network of the user.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the broadcast/multicast media stream provided by the user home network is sent to the user by using the network bearer provided by the user access network, thereby establishing a corresponding network bearer in the access network and the home network, thereby implementing the home network. The application server performs broadcast/multicast services for user equipments that are accessing the network.

DRAWINGS

1 is a schematic diagram of a broadcast/multicast method according to an embodiment of the present invention; 2 is a second schematic diagram of a broadcast/multicast method according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 3 is a third schematic diagram of a broadcast/multicast method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

4 is a schematic diagram of a broadcast/multicast system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a second schematic diagram of a broadcast/multicast system according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG.

6 is a third schematic diagram of a broadcast/multicast system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

7 is a schematic diagram of a broadcast/multicast system including an address converter according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a broadcast/multicast system including a content forwarding entity according to an embodiment of the present invention;

9 is a schematic diagram of a broadcast/multicast system including a plurality of forwarding devices according to an embodiment of the present invention; and FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a broadcast/multicast system utilizing an OMA BCAST service architecture according to an embodiment of the present invention.

detailed description

The embodiment of the present invention provides a broadcast/multicast method, a user equipment, an application server, and a system, which can implement an application server in the home network as a user in the access network by establishing a corresponding network bearer in the access network and the home network. The device carries out broadcast/multicast services.

The embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a schematic diagram of a broadcast/multicast method according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to the figure, the method is based on a proxy call session control function entity in a visited network by a user roaming in a visited network.

(Proxy-Call Session Control Function, P-CSCF) The process of registering to the IMS of the user home network providing the broadcast/multicast media stream, mainly including:

101. The user sends a registration request message (a type of registration message) to the P-CSCF in the access network. The registration request message carries broadcast/multicast service information. The broadcast/multicast service information carries the network bearer information provided by the foregoing access network for carrying the broadcast/multicast media stream, for example, the network identifier of the broadcast/multicast bearer network where the user is located, and the broadcast/multicast bearer network management. Entity information and the like, where the broadcast/multicast bearer network management entity may be a BM-SC. The broadcast/multicast service information may also carry the domain name of the user's home network and the access network information of the user's visited network. The information about the support capability of the user terminal for the broadcast/multicast service, etc., wherein the network bearer information may be an IP address assigned by the access network to the user.

102. After receiving the registration request message sent by the user, the P-CSCF sends a registration request message to the IMS of the home network, and can send a Serving-Call Session Control Function (S-CSCF) to the serving network in the home network. And transmitting a registration request message, where the registration request message carries the broadcast/multicast service information involved in the above 101.

103. The user registration process is continued, and the S-CSCF sends a HSS-supported Cx-Put message to the Home Subscriber Server (HSS) for user identity verification.

104, the HSS returns a response message to the C-Put message to the S-CSCF, such as Cx-Put

Resp message or Cx-Pull Resp message.

105. The S-CSCF returns a response message, such as a 200 OK response message, to the P-CSCF for the registration request message sent by the P-CSCF.

106. The P-CSCF returns a response message to the user for the registration request message sent by the user, such as a 200 OK response message.

Afterwards, the S-CSCF may send the broadcast/multicast service information to the application server, where the broadcast multicast service information may carry the network bearer information and the support capability information of the user terminal for the broadcast/multicast service, and the application server may And the network bearer between the access network and the home network is initiated according to the network bearer information and the support capability information of the user terminal for the broadcast/multicast service, and the network bearer resource corresponding to the network bearer may be reserved to send a broadcast to the user. /Multicast media stream. Specifically, the initiating process of the foregoing network bearer may include:

Determining, according to the foregoing network bearer information carried in the broadcast multicast service information, and the support capability information of the user terminal for the broadcast/multicast service, determining whether the current session satisfies the condition of the network bearer, and if yes, reserving the network bearer corresponding to the session Network hosting resources.

2 is a second schematic diagram of a broadcast/multicast method according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to the figure, the method is based on a process of roaming a user in a visited network to initiate a session, and FIG. 2 uses an MBMS network. The case of the network is illustrated but not limited to this, mainly including:

201. The MBMS network in the access network sends the network bearer information provided by the access network for carrying the broadcast/multicast media stream, where the network bearer information may be an IP address allocated by the access network for the user.

202. After receiving the network bearer information, the user sends a session message, such as a session establishment request message INVITE message, to the participating application server in the user home network. The INVITE message carries broadcast/multicast service information. The broadcast/multicast service information carries the network bearer information provided by the foregoing access network for carrying the broadcast/multicast media stream, for example, the network identifier of the broadcast/multicast bearer network where the user is located, and the broadcast/multicast bearer network management. Entity information, etc. The broadcast/multicast service information may also carry the domain name of the user's home network, the access network information of the user's access network, and the support capability information of the user terminal for the broadcast/multicast service. The participating application server is a user-related application server, such as the PoC Server Performing Participating function portion of the Push to Talk over Cellular Server (PoC Server).

It should be noted that the access network where the user roams may be a broadcast/multicast network provided by the mobile operator, and the broadcast/multicast network may be an MBMS network, a Broadcast/Multicast Service (BCMCS) network, or a digital network. The television broadcast (DVB) network may also be other networks, such as a broadcast television network. Therefore, the network bearer information may be network bearer information corresponding to the above broadcast/multicast networks.

203. After receiving the INVITE message, the participating application server sends the INVITE message to a control application server in the home network of the user, where the control application server is an application server related to session control, such as a PoC Server Performing Controlling function. ) section.

It should be noted that the control application server may also be an independent network element that exists separately from the home network. After receiving the INVITE message, the control application server parses the broadcast/multicast service information carried in the INVITE message, where the broadcast/multicast service information may carry the network bearer information and the broadcast/multicast service of the user terminal. The support capability information, after which, according to the network bearer information and the support capability information of the user terminal for the broadcast/multicast service, it is determined whether the current session satisfies the condition of the network bearer, and the control application server may also carry the information about the network bearer. Suggest or judge the availability of the corresponding network bearer resources.

It should be noted that the step 204 can also be performed between the following steps 206 and 207.

205. The foregoing session is continued, and the application server is configured to send an INVITE message to the called party. Specifically, to save the message volume, the broadcast/communication service information may not be carried in the INVITE message.

206. The control application server receives the response message returned by the called party, such as a 200 OK response message.

207, when it is determined in the foregoing 204 that the current session satisfies the condition of the network bearer, the control application server reserves the network bearer resource corresponding to the network bearer information for the current session, and specifically, the control application server may be configured according to the network bearer information. Initiating the reservation of the network bearer resource to the participating application server and the MBMS network in the access network, or controlling the application server to trigger the broadcast/multicast bearer network management entity in the home network, such as the BM-SC in the MBMS network in the home network, To initiate the reservation of the network bearer resources, for example, the BM-SC uses a Roaming Agreement (RA) between the operators to send a network bearer resource reservation request to the network element corresponding to the network bearer in the access network.

208. Continue the foregoing session, and control the application server to send a 200 OK response message to the participating application server.

209. The participating application server returns a 200 OK response message to the user in the visited network.

3 is a third schematic diagram of a broadcast/multicast method according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to the figure, the method is mainly implemented by means of setting, and mainly includes:

301, accessing the MBMS network in the network to send the user to the access network for providing a wide load The network bearer information of the broadcast/multicast media stream, and the network bearer information may be an IP address assigned to the user by the access network.

302. After receiving the foregoing network bearer information, the user sends a service setting request message (a type of service setting message) to a participating application server in the user home network, such as a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) Publish message. The service setting request message carries the broadcast/multicast service information, where the broadcast/multicast service information carries the network bearer information received by the user.

303. After receiving the SIP Publish message carrying the network bearer information, the participating application server returns a 200 OK response message to the user, and the participating application server parses and saves the network bearer information, and is used for session establishment and use related to the user. The network bearer information may be updated or set to a valid condition (when the valid condition is not met, the network bearer information is invalid).

The user sends a session message to the participating application server, such as a session establishment request message INVITE message, where the INVITE message may carry the support capability information of the user terminal for the broadcast/multicast service, and may also carry the user to decide whether to initiate the broadcast/multicast. The service uses the acknowledgement information carried by the network of the broadcast/multicast service, and the like.

305. After receiving the INVITE message, the participating application server parses the information carried by the message, such as a combination of one or more of the foregoing support capability information and the acknowledgement information, and according to the parsed information and the previously saved network bearer. Information, determining whether the current session satisfies the conditions of the above network bearer.

306. Continue the foregoing session process, and the participating application server sends the control application server.

INVITE message.

307. The control application server continues to process the INVITE message, and sends the INVITE message to the called party.

308. The control application server receives the 200 OK response message returned by the called party.

309. The control application server sends a 200 OK response message to the participating application server.

310, when the above 305 determines that the current session satisfies the condition of the network bearer, participates The application server reserves the network bearer resource corresponding to the network bearer for the current session. Specifically, the participating application server may initiate the reservation of the network bearer resource to the MBMS network in the access network, or participate in the application server to trigger the broadcast in the home network. The multicast bearer network management entity, such as the BM-SC in the MBMS network in the home network, initiates the reservation of the network bearer resources. For example, the BM-SC uses the RA between the operators to access the network bearer in the visited network. The network element sends a network bearer resource reservation request.

311. The participating application server returns a 200 OK response message to the user in the access network.

Based on the broadcast/multicast method of the embodiment of the present invention as shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2 or FIG. 3, after the network bearer resources are reserved, the following process may be performed, where the process is to use an IP address to send a broadcast/ The process of multicast service information:

When the access network and the home network use the uniformly planned broadcast/multicast IP address, and the network bearer information is the IP address of the access network where the user is currently roaming, at this time, the application server (such as providing a broadcast/multicast media stream) The participating server transmits the broadcast/multicast media stream directly to the IP address (ie, the user) through the network bearer resource (IP network bearer resource) corresponding to the IP address, because the access network and the home network use the unified planned broadcast. / multicast IP address, the broadcast/multicast media stream can be sent to the above IP address according to the IP routing mode; wherein the access network and the home network use a unified planned broadcast/multicast IP address, for example, the corresponding network access Virtual Private Network (VPN) The VPN corresponding to the home network is configured with a unified IP address. The network elements in the network and the network elements in the home network can directly communicate with each other through IP routing.

When the access network and the home network do not use the unified broadcast/multicast IP address, and the network bearer information is the first IP address of the access network where the user is currently roaming, the application of the network bearer is initiated. The server (such as a participating server providing a broadcast/multicast media stream) sends the broadcast/multicast media stream to the first IP address, but at this time is limited to the IP route inside the home network, and then receives the first IP address. The network element of the broadcast/multicast media stream (such as an MBMS network element in the access network) converts the first IP address to the user And transmitting, by the network bearer resource corresponding to the second IP address, the broadcast/multicast media stream to the second IP address (that is, a user in the access network) by using the second IP address used in the network bearer.

As an embodiment, the broadcast/multicast method of the embodiment of the present invention may further be a process of sending broadcast/multicast service information by using a set forwarding device:

When a content forwarding entity is disposed between the access network and the home network, and the content forwarding entity may partially or completely belong to the access network/home network, the application server sends the broadcast/multicast media stream to the content forwarding entity, where The content forwarding entity then sends the received broadcast/multicast media stream to a broadcast/multicast bearer network management entity (such as a BM-SC) in the visited network, and the broadcast/multicast bearer network management entity performs the broadcast/multicast. Service information is sent to the user;

For example, in the existing access network and the home network, a network element such as a BM-SC is already provided. In the embodiment of the present invention, the BM-SC is used as a forwarding device to complete the relay broadcast/multicast by extending the interface of the BM-SC. The function of the media stream, specifically, the application server that initiates the network bearer sends the broadcast/multicast media stream to the BM-SC in the home network, and the BM-SC in the home network passes between the BM-SC in the visited network and the BM-SC in the visited network. The extended interface sends the broadcast/multicast media stream to the BM-SC in the access network, and then accesses the BM-SC in the network to send the broadcast/multicast media stream to the user in the visited network. When the BM-SC in the home network needs to verify the identity of the user in the roaming situation, it can be completed by accessing the information exchange between the BM-SC in the network and the BM-SC in the home network.

As an embodiment, the broadcast/multicast method of the embodiment of the present invention may also be a process for transmitting a broadcast in a Broadcast (BCAST) service architecture of the Open Mobile Alliance (OMA). The process of multicast media stream:

The second layer of functions in the OMA BCAST service architecture, such as user identity management, service network, adaptation of network bearers for broadcast/multicast media streams, and network bearers for roaming users using broadcast/multicast media streams, home network An application server (such as a PoC Server) that provides broadcast/multicast services can send broadcast/multicast to the second layer in the OMA BCAST service architecture through the interface. Media stream, at the same time, through the interface and the second layer in the OMA BCAST service architecture for user identity authentication and network bearer resource reservation, etc., the second layer in the OMA BCAST service architecture can send the received to the user. Broadcast/multicast media stream.

The broadcast/multicast method provided by the embodiment of the present invention can implement the broadcast/multicast service for the user equipment in the visited network by establishing the corresponding network bearer on the access network and the home network.

Correspondingly, the broadcast/multicast system of the embodiment of the present invention is described below, and the user equipment and the application server of the embodiment of the present invention are also described.

4 is a schematic diagram of a broadcast/multicast system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to the figure, the system mainly includes a client 41, a P-CSCF 42 in a visited network where the current user roams, and an S-CSCF 43 in the home network of the user. Application Server (AS) 44, HSS45, where each unit/device function is as follows:

The client 41 sends a registration request message (a type of registration message) to the P-CSCF 42, where the registration request message carries the broadcast/multicast service information, and the broadcast/multicast service information carries the information provided by the access network. The network bearer information of the broadcast/multicast media stream (such as the network identifier of the broadcast/multicast bearer network where the client 41 is located, the broadcast/multicast bearer network management entity information, etc.), and the domain name of the client 41 home network, where Client41 is located. The access network information of the access network, the support capability information of the client 41 for the broadcast/multicast service, and the like, wherein the network bearer information may be an IP address assigned by the access network to the client 41.

After receiving the registration request message sent by the client 41, the P-CSCF 42 sends the S- to the home network.

The CSCF 43 sends a registration request message, where the registration request message carries the above broadcast/multicast service information sent by the client 41.

The S-CSCF43 sends a Cx-Put message supported by the HSS to the HSS45 to perform client41 authentication.

HSS45, returning a response message to the above Cx-Put message to the S-CSCF43, such as Cx-Put

Resp message or Cx-Pull Resp message. The S-CSCF 43 returns a response message to the P-CSCF 42 for the registration request message transmitted by the P-CSCF 42, such as a 200 OK response message.

The P-CSCF 42 returns a response message to the client 41 for the registration request message transmitted by the client 41.

The S-CSCF 43 sends the received broadcast/multicast service information to the AS 44. The broadcast/multicast service information may carry the network bearer information and the support capability information of the user terminal for the broadcast/multicast service.

The receiving unit in the AS 44 receives the broadcast/multicast service information.

The initiating unit in the AS 44 initiates a network bearer between the access network and the home network according to the network bearer information in the broadcast/multicast service information and the support capability information of the user terminal for the broadcast/multicast service, for example:

The determining unit in the initiating unit determines whether the current session satisfies the condition of the network bearer according to the network bearer information and the support capability information of the user terminal for the broadcast/multicast service.

And the resource reservation initiating unit in the initiating unit, when the determining unit determines that the session satisfies the condition of the network bearer, initiating a reservation of the network bearer resource corresponding to the network bearer.

The acquiring unit in the AS 44 obtains the broadcast/multicast media stream provided by the home network.

The sending unit in the AS 44 sends the broadcast/multicast media stream to the client 41 by using the network bearer initiated by the initiating unit.

FIG. 5 is a second schematic diagram of a broadcast/multicast system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to the figure, the system mainly includes a client 51, an MBMS network 52 in a visited network where the current user roams, and a participating application server 53 in the user home network. The control application server 54 includes a generating unit 511 and a sending unit 512. The control application server 54 includes a receiving unit 541, an initiating unit 542, an obtaining unit 543, and a sending unit 544. The functions of each unit/device are as follows:

MBMS52 sends the access network to the client 51 for carrying the broadcast/multicast media stream. The network carries information, and the network bearer information may be an Π>address assigned by the access network to the Client 51. The generating unit 511, after receiving the network bearer information sent by the MBMS network 52, generates a session establishment request message INVITE message, where the INVITE message carries broadcast/multicast service information, and the broadcast/multicast service information carries the foregoing access The network bearer information (such as the network identifier of the broadcast/multicast bearer network where the client 51 is located, the broadcast/multicast bearer network management entity information, etc.) provided by the network, and may also carry the Client51 home network. The domain name, the access network information of the access network where Client 51 is located, and the support capability information of Client 51 for broadcast/multicast services.

The sending unit 512 sends the foregoing session message INVITE message to the participating application server 53 in the user home network.

After participating in the INVITE message, the participating application server sends the INVITE message to the control application server 54 in the home network of the user.

The receiving unit 541 receives the above INVITE message.

The determining unit in the initiating unit 542, after parsing the broadcast/multicast service information carried in the INVITE message, the broadcast/multicast service information may carry the network bearer information and the user terminal support for the broadcast/multicast service. The capability information), according to the network bearer information in the broadcast/multicast service information and the support capability information of the user terminal for the broadcast/multicast service, determine whether the current session satisfies the condition of the network bearer; in addition, the determining unit may also The availability or the judgment of the availability of the network bearer resources corresponding to the network bearer information is performed.

The resource reservation initiating unit in the initiating unit 543, when the determining unit determines that the current session satisfies the condition of the network bearer, reserves the network bearer resource corresponding to the network bearer information for the current session, specifically, the participating application The server 53 and the MBMS network 52 initiate the reservation of the network bearer resources, or trigger the broadcast/multicast bearer network management entity in the home network (such as the BM-SC in the MBMS network in the home network) to initiate the pre-network resource pre-requisition. stay.

The obtaining unit 543 obtains a broadcast/multicast media stream provided by the home network, and the AS54 obtains the present The broadcast/multicast media stream is also provided, and the broadcast/multicast media stream can also be obtained from an external storage server. The sending unit 544 sends the broadcast/multicast media stream obtained by the obtaining unit 543 to the client 51 by using the network bearer initiated by the initiating unit 542.

In addition, the control application server 54 can also continue the above-mentioned session flow, such as sending an INVITE message to the called party and receiving its response message, and sending a 200 OK response message to the participating application server 53.

It should be noted that the participating application server 53 is an application server related to the user, such as a participating function part of the PoC Server, and the control application server 54 is an application server related to session control, such as a control function part of the PoC Server; Server 54 may also be a separate network element that exists separately from the home network.

FIG. 6 is a third schematic diagram of a broadcast/multicast system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to the figure, the system mainly includes a client 61, an MBMS network 62, and a participating application server 63 in a user home network. The application server 64, wherein the client 61 includes a generating unit 611 and a sending unit 612. The participating application server 63 includes a receiving unit 631, an initiating unit 632, an obtaining unit 633, and a sending unit 634, each unit/device function is as follows:

The MBMS network 62 sends, to the client 61, the network bearer information provided by the access network for carrying the broadcast/multicast media stream, and the network bearer information may be an IP address allocated by the access network for the user, and the like.

The generating unit 611, after receiving the network bearer information sent by the MBMS network 62, generates a service setting request message (a type of a service setting message), such as a SIP Publish message, where the service setting request message carries the broadcast/multicast service information. The broadcast/multicast service information carries the network bearer information received by the user.

The sending unit 612 sends a service setting request message to the participating application server 63 in the home network of the user.

The receiving unit 631 in the participating application server 63 receives the network bearer carrying the above network SIP Publish message.

In addition, the participating application server 63 can continue the above business setting process, such as returning a 200 OK response message to the user.

The participating application server 63 may further include a saving unit, configured to save the parsed network bearer information for session establishment and use related to the user, and the network bearer information may be updated or set with a valid condition (when the valid condition is not met) The network bearer information is invalid when the condition is met).

The determining unit in the initiating unit 632 sends a session establishment request message INVITE message to the participating application server 63 in the client 61, and parses out the support capability information of the client 61 for the broadcast/multicast service carried in the session establishment message INVITE message, and the client 61 determines whether After the broadcast/multicast service is used and the acknowledgment information carried by the network of the broadcast/multicast service is used, the network bearer information and the parsed information stored in the storage unit are used to determine whether the current session satisfies the condition of the network bearer.

In addition, the participating application server 53 can continue the above-mentioned session flow, such as sending an INVITE message to the control application server 54 and receiving its response message, and returning a 200 OK response message to the user in the visited network.

The resource reservation initiating unit in the initiating unit 632, when the determining unit determines that the current session satisfies the condition of the network bearer, reserves the network bearer resource corresponding to the network bearer for the current session, specifically, may access the network The MBMS network 52 initiates the reservation of the network bearer resources, or triggers a broadcast/multicast bearer network management entity (such as a BM-SC in the MBMS network in the home network) in the home network to initiate reservation of the network bearer resources.

The obtaining unit 633 obtains the broadcast/multicast media stream provided by the home network, and the participating application server 63 obtains the locally provided broadcast/multicast media stream, and obtains the broadcast/multicast media stream from the external storage server.

The sending unit 634 sends the broadcast/multicast media stream obtained by the obtaining unit 633 to the client 61 through the network bearer initiated by the initiating unit 632.

The broadcast/multicast system of the embodiment of the present invention as shown in FIG. 4, FIG. 5 or FIG. 6 may also be as follows Structure:

The functions of the sending unit in the above application server (such as AS44, control application server 54, or participating application server 63) are as follows:

When the access network and the home network use the unified broadcast/multicast IP address, and the network bearer information is the first IP address of the access network where the user equipment (such as Client41, Client51, or Client61) is roaming, the sending unit includes:

The IP address obtaining unit acquires the first IP address.

The media stream sending unit directly sends the broadcast/multicast media stream to the first IP address (ie, the user equipment) according to the network bearer resource corresponding to the first IP address.

When the foregoing access network and the home network do not use the unified planned broadcast/multicast IP address, where the network bearer information is the first IP address of the access network where the user equipment is currently roaming, the sending unit includes the IP address obtaining unit and the media. In addition to the stream sending unit, the broadcast/multicast system may further include an address converter on the network element (such as the MBMS network element in the access network) that receives the broadcast/multicast media stream by using the first IP address. As shown in FIG. 7, the address converter converts the first IP address into a second IP address used by the user equipment in the network bearer, and receives the broadcast/multicast service information by using the first IP address. The network element may send the broadcast/multicast media stream to the second IP address (that is, the user equipment in the access network) by using the network bearer resource corresponding to the second IP address.

As an embodiment, the broadcast/multicast system of the embodiment of the present invention may further be configured to send a broadcast/multicast media stream by using a set forwarding device:

The broadcast/multicast system includes at least one forwarding device, in addition to the user equipment, and the network bearer provided by the access network where the user equipment is located, and the application server that sends the broadcast/multicast media stream to the user equipment. The forwarding device receives the broadcast/multicast media stream sent by the application server (such as the participating application server), and sends the broadcast/multicast media stream to the user equipment. According to the setting and number of the forwarding device, the following specific situations may be considered:

As shown in FIG. 8, the broadcast/multicast system includes a content forwarding entity (ie, the forwarding device described above). The content forwarding entity or part belongs to the access network/home network, or all belong to the access network/home network, and receives the broadcast/group sent by the application server (such as the participating application server) that initiates the broadcast/multicast bearer in the home network. Broadcasting the media stream, and then transmitting the received broadcast/multicast media stream to a broadcast/multicast bearer network management entity (such as BM-SC) in the access network, and the broadcast/multicast bearer network management entity then broadcasts the broadcast/group Broadcast media stream is sent to the user; or,

As shown in FIG. 9, the broadcast/multicast system includes a first forwarding device (such as a BM-SC) disposed in the access network, and a second forwarding device (such as a BM-SC) disposed in the home network to complete the relay. The function of the broadcast/multicast media stream, the application server sends the broadcast/multicast media stream to the receiving unit of the second forwarding device in the home network, and the sending unit of the second forwarding device passes the interface with the first forwarding device. The receiving unit of the forwarding device sends the broadcast/multicast media stream, and then the sending unit of the first forwarding device can send the broadcast/multicast media stream to the user equipment in the visited network where the roaming is located;

In addition, in the case of roaming, the first forwarding device and the second forwarding device may include a verification unit, and when the identity of the user device needs to be verified, the verification may be performed by the verification unit in the first forwarding device and the first forwarding device. The unit performs information interaction to complete;

As an embodiment, the broadcast/multicast system of the embodiment of the present invention may also be configured to implement a broadcast/multicast media stream in the OMA BCAST service architecture:

As shown in FIG. 10, the broadcast/multicast system includes, in addition to the user equipment, and the network bearer provided by the access network where the user equipment is located, and the application server PoC Server that sends the broadcast/multicast media stream to the user equipment. The second layer of the OMA BCAST service architecture is connected to the user equipment and the PoC Server, and the PoC Server can pass the interface. The OMA BCAST service architecture is used to form the broadcast/multicast system. Sending broadcast/multicast media streams to the second layer in the OMA BCAST service architecture. At the same time, it can also perform user identity authentication and network bearer resource reservation through the interface and the second layer in the OMA BCAST service architecture. OMA BCAST The second layer in the business architecture can be sent to the user equipment. Send the received broadcast/multicast media stream.

The device and the system provided by the embodiments of the present invention can implement the broadcast/multicast service for the user equipment in the visited network by establishing the corresponding network bearer on the access network and the home network.

In addition, one of ordinary skill in the art can understand that all or part of the process of implementing the above embodiments may be completed by a program instructing related hardware, and the above program may be stored in a computer readable storage medium. In execution, the flow of an embodiment of the methods as described above may be included. The storage medium may be a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a read only memory (ROM), or a random access memory (RAM).

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

Claims

Claim

A broadcast/multicast method, the method comprising:

2. The broadcast/multicast method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

Receiving broadcast/multicast service information carrying the network bearer information;

And initiating the network bearer according to the broadcast/multicast service information.

The broadcast/multicast method according to claim 2, wherein the initiating the network bearer according to the broadcast/multicast service information comprises:

Determining, according to the broadcast/multicast service information, whether the current session satisfies the condition of the network bearer,

If yes, the network bearer resource corresponding to the network bearer is reserved for the session.

4. The broadcast/multicast method according to claim 3, characterized in that

When the access network and the home network use a unified planned broadcast/multicast IP address, where the network bearer information is an IP address of the access network where the user is located, the sending the user home network to the user The broadcast/multicast media stream includes: sending the broadcast/multicast media stream to the IP address; or

When the access network and the home network do not use the unified planned broadcast/multicast IP address, the network bearer information is the first IP address of the visited network where the user is currently located, and the sending is sent to the user. The broadcast/multicast media stream provided by the user home network includes: sending, by the network bearer resource corresponding to the first IP address, the broadcast/multicast media stream to the first IP address, and corresponding to the second IP address The network bearer resource, the broadcast/multicast media stream is sent to the second IP address, where the second IP address is the user that is converted according to the first IP address in the network bearer The IP address used.

The broadcast/multicast method according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that The broadcast/multicast service information is carried in a user registration message, a session message, or a service setting message.

The broadcast/multicast method according to claim 1, wherein the transmitting the broadcast/communication media stream provided by the user home network to the user by using the network bearer provided by the user to access the network includes:

The broadcast/multicast media stream is sent to the user through a content forwarding entity disposed between the access network and the home network.

The broadcast/multicast method according to claim 1, wherein the transmitting, by the user, the network bearer provided by the access network, the broadcast/communication media stream provided by the user home network to the user includes:

Transmitting the broadcast/multicast media to the user by a first broadcast/multicast bearer network management entity set in the home network and a second broadcast/multicast bearer network management entity set in the access network flow.

8. The broadcast/multicast method according to claim 7, wherein the method further comprises:

Performing identity verification of the user between the first broadcast/multicast bearer network management entity and the second broadcast/multicast bearer network management entity.

A user equipment, the user equipment comprising:

a generating unit, configured to generate a message carrying network bearer information provided by the access network of the user for carrying the broadcast/multicast media stream;

a sending unit, configured to send the message.

10. The user equipment according to claim 9, wherein the message is the user registration message, a session message, or a service setting message.

A system, characterized in that the system comprises:

The proxy call session control function entity and the user equipment of claim 9, wherein the proxy call session control function entity is configured to receive the message; or

a multimedia broadcast/multicast service network and the user equipment according to claim 9, wherein the multimedia medium The physical broadcast/multicast service network is configured to send, to the user equipment, network bearer information provided by the access network for carrying a broadcast/multicast media stream.

12. An application server, wherein the application server comprises:

An obtaining unit, configured to obtain a broadcast/multicast media stream provided by a user home network;

The application server according to claim 12, wherein the application server further comprises:

a receiving unit, configured to receive broadcast/multicast service information that is provided by the access network and that carries the network bearer information;

An initiating unit, configured to initiate the network bearer according to the broadcast/multicast service information.

The application server according to claim 13, wherein the initiating unit comprises:

a determining unit, configured to determine, according to the broadcast/multicast service information, whether the current session satisfies a condition of the network bearer;

And a resource reservation initiating unit, configured to initiate, when the determining unit determines that the session meets the condition of the network bearer, to reserve a network bearer resource corresponding to the network bearer.

The application server according to claim 14, wherein the network bearer information is an IP address of the access network where the user is located, and the sending unit includes:

An IP address obtaining unit, configured to obtain the IP address;

The media stream sending unit is configured to send the broadcast/multicast media stream to the IP address by using a network bearer resource corresponding to the IP address.

The application server according to any one of claims 12 to 15, wherein the application server is a mobile phone intercom server.