WO2011157143A2

WO2011157143A2 - Method and device for multi-rates handover in live broadcast

Info

Publication number: WO2011157143A2
Application number: PCT/CN2011/075042
Authority: WO
Inventors: 王志兵
Original assignee: 华为技术有限公司
Priority date: 2011-05-31
Filing date: 2011-05-31
Publication date: 2011-12-22
Also published as: WO2011157143A3; CN102204268B; CN102204268A

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a method and device for multi-rates handover in live broadcast. An Internet Protocol television reception method includes: obtaining ability set information of a live broadcast channel, wherein the ability set information contains the unicast address of the live broadcast channel; sending an access request for obtaining the live broadcast channel by the unicast address in order to receive the live broadcast channel in the form of unicast; in the process of receiving the live broadcast channel in the form of unicast, obtaining access parameters and choosing an appropriate rate according to the access parameters; releasing the link for receiving the live broadcast channel in the form of unicast; according to the chosen rate, sending an access request for obtaining the live broadcast channel in the form of multicast, and receiving the live broadcast channel in the form of multicast. By embodiments of the present invention, it can be realized that a user chooses the rate and receives the live broadcast channel in the form of multicast according to the access parameters, such as the access bandwidth and decoding ability, so that the load of a network device is effectively reduced and the complexity of user choice and operation maintenance when the live broadcast service is provided is also reduced.

Description

Method and device for switching live rate multi-rate

The present invention relates to the field of Internet Protocol television live broadcasting, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for multi-rate switching in Internet Protocol Television Live Broadcast. Background technique

The technologies for providing live TV on an IP network include unicast and multicast. In unicast mode, a one-to-one network connection is established between the client and the streaming server. The streaming server sends the encoded live broadcast signal to the client through the established network connection, and the client is responsible for decoding and playing. Multiple clients need to establish multiple independent network connections, and the pressure on streaming media servers and network devices increases linearly with the number of users.

In the multicast mode, the live broadcast signals received by the client are the same when multiple clients are watching live programs. The multicast signal can also be used to distribute live broadcast signals. In the case of multicast, the streaming media server actively pushes the multicast signals. The client joins the multicast group, and the network device performs multicast signal transmission and replication according to the user location distribution. When the network device is delivered, only the live signal is copied when the link is forked, which can effectively alleviate the pressure on the network device.

At present, the most common method adopted by the operator is to encode a live program of multiple grades according to the client's capabilities, and publish multiple live links (such as standard definition, high definition, etc.) in the user portal, according to the user's own terminal. The decoding capability and client access bandwidth select the appropriate link for playback. Under this scheme, the live broadcast can be carried out in unicast or multicast mode. The typical flaw of the solution is that the user is required to have the expertise to get the best live broadcast service when the user chooses the wrong one. At the same time, the program requires the user to make manual selection confirmation every time, and the user is more troublesome to operate.

Another method adopted by the operator is to define the user type according to the user's device type and network access type when the user opens an account, and associate the user type with the live broadcast rate. When the user plays the live program, the system is responsible for Select the appropriate bit rate to play according to the user type. Under this scheme, the live broadcast can be carried out in unicast or multicast mode. Under this technical solution, the complexity of the user selection is solved, but a method of binding the user and the terminal capability in advance is adopted, and when the user's terminal capability changes, the work cannot be performed well.

Another method adopted by operators is to release live programs with multiple bit rates, but multi-rate It is invisible to the user. When the user plays the live program, the terminal dynamically selects an appropriate code rate according to the user access bandwidth and the terminal decoding capability during the channel playing process. Under this technical solution, the complexity of user selection and operation and maintenance is well solved, and the terminal selects an appropriate code rate in real time according to the measured access bandwidth. Because the terminal is required to measure the user access bandwidth in real time during the playback process, the live channel must be unicast (the client cannot measure the user access bandwidth in the multicast mode), and the unicast adopts the peer-to-peer method. Transmission efficiency is low. Summary of the invention

A technical problem to be solved by the embodiment of the present invention is that, when receiving a live channel during group play, the client dynamically selects an appropriate code rate according to access parameters, such as user access bandwidth and terminal decoding capability.

An embodiment of the present invention provides a method for receiving an Internet Protocol television, including: acquiring capability set information of a live channel, where the capability set information includes a unicast address of a live channel; and obtaining, by using a unicast address, an access request for acquiring a live channel, Receiving a live channel in a unicast manner; acquiring an access parameter in a unicast receiving live channel, and selecting an appropriate code rate according to the access parameter; releasing a link for receiving the live channel in a unicast manner; The code rate is sent to obtain the access request of the live channel in multicast mode, and the live channel is received in multicast form.

An embodiment of the present invention provides an Internet Protocol television live broadcast device, where the device includes: a content management system unit configured to configure a live broadcast encoder; and a live broadcast encoder configured to perform live broadcast signals of a live channel according to instructions of the content management system unit. Rate coding, forming a multi-rate multicast stream, and distributing the multi-rate multicast stream through the group play mode; the live broadcast distributor is configured to obtain the live broadcast encoder distribution by multicast according to the instruction of the content management system unit a rate multicast stream, buffering a multi-rate multicast stream, and generating a unicast address corresponding to each bit rate of the multi-rate multicast stream, and then returning the unicast address to the content management system unit; the user portal unit, Receiving the live broadcast capability set information sent from the content management system unit, where the capability set information includes a unicast address of the live channel; wherein the live broadcast distributor is further configured to receive the access request of the live channel sent by the terminal through the unicast address, and The live channel is sent in unicast mode. During the process of sending the live channel in unicast, the terminal Accessing the bandwidth, selecting a code rate corresponding to the access bandwidth, and then releasing the link for transmitting the live channel in a unicast manner, and switching to the multicast stream corresponding to the selected code rate, and continuing through the multicast mode. Receive live channels.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a user terminal for a live broadcast of an Internet protocol, a user terminal The method includes: an access request module, configured to retrieve capability set information of a live channel, where the capability set information includes a unicast address of the live channel, and the access request module is further configured to send an access request for obtaining a live channel by using the unicast address a live broadcast receiving module, configured to receive a live channel, wherein, when the access request module sends an access request for obtaining a live channel through a unicast address, the live broadcast receiving module receives the live channel in a unicast manner; and the control module is configured to The live receiving module obtains the access parameter in the process of receiving the live channel in a unicast manner, and selects an appropriate code rate according to the access parameter, where the control module instructs the live broadcast receiving module to release the link for receiving the live channel in a unicast manner, and instructs The access requesting module sends an access request for acquiring a live channel in a multicast manner according to the selected code rate, and the live broadcast receiving module obtains an access request of the live channel for the multicast mode sent by the access requesting module, and receives the access request in a multicast manner. Live channel.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, the user can select a code rate according to an access parameter, such as an access bandwidth and a decoding capability, and receive a live channel in a group play manner, thereby effectively reducing the load of the network device and reducing the user when providing the live broadcast service. The complexity of selection and operational maintenance. DRAWINGS

In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, the drawings used in the embodiments or the prior art description will be briefly described below. Obviously, the drawings in the following description are only some of the present invention. For the embodiments, those skilled in the art can obtain other drawings according to the drawings without any creative labor. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a system for implementing a live multi-rate switching method according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a multi-rate live channel publishing method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

3 is a flowchart of a method for receiving a multi-rate live channel according to an embodiment of the present invention;

4 is a flowchart of an example of receiving a multi-rate live channel according to an embodiment of the present invention;

5 is a schematic structural diagram of a user equipment for receiving a multi-rate live channel according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 6 is another schematic structural diagram of a user equipment for receiving a multi-rate live channel according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a schematic structural diagram of an apparatus for releasing a multi-rate live channel according to an embodiment of the present invention. detailed description

The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described in the following with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. It is obvious that the described embodiments are a part of the embodiments of the present invention, instead of All embodiments. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the present invention without creative efforts are within the scope of the present invention.

The following is a schematic diagram of a system structure for realizing live multi-rate switching as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 1, the live multi-rate switching system 100 includes: a content management system (CMS) unit 110, a live broadcast encoder 120, a user portal unit 130, a live broadcast distributor 140, and a user terminal 150. The content management system unit 110 is configured to provide the content management capability to the operator, and notify the live broadcast distributor 140 of the multicast capability set of the live channel issued by the operator to generate a corresponding unicast capability set, and notify the user portal. Unit 130 completes the distribution of live channel multicast and unicast capability sets. The live broadcast encoder 120 performs multi-rate encoding on the original live signal according to the configuration of the operator, and forms a multi-rate multicast stream, and transmits the data through multicast. The live broadcast distributor 140 is configured to obtain the multi-rate multicast stream output by the live broadcast encoder 120 in a multicast manner, and accept the request from the user terminal 150 to convert the multicast stream into the unicast mode and send it to the user terminal 150. The user portal 130 is configured to issue a live channel capability set to the user terminal 150, where the live channel capability set includes information such as a code rate, a resolution, a unicast address, a multicast address, and the like of the plurality of code streams of the direct channel. The user terminal 150 is configured to parse the live channel capability set, and first obtain the live stream from the live broadcaster 140 in a unicast manner and measure the user access bandwidth. When the code rate selected by the user terminal 150 tends to be stable, the user terminal 150 switches to the code. Rate the corresponding multicast address, receive the live channel in multicast mode, and reduce the load on the bearer network.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a multi-rate live channel release according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figure 2, the process of publishing a multi-rate live channel is as follows:

201: The content of the live broadcast encoder 120 is completed by the content management system unit 110, including the number of code streams supported by the encoder, the encoding format, resolution, code rate, and multicast address of each code stream; 202: through content management The system unit 110 fills in the encoded information to perform live channel distribution, and the content management system 110 notifies the live broadcast distributor 140 to receive the multi-rate multicast stream output by the live broadcast encoder 120.

203: The live broadcast distributor 140 receives the multicast stream, buffers the multicast stream, and generates a corresponding unicast address, and returns it to the content management system 110;

204: The content management system unit 110 generates capability set description information of the live channel, including the number of code streams encoded by the live channel, the encoding format, resolution, code rate, multicast address, and unicast address of each code stream;

205: The content management system unit 110 notifies the user of the capability set information of the live channel of the portal unit 130, and performs live channel issuance. FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a method for receiving an Internet Protocol television live channel according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3, the Internet protocol television live channel receiving method includes:

310: Obtain capability set information of a live channel, where the capability set information includes a number of code streams of the live channel, an encoding format of each code stream, a resolution, a code rate, a multicast address, and a unicast address; And obtaining, by using the unicast address, an access request for acquiring a live channel, where the live channel is received in a unicast manner;

330: In the process of receiving the live channel in a unicast manner, acquiring an access parameter, and selecting an appropriate code rate according to the access parameter;

340: Release a link that receives the live channel in unicast form;

350: Send an access request for acquiring a live channel in a multicast manner according to the selected code rate, and receive the live channel in a multicast manner.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, acquiring access parameters in the process of receiving a live channel in a unicast manner may include measuring an access bandwidth of the user terminal, and querying a decoding capability of the user terminal.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, after the access parameter changes, for example, the access bandwidth of the user terminal is increased, for example, the bandwidth occupied by other network connections is released; or the access bandwidth is reduced, for example, the packet loss rate of the multicast packet is exceeded. When the time is high, the method of the embodiment of the present invention can reselect the multicast stream with a larger code rate or smaller for smoother playback. Specifically, the user terminal releases the link for receiving the live channel in the form of multicast, and obtains the access request of the live channel to the live broadcaster through the unicast address again, receives the live channel in a unicast manner, and receives the broadcast channel in a unicast manner. During the live channel, a new access parameter is obtained, for example, a new access bandwidth, and an appropriate new code rate is selected according to the new access parameter, for example, a code rate corresponding to the access bandwidth is selected. Then, the user terminal releases the link for receiving the live channel in unicast mode, and then sends an access request for acquiring the live channel in a multicast manner according to the selected new code rate, and receives the live channel in multicast form.

The method of the embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to specific examples. Fig. 4 is a schematic timing chart showing an example of a multi-code rate live channel receiving method according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figure 4, the process of receiving the multi-rate live channel is as follows:

401: The user requests to play a live channel through the user terminal 150.

402: The user terminal 150 obtains the capability set information of the live channel through the user portal unit 130, including the number of the live channel code stream, the encoding format, resolution, code rate, multicast address, unicast address, and the like of each code stream. ;

403: The user terminal 150 first acquires a unicast stream to the live broadcast distributor 140 by using a unicast manner. And performing decoding and playback of the unicast stream;

404: The user terminal 150 dynamically obtains the access parameter of the user in the process of acquiring the unicast stream, for example, measuring the access bandwidth of the user, and selecting an appropriate code rate according to the decoding capability of the user terminal, for example, selecting and accessing the bandwidth. Corresponding code rate;

405: After the code rate is completed, the unicast stream link is released, and according to the capability set information of the live channel, the multicast stream corresponding to the selected code rate is switched, and the multicast stream is decoded and played.

FIG. 5 is a structural block diagram of a user terminal device for receiving an Internet Protocol television live channel according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 5, the user terminal device 500 includes: an access requesting module 510, configured to acquire capability set information of a live channel, where the capability set information includes a number of code streams of a live channel, an encoding format of each code stream, a resolution, a code rate, a multicast address, and a unicast address, and the access requesting module 510 is further configured to send an access request for acquiring a live channel by using the unicast address, and the live receiving module 520 is configured to receive the live channel. In the case that the access requesting module 510 sends an access request for obtaining a live channel through a unicast address, the live broadcast receiving module 520 receives the live channel in a unicast manner; the control module 530 is configured to unicast the live broadcast receiving module 520. In the process of receiving the live channel, the access parameter is obtained, for example, the access bandwidth, and the appropriate code rate is selected according to the access parameter, for example, the code rate corresponding to the access bandwidth is selected, where the control module 530 instructs the live broadcast. The receiving module 520 releases the link for receiving the live channel in unicast mode, and instructs the access request module 510 to select according to the selected Rate, multicasts obtain live channel access request, the broadcast receiving module 520 for the access module 520 multicasts a request sent by the access request acquired live channel, receiving the multicast broadcast channel in form.

FIG. 6 is a structural block diagram of a user terminal device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The user terminal device shown in FIG. 6 further includes a monitoring module 540, configured to monitor changes in access parameters, such as an increase in user terminal access bandwidth, such as releasing bandwidth occupied by other network connections; or reducing access bandwidth, for example, The packet loss rate of the multicast packet is too high, and the control module 530 is notified when the access parameter changes, for example, when the access bandwidth changes. After receiving the notification sent by the monitoring module 540, the control module 530 instructs the live broadcast receiving module 520 to release the link for receiving the live channel in multicast form, and then instructs the access request module 510 to send an access request for the live channel through the unicast address. And in the process of receiving the live channel in the unicast mode, the live receiving module 520 obtains a new access parameter, for example, measuring an access bandwidth of the current user terminal, and acquiring a decoding capability of the user terminal, and according to the new access parameter. Selecting a suitable new code rate, such as a larger or smaller code rate, for example, selecting a larger or smaller code rate corresponding to the access bandwidth, and then instructing the live broadcast receiving module 520 to release the live broadcast frequency in unicast form. The link of the track, and the command access request module 510 sends an access request for acquiring the live channel in a multicast manner according to the selected new code rate, and the live broadcast receiving module 520 obtains the live channel in a multicast manner for the access request module. The access request receives the live channel in multicast form.

FIG. 7 is a structural block diagram of an Internet Protocol television live broadcast device according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 7, the live broadcast device 700 includes: a content management system unit 710, configured to configure a live broadcast encoder 720, including configuring a number of code streams supported by the live broadcast encoder 720, an encoding format and a resolution of each code stream, The code rate and the multicast address are used by the live broadcast encoder 720, and the live broadcast signal of the live channel is multi-code encoded according to the instruction of the content management system unit 710 to form a multi-rate multicast stream, and distributed by the group play mode. The multi-rate multicast stream is described. The user portal unit 730 is configured to receive live broadcast capability set information sent from the content management system unit 710, where the capability set information includes the number of code streams of the live channel, the encoding format of each code stream, and the resolution. The rate, the code rate, the multicast address, the unicast address, and the live broadcast distributor 740, configured to acquire the multi-rate multicast stream distributed by the live broadcast encoder in a multicast manner according to an instruction of the content management system unit 710. Cache the multi-rate multicast stream, and generate a unicast address corresponding to each bit rate of the multi-rate multicast stream, and then return the unicast address to the content tube System unit 710. The live broadcaster 740 is further configured to receive, by using the unicast address, an access request for obtaining a live channel sent by the terminal, and send the live channel in a unicast manner, in a process of transmitting the live channel in a unicast manner, The terminal measures an access bandwidth, and selects an appropriate code rate according to the access bandwidth and the terminal decoding capability, for example, selects a code rate corresponding to the access bandwidth, and then releases the UDP to send the live broadcast. The link of the channel is switched to the multicast stream corresponding to the selected code rate, and the live channel is continuously received through the multicast mode.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, the user can select a code rate according to an access parameter, such as an access bandwidth and a decoding capability, and receive a live channel in a group play manner, thereby effectively reducing the load of the network device and reducing the user when providing the live broadcast service. The complexity of selection and operational maintenance.

Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the elements and algorithm steps of the various examples described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented in electronic hardware, computer software or a combination of both, in order to clearly illustrate hardware and software. Interchangeability, the composition and steps of the various examples have been generally described in terms of function in the above description. Whether these functions are performed in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the solution. A person skilled in the art can use different methods for implementing the described functions for each particular application, but such implementation should not be considered to be beyond the scope of the present invention.

The steps of the method or algorithm described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented in hardware, processing The software module executed by the device, or a combination of the two. Software modules can be placed in random access memory

(RAM), memory, read only memory (ROM), electrically programmable ROM, electrically erasable programmable ROM. registers, hard disk, removable disk, CD-ROM. or any other form of storage known in the art. In the medium.

While some embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art It is within the scope of the invention.

Claims

Rights request

A method for receiving an Internet protocol television, characterized in that

Obtaining capability set information of the live channel, where the capability set information includes a unicast address of the live channel;

And obtaining, by using the unicast address, an access request for obtaining a live channel, and configured to receive the live channel in a unicast manner;

In the process of receiving the live channel in unicast mode, acquiring an access parameter, and selecting an appropriate code rate according to the access parameter;

Release a link to receive the live channel in unicast form;

Sending an access request for acquiring a live channel in a multicast manner according to the selected code rate, and receiving the live channel in a multicast manner.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the access parameter comprises an access bandwidth, and in the process of receiving the live channel in a unicast manner, acquiring the access bandwidth, and selecting and The code rate corresponding to the access bandwidth.

The method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises: releasing a link for receiving the live channel in a multicast form after the access parameter changes;

In the process of receiving the live channel in unicast mode, acquiring a new access parameter, and selecting a suitable new code rate according to the new access parameter;

Release a link to receive the live channel in unicast form;

According to the selected new code rate, an access request for acquiring a live channel in a multicast manner is sent, and the live channel is received in a multicast form.

The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the capability set information further includes a number of code streams of the live channel, an encoding format of each code stream, a resolution, a code rate, and Multicast address.

An Internet Protocol Television Live Broadcasting Device, the device comprising: a content management system unit, configured to configure a live broadcast encoder;

a live broadcast encoder, configured to perform multi-rate encoding on the live broadcast signal of the live channel according to the instruction of the content management system unit, to form a multi-rate multicast stream, and distribute the multiple by group play mode Rate rate multicast stream;

a live broadcast distributor, configured to acquire, according to an instruction of the content management system unit, the multi-rate multicast stream distributed by the live broadcast encoder, and buffer the multi-rate multicast stream, and generate and a unicast address corresponding to each code rate of the multi-rate multicast stream, and then returning the unicast address to the content management system unit;

a user portal unit, configured to receive live broadcast capability set information sent by the content management system unit, where the capability set information includes a unicast address of the live broadcast channel;

The live broadcast distributor is further configured to receive, by using the unicast address, an access request for obtaining a live channel sent by the terminal, and send the live channel in a unicast manner, and send the live channel in a unicast manner. The terminal acquires an access bandwidth, and selects an appropriate code rate according to the access bandwidth and the terminal decoding capability, and then releases the link for transmitting the live channel in a unicast manner, and switches to the selected one. The multicast stream corresponding to the code rate continues to receive the live channel through the multicast mode.

The device according to claim 5, wherein the content management system unit configures the number of code streams supported by the live encoder, the encoding format of each code stream, the resolution, the code rate, and the multicast address.

A user terminal for live broadcasting of an Internet Protocol, characterized in that the user terminal comprises:

An access request module, configured to acquire capability set information of a live channel, where the capability set information includes a unicast address of the live channel, and the access request module is further configured to send a live broadcast by using the unicast address. Channel access request;

The live broadcast receiving module is configured to receive the live channel, where the live broadcast receiving module receives the live channel in a unicast manner, when the access request module sends an access request for obtaining a live channel through the unicast address. ;

a control module, configured to: when the live broadcast receiving module receives the live channel in a unicast manner, acquire an access parameter, and select an appropriate code rate according to the access parameter, where the control module instructs the The live broadcast receiving module releases the link for receiving the live channel in unicast mode, and instructs the access request module to send an access request for acquiring the live channel in a multicast manner according to the selected code rate, where the live broadcast receiving module is configured to access The multicast mode sent by the requesting module obtains an access request of the live channel, and receives the live channel in a multicast form.

The user terminal according to claim 7, wherein the user terminal further comprises: a monitoring module, configured to monitor a change of the access parameter, and notify the control module when the access parameter changes;

After receiving the notification sent by the monitoring module, the control module instructs the live broadcast receiving module to release a link for receiving the live channel in a multicast manner, and then instructs the access request module to pass the unicast The address is sent to obtain an access request of the live channel, and in the process of receiving the live channel in the unicast mode, the live receiving module acquires a new access parameter, and selects a suitable new one according to the new access parameter. a code rate, and then instructing the live broadcast receiving module to release the link for receiving the live channel in unicast mode, and instructing the access request module to send the multicast channel access according to the selected new code rate. The request, the live broadcast receiving module obtains an access request for a live channel in a multicast manner sent by the access request module, and receives the live channel in a multicast manner.

The user terminal according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the access parameter is an access bandwidth, and the control module acquires the access during the process of receiving the live channel in unicast mode. Bandwidth, and selecting a code rate corresponding to the access bandwidth.

The user terminal according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the capability set information includes a number of code streams of the live channel, an encoding format of each code stream, a resolution, a code rate, and Multicast address.