Method and apparatus for providing interactive media during communication in channel-based media telecommunication protocols

• US 20070201484A1
• Filed: 07/28/2006
• Published: 08/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Onmobile Global Limited
• Original Assignee: Dilithium Networks
• Inventors: Kenrick, Brody, Jabri, Marwan
• Granted Patent: US 9,883,028 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/395.500
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1043 Gateway controllers, e.g. media gateway control protocol [MGCP] controllers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/65 Network streaming protocols, e.g. real-time transport protocol [RTP] or real-time control protocol [RTCP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42017 Customized ring-back tones

Abstract

A method of delivering a video ringback media stream to a first terminal includes transmitting a session signaling message from the first terminal to a ringback server, transmitting a session signaling response message from the ringback server to the first terminal, and establishing one or more channels between the ringback server and the first terminal. The method also includes establishing one or more media streams between a content device and the ringback server and processing the one or more media streams in the ringback server to form a video ringback media stream. The method further includes transmitting the video ringback media stream from the ringback server to the first terminal, transmitting a second session signaling message from the ringback server to a second terminal, and transmitting a second session signaling response message associated with answering a call from the second terminal to the ringback server. Transmitting the second session signaling response message is performed after transmitting a session signaling response message.

Claims

1. A method of delivering a media stream to a first device from a media server using a channel based protocol, the method comprising:

transmitting a first session signaling message from the first device to the media server;

transmitting a second session signaling message from the media server to the first device;

establishing one or more channels between the media server and the first device;

establishing one or more first media streams between a content device and the media server;

processing the one or more first media streams in the media server to form one or more first processed media streams;

transmitting the one or more first processed media streams from the media server to the first device using the one or more channels;

transmitting a third session signaling message from the media server to a second device;

transmitting a fourth session signaling message from the second device to the media server;

establishing one or more second media streams between the second device and the media server;

processing the one or more second media streams in the media server to form one or more second processed media streams; and

transmitting the one or more second processed media streams from the media server to the first device using the one or more channels.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first media stream comprises a video ringback message.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the second stream comprises session media.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the fourth session signaling message is transmitted prior to transmitting the third session signaling message.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the fourth session signaling message is transmitted prior to transmitting the first session signaling message.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the second session signaling message is transmitted prior to transmitting the first session signaling message.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

establishing one or more second channels between the first device and the media server;

processing the one or more third media streams in the media server to form one or more third processed media streams; and

transmitting the one or more third processed media streams from the media server to the second device using the one or more second media streams.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the first device comprises an H.324-like terminal.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the H.324-like terminal comprises at least one of an H.324-like handset, an H.324-like gateway, or an H.324-like server.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining a content of the first media stream based on at least one of an identifier associated with a called party, an identifier associated with a calling party, subscriber information associated with the called party, or subscriber information associated with the calling party.

11. A method of delivering a media stream from a media server to a first device using a channel based protocol, the method comprising:

transmitting a first session signaling message from the first device to the media server;

transmitting a second session signaling message from the media server to the first device;

establishing one or more channels between the media server and the first device;

establishing one or more first media streams between a content device and the media server;

transmitting a third session signaling message from the media server to a second device;

transmitting a fourth session signaling message from the second device to the media server;

establishing one or more second media streams between the second device and the media server;

processing at least one of the one or more first media streams or the one or more second media streams in the media server to form one or more processed media streams; and

transmitting the one or more processed media streams from the media server to the first device using the one or more channels.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein transmitting the one or more processed media streams comprises:

transmitting one or more second processed media streams to the first device, wherein the one or more second processed media streams are based on the one or more second media streams;

terminating the transmitting one or more second processed media streams to the first device; and

transmitting one or more first processed media streams to the first device, wherein the one or more first processed media streams are based on the one or more first media streams.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein terminating the transmitting and transmitting one or more first processed media streams are repeated.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein terminating the transmitting and transmitting one or more first processed media streams are repeated periodically.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein terminating the transmitting and transmitting one or more first processed media streams are repeated aperiodically.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein the one or more first media stream comprises an advertisement.

17. The method of claim 12 further comprising transmitting one or more transition indicators prior to terminating the transmitting one or more second processed media streams to the first device.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the one or more transition indicators comprise a transition sequence between the transmitting one or more second processed media streams to the first device and the transmitting one or more first processed media streams to the first device.

19. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

receiving, at the media server, a fifth session signaling message from the second device, wherein the fifth session signaling message is associated with an end of a session to the second device; and

thereafter transmitting a sixth session signaling message from the media server to the first device, wherein the sixth session signaling message is associated with an end of a session to the first device.

20. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

receiving, at the media server, a fifth session signaling message from the second device, wherein the fifth session signaling message is associated with an end of a session to the second device;

thereafter establishing one or more third media streams between the content device and the media server;

processing the one or more third media streams in the media server to form one or more second processed media streams; and

transmitting the one or more second processed media streams from the media server to the first device using the one or more channels.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein transmitting the one or more second processed media streams is performed after transmitting a sixth session signaling message from the media server to the second device, wherein the sixth session signaling message is associated with the end of the session to the second device.

22. The method of claim 11 wherein the one or more processed media streams comprises one or more mixed media streams, the one or more mixed media streams being based, in part, on at least one of the one or more first media streams or the one or more second media streams.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the one or more mixed media streams comprise a media content provided as a comfort media.

24. The method of claim 22 wherein the one or more mixed media streams comprise at least one of a picture or an avatar.

25. The method of claim 22 wherein the one or more mixed media streams comprise a themed session.

26. A method of delivering a video ringback media stream to a first terminal, the method comprising:

transmitting a session signaling message from the first terminal to a ringback server;

transmitting a session signaling response message from the ringback server to the first terminal;

establishing one or more channels between the ringback server and the first terminal;

establishing one or more media streams between a content device and the ringback server;

processing the one or more media streams in the ringback server to form a video ringback media stream;

transmitting the video ringback media stream from the ringback server to the first terminal using the one or more channels;

transmitting a second session signaling message from the ringback server to a second terminal; and

transmitting a second session signaling response message associated with answering a call from the second terminal to the ringback server, wherein transmitting the second session signaling response message is performed after transmitting a session signaling response message.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein transmitting the second session signaling response message is performed after establishing one or more channels.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein transmitting the second session signaling response message is performed after transmitting the video ringback media stream.

29. The method of claim 26 further comprising:

establishing one or more second media streams between the second terminal and the ringback server;

processing the one or more second media streams in the ringback server to form one or more second processed media streams; and

transmitting the one or more second processed media streams from the ringback server to the first terminal using the one or more channels.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein the ringback server comprises a media gateway, the media gateway being adapted to:

convert a first protocol used by the content device into a second protocol used by the first terminal; and

convert a third protocol used by the second terminal into the second protocol used by the first terminal;

wherein;

the first protocol is selected from the group consisting of RTSP-like and SIP-like protocols;

the second protocol comprises an H.324-like protocol; and

the third protocol is selected from the group consisting of H.324-like and SIP-like protocols.

31. The method of claim 26 wherein the first terminal and the second terminal comprise H.324-like terminals.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein establishing one or more channels comprises utilizing H.324 techniques.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein the H.324 techniques comprise H.245 techniques.

34. The method of claim 32 wherein the one or more channels comprise one or more logical channels.

35. The method of claim 32 wherein further comprising transmitting a custom message associated with establishing the one or more channels from the first terminal to the ringback server prior to transferring an H.245 message from the first terminal to the ringback server using a control channel.

36. The method of claim 26 wherein the second session signaling response message comprises a Q.931 CONNECT message.

37. The method of claim 26 wherein the session signaling message comprises a Q.931 SETUP message and the session signaling response message comprises a Q.931 CONNECT message.

38. The method of claim 37 wherein the second session signaling response message comprises a Q.931 CONNECT message.

39. The method of claim 26 wherein the ringback server comprises a media gateway.

40. The method of claim 39 wherein the media gateway is adapted to convert the one or more media streams in a first protocol into the video ringback media stream in a second protocol.

41. The method of claim 40 wherein:

the first protocol is selected from the group consisting of RTSP-like, H.320-like, H.323-like, H.324-like, and SIP-like protocols; and

the second protocol is selected from the group consisting of RTSP-like, H.320-like, H.323-like, H.324-like, and SIP-like protocols.

42. The method of claim 40 wherein:

the first protocol comprises an RTSP-like protocol; and

the second protocol is selected from the group consisting of H.323-like, H.324-like, and SIP-like protocols.

43. The method of claim 40 wherein the first protocol comprises an RTSP-like protocol and the second protocol comprises an H.324-like protocol.

44. The method of claim 40 wherein the first protocol comprises an RTSP protocol and the second protocol comprises a 3G-324M protocol.

45. The method of claim 39 wherein the media gateway is adapted to convert the one or more media streams in a first one or more codecs into the video ringback media stream in a second codec.

46. The method of claim 26 wherein the media server and the content server are collocated.

47. The method of claim 26 further comprising determining a content of the video ringback media stream based on at least one of an identifier associated with a called party, an identifier associated with a calling party, subscriber information associated with the called party, or subscriber information associated with the calling party.

48. A method of providing media streams in a telecommunications network utilizing a first terminal and a second terminal, the method comprising:

transmitting a first session signaling message from the first terminal to a media server;

transmitting a second session signaling message from the media server to the first terminal;

establishing one or more channels between the media server and the first terminal;

establishing a first media stream between a content device and the media server;

transmitting a first media stream from the media server to the first terminal using the one or more channels;

transmitting a third session signaling message from the media server to the second terminal;

transmitting a fourth session signaling message from the second terminal to the media server;

establishing a second media stream between the second terminal and the media server;

determining a predetermined media feature in the second media stream; and

transmitting a third media stream from the media server to the first terminal using the one or more channels.

49. The method of claim 48 wherein the second media steam and the third media stream are a same stream.

50. The method of claim 48 further comprising processing the second media stream in the media server to form the third media stream.

51. The method of claim 48 wherein transmitting the third media stream is delayed for a predetermined period.

52. The method of claim 48 wherein the predetermined period is determined by an arrival of a temporal media feature at the media server.

53. The method of claim 52 wherein the temporal media feature comprises an intra-coded frame.

54. The method of claim 48 further comprising transmitting a request from the media server to the second terminal, wherein the request comprises a request for a predetermined media feature.

55. The method of claim 54 wherein transmitting a request reduces a delay time associated with receiving an intra-coded frame.

56. The method of claim 54 wherein the request comprises an H.245 VideoFastUpdate request.

57. The method of claim 48 wherein the predetermined period is determined by an arrival of a picture start code at the media server.

58. The method of claim 48 wherein determining a predetermined media feature comprises detecting a media feature in a multiplexed domain.

59. The method of claim 48 wherein the first terminal comprises a 3G-324M terminal.

60. A method of providing a first media stream and a second media stream in a telecommunications network utilizing a first terminal and a second terminal, the method comprising:

transmitting a first session signaling message from the first terminal to a media server;

transmitting a second session signaling message from the media server to the first terminal;

establishing one or more channels between the media server and the first terminal;

establishing a first media stream between a content device and the media server;

transmitting a first media stream from the media server to the first terminal using the one or more channels;

transmitting a third session signaling message from the media server to the second terminal;

transmitting a fourth session signaling message from the second terminal to the media server;

establishing a second media stream between the second terminal and the media server;

generating a predetermined media feature in a third media stream, wherein the predetermined media feature is generated in the media server; and

transmitting the third media stream from the media server to the first terminal using the one or more channels.

61. The method of claim 60 further comprising processing the second media stream in the media server to form the third media stream.

62. The method of claim 61 wherein processing comprises at least one of transcoding, transrating, or transsizing.

63. The method of claim 60 wherein the predetermined media feature comprises a temporal feature.

64. The method of claim 63 wherein the temporal feature comprises an intra-coded frame.

65. The method of claim 60 wherein the first terminal comprises a 3G-324M terminal.

66. A method of providing media streams during a session cutover process in a telecommunications network utilizing a first terminal and a second terminal, the method comprising:

transmitting a first session signaling message from the first terminal to a media server;

transmitting a second session signaling message from the media server to the first terminal;

establishing one or more first channels between the media server and the first terminal;

establishing a first media stream from a content device to the media server;

transmitting a second media stream from the media server to the first terminal using the one or more first channels, wherein the second media stream is associated with the first media stream;

transmitting a third session signaling message from the media server to the second terminal;

transmitting a fourth session signaling message from the second terminal to the media server;

establishing one or more second channels between the media server and the second terminal;

transmitting a third media stream from the first terminal to the media server using the one or more first channels; and

transmitting a fourth media stream from the second terminal to the media server using the one or more second channels.

67. The method of claim 66 further comprising:

determining a predetermined media feature in at least one of the third media stream or the fourth media stream; and

transmitting a fifth media stream from the media server to at least one of;

the first terminal using the one or more first channels or

the second terminal using the one or more second channels.

68. The method of claim 67 wherein the predetermined media feature comprises an intra coded frame.

69. The method of claim 66 further comprising:

generating a fifth media stream including a predetermined media feature, wherein the predetermined media feature is generated in the media server and is based, in part, on at least one of the third media stream or the fourth media stream; and

transmitting the fifth media stream from the media server to at least one of;

the first terminal using the one or more first channels or

the second terminal using the one or more second channels.

70. The method of claim 69 wherein the predetermined media feature comprises an intra coded frame.

71. The method of claim 66 wherein the first terminal comprises a 3G-324M terminal.

72. A method of providing video ringback services to terminals in a telecommunications network, the method comprising:

storing a media content in one or more memories disposed in a content server, wherein the media content is stored in a first format;

establishing a first media stream between the content server and a media server;

establishing a second media stream between the media server and at least one of a first H.324-like terminal or a SIP-like terminal;

establishing a third media stream between the media server and a second H.324-like terminal;

transcoding the media content in the media server to form a first ringback media stream characterized by a second format;

transmitting the first ringback media stream to the at least one of the first H.324-like terminal or the SIP-like terminal;

transcoding the media content in the media server to form a second ringback media stream characterized by a third format different from the second format; and

transmitting the second ringback media stream to the second H.324-like terminal.

73. The method of claim 72 wherein the first format is selected from a group consisting of codecs configured for at least one of broadcast networks, 3GPP circuit switched networks, or 3GPP packet switched networks.

74. The method of claim 72 wherein the second format is selected from a group consisting of 3GPP codecs configured for at least one of 3GPP circuit switched networks or 3GPP packet switched networks.

75. The method of claim 72 wherein the third format is selected from a group consisting of 3GPP codecs configured for 3GPP circuit switched networks.

76. The method of claim 72 wherein the first format is H.264, the second format is selected from a group consisting of H.264, H.263, and MPEG4-Visual, and the third format is selected from a group consisting of H.264, H.263, and MPEG4-Visual.

77. The method of claim 72 further comprising determining a content of the first media stream based on at least one of an identifier associated with a called party, an identifier associated with a calling party, subscriber information associated with the called party, or subscriber information associated with the calling party.

78. A method of charging for media content delivered through a telecommunications network, the method comprising:

transmitting a first session signaling message from a first device to a media server;

transmitting a second session signaling message from the media server to the first device;

establishing one or more channels between the media server and the first device;

establishing one or more first media streams between a content server and the media server;

determining an occurrence of a transition event; and

initiating a charging event associated with the transition event.

79. The method of claim 78 further comprising initiating a second charging event associated with the first media stream transmitted from the media server to the first device

80. The method of claim 79 further comprising initiating a third charging event associated with the first media stream transmitted from the media server to the first device.

81. The method of claim 80 wherein the third charging event comprises a termination of the second charging event.

82. The method of claim 78 wherein the media server and the content server are collocated.

83. The method of claim 78 wherein the first session signaling message comprises a Q.931 SETUP message.

84. The method of claim 83 wherein the second session signaling message comprises a Q.931 CONNECT message.

85. The method of claim 78 wherein the transition event comprises a answer message transmitted from a second device to the media server.

86. The method of claim 85 wherein the answer message comprises a Q.931 CONNECT message.

87. The method of claim 85 wherein the answer message comprises a ISUP ANM message.

88. A method of delivering a video ringback media stream to a first terminal, the method comprising:

transmitting a session signaling message from the first terminal to a ringback server;

transmitting a session signaling response message from the ringback server to the first terminal;

establishing one or more channels between the ringback server and the first terminal;

establishing one or more media streams between a content device and the ringback server;

processing the one or more media streams in the ringback server to form a video ringback media stream;

transmitting the video ringback media stream from the ringback server to the first terminal using the one or more channels;

transmitting a second session signaling message from the ringback server to a second terminal;

transmitting a second session signaling response message associated with answering a call from the second terminal to the ringback server, wherein transmitting the second session signaling response message is performed after transmitting the session signaling response message; and

reducing an involvement of the ringback server from a level associated with call establishment.

89. The method of claim 88 wherein reducing the involvement of the ringback server comprises reducing a capability of the ringback server to that of a bearer conduit.

90. The method of claim 88 wherein reducing the involvement of the ringback server comprises transmitting an RLT message from the media server.

91. The method of claim 88 wherein the media server comprises a media gateway and an IP ringback server.

92. The method of claim 91 wherein reducing an involvement of the IP ringback server comprises referring one or more session aspects to the media gateway.

93. The method of claim 92 wherein referring one or more session aspects to the media gateway comprises transmitting a SIP ReINVITE message.

94. The method of claim 91 wherein reducing an involvement of the IP ringback server comprises referring one or more sessions to the media gateway, thereby removing the involvement of the IP ringback server.

95. The method of claim 94 wherein referring one or more sessions to the media gateway comprises transmitting a SIP REFER message.

96. The method of claim 91 wherein the IP ringback server comprises a SIP ringback server.

97. The method of claim 88 further comprising determining a content of the video ringback media stream based on at least one of an identifier associated with a called party, an identifier associated with a calling party, subscriber information associated with the called party, or subscriber information associated with the calling party.

98. A method of delivering a video ringback media stream to a 3G-324M terminal, the method comprising:

transmitting a first Q.931 SETUP message from the 3G-324M terminal to a ringback server;

transmitting a first Q.931 CONNECT message from the ringback server to the 3G-324M terminal;

establishing one or more first channels between the ringback server and the 3G-324M terminal;

establishing one or more media streams between a content device and the ringback server;

processing the one or more media streams in the ringback server to form the video ringback media stream;

transmitting the video ringback media stream from the ringback server to the 3G-324M terminal using the one or more first channels;

transmitting a session signaling message from the ringback server to a second terminal;

transmitting a second session signaling message associated with answering a call from the second terminal to the ringback server, wherein transmitting the second session signaling message is performed after transmitting the first Q.931 CONNECT message;

establishing one or more second channels between the ringback server and the second terminal; and

associating the one or more first channels and the one or more second channels at the ringback server.

99. The method of claim 98 wherein the ringback server comprises a media gateway.

100. The method of claim 99 wherein the media gateway is adapted to process 3G-324M sessions.

101. The method of claim 100 wherein the media gateway is further adapted to process SIP sessions.

102. The method of claim 100 wherein the media gateway is further adapted to process H.320-like, H.323-like, H.324-like, RTSP-like, and SIP-like sessions.

103. The method of claim 98 wherein the content device and the ringback server are collocated.

104. The method of claim 98 wherein the second terminal comprises a 3G-324M terminal.

105. The method of claim 98 wherein the second terminal comprises a SIP terminal.

106. The method of claim 98 further comprising determining a content of the video ringback media stream based on at least one of an identifier associated with a called party, an identifier associated with a calling party, subscriber information associated with the called party, or subscriber information associated with the calling party.

107. A system for transmitting media between a first mobile handset, a second mobile handset, and a gateway, the system comprising:

a gateway;

a content server coupled to the gateway, wherein the gateway is configured to receive video ringback content from the content server;

a first handset coupled to the gateway and adapted to receive the video ringback content from the gateway; and

a second handset coupled to the gateway, wherein the gateway is further configured to;

receive media from the second handset, and

transmit the media from the second handset to the first handset.

108. The system of claim 107 wherein the gateway is adapted to process the video ringback content.

109. The system of claim 108 wherein processing the video ringback comprises transcoding the video ringback content from a first protocol to a second protocol.

110. The system of claim 107 wherein the gateway is configured to transmit content received from at least one of the first handset or the second handset to the content server.