SESSION INITIATION PROTOCOL-BASED INTERNET PROTOCOL TELEVISION

• US 20090132717A1
• Filed: 11/20/2007
• Published: 05/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Maes, Stephane
• Granted Patent: US 8,161,171 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/228
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/104 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/611 for multicast or broadcast systems for broadcast or conference H04L12/18; arrangements for broadcast or distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/00; arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time H04H60/00; selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS], H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/65 Network streaming protocols, e.g. real-time transport protocol [RTP] or real-time control protocol [RTCP]

Abstract

Video on demand (VoD) and other video streaming and delivery mechanisms are provided using a messaging protocol (e.g., a session initiation protocol (SIP))-based approach that builds upon existing service delivery platforms. In one example, SIP functionality is extended to provide the ability to control and alter a delivery mode of a content stream, such as to change a playback mode or quality of service, by providing such requests as part of the instruction or payload of existing SIP messages, or by providing new SIP messages. Using SIP allows for third party control, such as by IPTV applications, which is not provided by current Real Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP)-based systems. SIP also can establish a peer-to-peer connection between a client and a SIP-enabled content server to allow the client to directly control the media stream. As an advantage over RTSP, SIP provides for bi-directional messaging between SIP endpoints.

Claims

1. A system for controlling delivery of media content to a client, comprising:

a processor;

a memory for storing processor-executable instructions; and

a service delivery application including instructions for utilizing a messaging protocol to communicate with a media server and with a client device, the service device operable to receive a request to initiate a content delivery session for the client device and send a message using the messaging protocol to the media server to begin content delivery to the client over a delivery stream,

wherein the service delivery application further includes instructions for receiving a first message from the client device to alter an aspect of the delivery stream and sending a second message to the media server in response thereto, whereby the media server is able to alter the aspect of the delivery stream.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the messaging protocol is the session initiation protocol (SIP).

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein the service delivery application further includes instructions for collecting statistics about the delivery stream.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein the aspect of the delivery stream includes one of a regular playback, record, pause, forward, fast forward, reverse, fast reverse, forward at selected speed, reverse at selected speed, restart from beginning, restart from stop, and stop of the content delivered by the delivery stream.

5. A system for delivering multimedia content to a client, comprising:

a media server operable to deliver multimedia content, the media server operable to send and receive requests using a messaging protocol requests; and

a service delivery module programmed to establish a session between the media server and a messaging protocol-enabled client, the service delivery module further programmed to specify a delivery mode of the media server for the session,

wherein the service delivery module is operable to receive an initial request from the messaging protocol-enabled client to initiate a session for delivery of content and pass the request along to the media server, whereby the media server begins delivery of the multimedia content to the messaging protocol-enabled client, and

wherein the service delivery module is operable to receive a subsequent request from the messaging protocol-enabled client to alter a delivery mode of the content, and is programmed to send a corresponding request to the media server, whereby the media server is programmed to alter the delivery mode of the content.

6. A system according to claim 5, wherein the messaging protocol is the session initiation protocol (SIP).

7. A system according to claim 5, wherein:

the delivery mode is able to be altered to a mode selected from the group consisting of regular playback, record, pause, forward, fast forward, reverse, fast reverse, forward at selected speed, reverse at selected speed, restart from beginning, restart from stop, and stop.

8. A system according to claim 5, wherein:

the service delivery device includes a call control enabler for establishing the session and a media server control enabler for altering a delivery mode of the content.

9. A system according to claim 5, wherein:

the multimedia application is an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) application, and the multimedia content is IPTV content.

10. A system according to claim 5, wherein the media server is a Real Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP) media server, further comprising:

a SIP-enabled RTSP gateway operable to receive the SIP requests from the service delivery device and send a corresponding RTSP request to the media server in response thereto.

11. A system according to claim 5, wherein:

the service delivery module is further operable to receive a message from the messaging protocol-enabled client indicating a quality of service of the delivery of content, and send a messaging protocol request to the media server to alter a quality of service when the indicated quality of service falls below a threshold quality of service.

12. A system according to claim 6, wherein:

information regarding the delivery of content is on of contained in a header of the initial messaging protocol message and any subsequent messaging protocol message, and contained in a messaging protocol request specific to the delivery of content.

13. A system according to claim 6, further comprising:

a multicast server in communication with the media server.

14. A system according to claim 6, wherein the multimedia content is stored only on the media server and not stored on the client, the client being able to control delivery of the multimedia content using the messaging protocol.

15. A system according to claim 6, wherein the client is further able to send content to the media server using a delivery stream, such that bi-directional communication is enabled.

16. A peer-to-peer Session Initiation Protocol (SIP)-based system for delivering Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) content, comprising:

a SIP-enabled media server operable to receive SIP requests from a SIP-enabled client, the SIP-enabled media server operable to establish a session with the SIP-enabled client and deliver IPTV content in response thereto, the SIP-enabled media server being further operable to receive subsequent SIP requests from the SIP-enabled client to alter a mode of delivery of the IPTV content and alter the mode of delivery in response thereto.

17. A method of controlling delivery of media content to a client, comprising:

receiving a session initiation request from a client device using a messaging protocol and passing the session initiation request onto a media server, whereby the media server streams the requested media content to the client device; and

receiving a delivery change request from the client device using the messaging protocol and passing the delivery change request onto the media server, whereby the media server alters an aspect of the stream of the requested media content.

18. A method according to claim 17, wherein the messaging protocol is the session initiation protocol (SIP).

19. A method according to claim 17, wherein the aspect of the stream includes one of a regular playback, record, pause, forward, fast forward, reverse, fast reverse, forward at selected speed, reverse at selected speed, restart from beginning, restart from stop, and stop of the content delivered by the stream.

20. A method according to claim 17, wherein the media content is stored on the media server and is not stored on the client device.

21. A computer program product embedded in a computer-readable medium for controlling delivery of media content to a client, comprising:

program code for receiving a session initiation request from a client device using a messaging protocol and passing the session initiation request onto a media server, whereby the media server streams the requested media content to the client device; and

program code for receiving a delivery change request from the client device using the messaging protocol and passing the delivery change request onto the media server, whereby the media server alters an aspect of the stream of the requested media content.

22. A computer program product according to claim 21, wherein the messaging protocol is the session initiation protocol (SIP).

23. A system for delivering media content to a client from a media server, comprising:

a third party call control device programmed to establish a media delivery session between a client and a media server, the third party call control programmed to use a messaging protocol to send and receive messages with the client and server in order to provide for the delivery of media content via a delivery stream from the media server to the client, the third party call control further programmed to send messages to the media server to alter an aspect of the delivery stream in response to a request from the client.