MEDIA DISTRIBUTION SWITCHING METHOD, RECEIVING DEVICE AND TRANSMITTING DEVICE

• US 20100332591A1
• Filed: 06/15/2010
• Published: 12/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: YOSHIDA, Kaname
• Granted Patent: US 9,270,946 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/238 Interfacing the downstream path of the transmission network, e.g. adapting the transmission rate of a video stream to network bandwidth; Processing of multiplex streams hybrid fiber coaxial [HFC] networks for downstream channel allocation for video distribution H04L12/2801; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10; real-time communication protocols in data switching networks H04L65/00; scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/242 Synchronization processes, e.g. processing of PCR [Program Clock References] arrangements for synchronising broadcast or distribution via plural systems in broadcast distribution systems H04H20/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6336 directed to decoder
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6547 comprising parameters, e.g. for client setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8146 involving graphical data, e.g. 3D object, 2D graphics
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/816 involving special video data, e.g 3D video
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17327 with deferred transmission or handling of upstream communications

Abstract

A request packet generation unit generates a request packet for requesting the distribution of media information. A request packet transmitting unit transmits the request packet. A request response packet receiving unit receives a request response packet corresponding to the request packet from a transmitting device. A request response analysis unit analyzes a request response set in the request response packet. A mode determination unit switches between an operation mode for real-time transmission and that for non-real-time transmission according to device type information, attached to the request response, indicating whether the transmitting device is for real-time transmission or non-real-time transmission. A first receiving unit receives media information in an operation mode for real-time transmission. A second receiving unit receives media information in an operation mode for non-real-time transmission.

Claims

1. A media distribution switching method for switching media information distributed from a transmitting to a receiving device on a packet network, comprising:

transmitting a request packet for requesting distributing of the media information from the transmitting to the receiving device;

returning from the transmitting device to the receiving device a request response packet to which device type information indicting whether the transmitting device is for real-time transmission or non-real-time transmission, is attached, in response to the request packet; and

performing a reception process by switching between an operation mode for real-time transmission and an operation mode for non-real-time transmission in the receiving device, according to device type information attached to the request response packet received from the transmitting device.

2. The media distribution switching method according to claim 1, wherein

when transmitting the request packet to the transmitting device, the receiving device attaches distribute request mode information for specifying a first operation mode expected by the receiving device to the request packet,

when the distribute request mode information attached to the request mode coincides with an operation mode of the transmitting device, the transmitting device returns the request response packet to which information indicating normality is attached and when the distribute request mode information attached to the request mode does not coincide with an operation mode of the transmitting device, the transmitting device returns the request response packet to which information indicating abnormality is attached,

when information indicating normality is attached to the request response packet received from the transmitting device, the receiving device performs a receiving operation in an operation mode corresponding to device type information attached to the request response packet and

when information indicating normality is attached to the request response packet received from the transmitting device, the receiving device re-transmits a request packet to which distribute request mode information for specifying an operation mode different from the first operation mode is attached, to the transmitting device.

3. A receiving device for receiving media information transmitted from a transmitting device on a packet network, comprising:

a request packet generation unit to generate a request packet for requesting distribution of the media information;

a request response packet receiving unit to receive a request response packet corresponding to the request packet from the transmitting device;

a request response analysis unit to analyze a request response set in the request response packet;

a mode determination unit to switch between an operation mode for real-time transmission and an operation mode for non-real-time transmission, according to device type information attached to the request response, indicating whether the transmitting device is for real-time transmission or non-real-time transmission;

a first receiving unit to receive the media information in an operation mode for non-real-time transmission; and

a second receiving unit to receive the media information in an operation mode for real-time transmission.

4. A transmitting device for transmitting media information to a receiving device on a packet network, comprising:

a request packet receiving unit to receive a request packet for requesting distribution of the media information from the receiving device;

a request packet analysis unit to analyze a request set in the request packet; and

a request response packet transmitting unit to return, to the receiving device in response to the request, a request response packet to which device type information indicating whether its own device is a real-time transmission or non-real-time transmission is attached.