Method, Device for Running Internet Protocol Television Service System, and Internet Protocol Television Service System

• US 20120166865A1
• Filed: 06/25/2010
• Published: 06/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ZTE Corporation
• Original Assignee: ZTE Corporation
• Inventors: Liu, Yu, Liu, Hao, Wang, Yinlong
• Granted Patent: US 8,631,270 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 714/4.11
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/82 using signals not modulated onto a carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/72 using electronic programme guides [EPG] focusing on identifying broadcast space time H04H60/39 ; menu type display of EPG in television receivers H04N21/47
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/222 Secondary servers, e.g. proxy server, cable television Head-end provisioning of proxy services in data packet switching networks H04L67/56
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2405 Monitoring of the internal components or processes of the server, e.g. server load allocation of resources in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/50; performance measurement of computer activity G06F11/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26283 for associating distribution time parameters to content, e.g. to generate electronic program guide data

Abstract

The present invention discloses a method, apparatus and system for operating an internet protocol television service system. The present invention relates to communication field, and solves the problem of poor quality of service caused by using a cold backup electronic programmer guide (EPG) server or transferring a user to other EPG server. The method includes: a backup electronic programmer guide (EPG) server receiving an obtaining instruction message sent by a service control manager, wherein the obtaining instruction message instructs the backup EPG server to obtain service information of a failed present network EPG server; the backup EPG server obtaining the service information of the failed present network EPG server according to the obtaining instruction message, and sending an obtaining response message to the service control manager after finishing obtaining the service information.

Claims

1. A method for operating an internet protocol television service system, comprising:

a service control manager receiving a present network electronic programmer guide (EPG) server failure message sent by a content management system, wherein, information of a backup EPG server distributed for the failed present network EPG server is carried in the present network EPG server failure message;

the service control manager sending an obtaining instruction message to the backup EPG server to instruct the backup EPG server to obtain service information of the failed present network EPG server; and

the service control manager, after receiving an obtaining response message sent by the backup EPG server, sending a switching notification to the content management system to instruct the content management system to send internet protocol television service data of the failed present network EPG server through the backup EPG server.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

if the service control manager has not received the obtaining response message in a response duration, the service control manager give up using the backup EPG server which is thought to be out of order.

3. A method for operating an internet protocol television service system, comprising:

a backup electronic programmer guide (EPG) server receiving an obtaining instruction message sent by a service control manager, wherein the obtaining instruction message instructs the backup EPG server to obtain service information of a failed present network EPG server; and

the backup EPG server obtaining the service information of the failed present network EPG server according to the obtaining instruction message, and sending an obtaining response message to the service control manager after finishing obtaining the service information.

4. A method for operating an internet protocol television service system, comprising:

a content management system, when detecting that a present network electronic programmer guide (EPG) server fails, distributing a backup EPG server for the failed present network EPG server; and

the content management system sending an EPG server failure message to a service control manager, wherein the EPG server failure message carries information of the backup EPG server distributed for the failed present network EPG server.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein, the step of the content management system distributing a backup EPG server for the failed present network EPG server when detecting that the present network electronic programmer guide (EPG) server fails comprises:

the content management system, when detects that the present network EPG server fails, selecting an idle backup EPG server, and setting state of the backup EPG server as being running.

6. The method according to claim 4, wherein, after the step of the content management system sending an EPG server failure message to the service control manager, the method further comprises:

the content management system receiving a switching notification sent by the service control manager, wherein the switching notification instructs the content management system to send internet protocol television service data of the failed present network EPG server through the backup EPG server; and

the content management system sending the internet protocol television service data of the failed present network EPG server through the backup EPG server.

7. A service control manager, comprising:

a failure message receiving module, which is configured to;

receive a present network electronic programmer guide (EPG) server failure message sent by a content management system, wherein the present network electronic programmer guide (EPG) server failure message carries information of a backup EPG server distributed for the failed present network EPG server;

an instruction message sending module, which is configured to;

send an obtaining instruction message to instruct the backup EPG server to obtain service information of the failed present network EPG server; and

a switching notification sending module, which is configured to;

after receiving an obtaining response message sent by the backup EPG server, send a switching notification to the content management system to instruct the content management system to send internet protocol television service data of the failed present network EPG server through the backup EPG server.

8. An electronic programmer guide (EPG) server, comprising:

an instruction message receiving module, which is configured to;

receive an obtaining instruction message sent by a service control manager, wherein, the message instructs the EPG server to obtain service information of a failed present network EPG server; and

a service information obtaining module, which is configured to;

obtain the service information of the failed present network EPG server according to the obtaining instruction message, and send an obtaining response message to the service control manager after finishing obtaining the service information.

9. A content management system, comprising:

a backup electronic programmer guide (EPG) server distributing module, which is configured to;

when detecting that a present network EPG server fails, distribute a backup EPG server for the failed present network EPG server; and

a failure message sending module, which is configured to;

send an EPG server failure message to a service control manager, wherein the EPG server failure message carries information of the backup EPG server distributed for the failed present network EPG server.

10. An internet protocol television service system, comprising a service control manager, a backup electronic programmer guide (EPG) server and a content management system;

the service control manager is configured to;

receive a present network EPG server failure message sent by the content management system, wherein the EPG server failure message carries information of the backup EPG server distributed for the failed present network EPG server;

send an obtaining instruction message to the backup EPG server to instruct the backup EPG server to obtain service information of the failed present network EPG server;

the backup EPG server is configured to;

receive the obtaining instruction message sent by the control point master control end, wherein the obtaining instruction message instructing the backup EPG server to obtain service information of the failed present network EPG server, and obtain the service information of the failed present network EPG server according to the obtaining instruction message, and send an obtaining response message to the service control manager after finishing obtaining the service information;

the content management system is configured to;

when detecting that the present network EPG server fails, distribute the backup EPG server to the failed present network EPG server, and send the EPG server failure message to the service control manager, wherein the EPG server failure message carries information of the backup EPG server distributed for the failed present network EPG server.