Methods and Devices for Switching Between Peer-to-Peer and Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service

• US 20150222678A1
• Filed: 10/31/2012
• Published: 08/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Zhang, Shunliang
• Granted Patent: US 9,787,734 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/189 in combination with wireless systems selective distribution or broadcast in wireless communication networks H04W4/06
• 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 67/1044 Group management mechanisms management of multicast group membership H04L12/185; reconfiguring of node membership in a computing system to eliminate errors G06F11/1425
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1091 Interfacing with client-server systems or between P2P systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2181 comprising remotely distributed storage units, e.g. when movies are replicated over a plurality of video servers distributed storage of data in networks, e.g. transport arrangements for network file system [NFS], storage area networks [SAN] or network attached storage [NAS], H04L67/1097
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44016 involving splicing one content stream with another content stream, e.g. for substituting a video clip
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/632 using a connection between clients on a wide area network, e.g. setting up a peer-to-peer communication via Internet for retrieving video segments from the hard-disk of other client devices broadcast-related systems characterised by transmission among terminal devices H04H60/80; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/30 Resource management for broadcast services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/20 Manipulation of established connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/40 for selective distribution or broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/18 Service support devices; Network management devices

Abstract

Methods and radio communication network systems enable switching between P2P-based streaming and MBMS-based streaming depending on a number of peers in the same area, streaming the same content and having an MBMS-based streaming capability.

Claims

1. A method for switching between peer-to-peer streaming and multimedia broadcast multicast streaming in a radio communication network system, the method being performed by a device connected to core network components of the radio communication network system and to an MBMS control system, the method comprising:

counting peers located in a broadcast area, streaming same content using P2P-based streaming and having an MBMS-based streaming capability; and

causing the core network components, the BM-SC and the peers located in the broadcast area, streaming the same content using P2P-based streaming and having the MBMS-based streaming capability to switch from P2P-based streaming to MBMS-based streaming, if a number of counted peers exceeds a first predetermined number,

wherein a peer is a user equipment initially receiving content using P2P-based streaming.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the device is a P2P tracker, which operates as a directory service for any peer seeking content.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the device is a P2P deputy which operates as a proxy of the peers located in the broadcast area, streaming the same content using P2P-based streaming and having the MBMS-based streaming capability, relative to other peers, the P2P deputy being also the only peer for each of the peers located in the broadcast area, streaming the same content using P2P-based streaming and having the MBMS-based streaming capability.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein upon starting to receive the content via the MBMS-based streaming, each of the peers switching from P2P-based streaming to MBMS-based streaming initiates a process to release a respective unicast bearer that has been used for P2P-based streaming.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

causing the core network components, the BM-SC and the peers to switch from MBMS-based streaming to P2P-based streaming if a number of peers located in the broadcast area and streaming same content using MBMS decreases below a second predetermined number.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein each of the peers switching from MBMS-based streaming to P2P-based streaming initiates a process to re-establish a respective unicast bearer to be used for P2P-based streaming.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving P2P related messages, each message including information on location of an individual peer, the content streamed by the individual peer using P2P-based streaming and whether the individual peer has MBMS-based streaming capability,

wherein the device performs the counting based on the information.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the P2P related messages generated by the peers are intercepted by a core network component that adds to the P2P related messages at least some of the information included in the P2P related messages received by the device.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein one or more peers using P2P-based streaming generate the P2P related messages including the information.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the same content initially received by peers using P2P-based streaming is related to an IPTV channel.

11. A radio communication network system configured to provide streaming services to users, comprising:

a device connected to core network components of the radio communication network system and an MBMS control system, the device being configured (A) to count peers located in a broadcast area, streaming same content using P2P and having an MBMS-based streaming capability, and (B) if a number of counted peers exceeds a first predetermined number, to cause the core network components, the BM-SC and the peers switching from P2P-based streaming to MBMS-based streaming,

wherein a peer is a user equipment in the radio communication network that initially receives content using P2P-based streaming.

12. The radio communication network system of claim 11, wherein the device is a P2P tracker, which operates as a directory service for any peer seeking content.

13. The radio communication network system of claim 11, wherein the device is a P2P deputy operating as a proxy of the peers located in the broadcast area, streaming the same content using P2P-based streaming and having the MBMS-based streaming capability, relative to other peers, the P2P deputy being also the only peer for each of the peers located in the broadcast area, streaming the same content using P2P-based streaming and having the MBMS-based streaming capability.

14. A device in a radio communication network system, comprising:

an interface configured to enable communication with other devices in the radio communication network system; and

a data processing unit connected to the interface and configured (A) to count peers located in a broadcast area, streaming same content using P2P-based streaming and having an MBMS-based streaming capability, and (B) to cause core network components, an BM-SC and the peers located in the broadcast area, streaming the same content using P2P-based streaming and having MBMS-based streaming capability to switch from P2P-based streaming to MBMS-based streaming, if a number of counted peers exceeds a first predetermined number,

wherein a peer is a user equipment initially receiving content using P2P-based streaming.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the device is a P2P tracker, which operates as a directory service for any peer seeking content.

16. The device of claim 14, wherein the data processing unit is further configured to enable the device to be a P2P deputy operating as a proxy of the peers located in the broadcast area, streaming the same content using P2P-based streaming and having the MBMS-based streaming capability, relative to other peers, the P2P deputy being also the only peer for each of the peers located in the broadcast area, streaming the same content using P2P-based streaming and having the MBMS-based streaming capability.

17. The device of claim 14, wherein the data processing unit is further configured to process P2P related messages received via the interface, each message including information on location of an individual peer, the content streamed by the individual peer using P2P-based streaming and whether the individual peer has the MBMS-based streaming capability, and counts the peers based on the information.

18. A user equipment in a radio communication network, comprising:

an interface configured to enable communication with other devices in the radio communication network system; and

a data processing unit connected to the interface and configured, while receiving content via P2P-based streaming, to generate P2P related messages including information on location of the user equipment, a content streamed using P2P-based streaming and whether the interface is capable to receive the content via an MBMS-based streaming.

19. The user equipment of claim 18, wherein the data processing unit is further configured to switch from receiving content via the P2P-based streaming to receiving the content via the MBMS-based streaming upon receiving a first signal.

20. The user equipment of claim 19, wherein the data processing unit is further configured initiate a process to release a unicast bearer used for the P2P-based streaming when starting to receive content via the MBMS-based streaming.

21. The user equipment of claim 20, wherein the data processing unit is further configured to switch from receiving content via the MBMS-based streaming to receiving the content via the P2P-based streaming upon receiving a second signal.

22. A method performed by a user equipment in a radio communication system, the method comprising:

generating P2P related messages including information on a location of the user equipment, a content streamed using P2P-based streaming and whether the user equipment is capable to receive the content via MBMS-based streaming;

switching from receiving content via the P2P based streaming to receiving the content via the MBMS-based streaming upon receiving a first signal; and

initiating a process to release a unicast bearer used for the P2P-based streaming when starting to receive content via the MBMS-based streaming.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

initiating a process to re-establish the unicast bearer upon receiving a second signal; and

switching from receiving content via the MBMS-based streaming to receiving the content via the P2P-based streaming.

24. A computer-readable storage medium non-transitorily storing executable codes which when executed on a computer make the computer perform a method comprising:

counting peers located in a broadcast area, streaming same content using P2P-based streaming and having an MBMS-based streaming capability; and

causing the core network components, the BM-SC and the peers located in the broadcast area, streaming the same content using P2P-based streaming and having MBMS-based streaming capability to switch from P2P-based streaming to MBMS-based streaming, if a number of counted peers exceeds a first predetermined number,

wherein a peer is a user equipment initially receiving content using P2P-based streaming.

25. A computer-readable storage medium non-transitorily storing executable codes which when executed on a computer make the computer perform a method comprising:

generating P2P related messages including information on a broadcast area, a content streamed using P2P-based streaming and whether the user equipment is capable to receive the content via MBMS-based streaming;

switching from receiving content via the P2P based streaming to receiving the content via the MBMS-based streaming upon receiving a first signal; and

releasing a unicast bearer used for the P2P-based streaming when starting to receive content via the MBMS-based streaming.