Method of implementing multi-party conference service by using broadcast/multicast service of a wireless communications system

• US 7,599,682 B2
• Filed: 02/06/2006
• Issued: 10/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi Communication Technologies, Ltd. (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Inventors: Takeda, Yukiko, Tanabe, Shiro, Ma, Yuanchen, Yang, Peng, Ikeda, Hiroki, Deng, Hui
• Primary Examiner(s): Kincaid; Lester
• Assistant Examiner(s): DOAN, PHUOC HUU
• Application Number:
  US11/347,314
• Publication Number:
  US 20060223510A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,338 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 455/415
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1822 Conducting the conference, e.g. admission, detection, selection or grouping of participants, correlating users to one or more conference sessions, prioritising transmission
• 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 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/403 Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15
• 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 80/10 adapted for application session management, e.g. SIP [Session Initiation Protocol] connection management H04W76/00; arrangements for session management H04L67/14

Abstract

This invention provides a method of implementing a multi-party conference service (MPCS) using broadcast/multicast service of a wireless communications system used for a conference focus, the context of a corresponding broadcast/multicast service session is generated based on the media flow information, multicast service session information and MPCS information. The generated context of the broadcast/multicast service session is then sent respectively to at least one content provider server, at least one mobile terminal and the broadcast/multicast service controller so that the one or more mobile terminals acquires the content media flow through the broadcast/multicast service session.

Claims

1. A system for implementing a multi-party conference service (MPCS) using broadcast/multicast service of a wireless communications system, comprising:

a conference focus of a multi-party conference service;

a broadcast/multicast service controller;

at least one mobile terminal; and

at least one content providing server which provides content media flow to the at least one mobile terminal,

wherein the conference focus receives media flow information related to a media flow from the at least one content providing server, and sends the received media flow information to the broadcast/multicast service controller,

wherein the conference focus receives broadcast/multicast service session information to establish a broadcast/multicast service session generated based on the media flow information of the broadcast/multicast service controller,

wherein the conference focus generates the context of a corresponding broadcast/multicast service session based on the received media flow information, multicast service session-related information and MPCS-related information, and

wherein the conference focus sends the generated context of the broadcast/multicast service session to the at least one content providing server, the at least one mobile terminal and the broadcast/multicast service controller so that the at least one mobile terminal obtains the content media flow through the broadcast/multicast service session.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the broadcast/multicast service session is controlled based on a state of the context of the broadcast/multicast service session.

3. The system according to claim 2, further comprising:

a broadcast/multicast service content server,

wherein the conference focus receives an Internet Protocol (IP) address and a port number of the broadcast/multicast service content server from the broadcast/multicast service controller, and

wherein the conference focus sends the received IP address and the received port number to the at least one content providing server.

4. The system according to claim 3, the broadcast/multicast service session information, the session description of the media flow, and the identifier of the content providing server are sent to the at least one mobile terminal.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the generated context of the broadcast/multicast service session includes a context identifier of the broadcast/multicast service session, the media flow information, the multicast service session information, a number of users who are broadcast/multicast service members, and an identifier of each broadcast/multicast service member user.

6. The system according to claim 5,

wherein the media flow information includes at least the session description of the media flow, specific time information, and quality of service (QoS) information related to the media flow, and

wherein the broadcast/multicast service session information includes at least an identifier of a media flow of the broadcast/multicast service session generated based on the media flow information of the broadcast/multicast service controller.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the broadcast/multicast service session information further includes at least one of a multicast IP address and port number, broadcast/multicast service controller IP address, security information, and a maximum permitted number of users who are broadcast/multicast service members.

8. A system for implementing a multi-party conference service (MPCS) using broadcast/multicast service of a wireless communications system, comprising:

a conference focus of a multi-party conference service;

a broadcast/multicast service controller;

at least one mobile terminal; and

at least one content providing server which provides content media flow to the at least one mobile terminal,

wherein the broadcast/multicast service controller receives, from a conference focus of an MCPS, media flow information related to a media flow which the at least one content providing server attempts to provide,

wherein the broadcast/multicast service controller performs an initiation procedure based on the media flow information, generates broadcast/multicast service session information to establish a broadcast/multicast service session, and sends the generated broadcast/multicast service session information to the conference focus,

wherein the broadcast/multicast service controller receives the context of the broadcast/multicast service session from the conference focus generated based on the media flow information, broadcast/multicast service session information, and MPCS information which are related to the conference focus, and stores the received context, and

wherein the at least one content providing server sends the media flow to the at least one mobile terminal by a broadcast or multicast protocol by establishing a broadcast/multicast service session with the at least one mobile terminal.

9. The system according to claim 8, further comprising:

a broadcast/multicast service content server,

wherein the broadcast/multicast service controller sends an Internet Protocol (IP) address and a port number of the broadcast/multicast service content server to the conference focus so that the broadcast/multicast service content server receives the media flow from the at least one content providing server.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the conference focus controls the broadcast/multicast service session based on a state of the context of the broadcast/multicast service session.

11. The system according to claim 8, wherein the context of the broadcast/multicast service session includes a context identifier of the broadcast/multicast service session, the media flow information, multicast service session information, a number of users who are broadcast/multicast service members, and an identifier of each broadcast/multicast service member user.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the media flow information includes at least the session description of the media flow, specific time information, and quality of service (QoS) information related to the media flow, and

wherein the broadcast/multicast service session information includes at least an identifier of the media flow of the broadcast/multicast service session generated based on the media flow information of the broadcast/multicast service controller.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein the broadcast/multicast service session information further includes at least one of a multicast IP address and port number, broadcast/multicast service controller IP address, security information, and a maximum permitted number of users who are broadcast/multicast service members.

14. A system for implementing a multi-party conference service (MPCS) by using broadcast/multicast service of a wireless communications system, comprising:

a conference focus of a multi-party conference service;

a broadcast/multicast service controller;

at least one mobile terminal; and

at least one content providing server which provides content media flow to the at least one mobile terminal,

wherein media flow information related to a transmission standby media flow is sent to the conference focus of the MPCS,

wherein the at least one content providing server receives an Internet Protocol (IP) address and a port number of the broadcast/multicast service content server from the conference focus,

wherein the broadcast/multicast service controller receives, from said conference focus, context of the broadcast/multicast service session generated based on the media flow information, broadcast/multicast service session-related information generated by a broadcast/multicast service controller and MPCS information, and stores the received context, and

wherein the at least one content providing server sends the media flow to the at least one mobile terminal via the broadcast/multicast service content server based on the IP address and port number of the broadcast/multicast service content server.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein the media flow information includes at least the media flow information, the media flow session, specific time information and quality of service (QoS) information.

16. A system for implementing a multi-party conference service (MPCS) by using a broadcast/multicast service of a wireless communications system, comprising:

a conference focus of a multi-party conference service;

a broadcast/multicast service controller;

at least one mobile terminal; and

at least one content providing server which provides content media flow to the at least one mobile terminal,

wherein media flow information related to a transmission standby media flow and broadcast/multicast service session information generated by a broadcast/multicast service controller is received from the conference focus,

wherein the broadcast/multicast service controller receives, from the conference focus, context of the broadcast/multicast service session generated based on the media flow information, the broadcast/multicast service session information, and MPCS information, and stores the received context, and

wherein a broadcast/multicast service session is established, and the media flow is received via the broadcast/multicast service.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein a corresponding broadcast/multicast service session is operated based on a state of the context of the broadcast/multicast service session.

18. A conference focus of a multi-party conference service (MPCS) which supports to provide the MPCS by using the broadcast/multicast service of a wireless communications system, comprising:

a signal transmission/reception module which sends or receives a signal of the MPCS;

a conference focus module which receives a signal from the signal transmission/reception module or sends a signal via the signal transmission/reception module, and performs management and maintenance of the conference based on a group policy and media policy of the MPCS conference; and

a context handling module of a broadcast/multicast service session which receives information from the conference focus, and performs initiation, modification or terminating of the context of the broadcast/multicast service session corresponding to the received information, or sends information related to the context of the broadcast/multicast service session to the conference focus,

wherein the conference focus controls the corresponding broadcast/multicast service session based on the state of the context of the broadcast/multicast service session of the context handling module of the broadcast/multicast service session.

19. A broadcast/multicast service controller of a wireless communications system which supports a multi-party conference service (MPCS), comprising:

a signal transmission/reception module which sends or receives the signal of an MPCS;

a broadcast/multicast service control module which receives signal from the signal transmission/reception module, or sends signal via the signal transmission/reception module, and manages and maintains a broadcast/multicast service session; and

a context handling module of a broadcast/multicast service session which receives context from the broadcast/multicast service control module, and performs storing, modification or terminating of the context of the broadcast/multicast service session or sends information related to the context of the broadcast/multicast service session to the broadcast/multicast service control module,

wherein the broadcast/multicast service control module controls the corresponding broadcast/multicast service session based on the state of the context of the broadcast/multicast service session.

20. A content providing server of a multi-party conference service (MPCS) which provides a content media flow for at least one mobile terminal by using a broadcast/multicast service of a wireless communications system, comprising:

a signal transmission/reception module which sends or receives a signal of the MPCS;

a content providing module which receives a signal from the signal transmission/reception module or sends a signal via the signal transmission/reception module, and provides content media flow; and

a context handling module of a broadcast/multicast service session which receives information from the content providing module, and performs initiation, modification or terminating of the context of the broadcast/multicast service session or sends information related to the context of the broadcast/multicast service session to the content providing module,

wherein the content providing module provides the media flow via a broadcast/multicast service.

21. A mobile terminal of a wireless communications system which is provided with a multi-party conference service (MPCS) via a broadcast/multicast service, comprising:

a signal transmission/reception module which sends or receives a signal of the MPCS;

a mobile terminal module which receives a signal from the signal transmission/reception module, or sends a signal via the signal transmission/reception module and establishes a broadcast/multicast service session; and

a context handling module of a broadcast/multicast service session which receives information from the mobile terminal module, and performs save, modification or terminating of the context of the broadcast/multicast service session, or sends information related to the context of the broadcast/multicast service session to the mobile terminal module, wherein the mobile terminal module controls the corresponding broadcast/multicast service session based on the context state of the broadcast/multicast service session.

22. A system for implementing a multi-party conference service (MPCS) by using broadcast/multicast service of a wireless communications system, comprising:

a conference focus of a multi-party conference service;

a broadcast/multicast service controller;

at least one mobile terminal; and

at least one content providing server which provides content media flow to the at least one mobile terminal,

wherein the conference focus of the multi-party conference service receives media flow information related to a media flow from the at least one content providing server, and sends the received media flow information to the broadcast/multicast service controller,

wherein the broadcast/multicast service controller generates broadcast/multicast service session information to establish a broadcast/multicast service session based on the media flow information, and sends the generated broadcast/multicast service session information to the conference focus,

wherein the conference focus generates the context of the corresponding broadcast/multicast service session based on the obtained media flow information, the broadcast/multicast service session information and MPCS information, and sends the context of the broadcast/multicast service session to the at least one content providing server, the at least one mobile terminal and the broadcast/multicast service controller, respectively,

wherein the at least one content providing server provides the media flow for the broadcast/multicast service content providing server based on the context of the received broadcast/multicast service session, and

wherein the at least one mobile terminal and the broadcast/multicast service controller establish a broadcast/multicast service session based on the context of the received broadcast/multicast service session so that the at least one mobile terminal obtains the content media flow content, and

wherein the conference focus, the broadcast/multicast service controller, the at least one mobile terminal and the at least one content providing server operate the corresponding broadcast/multicast service session based on the context of the broadcast/multicast service session.

23. A system for implementing a multi-party conference service (MPCS) by using the broadcast/multicast service of a wireless communications system, comprising:

a conference focus of a multi-party conference service, a broadcast/multicast service controller, at least one mobile terminal and at least one content providing server which provides content media flow to the at least one mobile terminal,

wherein the conference focus, the broadcast/multicast service controller, the one or more mobile terminals and the one or more content providing servers respectively comprise;

a signal transmission/reception module which receives or sends a signal of the multi-party conference service; and

a context handling module of a broadcast/multicast service session which processes information related to the context of the broadcast/multicast service session,

wherein the conference focus generates the context of a corresponding broadcast/multicast service session in a context handling module of the broadcast/multicast service session based on the media flow information from the one or more content providing servers, the broadcast/multicast service session information from the broadcast/multicast service controller and MPCS information, sends the context of the broadcast/multicast service session to the one or more content providing servers, one or more mobile terminals and the broadcast/multicast service controller respectively via the signal transmission/reception module, and controls the broadcast/multicast service session which provides the content media flow for the mobile terminal based on the context of the broadcast/multicast service session;

the broadcast/multicast service controller generates related information to establish a broadcast/multicast service session based on the media flow information from the conference focus, sends the information to the conference focus, receives the context of the broadcast/multicast service session from the conference focus in the context handling module of the broadcast/multicast service session, and stores and maintains the received context so as to control the corresponding broadcast/multicast service session based on the context of the broadcast/multicast service session,

wherein the one or more content providing servers provide the media flow information to the conference focus so as to provide the media flow for the one or more mobile terminals via the content server of the broadcast/multicast service session, receives the context of the broadcast/multicast service session from the conference focus in the context handling module of the broadcast/multicast service session, and saves and maintains the received context, and

wherein the one or more mobile terminals receives the context of the broadcast/multicast service session from the conference focus in the context handling module of the broadcast/multicast service session, stores and maintains the received context, operates the corresponding broadcast/multicast service session based on the context of the broadcast/multicast service session, and obtains the content media flow via the broadcast/multicast service session.