Streaming gateway

• US 7,937,485 B2
• Filed: 05/13/2005
• Issued: 05/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Duckett, Michael, Whited, William Albert
• Primary Examiner(s): Pwu; Jeffrey
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nooristany; Sulaiman
• Application Number:
  US11/129,530
• Publication Number:
  US 20060047845A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,181 Days
• Field of Search: 709/231, 715/500.1, 370/316
• US Class Current: 709/231
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/103 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/104 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1108 Web based protocols, e.g. webRTC
• 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 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/65 Network streaming protocols, e.g. real-time transport protocol [RTP] or real-time control protocol [RTCP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS

Abstract

The exemplary embodiments describe methods, systems, and products that intelligently translate between streaming formats. One such method receives a multimedia stream of data, with the multimedia stream of data having a streaming protocol. Network control data is received and indicates a level of demand for the multimedia stream of data. The multimedia stream of data is translated to a different streaming protocol to reduce bandwidth. The translated multimedia stream of data is then forwarded to a transport network.

Claims

1. A method of intelligently translating between streaming protocols, the method comprising:

receiving a multimedia stream of data, the multimedia stream of data having a streaming protocol;

receiving network control data indicating a level of demand for the multimedia stream of data, the network control data indicating a number of users demanding the multimedia stream of data;

translating the multimedia stream of data to a different streaming protocol to reduce bandwidth; and

forwarding the translated multimedia stream of data to a transport network;

wherein translating the multimedia stream of data is performed according to a threshold of users assigned to a digital subscriber line access multiplexer,

wherein if the number of users is greater than the threshold, then the multimedia stream of data is translated to a multicast streaming protocol, and

wherein if the number of users is less than the threshold, then the multimedia stream of data is translated to a uni-cast streaming protocol;

wherein translating the multimedia stream of data includes determining a time of day dependency of popularity of the multimedia stream in determining to multicast or unicast the multimedia stream;

wherein network control data is received from a network element that performs multicast replications, the network control data is received from a digital subscriber line access multiplexer, the network control data includes a listing of channels in use received in real-time with each requested or dropped channel.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein receiving the network control data comprises receiving demand data from a network element that performs multicast replications.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein receiving the network control data comprises receiving demand data from a digital subscriber line access multiplexer.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein receiving the network control data comprises receiving a listing of channels in use.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein receiving the network control data comprises receiving the network control data for an increment of time.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein receiving the network control data comprises receiving the network control data in real-time with each requested or dropped channel.

7. A system for intelligently translating between streaming protocols, the system comprising:

a communications module stored in a memory device, and a processor communicating with the memory device;

the communications module receiving a multimedia stream of data, the multimedia stream of data having a streaming protocol, receiving network control data indicating a level of demand for the multimedia stream of data, the network control data indicating a number of users demanding the multimedia stream of data, translating the multimedia stream of data to a different streaming protocol to reduce bandwidth, and forwarding the translated multimedia stream of data to a transport network;

wherein the communications module translates the multimedia stream of data according to a threshold of users assigned to a digital subscriber line access multiplexer,

wherein if the number of users is greater than the threshold, then the multimedia stream of data is translated to a multicast streaming protocol, and

wherein if the number of users is less than the threshold, then the multimedia stream of data is translated to a uni-cast streaming protocol;

wherein translating the multimedia stream of data includes determining a time of day dependency of popularity of the multimedia stream in determining to multicast or unicast the multimedia stream;

wherein network control data is received from a network element that performs multicast replications, the network control data is received from a digital subscriber line access multiplexer, the network control data includes a listing of channels in use received in real-time with each requested or dropped channel.

8. A system according to claim 7, wherein the communications module receives demand data from a network element that performs multicast replications.

9. A system according to claim 7, wherein the communications module receives demand data from a digital subscriber line access multiplexer.

10. A system according to claim 7, wherein the communications module receives a listing of channels in use.

11. A system according to claim 7, wherein the communications module receives the network control data for an increment of time.

12. A system according to claim 7, wherein the communications module receives the network control data in real-time with each requested or dropped channel.

13. A computer program product, comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium; and

a communications module stored on the non-transitory computer-readable medium, the communications module comprising computer-readable instructions for intelligently translating between streaming protocols, the communications module performing;

receiving a multimedia stream of data, the multimedia stream of data having a streaming protocol;

receiving network control data indicating a level of demand for the multimedia stream of data, the network control data indicating a number of users demanding the multimedia stream of data;

translating the multimedia stream of data to a different streaming protocol to reduce bandwidth; and

forwarding the translated multimedia stream of data to a transport network;

wherein the communications module comprises computer-readable instructions for translating the multimedia stream of data according to a threshold of users assigned to a digital subscriber line access multiplexer,

wherein if the number of users is greater than the threshold, then the multimedia stream of data is translated to a multicast streaming protocol, and

wherein if the number of users is less than the threshold, then the multimedia stream of data is translated to a uni-cast streaming protocol;

wherein translating the multimedia stream of data includes determining a time of day dependency of popularity of the multimedia stream in determining to multicast or unicast the multimedia stream;

wherein network control data is received from a network element that performs multicast replications, the network control data is received from a digital subscriber line access multiplexer, the network control data includes a listing of channels in use received in real-time with each requested or dropped channel.

14. A computer program product according to claim 13, wherein the communications module comprises computer-readable instructions for receiving demand data from a network element that performs multicast replications.

15. A computer program product according to claim 13, wherein the communications module comprises computer-readable instructions for receiving demand data from a digital subscriber line access multiplexer.

16. A computer program product according to claim 13, wherein the communications module comprises computer-readable instructions for receiving a listing of channels in use.

17. A computer program product according to claim 13, wherein the communications module comprises computer-readable instructions for receiving the network control data for an increment of time.