Methods, systems, and computer program products for monitoring and analyzing signaling messages associated with delivery of streaming media content to subscribers via a broadcast and multicast service (BCMCS)

• US 7,961,622 B2
• Filed: 05/25/2006
• Issued: 06/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tekelec
• Original Assignee: Tekelec
• Inventors: Russell, Travis E., Marsico, Peter J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Abelson; Ronald
• Application Number:
  US11/440,797
• Publication Number:
  US 20070067794A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,846 Days
• Field of Search: 370/235, 370/236, 370/328, 370/496, 370/522
• US Class Current: 370/236
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/31 Arrangements for monitoring the use made of the broadcast services
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/66 for using the result on distributors' side
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/18 for broadcast or conference , e.g. multicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/12 Network monitoring probes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2407 Monitoring of transmitted content, e.g. distribution time, number of downloads arrangements for monitoring programmes for broadcast or for distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2543 Billing , e.g. for subscription services payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; e-commerce G06Q30/00; arrangements for billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/21
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25875 involving end-user authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; arrangements for secret or secure communication including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44222 Analytics of user selections, e.g. selection of programs or purchase activity monitoring of user selections in data processing systems G06F11/34; arrangements for monitoring the user's behaviour or opinions in broadcast systems H04H60/33
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4755 for defining user preferences, e.g. favourite actors or genre retrieval personalisation and generation of user profiles for the retrieval of video data G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6405 Multicasting data broadcast and multicast in packet switching networks H04L12/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/165 Centralised control of user terminal subsequent to an upstream request signal H04N7/17345; Registering at central by two-way working H04N7/17309
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• 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

Abstract

Methods, systems, and computer program products for analyzing signaling messages associated with delivery of streaming media content to subscribers via a broadcast and multicast service (BCMCS) are disclosed. According to one method, at least one signaling message transmitted between network elements associated with delivery of streaming media content to a subscriber via a BCMCS is monitored. The at least one signaling message is analyzed. Information resulting from the analysis is provided to at least one BCMCS data processing application.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring, analyzing, and reporting streaming media content accessed by a subscriber, via a broadcast and multicast service (BCMCS) the method comprising:

using a monitoring system, at least a portion of which is separate from a subscriber'"'"'s home network authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) function and which is also separate from mobile stations (MSs) and base station controllers (BSCs);

(a) monitoring at least one signaling message transmitted between network elements associated with the delivery of streaming media content to a subscriber via a BCMCS;

(b) analyzing the at least one signaling message; and

(c) providing, based on the analysis, data from the at least one signaling message to at least one BCMCS data processing application.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein monitoring at least one signaling message includes monitoring at least one signaling message associated with establishing a media connection for delivering the streaming media content to the subscriber.

3. The method of claim 2 comprising, determining, based on the at least one signaling message, whether the streaming media content is delivered to the subscriber.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein monitoring at least one signaling message includes monitoring a broadcast and multicast service (BCMCS) service discovery/announcement signaling message.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein monitoring at least one signaling message includes monitoring a BCMCS InformationAcquisition signaling message.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein monitoring at least one signaling message includes monitoring a BCMCS related RADIUS signaling message.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the RADIUS signaling message includes BCMCS accounting information.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the RADIUS signaling message includes BCMCS access authorization information.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein monitoring at least one signaling message includes monitoring at least one signaling message transmitted to or from a BCMCS controller.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein monitoring at least one signaling message includes monitoring at least one signaling message transmitted to or from a BCMCS content server.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein monitoring at least one signaling message includes monitoring at least one signaling message transmitted to or from an authentication, authorization, and accounting function.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein monitoring at least one signaling message includes monitoring at least one signaling message transmitted to or from a BCMCS content provider node.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein monitoring at least one signaling message includes monitoring at least one signaling message transmitted to or from a broadcast serving node (BSN).

14. The method of claim 1 wherein analyzing the at least one signaling messages includes correlating a plurality of signaling messages relating to the same BCMCS media content delivery transaction.

15. The method of claim 14 comprising generating, based on the correlating, a streaming media content transaction detail record (TDR) that includes information from the signaling messages.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein providing data from the at least one signaling message to at least one BCMCS data processing application includes providing the data to a BCMCS market intelligence application.

17. The method of claim 16 comprising generating streaming media content viewing statistics using the BCMCS market intelligence application.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the streaming media content viewing statistics include statistics that indicate the number of times a streaming media program was accessed by subscribers.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein the streaming media content viewing statistics include statistics that indicate the geographic location of subscribers accessing streaming media program content.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein the streaming media content viewing statistics include statistics that indicate the time of day viewing habits of subscribers accessing streaming media program content.

21. The method of claim 1 wherein providing data from the at least one signaling message to at least one BCMCS data processing application includes providing the data to a BCMCS quality of service (QoS)/troubleshooting application.

22. The method of claim 21 comprising using the BCMCS QoS/troubleshooting application to provide a network operator with a view of streaming media content access related signaling information associated with the subscriber.

23. The method of claim 1 wherein providing data from the at least one signaling message to at least one BCMCS data processing application includes providing the data to a BCMCS fraud detection application.

24. The method of claim 23 comprising using the fraud detection application to identify potentially fraudulent use of streaming media network resources.

25. The method of claim 1 wherein providing data from the at least one signaling message to at least one BCMCS data processing application includes providing the data to a BCMCS billing application.

26. The method of claim 25 comprising generating, using the billing application, billing verification reports usable to audit billing records generated by other network elements involved in the delivery of streaming media content to subscribers.

27. The method of claim 1 wherein providing data from the at least one signaling message to at least one BCMCS data processing application includes providing the data to a BCMCS parental control application.

28. The method of claim 27 comprising activating the BCMCS parental control application to evaluate and enforce a parental control rule associated with the subscriber.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein evaluating and enforcing a parental control rule associated with a subscriber includes generating and sending a parental control notification message in response to determining a parental control rule associated with the subscriber is violated.

30. The method of claim 28 wherein evaluating and enforcing a parental control rule associated with a subscriber includes generating and sending a streaming media session termination request message in response to determining a parental control rule associated with the subscriber is violated.

31. A method for collecting streaming media content access statistics for streaming media content accessed by subscribers via a broadcast and multicast service (BCMCS), the method comprising:

(a) monitoring, using a monitoring system, at least a portion of which is separate from a subscriber'"'"'s home network authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) function, and which is also separate from mobile stations (MSs) and base station controllers (BSCs), a plurality of signaling messages transmitted to or from network elements that are associated with delivery of streaming media content to subscribers via a BCMCS;

(b) deriving, from the signaling messages, information which identifies the streaming media content accessed by the subscribers; and

(c) generating streaming media content access statistics based on the identified content.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein generating streaming media content access statistics includes generating ratings for video programming delivered to subscribers.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein generating ratings for video programming delivered to users includes generating ratings based on the establishment of R-P connections to subscribers.

34. The method of claim 31 wherein generating streaming media content access statistics includes generating ratings for video programming that is authorized to be delivered to subscribers.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein generating ratings for video programming that is authorized to be delivered to users includes generating ratings based on the distribution of broadcast access keys (BAKs) to subscribers.

36. The method of claim 31 wherein performing steps (a)-(c) includes performing steps (a)-(c) using a monitoring function separate from the subscriber'"'"'s home network authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) function and from a media content server.

37. A network data collection system for monitoring, analyzing and reporting signaling information associated with streaming media content accessed by a subscriber via a broadcast and multicast service (BCMCS), the system comprising:

(a) a BCMCS signaling message monitoring function, at least a portion of which is separate from a subscriber'"'"'s home authentication, authorization, and accounting node, and which is also separate from mobile stations (MSs) and base station controllers (BSCs) for monitoring at least one signaling message transmitted between network elements that are associated with the delivery of streaming media content to the subscriber via a BCMCS; and

(b) a BCMCS signaling message analyzer function for analyzing the at least one signaling message and for providing information from the analysis to at least one BCMCS data processing application.

38. The system of claim 37 wherein the BCMCS signaling message monitoring function is adapted to monitor at least one signaling message associated with establishment of a media connection for delivering the streaming media content to the subscriber.

39. The system of claim 38 wherein the BCMCS signaling message analyzer function is adapted to determine, base on the at least one signaling message associated with the establishment of the media connection, whether the streaming media content is delivered to the subscriber.

40. The system of claim 37 wherein the BCMCS signaling message monitoring function includes an external signaling link monitoring probe.

41. The system of claim 37 wherein the BCMCS signaling message monitoring function is integrated with a network element associated with the delivery of streaming media content to subscribers via the BCMCS.

42. The system of claim 37 comprising a data server for receiving the information from the BCMCS signaling message analyzer function and for providing the information to the at least one BCMCS data processing application.

43. The system of claim 37 comprising a BCMCS market intelligence application and wherein the BCMCS signaling message analyzer function is adapted to provide the information to the market intelligence application.

44. The system of claim 37 comprising a BCMCS quality of service/troubleshooting application and wherein the BCMCS signaling message analyzer function is adapted to provide the information to the quality of service/troubleshooting application.

45. The system of claim 37 comprising a BCMCS fraud detection application and wherein the BCMCS signaling message analyzer function is adapted to provide the information to the BCMCS fraud detection application.

46. The system of claim 37 comprising a BCMCS billing application and wherein the BCMCS signaling message analyzer function is adapted to provide the information to the BCMCS billing application.

47. The system of claim 37 comprising a BCMCS parental controls application and wherein the BCMCS signaling message analyzer is adapted to provide the information to the BCMCS parental controls application.

48. A computer program product comprising computer executable instructions embodied in a computer readable medium for performing steps:

using a monitoring system, at least a portion of which is separate from a subscriber'"'"'s home network authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) function and which is also separate from mobile stations (MSs) and base station controllers (BSCs);

(a) monitoring at least one signaling message transmitted between network elements that are associated with the delivery of streaming media content to a subscriber via a broadcast and multicast service (BCMCS);

(b) analyzing the at least one signaling message; and

(c) providing, based on the analysis, data from the at least one signaling message to at least one BCMCS data processing application media service application.

49. A computer program product comprising computer executable instructions embodied in a computer readable medium for performing steps comprising:

(a) monitoring, using a monitoring system, at least a portion of which is separate from a subscriber'"'"'s home network authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) function, and which is also separate from mobile stations (MSs) and base station controllers (BSCs), a plurality of signaling messages transmitted to or from network elements that are associated with the delivery of streaming media content to subscribers via a broadcast and multicast service (BCMCS);

(b) deriving, from the signaling messages, information which identifies the streaming media content accessed by the subscribers; and

(c) generating streaming media content access statistics based on the identified content.