Methods and apparatus for fragmenting system information messages in wireless networks

• US 8,533,358 B2
• Filed: 11/08/2005
• Issued: 09/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Charlebois, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Winder, Patrice
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chang, Julian
• Application Number:
  US11/270,168
• Publication Number:
  US 20070104220A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,863 Days
• Field of Search: 709/236, 709230-237, 725/39
• US Class Current: 709/236
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/70 Media network packetisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2362 Generation or processing of Service Information [SI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26283 for associating distribution time parameters to content, e.g. to generate electronic program guide data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4345 Extraction or processing of SI, e.g. extracting service information from an MPEG stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8352 involving content or source identification data, e.g. Unique Material Identifier [UMID]

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for sending system information (SI) associated with media directed to a device are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of fragmenting system information into a plurality of fragments, and transporting the fragments to a device. I another embodiment, a method for receiving system information associated with media directed to a device includes receiving system information fragments, and reassembling the fragments to recover the system information.

Claims

1. A method for sending system information messages expressed in a first language representation, associated with media directed to a device, the method comprising:

fragmenting at least one system information message into a plurality of fragments within the first language representation, wherein each fragment carries at least one root attribute of the system information message;

cyclically transporting the fragments in an ascending order to a device in one of a plurality of flows selected based on a content of the system information message;

delivering, in a primary flow, signaling related to a current version and presence or absence of the at least one system information message by a plurality of application layer protocol entities; and

delivering, by the plurality of application layer protocol entities, system information messages to a device that is configured to receive system information messages by a shared application layer framing protocol from at least one of the plurality of application layer protocol entities.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising encoding at least one fragment into a second language representation.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the framing protocol is performing at least one of:

fragmentation and reassembly of the system information messages;

encoding and decoding of the system information messages;

fragmentation and reassembly of encoded system information messages;

fragmentation and reassembly of encoded system information fragments; and

management of a transmitting and receiving of system information fragments.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising fragmenting at least one of the fragments within the second language representation.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said encoding comprises encoding the fragments from XML representation into binary representation.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said fragmenting comprises fragmenting the system information messages if the system information messages have a larger size than a predetermined limit.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the predetermined limit is determined based on at least one physical characteristic of the device.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the physical characteristic comprises available memory on the device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the system information message is included in a media presentation guide flow that provides a schedule of media available for viewing.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the media presentation guide flow comprises a near term flow and a long term flow.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the system information message is included in a marketplace information flow that provides information for subscribing to packages of media.

12. A method for receiving system information messages associated with media directed to a device, the method comprising:

monitoring a primary flow for a version number of at least one system information flow message;

when the at least one version number changes, receiving system information fragments of the corresponding system information message, each fragment carrying at least one attribute of a parent system information message expressed in a first language representation;

receiving, in the primary flow, signaling related to a current version and presence or absence of the at least one system information message by a plurality of application layer protocol entities;

receiving, from the plurality of application layer protocol entities, system information messages at the device from a shared framing application layer protocol from at least one of the plurality of application layer protocol entities; and

reassembling the fragments to recover the parent system information message.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein if the fragments comprise fragments expressed in a second language representation, said reassembling comprises reassembling the fragments within the second language representation.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein if the fragments comprise fragments encoded within the second language representation, further comprising decoding the fragments to the first language representation.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising storing each fragment on the device, wherein a size of each fragment is selected based on a size of memory on the device.

16. An apparatus for sending system information messages expressed in a first language representation, associated with media directed to a device, comprising:

means for fragmenting at least one system information message into a plurality of fragments within the first language representation, wherein each fragment carries at least one root attribute of the system information message;

means for cyclically transporting the fragments in an ascending order to a device in one of a plurality of flows selected based on a content of the system information message;

means for delivering, in a primary flow, signaling related to a current version and presence or absence of the at least one system information message by a plurality of application layer protocol entities; and

means for delivering, by the plurality of application layer protocol entities, system information messages to a device that is configured to receive system information messages by a shared application layer framing protocol from at least one of the plurality of application layer protocol entities.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising means for encoding at least one of the fragments into a second language representation.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the framing protocol is performing at least one of:

fragmentation and reassembly of the system information messages;

encoding and decoding of the system information messages;

fragmentation and reassembly of encoded system information messages;

fragmentation and reassembly of encoded system information fragments; and

management of a transmitting and receiving of system information fragments.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising means for fragmenting at least one of the fragments within the second language representation.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said means for encoding comprises means for encoding the fragments from XML representation into binary representation.

21. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said means for fragmenting comprises means for fragmenting the system information message if the system information message has a larger size than a predetermined limit.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the predetermined limit is determined based on at least one physical characteristic of the device.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the physical characteristic comprises available memory on the device.

24. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the system information message is included in a media presentation guide flow that provides a schedule of media available for viewing.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the media presentation guide flow comprises a near term flow and a long term flow.

26. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the system information message is included in a marketplace information flow that provides information for subscribing to packages of media.

27. An apparatus for receiving system information associated with media directed to a device, comprising:

means for monitoring a primary flow for a version number of at least one system information flow message;

means for receiving fragments of a system information message when a version number of the system information message changes, each fragment carrying at least one attribute of the system information message expressed in a first language representation;

means for receiving, in the primary flow, signaling related to a current version and presence or absence of the at least one system information message by a plurality of application layer protocol entities;

means for receiving, from the plurality of application layer protocol entities, system information messages at the device from a shared framing application layer protocol from at least one of the plurality of application layer protocol entities; and

means for reassembling the fragments to recover the system information message.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said means for reassembling comprises means for reassembling the fragments within a second language representation if the fragments comprise fragments expressed in the second language representation.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, further comprising means for decoding the fragments to the first language representation if the fragments comprise fragments encoded within the second language representation.

30. The apparatus of claim 27, further comprising means for storing each fragment on the device, wherein a size of each fragment is selected based on a size of memory on the device.

31. A processor configured to perform a method for sending system information messages expressed in a first language representation, associated with media directed to a device, the method comprising:

fragmenting at least one system information message into a plurality of fragments within the first language representation, wherein each fragment carries at least one root attribute of the system information message;

cyclically transporting the fragments in an ascending order to the device in one of a plurality of flows selected based on a content of the system information message;

delivering, in a primary flow, signaling related to a current version and presence or absence of the at least one system information message by a plurality of application layer protocol entities; and

delivering, by the plurality of application layer protocol entities, system information messages to the device that is configured to receive system information messages by a shared application layer framing protocol from at least one of the plurality of application layer protocol entities.

32. The processor of claim 31, wherein the method further comprises encoding at least one fragment into a second language representation.

33. The processor of claim 32, wherein the framing protocol is performing at least one of:

fragmentation and reassembly of the system information messages;

encoding and decoding of the system information messages;

fragmentation and reassembly of encoded system information messages;

fragmentation and reassembly of encoded system information fragments; and

management of a transmitting and receiving of system information fragments.

34. The processor of claim 32, wherein the method further comprises fragmenting at least one of the fragments within the second language representation.

35. The processor of claim 34, wherein said encoding comprises encoding the fragments from XML representation into binary representation.

36. The processor of claim 31, wherein said fragmenting comprises fragmenting the system information messages if the system information messages have a larger size than a predetermined limit.

37. The processor of claim 36, wherein the predetermined limit is determined based on at least one physical characteristic of the device.

38. The processor of claim 37, wherein the physical characteristic comprises available memory on the device.

39. The processor of claim 31, wherein the system information message is included in a media presentation guide flow that provides a schedule of media available for viewing.

40. The processor of claim 39, wherein the media presentation guide flow comprises a near term flow and a long term flow.

41. The processor of claim 31, wherein the system information message is included in a marketplace information flow that provides information for subscribing to packages of media.

42. A processor configured to perform a method for receiving system information associated with media directed to a device, the method comprising:

monitoring a primary flow for a version number of at least one system information message;

when the version number changes, receiving fragments corresponding to the system information message, each fragment carrying at least one attribute of a parent system information message expressed in a first language representation;

receiving, in the primary flow, signaling related to a current version and presence or absence of the at least one system information message by a plurality of application layer protocol entities;

receiving, from the plurality of application layer protocol entities, system information messages at the device from a shared framing application layer protocol from at least one of the plurality of application layer protocol entities; and

reassembling the fragments to recover the parent system information message.

43. The processor of claim 42, wherein if the fragments comprise fragments expressed in a second language representation, said reassembling comprises reassembling the fragments within the second language representation.

44. The processor of claim 43, wherein if the fragments comprise fragments encoded within the second language representation, further comprising decoding the fragments to the first language representation.

45. The processor of claim 42, further comprising storing each fragment on the device, wherein a size of each fragment is selected based on a size of memory on the device.

46. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium having stored thereon a program that, when executed, directs a machine to perform a method for sending system information messages expressed in a first language representation, associated with media directed to a device, the method comprising:

fragmenting at least one system information message into a plurality of fragments within the first language representation, wherein each fragment carries at least one root attribute of the system information message; and

cyclically transporting the fragments in an ascending order to the device in one of a plurality of flows selected based on a content of the system information message;

delivering, in a primary flow, signaling related to a current version and presence or absence of the at least one system information message by a plurality of application layer protocol entities; and

delivering, by the plurality of application layer protocol entities, system information messages to the device, wherein the device is configured to receive system information messages by a shared application layer framing protocol from at least one of the plurality of application layer protocol entities.

47. A non-transitory machine-readable medium having stored thereon a program that, when executed, directs a machine to perform a method for receiving system information associated with media directed to a device, the method comprising:

monitoring a primary flow for a version number of at least one system information flow message;

when a system information message version number changes, receiving fragments of a corresponding system information message, each fragment carrying at least one attribute of a parent system information message expressed in a first language representation;

receiving, in the primary flow, signaling related to a current version and presence or absence of the at least one system information message by a plurality of application layer protocol entities;

receiving, from the plurality of application layer protocol entities, system information messages at the device from a shared framing application layer protocol from at least one of the plurality of application layer protocol entities; and

reassembling the fragments to recover the parent system information message.

48. A computer program product for sending system information messages expressed in a first language representation, associated with media directed to a device, the computer program product comprising:

a non-transitory processor-readable storage medium having instructions stored thereon, the instructions comprising;

at least one instruction for causing a computer to fragment at least one system information message into a plurality of fragments within the first language representation, wherein each fragment carries at least one root attribute of the system information message;

at least one instruction for cyclically transporting the fragments in an ascending order to the device in one of a plurality of flows selected based on a content of the system information message;

at least one instruction for delivering, in a primary flow, signaling related to a current version and presence or absence of the at least one system information message by a plurality of application layer protocol entities; and

at least one instruction for delivering, by the plurality of application layer protocol entities, system information messages to the device, wherein the device is configured to receive system information messages by a shared application layer framing protocol from at least one of the plurality of application layer protocol entities.

49. The computer program product of claim 48, wherein the instructions further comprising at least one instruction for encoding at least one fragment into a second language representation.

50. The computer program product of claim 49, wherein the framing protocol is performing at least one of:

fragmentation and reassembly of the system information messages;

encoding and decoding of the system information messages;

fragmentation and reassembly of encoded system information messages;

fragmentation and reassembly of encoded system information fragments; and

management of a transmitting and receiving of system information fragments.

51. The computer program product of claim 49, wherein the instructions further comprising at least one instruction for fragmenting at least one of the fragments within the second language representation.

52. The computer program product of claim 51, wherein said at least one instruction for encoding at least one fragment into the second language representation further comprises at least one instruction for encoding the fragments from XML representation into binary representation.

53. The computer program product of claim 48, wherein said at least one instruction for fragmenting at least one of the fragments within the second language representation further comprises at least one instruction for fragmenting the system information message if the system information message has a larger size than a predetermined limit.

54. The computer program product of claim 53, wherein the predetermined limit is determined based on at least one physical characteristic of the device.

55. The computer program product of claim 54, wherein the physical characteristic comprises available memory on the device.

56. The computer program product of claim 48, wherein the system information message is included in a media presentation guide flow that provides a schedule of media available for viewing.

57. The computer program product of claim 56, wherein the media presentation guide flow comprises a near term flow and a long term flow.

58. The computer program product of claim 57, wherein the system information message is included in a marketplace information flow that provides information for subscribing to packages of media.

59. A computer program product for receiving system information messages expressed in a first language representation, associated with media directed to a device, the computer program product comprising:

a non-transitory processor-readable storage medium having instructions stored thereon, the instructions comprising;

at least one instruction for causing a computer to monitor a primary flow for a version number of at least one system information flow message;

at least one instruction for, when a system information message version number changes, receiving fragments a corresponding system information message, each fragment carrying at least one attribute of a parent system information message expressed in a first language representation;

at least one instruction for receiving, in the primary flow, signaling related to a current version and presence or absence of the at least one system information message by a plurality of application layer protocol entities;

at least one instruction for receiving, from the plurality of application layer protocol entities, system information messages at the device from a shared framing application layer protocol from at least one of the plurality of application layer protocol entities; and

at least one instruction for reassembling the fragments to recover the parent system information message.

60. The computer program product of claim 59, wherein if the fragments comprise fragments expressed in a second language representation, said at least one instruction for reassembling further comprises at least one instruction for reassembling the fragments within the second language representation.

61. The computer program product of claim 60, wherein if the fragments comprise fragments encoded within the second language representation, the instructions further comprising at least one instruction for decoding the fragments to the first language representation.

62. The computer program product of claim 59, wherein the instructions further comprising at least one instruction for storing each fragment on the device, and wherein a size of each fragment is selected based on a size of memory on the device.