On-demand mobile wireless broadcast video delivery mechanism

• US 8,732,778 B1
• Filed: 11/07/2007
• Issued: 05/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Shen, Jun, Choi-Grogan, Yung Shirley, Zhang, Ming
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Ricky
• Application Number:
  US11/936,452
• Time in Patent Office: 2,386 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 725/98
• 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: H04N 21/222 Secondary servers, e.g. proxy server, cable television Head-end provisioning of proxy services in data packet switching networks H04L67/56
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/231 Content storage operation, e.g. caching movies for short term storage, replicating data over plural servers, prioritizing data for deletion
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/236 Assembling of a multiplex stream, e.g. transport stream, by combining a video stream with other content or additional data, e.g. inserting a URL [Uniform Resource Locator] into a video stream, multiplexing software data into a video stream; Remultiplexing of multiplex streams; Insertion of stuffing bits into the multiplex stream, e.g. to obtain a constant bit-rate; Assembling of a packetised elementary stream multiplexing of data packets for data networks, e.g. RTP/UDP H04L65/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2385 Channel allocation H04N21/266 takes precedence; Bandwidth allocation H04N21/24 takes precedence ; allocation of channels according to the instantaneous demands of the users in time-division multiplex systems H04J3/1682; admission control, resource allocation in open networks H04L12/5692; arrangements for maintenance or administration in data switching networks involving bandwidth and capacity management H04L41/0896; negotiating bandwidth in wireless networks H04W28/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2393 involving handling client requests scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/266 Channel or content management, e.g. generation and management of keys and entitlement messages in a conditional access system, merging a VOD unicast channel into a multicast channel
• 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 21/6131 involving transmission via a mobile phone network wireless downlink channel access H04W74/006
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6137 involving transmission via a telephone network, e.g. POTS
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6181 involving transmission via a mobile phone network arrangements for providing broadcast or conference services to substation in data switching networks in combination with wireless systems H04L12/189; wireless uplink channel access H04W74/004
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/647 Control signaling between network components and server or clients; Network processes for video distribution between server and clients, e.g. controlling the quality of the video stream, by dropping packets, protecting content from unauthorised alteration within the network, monitoring of network load, bridging between two different networks, e.g. between IP and wireless real-time session protocols H04L65/1101
• 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

A mobile broadcast service center and a mobile wireless network to deliver broadcast video to mobile wireless devices. When the mobile broadcast service center receives a request to deliver a broadcast video channel to a target mobile wireless device, it designates as target an intermediate node in the network that serves the target mobile wireless device. The mobile broadcast service center first determines if an existing channel bundle is routed to the target intermediate node. If this first determination is negative, the mobile broadcast service center routes a new channel bundle to the target intermediate node, including the requested broadcast video channel. If the first determination is positive, the mobile broadcast service center then determines if the requested broadcast video channel is in the existing channel bundle. If this second determination is negative, then it adds the requested broadcast video channel to the existing channel bundle.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, by an intermediate network router comprising a processor, from a source gateway router streamed content associated with a broadcast video channel initiated by a mobile broadcast service center that provides broadcast video services, wherein the intermediate network router is coupled to a plurality of radio network controllers that control a plurality of base stations providing wireless services to each of a plurality of mobile communication devices, and wherein the plurality of base stations comprise a plurality of wireless base stations;

routing, by the intermediate network router, over a first routing path the streamed content associated with the broadcast video channel to a first radio network controller of the plurality of radio network controllers for delivery to a first base station of the plurality of base stations that delivers the streamed content to a first mobile communication device of the plurality of mobile communication devices requesting content over the broadcast video channel and serviced by the first radio network controller;

storing, by the intermediate network router, information indicating that the streamed content associated with the broadcast video channel is being delivered to the first radio network, wherein the information associated with the streamed content is added to a new channel bundle or existing channel bundle, and wherein the intermediate network router deletes or adds channel bundles from storage according to channel bundle changes initiated by the mobile broadcast service center to satisfy user content requests;

receiving, by the intermediate network router, a request from a second radio network controller of the plurality of radio network controllers to deliver the streamed content associated with the broadcast video channel to a second mobile communication device of the plurality of mobile communication devices serviced by a second base station of the plurality of base stations coupled to the second radio network controller;

determining, by the intermediate network router, that the streamed content associated with the broadcast video channel is being delivered to the first radio controller according to the stored information;

determining, by the intermediate network router, that the request does not need to be routed to the source gateway or the mobile broadcast service center; and

splitting, by the intermediate network router, the first routing path to create a second routing path for routing the streamed content associated with the broadcast video channel to the second radio network controller for delivery of the streamed content to the second base station for delivery to the second mobile communication device while continuing to route the streamed content associated with the broadcast video channel to the first radio network controller without interruption, wherein routing of the streamed content associated with the broadcast video channel to the second radio network controller is performed without informing the source gateway router or the mobile broadcast service center, and wherein the streamed content routed to the first radio network controller and to the second radio network controller constitutes a simulcast transmission of the streamed content associated with the broadcast video channel for simulcast delivery to the first mobile communication device and the second mobile communication device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the intermediate network router is a support node.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising obtaining an identity of the streamed content.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein storing the information indicating that the streamed content associated with the broadcast video channel is being delivered to the first radio network further comprises storing the identity of the streamed content.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the stored information comprises the identity of the streamed content.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of mobile communication devices comprise a plurality of wireless mobile communication devices.

7. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium, comprising executable instructions, which when executed by a processor of an intermediate network router, causes the processor to perform operations comprising:

receiving from a source gateway router streamed content associated with a broadcast video channel initiated by a mobile broadcast service center that provides broadcast video services, wherein the intermediate network router is coupled to a plurality of radio network controllers that control a plurality of base stations providing wireless services to each of a plurality of mobile communication devices, and wherein the plurality of base stations comprise a plurality of wireless base stations;

routing over a first routing path the streamed content associated with the broadcast video channel to a first radio network controller of the plurality of radio network controllers for delivery to a first base station of the plurality of base stations that delivers the streamed content to a first mobile communication device of the plurality of mobile communication devices requesting content over the broadcast video channel and serviced by the first radio network controller;

storing information indicating that the streamed content associated with the broadcast video channel is being delivered to the first radio network, wherein the information associated with the streamed content is added to a new channel bundle or existing channel bundle, and wherein the intermediate network router deletes or adds channel bundles from storage according to channel bundle changes initiated by the mobile broadcast service center to satisfy user content requests;

receiving a request from a second radio network controller of the plurality of radio network controllers to deliver the streamed content associated with the broadcast video channel to a second mobile communication device of the plurality of mobile communication devices serviced by a second base station of the plurality of base stations coupled to the second radio network controller;

determining that the streamed content associated with the broadcast video channel is being delivered to the first radio controller according to the stored information;

determining that the request does not need to be routed to the source gateway or the mobile broadcast service center; and

splitting the first routing path to create a second routing path for routing the streamed content associated with the broadcast video channel to the second radio network controller for delivery of the streamed content to the second base station for delivery to the second mobile communication device while continuing to route the streamed content associated with the broadcast video channel to the first radio network controller without interruption, wherein routing of the streamed content associated with the broadcast video channel to the second radio network controller is performed without informing the source gateway router or the mobile broadcast service center, and wherein the streamed content routed to the first radio network controller and to the second radio network controller constitutes a simulcast transmission of the streamed content associated with the broadcast video channel for simulcast delivery to the first mobile communication device and the second mobile communication device.

8. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein the intermediate network router is a support node.

9. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein the operations further comprise obtaining an identity of the streamed content.

10. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein storing the information indicating that the streamed content associated with the broadcast video channel is being delivered to the first radio network further comprises storing the identity of the streamed content.

11. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the stored information comprises the identity of the streamed content.

12. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein the plurality of mobile communication devices comprises a plurality of wireless mobile communication devices.

13. An intermediate network router, comprising:

a memory to store executable instructions; and

a processor coupled to the memory, wherein responsive to executing the instructions, the processor performs operations comprising;

receiving from a source gateway router streamed content associated with a broadcast video channel initiated by a mobile broadcast service center that provides broadcast video services, wherein the intermediate network router is coupled to a plurality of radio network controllers that control a plurality of base stations providing wireless services to each of a plurality of mobile communication devices, and wherein the plurality of base stations comprise a plurality of wireless base stations;

routing over a first routing path the streamed content associated with the broadcast video channel to a first radio network controller of the plurality of radio network controllers for delivery to a first base station of the plurality of base stations that delivers the streamed content to a first mobile communication device of the plurality of mobile communication devices requesting content over the broadcast video channel and serviced by the first radio network controller;

storing information indicating that the streamed content associated with the broadcast video channel is being delivered to the first radio network, wherein the information associated with the streamed content is added to a new channel bundle or existing channel bundle, and wherein the intermediate network router deletes or adds channel bundles from storage according to channel bundle changes initiated by the mobile broadcast service center to satisfy user content requests;

receiving a request from a second radio network controller of the plurality of radio network controllers to deliver the streamed content associated with the broadcast video channel to a second mobile communication device of the plurality of mobile communication devices serviced by a second base station of the plurality of base stations coupled to the second radio network controller;

determining that the streamed content associated with the broadcast video channel is being delivered to the first radio controller according to the stored information;

determining that the request does not need to be routed to the source gateway or the mobile broadcast service center; and

splitting the first routing path to create a second routing path for routing the streamed content associated with the broadcast video channel to the second radio network controller for delivery of the streamed content to the second base station for delivery to the second mobile communication device while continuing to route the streamed content associated with the broadcast video channel to the first radio network controller without interruption, wherein routing of the streamed content associated with the broadcast video channel to the second radio network controller is performed without informing the source gateway router or the mobile broadcast service center, and wherein the streamed content routed to the first radio network controller and to the second radio network controller constitutes a simulcast transmission of the streamed content associated with the broadcast video channel for simulcast delivery to the first mobile communication device and the second mobile communication device.

14. The intermediate network router of claim 13, wherein the intermediate network router is a support node.

15. The intermediate network router of claim 13, wherein the operations further comprise obtaining an identity of the streamed content.

16. The intermediate network router of claim 15, wherein storing the information indicating that the streamed content associated with the broadcast video channel is being delivered to the first radio network further comprises storing the identity of the streamed content.

17. The intermediate network router of claim 15, wherein the stored information comprises the identity of the streamed content.

18. The intermediate network router of claim 13, wherein the plurality of mobile communication devices comprise a plurality of wireless mobile communication devices.