Method for converting between unicast sessions and multicast session

• US 8,737,397 B2
• Filed: 02/04/2011
• Issued: 05/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Bijwaard, Dennis, Lagerberg, Ko
• Primary Examiner(s): Blanton, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): CRUTCHFIELD, CHRISTOPHER M
• Application Number:
  US13/021,211
• Publication Number:
  US 20110122873A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,208 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/390
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/185 with management of multicast group membership
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1877 Measures taken prior to 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 65/611 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

Abstract

The invention includes methods for converting between a plurality of unicast sessions and a multicast session. A method for converting from unicast sessions to a multicast session includes receiving a request for establishing a unicast session for delivering content to a first client device, generating a multicast session establishment message adapted for establishing a multicast session with the client device for delivering the content to the client device, and generating at least one multicast session join message for the other client devices, the at least one multicast session join message adapted for enabling the other client devices to join the multicast session. The multicast session establishment message is generated using a threshold number of unicast sessions. A method for converting from a multicast session to a unicast session is provided. A method for converting from a plurality of unicast sessions to a plurality of multicast sessions is provided.

Claims

1. A method for converting a plurality of unicast sessions to a multicast session using Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), comprising:

receiving, at a content server, a request by a client device for content available from the content server;

in response to the request by the client device, determining whether a threshold number of unicast sessions exist for delivering the content to other client devices; and

in response to a determination that a threshold number of unicast sessions exist for the content;

establishing a multicast session for delivering the content, wherein the multicast session is established by the content server;

generating a multicast session message for enabling the client device to join the multicast session, and propagating the multicast session message toward a SIP server configured to propagate the multicast session message toward the client device; and

generating at least one multicast session join message for enabling the other client devices to join the multicast session, and propagating the at least one multicast session join message toward a SIP server configured to propagate the at least one multicast session join message toward the other client devices.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the multicast session message comprises a SIP RE-INVITE message.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein generating a multicast session message comprises:

determining a multicast session identifier of the established multicast session; and

generating a multicast session message comprising the multicast session identifier.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting the multicast session message from the SIP server toward the client device for use by the client device in joining the multicast session.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the at least one multicast session join message comprises a SIP INVITE message.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting the at least one multicast session join message from the SIP server toward the other client devices.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

initiating, from each of the other client devices, signaling for enabling each of the other client devices to join the multicast session;

wherein the signaling for enabling each of the other client device to join the multicast session terminates the unicast sessions associated with each of the other client devices.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the multicast session message and the at least one multicast join message are generated by the content server.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, from a first client device of a plurality of client devices associated with a multicast session, a message requesting termination of an association of the first client device with the multicast session; and

generating, for a second client device of the plurality of client devices associated with the multicast session, a unicast session join message for enabling the second client device to establish a unicast session for receiving the content.

10. An apparatus for converting a plurality of unicast sessions to a multicast session using Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), comprising:

a processor configured to;

receive, at a content server, a request by a client device for content available from the content server;

in response to the request by the client device, determine whether a threshold number of unicast sessions exist for delivering the content to other client devices; and

in response to a determination that a threshold number of unicast sessions exist for the content;

establish a multicast session for delivering the content, wherein the multicast session is established by the content server;

generate a multicast session message for enabling the client device to join the multicast session, and propagate the multicast session message toward a SIP server configured to propagate the multicast session message toward the client device; and

generate at least one multicast session join message for enabling the other client devices to join the multicast session, and propagate the at least one multicast session join message toward a SIP server configured to propagate the at least one multicast session join message toward the other client devices.

11. A method for converting a plurality of unicast sessions to a multicast session using Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), comprising:

receiving, at a content server, a request by a client device for content available from the content server;

in response to the request by the client device, determining whether a threshold number of unicast sessions exist for delivering the content to other client devices; and

in response to a determination that a threshold number of unicast sessions exist for the content;

generating, by the content server, a multicast source establishment message for causing a multicast server to operate as a multicast session source for delivering the content to the client devices using a multicast session, and propagating the multicast source establishment message toward the multicast server; and

generating at least one multicast session join message for enabling the other client devices to join the multicast session, and propagating the at least one multicast session join message toward a SIP server configured to propagate the at least one multicast session join message toward the other client devices.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving the multicast source establishment message at the multicast server; and

in response to receiving the multicast source establishment message at the multicast server, establishing the multicast session.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

establishing a unicast session from the content server to the multicast server for providing the content to the multicast server.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

generating a multicast session message for enabling the client device to join the multicast session; and

propagating the multicast session message toward a SIP server configured to propagate the multicast session message toward the client device.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the multicast session message is a SIP RE-INVITE message.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

transmitting the at least one multicast session join message from the SIP server toward the other client devices.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

initiating, from each of the other client devices, signaling for enabling each of the other client devices to join the multicast session;

wherein the signaling for enabling each of the other client device to join the multicast session terminates the unicast sessions associated with each of the other client devices.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one multicast session join message is generated by the content server.

19. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving, from a first client device of a plurality of client devices associated with a multicast session, a message requesting termination of an association of the first client device with the multicast session; and

generating, for a second client device of the plurality of client devices associated with the multicast session, a unicast session join message for enabling the second client device to establish a unicast session for receiving the content.

20. An apparatus for converting a plurality of unicast sessions to a multicast session using Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), comprising:

a processor configured to;

receive, at a content server, a request by a client device for content available from the content server;

in response to the request by the client device, determine whether a threshold number of unicast sessions exist for delivering the content to other client devices; and

in response to a determination that a threshold number of unicast sessions exist for the content;

generate, by the content server, a multicast source establishment message for causing a multicast server to operate as a multicast session source for delivering the content to the client devices using a multicast session, and propagate the multicast source establishment message toward the multicast server; and

generate at least one multicast session join message for enabling the other client devices to join the multicast session, and propagate the at least one multicast session join message toward a SIP server configured to propagate the at least one multicast session join message toward the other client devices.