Technique for providing access to a media resource attached to a network-registered device

• US 8,787,267 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2006
• Issued: 07/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Levenshteyn, Roman, Fikouras, Ioannis, Eriksson, Gran
• Primary Examiner(s): Nawaz, Asad
• Assistant Examiner(s): Waqas, Saad A
• Application Number:
  US12/306,463
• Publication Number:
  US 20100061316A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,944 Days
• Field of Search: 370/329
• US Class Current: 370/329
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS

Abstract

A technique for accessing a media resource (114) controllably attachable to a network-registered device (104) via a multimedia-enabled network (102) is proposed. The technique comprises determining a resource capability information indicating a capability of the media resource; transforming the resource capability information into service capability information indicating a capability related to a service accessible at the network-registered device via the network; and providing the service capability information to an access-requesting entity (106).

Claims

1. A method performed by a network-registered device for providing an access-requesting device with access via a multimedia-enabled network to a media resource located external to the network-registered device and controllably attached thereto, wherein the method comprises the following steps:

determining resource capability information indicating a capability of the attached external media resource;

transforming the resource capability information of the attached external media resource into service capability information indicating a capability related to a service accessible at the network-registered device via the network, said transforming step including;

providing a mapping table configured to map the resource capability information to the service capability information; and

determining the service capability information based on the mapping table;

providing the service capability information to at least one of the network and the access-requesting device, wherein the network-registered device comprises at least one user agent, wherein the at least one user agent is configured to;

handle the service accessible at the network-registered device; and

send the service capability information to the network or access-requesting device in a header of a network message during a registration procedure of the user agent in the network;

receiving from the access-requesting device via the network, a service request referencing the service capability information, wherein any of the at least one user agent, in response to receiving the service request, initiates establishment of the service accessible at the network-registered device;

determining the attached external media resource based on the referenced service capability information received in the service request;

accessing the determined attached external media resource;

receiving media data generated by the media resource;

aggregating the media data of the media resource with media data of further sources when connected; and

forwarding the media data to the network.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein in the step of determining the resource capability information, the resource capability information conforms to a resource description format related to the attached external media resource;

and in the step of transforming the resource capability information into the service capability information, the service capability information conforms to a service description format of the network.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of sending the service capability information to the network comprises the step of sending service identification information to the network, the service identification information uniquely identifying the resource capability information which is associated with the service capability information in the network registered device.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of receiving the service request comprises the steps of:

deciding on the service request based on decision rules; and

providing the service based on the decision.

5. A method performed by a service registration server of a multimedia-enabled network for providing an access-requesting device with access via the multimedia-enabled network to a media resource located external to a network-registered device and controllably attached thereto, wherein the method comprises the following steps:

receiving from at least one user agent at the network-registered device, service capability information indicating a capability of a service accessible at the network-registered device via the network, wherein the service capability information has been generated by the network-registered device by transforming resource capability information of the attached external media resource into the service capability information utilizing a mapping table, wherein the service capability information is received in a header of a network message during a registration procedure of the user agent in the network;

storing service registration information, wherein the service registration information comprises the service capability information and associated information for identifying the network-registered device;

providing the service registration information to the access-requesting device;

routing a service request from the access-requesting device toward the network-registered device based on the service registration information, the service request including the service capability information, which enables the network-registered device to identify and access the attached external media resource, receive media data generated by the attached external media resource, and forward the media data to the network;

receiving a service initiation request from the network-registered device for the service accessible at the network registered device; and

establishing the service accessible at the network registered device;

wherein when further media resources are connected to the network-registered device, the service registration server receives aggregated media data from the network-registered device, the aggregated media data comprising the media data generated by the attached external media resource and media data from the further media sources.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the step of receiving the service capability information comprises the steps of:

receiving service identification information from the network-registered device, the service identification information uniquely identifying resource capability information which is associated with the service capability information in the network-registered device; and

storing the service identification information associated with the service capability information in the service registration information.

7. A network-registered device for providing an access-requesting device with access via a multimedia-enabled network to a media resource located external to the network-registered device and controllably attached thereto, wherein the network-registered device comprises:

a determination component configured to determine resource capability information indicating a capability of the attached external media resource;

a transformation component configured to transform the resource capability information of the attached external media resource into service capability information indicating a capability related to a service accessible at the network-registered device via the network, wherein the transformation component is configured to;

provide a mapping table configured to map the resource capability information to the service capability information; and

determine the service capability information based on the mapping table;

a user agent configured to;

provide the service capability information to the access-requesting device via the network, wherein the user agent sends the service capability information to the network in a header of a network message during a registration procedure of the user agent in the network;

receive from the access-requesting device, a service request referencing the service capability information; and

initiate establishment of the service accessible at the network-registered device in response to receiving the service request;

a gateway component configured to determine the attached external media resource based on the referenced service capability information received in the service request; and

a resource control component configured to access the determined attached external media resource via the gateway component;

wherein the gateway component is configured to;

receive media data generated by the media resource;

aggregate the media data of the media resource with media data of further sources when connected; and

forward the media data to the network.

8. A service registration server of a multimedia enabled network, for providing an access-requesting device with access to a media resource located external to a network-registered device and controllably attached to the network-registered device, wherein the service registration server comprises:

a first interface component configured to receive from at least one user agent at the network-registered device, service capability information indicating a capability of a service accessible at the network-registered device via the network, wherein the service capability information has been generated by the network-registered device by transforming resource capability information of the attached external media resource into the service capability information utilizing a mapping table, wherein the service capability information is received in a header of a network message during a registration procedure of the user agent in the network;

a storage component configured to store service registration information, wherein the service registration information comprises the service capability information and information for identifying the network-registered device;

a second interface component configured to send the service registration information to the access-requesting device; and

a routing component configured to route a service request from the access-requesting device toward the network-registered device based on the service registration information, the service request including the service capability information, which enables the network-registered device to identify and access the attached external media resource, receive media data generated by the attached external media resource, and forward the media data to the network;

wherein the first interface component is further configured to receive a service initiation request from the network-registered device for the service accessible at the network registered device; and

wherein the service registration server is configured to establish the service accessible at the network registered device;

wherein when further media resources are connected to the network-registered device, the service registration server is configured to receive aggregated media data from the network-registered device, the aggregated media data comprising the media data generated by the attached external media resource and media data from the further media sources.