Session-reuse in networks

• US 8,972,583 B2
• Filed: 09/21/2007
• Issued: 03/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Jagels, Dean P.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHOUDHURY, AZIZUL Q
• Application Number:
  US11/858,936
• Publication Number:
  US 20080046572A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,720 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 709/227
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

Systems and methods for establishing a first session with a first client device to deliver first content, receiving a request for a second session with a second client device to deliver second content, and re-using the first session for the second session.

Claims

1. A method, comprising the steps of:

establishing a first session with a first client device to deliver first content in response to a request for the first session;

modulating, by a device, the first content onto a predefined carrier frequency for transmission to the first client device according, to a set of resource descriptor attributes, wherein the set of resource descriptor attributes define characteristics of a path through the device to satisfy the request for the first session;

receiving a request for a second session with a second client device to deliver second content wherein the first and second client devices are different client devices; and

re-using the first session for the second session, wherein the re-using comprises;

modulating, by the device, the second content onto the predefined carrier frequency for transmission to the second client device via the path through the device to satisfies the request for the second session;

wherein the first session is exclusive to the first client until release of the first session for the re-use of the first session by the second client; and

wherein release of the first session is initiated by the first client, by a digital network control system, or a server.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the request for the second session comprises receiving information that enables a determination as to resources required to deliver content corresponding to the second session.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising, responsive to the request for the second session, determining whether the first session can be re-used for the second session.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein re-using the first session for the second session is responsive to determining that the first session can be used for the second session.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein determining comprises correlating another set of resource descriptor attributes corresponding to the second request with the set of resource descriptor attributes corresponding to the first session.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the set of resource descriptor attributes correspond to hardware resources, software resources, or a combination of both, used to deliver and receive the first content and the second content associated with the first session and the second session, respectively, over a network.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the set of resource descriptor attributes include bit rate, encryption, transport stream identification, and MPEG program number.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing the first session with the first client device is in conformance to a Digital Storage Media Command and Control protocol.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second client devices of the plurality of client devices each comprise digital home communication terminal devices (DHCTS) configured to provide digital television services to an end user.

10. A computer readable memory having stored thereon a program executed by a computing device and comprising instructions for implementing the following:

establishing a first session with a first client device to deliver first content, in response to a request for the first session;

causing the computing device to modulate the first content onto a predefined carrier frequency for transmission to the first client device according to a set of resource descriptor attributes, wherein the set of resource descriptor attributes define characteristics of a path through the computing device to satisfy the request for the first session;

receiving a request for a second session with a second client device to delivery second content wherein the first and second client devices are different client devices; and

re-using the first session for the second session, wherein the re-using comprises;

causing the computing device to modulate the second content onto the predefined carrier frequency for transmission to the second client device via the path through the computing device to satisfy the request for the second session;

wherein the first session is exclusive to the first client until release of the first session for the re-use of the first session by the second client; and

wherein release of the first session is initiated by the first client, by a digital network control system, or a server.

11. The program of claim 10, wherein the program further comprises instructions for implementing the step of saving hardware settings, software settings, or a combination of both corresponding to the set of resource descriptor attributes for the first session for re-use by the second session.

12. A system comprising:

a digital network control system connected in a network between a server and a plurality of client devices, the digital network control system being configured to;

facilitate a transfer of first content from the server to a first client device of the plurality of client devices over the network during a first session in response to a request for the first session;

modulating, by a device, the first content onto a predefined carrier frequency for transmission to the first client device according to a set of resource descriptor attributes, wherein the set of resource descriptor attributes define characteristics of a path through the device to satisfy the request for the first session;

receive a request for a second session from a second client device of the plurality of client devices wherein the first and second client devices are different client devices; and

in response to the request for the second session, establish the second session between the second client device and the server by re-using the first session, wherein the re-using comprises;

modulating, by the device, the second content onto the predefined carrier frequency for transmission to the second client device via the path through the device to satisfy the request for the second session;

wherein the first session is exclusive to the first client until release of the first session for the re-use of the first session by the second client; and

wherein release of the first session is initiated by the first client, by the digital network control system, or the server.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the digital network control system is further configured to facilitate transfer of second contend from the server to the second client device of the plurality of client devices over the network during the second session.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein to establish the second session between the second client device and the server, the digital network control system is further configured to provide the predefined carrier frequency to the second client device, wherein the second content is provided to the second client device on the predefined carrier frequency.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein to establish the second session between the second client device and the server, the digital network control system is further configured to provide an output MPEG program identifier to the second client device, wherein the output MPEG program identifier identifies the second content output at a quadrature amplitude modulator (QAM).

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the digital network control system is further configured to receive a release request for the first session from the first client device of the plurality of client devices, wherein the release request is provided upon the first client device of the plurality of client devices discontinuing use of network resources of the network to receive the first content.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein, in response to receiving the release request, the digital network control system is further configured to:

save at least one of hardware settings and software settings corresponding to the set of network resource descriptor attributes;

provide a first message over the network to the first client device of the plurality of client devices that indicates a release request has been initiated; and

provide a second message over the network to the sever that indicates the first client device of the plurality of client devices has initiated the release.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein the digital network control system is further configured to save at least one of hardware settings and software settings corresponding to the set of network resource descriptor attributes in a session table that comprises sessions available for re-use and sessions currently in use.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein, in response to the request for the second session, the digital network control system is further configured to compare at least one of the hardware settings and the software settings corresponding to the second request with the sessions available for re-use listed in the session table.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein, in response to the comparison, the digital network control system is further configured to select at least one of the hardware settings and software settings corresponding to the set of network descriptor attributes for re-use in the second session.