Multimedia session management

• US 9,003,041 B2
• Filed: 11/24/2005
• Issued: 04/07/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Einarsson, Torbjrn, Nohlgren, Anders, Westerlund, Magnus, Andersson, Magnus
• Primary Examiner(s): Survillo, Oleg
• Application Number:
  US11/666,891
• Publication Number:
  US 20070266122A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,421 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/227, 709/231, 709/230, 709/217, 709/220
• US Class Current: 709/227
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4383 Accessing a communication channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4384 involving operations to reduce the access time, e.g. fast-tuning for reducing channel switching latency
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6408 Unicasting
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/643 Communication protocols network streaming protocols, e.g. real-time transport protocol [RTP] or real-time control protocol [RTCP], H04L65/65

Abstract

A multimedia provider (100) generates, based on a request for a media channel from a user terminal (10), a session set-up description that is returned to the user terminal (10). The description defines, when processed in the terminal (10), a session window (20) that is displayed on a screen (12) of the terminal and comprises a region (22) for displaying media data of a requested channel and a channel region (24) comprising information on alternative available media channels. The description also defines a binding between user inputs (14) of the terminal (10) and identifiers of the alternative channels. The set-up description allows for a user-friendly channel switch by automatically transmitting a channel switch request to the multimedia provider (100) upon a triggering of the user input (14) that is associated with the identifier of the requested media channel. The description, thus, provides a visually appealing graphical interface and simultaneously allows for a user-friendly media channel switch.

Claims

1. A multimedia session managing method in a unicast-based communications system, said method comprising:

a multimedia provider generating, based on a request for a first multimedia channel from a user terminal and over said unicast-based communications system, a multimedia session set-up description comprising;

i) a multimedia object defining, when processed in said user terminal, a displayable multimedia session window in a user interface of said user terminal, said multimedia session window comprising a multimedia display region adapted for displaying multimedia data of a requested multimedia channel and a displayable channel region comprising information on a second different multimedia channel;

ii) an association object defining, when processed in said user terminal, an association of a user input of said user terminal with a channel identifier of said second different multimedia channel and a user terminal identifier of said user terminal; and

iii) a request object generating, upon a user-triggering of said user input, a request for said second different multimedia channel, said request comprising said user terminal identifier and said channel identifier of said second different multimedia channel;

said multimedia provider transmitting said multimedia session set-up description to said user terminal over said unicast-based communications system;

said multimedia provider starting a multimedia session over said unicast-based communications system with said user terminal;

said multimedia provider receiving, from said user terminal over said unicast-based communications system, said request for said second different multimedia channel;

said multimedia provider switching, based on said user terminal identifier and said channel identifier of said second different multimedia channel, multimedia data of said first multimedia channel to a multimedia data of said second different multimedia channel; and

said multimedia provider providing said multimedia data of said second different multimedia channel to said user terminal during said multimedia session over said unicast-based communications system for display in said multimedia display region of said user terminal,

wherein said multimedia provider is implemented in hardware or in a combination of hardware and software.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said providing step comprises said multimedia provider providing said multimedia data of said first multimedia channel and said multimedia data of said second different multimedia channel to said user terminal as a continuous stream of data packets, where a first portion of said data packets of said stream comprises multimedia data of said first multimedia channel and a second subsequent portion of said data packets of said stream comprises multimedia data of said second different multimedia channel.

3. The method according to claim 2,

wherein each data packet is associated with a sequence number, and

wherein said providing step comprises said multimedia provider assigning sequence numbers to data packets comprising multimedia data associated with said second different multimedia channel so that the data packets of said stream have a continuous sequence numbering.

4. The method according to claim 2,

wherein each data packet is associated with a time stamp, and

wherein said providing step comprises said multimedia provider assigning time stamps to data packets comprising multimedia data associated with said second different multimedia channel so that the data packets of said stream have a continuous time stamping.

5. The method according to claim 2,

wherein said multimedia data comprises video data and audio data, and

wherein said providing step comprises:

said multimedia provider assigning time stamps to data packets comprising audio data associated with said second different multimedia channel so that the data packets of said stream that comprise audio data have a continuous time stamping; and

said multimedia provider assigning time stamps to data packets comprising video data associated with said second different multimedia channel based on the assigned time stamps of said data packets comprising audio data.

6. The method according to claim 2, wherein said providing step comprises said multimedia provider assigning a same synchronization source, ssrc, value to data packets comprising multimedia data associated with said second different multimedia channel as the ssrc value of the data packets comprising multimedia data associated with said first multimedia channel.

7. The method according to claim 2,

wherein said multimedia data of said first multimedia channel comprises first video data from a first video source and first audio data from a first data source,

wherein said multimedia data of said second different multimedia channel comprises second video data from a second video source and second audio data from a second data source,

wherein said first video source is different from said second video source, and said first audio source is different from said second audio source, and

wherein in said providing step, said first portion of said continuous stream of data packets comprises both said first video data and said first audio data, and said second subsequent portion of said continuous stream of data packets comprises both said second video data and second first audio data.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein said user terminal identifier is utilized by said multimedia provider as identifier of said user terminal and as identifier of said multimedia session.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein said multimedia provider comprises an application server and a streaming server, said method further comprising:

said application server providing, based on said request for said first multimedia channel, said user terminal identifier;

said application server forwarding said user terminal identifier and a channel identifier of said first multimedia channel to said streaming server; and

said streaming server setting up, based on said user terminal identifier, the multimedia session with said user terminal.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein said multimedia provider further comprises a channel switch, said method further comprising:

said application server determining, based on said user terminal identifier and said channel identifier of said second different multimedia channel received in said request for said second different multimedia channel, at least one input port of said streaming server assigned to said multimedia session and at least one output port of said channel switch assigned to provide multimedia data of said second different multimedia channel; and

said application server forwarding information on said at least one input port and said at least one output port to said channel switch.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein said request object comprises a hyperlink pointing to said multimedia provider and said request for said second different multimedia channel is a HyperText Transfer Protocol, HTTP, request that comprises said user terminal identifier and said channel identifier of said second different channel.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein said hyperlink comprises said user terminal identifier and said channel identifier of said second different multimedia channel.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein said user input is a key on said user terminal.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein said multimedia session set-up description comprises at least one of:

a Synchronized Multimedia Integration Language, SMIL, based description;

a HyperText Markup Language, HTML, based description;

an Extensible Markup Language, XML, based description;

a Session Initiation Protocol, SIP, based description; and

a Message Session Relay Protocol, MSRP, based description.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein said displayable multimedia session window further comprises a displayable information region comprising an identifier of a multimedia channel, the multimedia data of which is displayed in said multimedia display region.

16. The method according to claim 1, wherein said user terminal identifier comprises at least one of:

a unique user terminal identifier assigned by said multimedia provider;

a Universal Resource Identifier, URI, of said user terminal;

an Internet Protocol, IP, address of said user terminal; and

at least one IP port of said user terminal.

17. The method according to claim 1, further comprising said multimedia provider assigning said user terminal identifier selected from a pool of available user terminal identifiers.

18. The method according to claim 1, wherein said multimedia data of said second different multimedia channel is provided to said user terminal so as to be displayable in said multimedia display region as defined by said multimedia object provided by said multimedia provider in response to said request for the first multimedia channel.

19. A multimedia provider, comprising:

an application server structured to generate, based on a request for a first multimedia channel from a user terminal sent over a unicast-based communications system, a multimedia session set-up description comprising;

i) a multimedia object defining, when processed in said user terminal, a displayable multimedia session window in a user interface of said user terminal, said multimedia session window comprising a multimedia display region adapted for displaying multimedia data of a requested multimedia channel and a displayable channel region comprising information on a second different multimedia channel;

ii) an association object defining, when processed in said user terminal, an association of a user input of said user terminal with a channel identifier of said second different multimedia channel and a user terminal identifier of said user terminal; and

iii) a request object generating, upon a user-triggering of said user input, a request for said second different multimedia channel, said request comprising said user terminal identifier and said channel identifier of said second different multimedia channel;

the application server also being structured to

transmit said multimedia session set-up description to said user terminal over said unicast-based communications system, and

receive from said user terminal over said unicast-based communications system, said request for said second different multimedia channel;

a streaming server structured to start a multimedia session over said unicast-based communications system with said user terminal; and

a channel switch structured to switch, based on said user terminal identifier and said channel identifier of said second different multimedia channel, multimedia data of said first multimedia channel to a multimedia data of said second different multimedia channel,

wherein the streaming server is structured to provide said multimedia of said second different multimedia channel to said user terminal during said multimedia session over said unicast-based communications system for display in said multimedia display region of said user terminal,

wherein the multimedia provider is implemented in hardware or in a combination of hardware and software.

20. The multimedia provider according to claim 19,

wherein said channel switch is structured to provide said multimedia data of said first multimedia channel and said multimedia data of said second different multimedia channel to said user terminal as a continuous stream of data packets, and

wherein a first portion of said data packets of said stream comprises multimedia data of said first multimedia channel and a second subsequent portion of said data packets of said stream comprises multimedia data of said second different multimedia channel.

21. The multimedia provider according to claim 20,

wherein each data packet is associated with a sequence number, and

wherein said channel switch comprises a packet renumberer structured to assign sequence numbers to data packets comprising multimedia data associated with said second different multimedia channel so that the data packets of said stream have a continuous sequence numbering.

22. The multimedia provider according to claim 20,

wherein said application server comprises:

an identifier provider structured to provide, based on said request for said first multimedia channel, said, said user terminal identifier; and

an input and output unit structured to forward said user terminal identifier and a channel identifier of said first multimedia channel to said streaming server, and

wherein said streaming server comprises a session negotiator structured to set up, based on said user terminal identifier, the multimedia session with said user terminal.

23. The multimedia provider according to claim 22,

wherein said application server further comprises:

a port mapper structured to determine, based on said user terminal identifier and said channel identifier of said second different multimedia channel received in said request for said second different multimedia channel, at least one input port of said streaming server assigned to said multimedia session and at least one output port of said channel switch assigned for providing multimedia data of said second different multimedia channel, and

wherein said input and output unit is structured to forward information on said at least one input port and said at least one output port to said channel switch.

24. The multimedia provider according to claim 19,

wherein each data packet is associated with a time stamp, and

wherein said channel switch comprises a packet renumberer structured to assign time stamps to data packets comprising multimedia data associated with said second different multimedia channel so that the data packets of said stream have a continuous time stamping.

25. The multimedia provider according to claim 24,

wherein said multimedia data comprises video data and audio data, and

wherein said channel switch is structured to

assign time stamps to data packets comprising audio data associated with said second different multimedia channel so that the data packets of said stream that comprise audio data have a continuous time stamping, and

assign time stamps to data packets comprising video data associated with said second different multimedia channel based on the assigned time stamps of said data packets comprising audio data.

26. The multimedia provider according to claim 19, wherein said channel switch comprises a packet renumberer structured to assign a same synchronization source, ssrc, value to data packets comprising multimedia data associated with said second different multimedia channel as the ssrc value of the data packets comprising multimedia data associated with said first multimedia channel.

27. The multimedia provider according to claim 19, wherein said multimedia provider utilizes said user terminal identifier as an identifier of said user terminal and as an identifier of said multimedia session.

28. The multimedia provider according to claim 19, wherein said request object comprises a hyperlink pointing to said multimedia provider and said request for said second different multimedia channel is a HyperText Transfer Protocol, HTTP, request that comprises said user terminal identifier and said channel identifier of said second different multimedia channel.

29. The multimedia provider according to claim 28, wherein said hyperlink comprises said user terminal identifier and said channel identifier of said second different multimedia channel.

30. The multimedia provider according to claim 19, wherein said multimedia session set-up description comprises at least one of:

a Synchronized Multimedia Integration Language, SMIL, based description;

a HyperText Markup Language, HTML, based description;

an Extensible Markup Language, XML, based description;

a Session Initiation Protocol, SIP, based description; and

a Message Session Relay Protocol, MSRP, based description.

31. The multimedia provider according to claim 19, wherein said displayable multimedia session window further comprising a displayable information region comprising an identifier of a multimedia channel, the multimedia data of which is displayed in said multimedia display region.

32. The multimedia provider according to claim 19, wherein said user terminal identifier comprises at least one of:

a unique user terminal identifier assigned by said application server;

a Universal, Resource Identifier, URI, of said user terminal;

an Internet Protocol, IP, address of said user terminal; and

at least one IP port of said user terminal.

33. The multimedia provider according to claim 19, wherein said application server is further structured to assign an identifier of said user terminal selected from a pool of available user terminal identifiers.

34. A network node comprising a multimedia provider according to claim 19.

35. The multimedia provider according to claim 19, wherein said channel switch is structured to provide said multimedia data of said second different multimedia channel to said user terminal so as to be displayable in said multimedia display region as defined by said multimedia object provided by said application server in response to said request for the first multimedia channel.

36. A user terminal, comprising:

an input and output unit structured to

transmit a request for a first multimedia channel to a multimedia provider over a unicast-based communications system, and

receive from said multimedia provider over said unicast-based communications system, a multimedia session set-up description generated based on said request for said first multimedia channel, said multimedia session set-up description comprising a multimedia object, an association object, and a request object;

a multimedia object processor structured to process said multimedia object to provide a multimedia session window displayable in a user interface of said user terminal, said multimedia session window comprising a multimedia display region adapted for displaying multimedia data of a requested multimedia channel and a displayable channel region comprising information on a second different multimedia channel;

an association object processor structured to process said association object to provide an association of a user input of said user terminal with a channel identifier of said second different multimedia channel and a user terminal identifier of said user terminal; and

a request object processor structured to process said request object to generate, upon a user-triggering of said user input, a request for said second different multimedia channel, said request comprising said user terminal identifier and said channel identifier of said second different multimedia channel,

wherein the input and output unit is structured to receive multimedia data of the first multimedia channel from the multimedia provider in a multimedia session over the unicast-based communications system, the multimedia session having been established between the multimedia provider and the user terminal as a result of the input and output unit transmitting the request for the first multimedia channel, the multimedia data of the first multimedia channel being for display in the multimedia display region,

wherein the input and output unit is structured to transmit the request for the second different multimedia channel generated by the request object processor, and subsequently receive multimedia data of the second different multimedia channel from the multimedia provider during the multimedia session over the unicast-based communications system, the multimedia data of the second different multimedia channel being for display in the multimedia display region, and

wherein at least one of the input and output unit, the multimedia object processor, the association object processor, and the request object processor is implemented in hardware or in a combination of hardware and software such that the user terminal as a whole is implemented in hardware or in a combination of hardware and software.

37. The user terminal according to claim 36, further comprising a multimedia player structured to

display said multimedia data of said first multimedia channel in said multimedia display region, and

display said multimedia data of said second different multimedia channel in said multimedia display region.