On-demand mobile wireless broadcast video delivery mechanism

• US 9,131,277 B2
• Filed: 04/11/2014
• Issued: 09/08/2015
• 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:
  US14/251,293
• Publication Number:
  US 20140223495A1
• Time in Patent Office: 515 Days
• Field of Search: 725/98, 725/118
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 is described. 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:

routing, by a network device comprising a processor, streamed content over a first routing path in a network to a first radio network controller for delivery to a first base station that delivers the streamed content to a first mobile communication device, wherein the streamed content is associated with a broadcast video channel;

storing, by the network device, information indicating that the streamed content is being delivered to the first radio network controller via a support node positioned in the network between the first radio network controller and a source gateway router;

receiving, by the network device, a request from a second radio network controller to deliver the streamed content to a second mobile communication device serviced by a second base station coupled to the second radio network controller;

determining, by the network device, that the streamed content is being delivered to the first radio controller via the support node according to the information;

adjusting, by the network device, the first routing path to generate a second routing path originating at the support node for routing the streamed content to the second radio network controller for delivery to the second mobile communication device via the second base station while continuing to route the streamed content to the first radio network controller via the support node, wherein the routing of the streamed content to the second radio network controller is performed without providing a notification to the source gateway router or to a mobile broadcast service center that initiated the broadcast video channel;

receiving, by the network device from the source gateway router, the streamed content; and

adjusting, by the network device, a group of channel bundles according to channel bundle changes initiated by a mobile broadcast service center to satisfy user content requests, wherein the information is added to a channel bundle.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the streamed content routed to the first radio network controller and to the second radio network controller comprises a simulcast transmission for simulcast delivery to the first mobile communication device and the second mobile communication device.

3. The method of claim 1, comprising:

determining, by the network device, that the request is not to be routed to the source gateway or the mobile broadcast service center.

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

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the storing of the information comprises storing an identity of the streamed content.

6. A machine-readable storage device, comprising executable instructions, which when executed by a processor of a network device, causes the processor to perform operations comprising:

receiving streamed content associated with a broadcast video channel initiated by a mobile broadcast service center that provides broadcast video services;

routing the streamed content over a first routing path via a support node to a first radio network controller for delivery to a first base station that delivers the streamed content to a first mobile communication device;

storing information indicating that the streamed content is being delivered to the first radio network controller via the support node;

responsive to a delivery request associated with a second mobile communication device, determining that the streamed content is being delivered to the first radio controller via the support node according to the information; and

adjusting the first routing path to generate a second routing path originating at the support node for routing the streamed content to a second radio network controller for delivery to the second mobile communication device via a second base station while continuing to route the streamed content to the first radio network controller via the support node, wherein the routing of the streamed content to the second radio network controller is performed without providing a notification to a source gateway router or to the mobile broadcast service center, wherein the support node is positioned in a network between the first radio network controller and the mobile broadcast service center,

wherein the information is added to a channel bundle, and wherein the operations further comprise adjusting channel bundles from storage according to channel bundle changes initiated by the mobile broadcast service center to satisfy user content requests.

7. The machine-readable storage device of claim 6, wherein the receiving of the streamed content is via the source gateway router.

8. The machine-readable storage device of claim 6, wherein the delivery request is received from the second radio network controller.

9. The machine-readable storage device of claim 6, wherein the operations further comprise determining that the request is not to be routed to the mobile broadcast service center.

10. The machine-readable storage device of claim 6, wherein the streamed content routed to the first radio network controller and to the second radio network controller comprises a simulcast transmission for simulcast delivery to the first mobile communication device and the second mobile communication device.

11. The machine-readable storage device of claim 6, wherein the operations further comprise obtaining an identity of the streamed content.

12. The machine-readable storage device of claim 11, wherein the storing of the information comprises storing the identity of the streamed content.

13. A network device, comprising:

a memory that stores executable instructions; and

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

routing streamed content associated with a broadcast video channel over a first routing path via a support node to a first radio network controller for delivery to a first base station that delivers the streamed content to a first mobile communication device;

storing information indicating that the streamed content is being delivered to the first radio network controller via the support node;

responsive to a delivery request associated with a second mobile communication device, determining that the streamed content is being delivered to the first radio controller via the support node according to the information; and

adjusting the first routing path to generate a second routing path originating at the support node for routing the streamed content to a second radio network controller for delivery to the second mobile communication device via a second base station while continuing to route the streamed content to the first radio network controller via the support node, wherein the routing of the streamed content to the second radio network controller is performed without providing a notification to a source gateway router that provided the broadcast video channel or to a mobile broadcast service center, wherein the support node is positioned in a network between the first radio network controller and the source gateway router,

wherein the information is added to a channel bundle, and wherein the operations further comprise adjusting channel bundles from storage according to channel bundle changes initiated by a mobile broadcast service center to satisfy user content requests.

14. The network device of claim 13, wherein the broadcast video channel is initiated by the mobile broadcast service center.

15. The network device of claim 13, wherein the delivery request is received from the second radio network controller, and wherein the operations further comprise determining that the request is not to be routed to the source gateway router.

16. The network device of claim 13, wherein the streamed content routed to the first radio network controller and to the second radio network controller comprises a simulcast transmission for simulcast delivery to the first mobile communication device and the second mobile communication device.

17. The network device of claim 13, wherein the operations further comprise obtaining an identity of the streamed content, and wherein the storing of the information comprises storing the identity of the streamed content.