METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MINIMIZING BANDWIDTH USAGE BETWEEN A COMMUNICATION SERVER AND A MEDIA DEVICE

• US 20110119387A1
• Filed: 11/18/2009
• Published: 05/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Motorola Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: KELLER, MATTHEW C., NEWBERG, DONALD G., DROZT, PETER M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,296,442 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/227
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4038 with floor control
• 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: H04L 65/765 intermediate
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS

Abstract

A communication server implements a method that minimizes bandwidth usage between a media device and the communication server in a communication system where separate session and floor control protocols are used. Where multiple clients have established separate sessions to access a media source at a media device and upon determining that the multiple clients are attempting to access the same media source, the communication server implements floor control logic to tie multiple floor arbiters together across the separate sessions to cause a single media stream to be sent from the media source and received at the communication server for distribution to the clients, thereby minimizing the bandwidth on the uplink between the media device and the communication server.

Claims

1. A method for minimizing bandwidth usage between a media device and a communication server in a communication system, the method comprising:

at the communication server;

receiving, from a first client, a request for a first session and a first floor request for a media source at the media device;

receiving, from a second client, a request for a second session and a second floor request for the media source;

granting the requests for the first and second sessions, wherein the first session is separate from the second session;

determining that the first and second floor requests are for the same media source;

receiving media from the media source using a single media stream established using floor control signaling;

in response to the first floor request, delivering the media to the first client during the first session; and

in response to the second floor request, delivering the media to the second client during the second session.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a single message from the first client includes both the request for the first session and the first floor request.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein a single message from the second client includes both the request for the second session and the second floor request.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication server logically links the separate first and second sessions to a shared session with the media device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the separate first and second sessions are logically linked by being assigned the same session identifier.

6. The method of claim 4 further comprising, the communication server:

receiving a request, from the first client, to terminate the first session;

receiving a request, from the second client, to terminate the second session; and

upon determining that no other clients have an active session that is logically linked to the shared session with the media device, terminating the shared session.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising the communication server determining bandwidth allocation for the media source and at least one other media source that share a common uplink, wherein the bandwidth allocation is determined based at least on:

a maximum bandwidth requirement for any of the media sources that share the common uplink; and

the number of media sources that share the common uplink.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising, the communication server:

receiving, from the first client, a floor release request for the media source;

determining whether any other clients are receiving the media from the media source; and

when no other clients are receiving the media from the media source, sending the floor release request to the media device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the floor release request comprises a floor request for a second media source at the media device.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the floor release request comprises a request to terminate the first session.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein using floor control signaling to establish the single media stream comprises, the communication server:

sending a floor grant to the media device for the media source in response to the first floor request;

determining to withhold sending another grant to the media source in response to the second floor request as a result of determining that the first and second floor requests are for the same media source.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising, the communication server:

determining that the media device includes multiple media sources; and

sending parameters to the media device for establishing a separate media stream for each media source at the media device.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising, the communication server:

receiving a third floor request, from the first client, for a second different media source at the media device;

receiving media from the second media source using a single second media stream established using floor control signaling and established using the parameters sent to the media device; and

sending the media from the second media source to the first client in response to the third floor request.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising, the communication server:

receiving a fourth floor request, from the second client, for the second media source; and

in response to the fourth floor request, sending to the second client the media that the communication server received using the second media stream.

15. A communication server for minimizing bandwidth usage between a media device and the communication server in a communication system, the communication server comprising:

a call controller that;

receives, from a first client, a request for a first session and a first floor request for a media source at the media device and establishes a first floor arbiter;

receives, from a second client, a request for a second session and a second floor request for the media source, and establishes a second floor arbiter;

grants the requests for the first and second sessions, wherein the first session is separate from the second session; and

determines that the first and second floor requests are for the same media source and generates a shared media source arbiter that interfaces between the media device and the first and second floor arbiters;

the first floor arbiter that exchanges floor control signaling with the first client to respond to the first floor request;

the second floor arbiter that exchanges floor control signaling with the second client to respond to the second floor request;

the shared arbiter that exchanges floor control signaling with the media device to cause media to be sent from the media source to the communication server using a single media stream; and

a media manager that delivers the media to the first client during the first session and delivers the media to the second client during the second session.

16. The communication server of claim 15 further comprising a bandwidth manager that determines bandwidth allocation for the media source and at least one other media source that share a common uplink, wherein the bandwidth allocation is determined based at least on:

a maximum bandwidth requirement for any of the media sources that share the common uplink; and

the number of media sources that share the common uplink.