In-Session Continuation of a Streaming Media Session

• US 20110125909A1
• Filed: 11/18/2010
• Published: 05/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Maes, Stephane H.
• Application Number:
  US12/949,287
• Publication Number:
  US 20110125909A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/227
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1083 In-session procedures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1095 Inter-network session transfer or sharing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1096 Supplementary features, e.g. call forwarding or call holding systems providing special services or facilities to telephony subscribers H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/148 Migration or transfer of sessions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0011 for data sessions of end-to-end connection

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for forwarding a media streaming session from one node to another node while the session is in progress. A streaming server may store data sent between nodes in the session. When one node is forwarded to a new node, the stored data may be used to transition to the new node with little or no interruption in data sent between nodes in the session. A user interface may allow a user to set preferences and control other aspects of the session forwarding features.

Claims

1. A method of forwarding an in-progress media streaming session, comprising:

during a media streaming session between a first node and a second node during which each of the first node and the second node is connected to a session continuity manager, storing data exchanged between the first node and the second node;

initiating a new connection between a new node and the session continuity manager;

disconnecting the first node; and

continuing the session at the new node from the first node.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, data is mixed among the first node, the second node, and the new node while the nodes are connected to the session.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein duplicate data is sent to at least two of the first node, the second node, and the new node during the session.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first node is disconnected from the session after the new connection is established.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first node is disconnected from the session before the new connection is established.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending stored data previously sent by the second node to the new node.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

forwarding at least one of data sent by the first node and data sent by the new node to the second node, wherein the forwarded data is identified as originating at the new node.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the forwarded data is read from the database prior to forwarding to the second node.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein data is sent from the new node to the second node before the first node is disconnected.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein session data is replicated between the first node and the new node.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the new connection is initiated by the new node.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the new connection is initiated by the session continuity manager.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein during initiation of the new connection, the session continuity manager identifies itself to the new node as the second node.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the session continuity manager, the first node, and the new node are connected by a third party call control mechanism.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the connection between the new node and the session continuity manager is initiated in response to a request to forward the session to the new node.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the request is made prior to initiation of the media streaming session between the first node and the second node.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the request is made automatically based on a preference of at least one of the nodes.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the request is initiated by a user of at least one of the first node and the second node.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the request is made via a channel separate from the media streaming session.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the new node is on a separate network from the first node.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first node and the second node is connected to the session continuity manager after initiation of the media streaming session.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the first node and the new node are on different networks.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein the media streaming session is an audio session.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the nodes are connected via at least one of a PSTN network, a PBX, an IP network, and a cellular telephone network.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein the media streaming session is a video session.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the first node is a mobile TV node or an IPTV node, and the new node is a mobile TV node or an IPTV node.

27. The method of claim 1, wherein the media streaming session is a web conference.

28. The method of claim 1, wherein the session continuity manager comprises a media server.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein at least one of the first node, the second node, and the new node is connected to the session by a call controller separate from the media server.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein the media server stores data transferred during the session, monitors data transferred during the session, or both.

31. A session continuity manager comprising:

a database to store session data distributed to a first node and a second node connected to the session continuity manager during a media streaming session; and

a media server in communication with the database, the media server configured to receive a connection from a new node during the session and continue the session at the new node from the first node.

32. A system comprising:

a database configured to store session data for a media streaming session between a first node and a second node; and

a session continuity manager in communication with the database, the session continuity manager configured to communicate with a plurality of nodes including the first node and the second node;

wherein the session continuity manager is configured to forward the media streaming session from the first node to a new node while the media streaming session is in progress.

33. A computer-readable storage medium storing a plurality of instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform method of forwarding an in-progress media streaming session, the method comprising:

during a media streaming session between a first node and a second node during which each of the first node and the second node is connected to a session continuity manager, storing data exchanged between the first node and the second node;

initiating a new connection between a new node and the session continuity manager;

disconnecting the first node; and

continuing the session at the new node from the first node.

34. A network system comprising a database and a central server in communication with a plurality of remote user nodes, the system configured to:

establish a first connection between a first remote user node and the central server;

establish a second connection between a second remote user node and the central server;

establish a media streaming session between the first remote user node and the second remote user node through the first and second connections;

store information regarding the media streaming session in the database; and

while the media streaming session is in progress, and without interrupting the media streaming session, forward the media streaming session from the first node to a third node distinct from the second node.