U.S. patent application number 11/920389 was filed with the patent office on 2009-01-29 for method for transmitting information in a multicast environment.
This patent application is currently assigned to Koninklijke KPN N.V.. Invention is credited to Eetze Arien De Boer, Arian Koster.
Application Number | 20090028153 11/920389 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37500266 |
Filed Date | 2009-01-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090028153 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Koster; Arian ; et
al. |
January 29, 2009 |
Method for Transmitting Information in a Multicast Environment
Abstract
It is disclosed that in a multicast network environment
individual information (10) can be transmitted via a barker channel
(12) between a server (2) and an individual end-user device. In the
case of digital television services the present invention enables,
inter alia, individual information (10) that is addressed to a
specific customer to appear on the television screen. This is
accomplished by transmitting the individual information (10) via
the barker channel (12) from a server (2) to the set-top box (5)
via which the television is connected to the access infrastructure.
It is also disclosed that an identification number (11) can be
added to the individual information (10). In relation to digital
television services, the present invention makes use of the insight
that set-top boxes already are provided with a unique code. As a
result of this, the adding to the individual information (10) of an
identification number (11) that is related to the unique code of a
specific set-top box (5) enables to individually address set-top
boxes.
Inventors: |
Koster; Arian; (Mijdrecht,
NL) ; De Boer; Eetze Arien; (Bussum, NL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MICHAELSON & ASSOCIATES
P.O. BOX 8489
RED BANK
NJ
07701-8489
US
|
Assignee: |
Koninklijke KPN N.V.
The hague
NL
|
Family ID: |
37500266 |
Appl. No.: |
11/920389 |
Filed: |
October 25, 2005 |
PCT Filed: |
October 25, 2005 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2005/011543 |
371 Date: |
November 14, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60680157 |
May 12, 2005 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
370/392 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04L 12/289 20130101;
H04L 12/2859 20130101; H04L 12/2856 20130101; B60N 2/01566
20130101; B60N 2/01575 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
370/392 |
International
Class: |
H04L 12/28 20060101
H04L012/28 |
Claims
1: A method for transmitting individual information from a server
to an end-user device, the server being connected to a network and
a customer environment being connected to the network by means of
an access infrastructure, comprising the steps of: transmitting by
the server the individual information via a barker channel to said
end-user device; and adding an identification number to the
individual information.
2: A method according to claim 1 wherein said end-user device
processes the individual information in the case that the
identification number equals or is related to a unique code of said
end-user device.
3: A method according to claim 1, wherein the individual
information comprises an announcement informing said end-user
device that information is available at server.
4: A method according to claim 1, wherein said end-user device is a
set-top box.
5: A method according to claim 4 wherein the identification number
corresponds to a unique code of the set-top box.
6: A method according to claim 1, wherein the access infrastructure
comprises a Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer (DSLAM).
7: A method according to claim 1, wherein the individual
information is contained in a data packet and the identification
number is contained in the header field of said data packet.
8: A signal adapted for use in a barker channel between a server
and an end-user device in an environment comprising a network that
is connected to the server, and an access infrastructure that
connects a customer environment to the network, the signal
comprising individual information and an identification number.
9: A signal according to claim 8, wherein the individual
information is contained in a data packet and the identification
number is contained in the header of said data packet.
10: A signal according to claim 8, wherein the identification
number corresponds to a unique code of said end-user device.
11: A multicast environment comprising a network that is connected
to a server, an access infrastructure that connects a customer
environment to the network, and means for transmitting individual
information and an identification number via a barker channel
between the server and an end-user device comprised by the customer
environment.
12: A multicast environment according to claim 11, wherein said
end-user device is a set-top box.
13: A multicast environment according to claim 11, wherein the
individual information is contained in a data packet and the
identification number is contained in the header field of said data
packet.
14: A set-top box comprising means for reading an identification
number received via a barker channel in a multicast environment
between the set-top box and a server.
15: A set-top box according to claim 14, the set-top box comprising
means for processing individual information received via said
barker channel.
16: A server comprising means for generating individual information
and an identification number, the individual information and the
identification number being able to be transmitted to an end-user
device via a barker channel between the server and said end-user
device.
17: A server according to claim 16, wherein the individual
information is contained in a data packet and the identification
number is contained in the header of said data packet.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a method for transmitting
information to an individual end-user device in a multicast
environment.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Via broadband networks multi-media services are increasingly
provided to customers. Examples of multi-media services are
triple-play services whereby voice, Internet/data and video related
services are provided. Often, triple-play service provisioning
takes place in a multicast environment. Multicast is communication
between a single sender and multiple receivers on a network.
Typical use include the distribution of video such as video on
demand. Standards are being developed to support multicasting over
a TCP/IP network (such as the Internet). An example of such a
standard is IP Multicast. In relation to multicast environments the
problem of transmitting single messages to an individual receiver
has been identified. This can be relevant in an architecture
wherein a residential gateway at the customer's location is used
for the interfacing between the end-user devices and the broadband
network. Usually private IP-addresses have been assigned to the
end-user devices, i.e. an end-user device can be addressed by means
of its private IP-address by other end-user device comprised by the
private domain.
[0003] However, private IP-addresses are not defined in the public
domain, i.e. it is not possible from a device in the public domain
to address a specific end-user device as a destination device by
means of a private IP-address. This is because only public
IP-addresses are defined in the public domain. So, although a
public IP-address is assigned to the residential gateway, the
end-user devices behind the residential gateway cannot be addressed
individually because the private IP-addresses of the end-user
devices are not known in the public domain. A known solution for
this problem is the mechanism of port forwarding in the residential
gateway. However, a drawback of this known solution is that
additional configuration steps in relation to the residential
gateway are required. According to another known solution a
dedicated channel can de defined between the sender and a receiving
end-user device. However, the amount of simultaneously active
channels can then be considerably high.
AIM OF THE INVENTION
[0004] It is an object of the invention to eliminate the drawbacks
of the prior art and to provide a method for transmitting
information to an individual end-user device in a multicast
environment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] It is disclosed that in a multicast network environment
individual information can be transmitted via a barker channel
between a server and an individual end-user device. In the case of
digital television services the present invention enables, inter
alia, individual information that is addressed to a specific
customer to appear on the television screen. This is accomplished
by transmitting the individual information via the barker channel
from a server to the set-top box via which the television is
connected to the access infrastructure. It is also disclosed that
an identification number can be added to the individual
information. In relation to digital television services, the
present invention makes use of the insight that set-top boxes
already are provided with a unique code. As a result of this, the
adding to the individual information of an identification number
that is related to the unique code of a specific set-top box
enables to individually address set-top boxes.
[0006] In a first aspect of the invention is disclosed that in a
multicast network environment individual information can be
transmitted via a barker channel to an individual end-user device.
The present invention does not only apply to multicast
environments; also broadcast environments or combined
multicast/broadcast environments are within the scope of this
invention. In the prior art a barker channel can be used for
transmitting generic information to end-user devices. According to
the invention it is identified that in a customer environment
comprising several end-user devices private (i.e. non-public) IP
addresses are used for the identification of the end-user devices.
In IP related network environments this is a problem since it is
not possible then to address from the public domain one specific
end-user device. The scope of this invention is not limited to IP
related networks; also other types of networks wherein private
addressing is applied are considered.
[0007] The end-user devices referred to above can be part of a home
network of a customer, although corporate local network
environments are not excluded in this invention. Typically there is
a broadband network to which customer network environments and
corporate network environments are connected by means of an access
network. Several communication services may be provided via such an
infrastructure, for instance data services, Internet, voice and
digital video services (Triple Play). Often in such a context the
IP protocol is used combined with other communication protocols
such as FTTH (fiber to the home), ADSL (asymmetric digital
subscriber line) or VDSL (very high speed digital subscriber line).
An end-user device can for example be a personal computer system, a
television set, a set-top box or a telephone. However, an end-user
device can also be any other type of device that resides at the
customer premise such as a residential gateway, a DSL modem or a
set-top box.
[0008] The access infrastructure may be comprised of copper, fiber
or wireless components (or a combination of these). For example, in
the case of an ADSL access infrastructure the communication path
between a customer premise and a public telephone exchange is
partly comprised of fiber, i.e. between the public telephone
exchange and the DSLAM there is fiber, while between the DSLAM and
the customer premise there is copper wire. It is also possible that
the access infrastructure is a mobile infrastructure enabling
mobile end-user devices (such as 3G and 4G handsets) to connect to
a network.
[0009] In the case of digital television services the present
invention enables, inter alia, individual information addressed to
a specific customer to appear on the television screen. This is
accomplished by transmitting this individual information via the
barker channel from a server to the set-top box via which the
television is connected to the access infrastructure. Individual
information in this context can for instance be data that appears
on the television screen indicating that the customer has received
a phone call. In the prior art it is generic information
(information that is accessible to multiple users) and not
individual information that can be transmitted via the barker
channel. The present invention also is applicable in relation to
other types of end-user devices such as (personal) computer
devices, gameboxes, 3G handsets, PDA's and IP telephones. For
instance, according to the present invention it may be possible to
transmit individual information such as a software update to a
personal computer.
[0010] According to another aspect of the invention there can be
added an identification number to the individual information that
is to be transmitted via the barkerchannel. In relation to digital
television services, the present invention makes use of the insight
that set-top boxes already are provided with a unique code. As a
result of this, adding to the individual information of an
identification number that is related to the unique code of a
specific set-top box enables that specific set-top box to be
addressed.
[0011] According to yet another aspect of the present invention an
end-user device may be equipped (for instance by means of software
measures) to detect the identification number that is added to
individual information. In the case that the identification number
equals (or is related to) the unique code of the end-user device,
the end-user device will process the individual information. If,
however, the identification number does not equal (or relate) to
the unique code of a set-top box, then that set-top box won't
process the individual information.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURE
[0012] The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages
of this invention will be explained by reference to the following
detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawing, wherein:
[0013] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an architecture
whereby a customer environment (8) is connected to a broadband
network (1).
[0014] FIG. 2 is a block diagram in which the concept of
transmitting individual information to an end-user device in a
multicast environment is depicted.
EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
[0015] For the purpose of teaching of the invention, preferred
embodiments of the method and devices of the invention are
described in the sequel. It will be apparent to the person skilled
in the art that other alternative and equivalent embodiments of the
invention can be conceived and reduced to practice without
departing form the true spirit of the invention, the scope of the
invention being limited only by the appended claims as finally
granted.
[0016] FIG. 1 shows a network (1), such as a broadband network, via
which services such as triple play services can be provided to
customers. The network (1) can be based on any type of
communication technology such as FTTH (fiber to the home), ADSL,
VDSL, MPLS, or mobile communication protocols. For the provisioning
of such services, a server (2) is connected to the network (1). The
server (2) can for instance host a video server, although it is
also possible that more than one media applications are hosted by
server (2). There may also be more than one server (2) connected to
the network (1) each covering a specific media service. In this
embodiment the architecture is based on the IP protocol although
this is not a limitation in relation to the present invention. In
the architecture according to FIG. 1 there is a DSLAM (9) (Digital
Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer) that is connected to the
network (1) and to a customer environment (8). The DSLAM (9) is in
general part of an access infrastructure and may be operated by the
same party that operates the network (1). Implementations of the
access infrastructure between the customer environment (8) and the
network (1) may be different, dependent on the technology (ADSL,
VDSL, etc.) to be supported.
[0017] The DSLAM (9) takes connections from many customers and
aggregates them onto a single, high-capacity connection to the
network (1). A DSLAM (9) is generally flexible and able to support
multiple types of DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) in a single central
office, and different varieties of protocol and modulation. For
example, different customer environments (8) may be connected via a
copper wire (xDSL) to the DSLAM (9). The DSLAM (9) may for instance
support ADSL whereby the DSLAM (9) is connected to the network (1)
via a fiber infrastructure. The customer environment (8) can be
connected to the DSLAM (9) by means of for instance a residential
gateway (3) The residential gateway (3) is network device located
at the customer premise that interfaces between the home network
(comprising end-user devices) and the public access network
(comprising e.g. the DSLAM (9)). The residential gateway (3) may
also be able to connect the end-user devices that reside at the
customer location (8). End-user devices may for instance be a
personal computer (4) via which data or Internet services may be
provided, a television (6) that is connected to the residential
gateway (3) via a set-top box (STB) (5) for the provisioning of
digital and/or interactive television, and an IP telephone (7) for
the provisioning of IP telephony. The provisioning of this
combination of services is often called triple play.
[0018] For digital interactive television there is often a
broadcast based architecture in relation to the network (1). For
example, there may be 50 television channels and 100 radio channels
broadcasted from the video server (which is hosted by server (2))
to the DSLAM's (9). Between the customer environment (8) and a
DSLAM (9), however, there might be used a multicast mechanism
instead of a broadcast mechanism. When a set-top box (5) has
registered to a particular channel (one of the set of 100
television channels) this channel will be routed by the DSLAM (9)
to the residential gateway to which the STB (5) is connected.
Registration in a multicast environment can for instance be
accomplished using the Internet Group Management Protocol
(IGMP).
[0019] Via a barker channel (12) that is defined between the server
(2) and the STB (5) additional information can be provided to the
customer. This additional information can for instance be
background information relating the television program that is
watched by the customer or any type of promotional information. The
customer can request for the additional information but in general
the same information is being broadcasted to all the customers and
each customer may choose whether or not to receive the information.
The barker channel (12) will provide data and system information on
all content and services being broadcasted. The client derives a
menu of services available on the network from the barker channel
(12). Client software in the STB (5) will use the barker channel
(12) to capture material regardless of the channel in which it
appears. In addition to the barker channel (12), the client
software will filter and capture or display content based on
metadata tags attached to the content.
[0020] FIG. 2 shows a number of aspects that are part of a method
according to the present invention for an architecture similar to
that of FIG. 1. This method enables individual information (10) to
be transmitted to an individual STB (5), i.e. information that is
intended for a specific customer. This in contrary to the
additional information that normally can be received by a STB (5)
via a barker channel. According to an aspect of the invention
individual information (10) is sent by the server (2) via the
barker channel (12). In a best mode embodiment, the server (2) can
add for addressing purposes an identification number (11) to the
individual information (10). In general STB's already have a unique
code that can be a reference for the identification code (11), i.e.
the unique code can be used to address a set-top box (5). In an
implementation it is for instance possible to add the unique code
of the addressed STB (5) in the header field of a data packet. When
a DSLAM (9) has received the individual information (10) and the
corresponding identification number (11), both will be routed to
every STB (5) that has registered to the barker channel (12) at an
earlier stage. However, only the STB (5) with a unique code that
corresponds to the identification number (11) will process the
individual information (10). For this purpose an STB (5) needs to
be upgraded in order to be able to handle incoming individual
information (10) and a corresponding identification number (11).
This upgrading is however a small software modification since STB's
(5) in general already comprise mechanisms in which encryption keys
are used for accessing information sent to the STB (5).
[0021] In another embodiment it may also be possible that the
individual information (10) comprises an announcement to a specific
customer or end-user device informing that customer or end-user
device that, for instance, a message is available at server (2).
After having received this announcement the customer or end-user
device is able to retrieve the message from server (2). The way for
retrieving the message can be according to any type of
communication scheme or protocol. Not only messages can be
retrieved but also any other type of information such as software
updates, files and multi-media applications.
* * * * *