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WO2009095081A1 - Procédé et appareil pour obtenir des données multimédia sur un réseau de communications - Google Patents

Procédé et appareil pour obtenir des données multimédia sur un réseau de communications Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2009095081A1
WO2009095081A1 PCT/EP2008/051187 EP2008051187W WO2009095081A1 WO 2009095081 A1 WO2009095081 A1 WO 2009095081A1 EP 2008051187 W EP2008051187 W EP 2008051187W WO 2009095081 A1 WO2009095081 A1 WO 2009095081A1
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WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
user
iptv
node
channel
fragments
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Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
PCT/EP2008/051187
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English (en)
Inventor
Andreas Ljunggren
Robert Skog
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Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson AB
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Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson AB
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Priority to PCT/EP2008/051187 priority Critical patent/WO2009095081A1/fr
Publication of WO2009095081A1 publication Critical patent/WO2009095081A1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
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    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/60—Network structure or processes for video distribution between server and client or between remote clients; Control signalling between clients, server and network components; Transmission of management data between server and client, e.g. sending from server to client commands for recording incoming content stream; Communication details between server and client 
    • H04N21/61—Network physical structure; Signal processing
    • H04N21/6106—Network physical structure; Signal processing specially adapted to the downstream path of the transmission network
    • H04N21/6125—Network physical structure; Signal processing specially adapted to the downstream path of the transmission network involving transmission via Internet
    • H—ELECTRICITY
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    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/43—Processing of content or additional data, e.g. demultiplexing additional data from a digital video stream; Elementary client operations, e.g. monitoring of home network or synchronising decoder's clock; Client middleware
    • H04N21/442—Monitoring of processes or resources, e.g. detecting the failure of a recording device, monitoring the downstream bandwidth, the number of times a movie has been viewed, the storage space available from the internal hard disk
    • H04N21/44213—Monitoring of end-user related data
    • H04N21/44222—Analytics of user selections, e.g. selection of programs or purchase activity
    • H—ELECTRICITY
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    • H04L67/2866—Architectures; Arrangements
    • H04L67/30—Profiles
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    • H04N21/234—Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing of video streams or manipulating encoded video stream scene graphs
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    • H04N21/234—Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing of video streams or manipulating encoded video stream scene graphs
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    • H04N21/258—Client or end-user data management, e.g. managing client capabilities, user preferences or demographics, processing of multiple end-users preferences to derive collaborative data
    • H04N21/25866—Management of end-user data
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
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    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
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    • H04N21/438—Interfacing the downstream path of the transmission network originating from a server, e.g. retrieving encoded video stream packets from an IP network
    • H04N21/4383—Accessing a communication channel
    • H04N21/4384—Accessing a communication channel involving operations to reduce the access time, e.g. fast-tuning for reducing channel switching latency
    • H—ELECTRICITY
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    • H04N21/44—Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing a video clip retrieved from local storage with an incoming video stream or rendering scenes according to encoded video stream scene graphs
    • H04N21/44004—Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing a video clip retrieved from local storage with an incoming video stream or rendering scenes according to encoded video stream scene graphs involving video buffer management, e.g. video decoder buffer or video display buffer
    • H—ELECTRICITY
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    • H04N21/43—Processing of content or additional data, e.g. demultiplexing additional data from a digital video stream; Elementary client operations, e.g. monitoring of home network or synchronising decoder's clock; Client middleware
    • H04N21/44—Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing a video clip retrieved from local storage with an incoming video stream or rendering scenes according to encoded video stream scene graphs
    • H04N21/44016—Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing a video clip retrieved from local storage with an incoming video stream or rendering scenes according to encoded video stream scene graphs involving splicing one content stream with another content stream, e.g. for substituting a video clip
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    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
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    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/47—End-user applications
    • H04N21/478—Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
    • H04N21/4788—Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application communicating with other users, e.g. chatting
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/60—Network structure or processes for video distribution between server and client or between remote clients; Control signalling between clients, server and network components; Transmission of management data between server and client, e.g. sending from server to client commands for recording incoming content stream; Communication details between server and client 
    • H04N21/63—Control signaling related to video distribution between client, server and network components; Network processes for video distribution between server and clients or between remote clients, e.g. transmitting basic layer and enhancement layers over different transmission paths, setting up a peer-to-peer communication via Internet between remote STB's; Communication protocols; Addressing
    • H04N21/633—Control signals issued by server directed to the network components or client
    • H04N21/6332—Control signals issued by server directed to the network components or client directed to client
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
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    • H04N21/60—Network structure or processes for video distribution between server and client or between remote clients; Control signalling between clients, server and network components; Transmission of management data between server and client, e.g. sending from server to client commands for recording incoming content stream; Communication details between server and client 
    • H04N21/65—Transmission of management data between client and server
    • H04N21/654—Transmission by server directed to the client
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L65/00—Network arrangements, protocols or services for supporting real-time applications in data packet communication
    • H04L65/60—Network streaming of media packets
    • H04L65/61—Network streaming of media packets for supporting one-way streaming services, e.g. Internet radio
    • H04L65/611—Network streaming of media packets for supporting one-way streaming services, e.g. Internet radio for multicast or broadcast
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
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    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/45—Management operations performed by the client for facilitating the reception of or the interaction with the content or administrating data related to the end-user or to the client device itself, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies, resolving scheduling conflicts
    • H04N21/4508—Management of client data or end-user data
    • H04N21/4532—Management of client data or end-user data involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences

Definitions

  • the invention relates to the field of obtaining media over a communications network, and in particular IPTV media.
  • IPTV IPTV
  • IPTV is typically broadcast using a broadband access network, in which channels are transmitted over a broadband network from a super head-end down to an end-user's set top box (STB).
  • STB set top box
  • Linear content delivery in which all channels in a subscription are simultaneously delivered to a user's set top box (STB), is not suitable for IPTV, as IPTV has limited bandwidth available over a broadband connection.
  • a typical ADSL broadband connection provides a capacity of between 3 and 8 Mbps, and ADSL2 promises to deliver up to 25 Mbps downstream, whereas VDSL can provide a capacity of greater than 30 Mbps.
  • Standard quality MPEG 2 IPTV content requires 2 Mbps per channel, and HDTV will require around 8-10 Mbps per channel.
  • the MPEG 4 standard will approximately halve the bandwidth required to deliver IPTV content with the same quality. Nevertheless, the available bandwidth is a scarce resource, and IPTV solutions must limit the number of channels that can be delivered simultaneously.
  • FIG. 1 illustrates a known way of distributing media in which an IPTV media stream originates in a service provider network 1 , is passed to a core network 2, is further passed into a metro network 3, and finally is sent via access networks 4 to each home network 5 that contains an STB that wishes to receive the media stream.
  • Networks can quickly become saturated due to heavy traffic loads.
  • content can be multicast to reduce bandwidth demands for broadcast TV distribution.
  • Video on Demand (VoD) services can be handled by VoD cache servers located close to the end-user.
  • such caches require additional investment, and many routers would need to be replaced, as existing routers may not support IPTV multicasts.
  • IPTV media stream can be delivered to a STB from another STB, from a media injector from which the stream originates, or from any other peer in the network.
  • An IPTV media stream is typically compressed in order to save bandwidth.
  • An example of a compressed media format is MPEG.
  • MPEG media streams contain different frames, such as l-frames, P-frames and B-frames.
  • l-frames do not depend on data contained in the preceding or following frames, as they contain a complete picture.
  • P-frames provide more compression than l-frames because they utilize data contained in the previous l-frame or P-frame.
  • B-frames are similar to P-frames, except that B-frames interpolate data contained in the following frame as well as the preceding frame.
  • B-frames usually provide more compression than P-frames.
  • every 15th frame or so is an l-frame.
  • P-frames and B-frames might follow an l-frame as follows: IBBPBBPBBPBB(I). The order and number of frames in the sequence can be varied.
  • the average time for switching between channels therefore depends on the length of time between l-frames.
  • the length of time is around 0.5 seconds.
  • the length of time between l-frames can be several seconds.
  • the media stream includes payload data and metadata.
  • the payload data is the media data itself, and is decoded and shown by the receiver.
  • Payload data typically comprises frames as described above.
  • the metadata includes all other data in the media stream. This may be, for example, data describing the payload data, or information establishing signalling between two peers.
  • the media stream is sent in "fragments". Fragments are discrete portions of the media stream containing both the payload data and the metadata.
  • a buffer containing fragments is illustrated in Figure 3.
  • a P2P network interface (in, for example, a STB) requests fragments from other P2P peers.
  • the P2P logic is writing fragment number 21 into the buffer and fragment number 17 is sent to the video decoder.
  • a fragment may contain both metadata about the media stream, and payload data from the media stream itself.
  • the inventors have realised the problems associated with the prior art and devised an apparatus and method to mitigate the problems and reduce the time it takes for a peer to receive the latest key frame from another peer in the network.
  • a node for use in an IPTV communications network.
  • the node comprises a user analyzer function for analyzing information relating to a user's IPTV channel switching behaviour, and for predicting the user's IPTV channel switching behaviour.
  • the node can, for example, populate a database for profiling the user's behaviour, and pre-fetch fragments for an IPTV channel which a user may be about to switch to, thereby allowing the node to render the IPTV channel more quickly when the user does switch to that channel.
  • the node is optionally provided with a transmitter for, as a result of the prediction, requesting from a remote node fragments for a further IPTV channel that is not currently being viewed by the user, a receiver for receiving from the remote node the requested fragments, and a memory for storing the received fragments. If the user subsequently switches to the further IPTV channel then the fragments in the memory can be used to quickly render the further IPTV channel.
  • the memory is arranged to store fragments for both the further IPTV channel that is not currently being viewed by the user, and a channel that is currently being viewed by the user.
  • the user analyzer function is optionally arranged to instruct the transmitter to stop requesting fragments for the further IPTV channel after it is determined that the user has not switched between IPTV channels for a predetermined amount of time.
  • the node optionally comprises a database for storing information relating to the user's channel switching behaviour.
  • the database can be used to build up a historical picture of the user's channel switching behaviour, which can be used to more accurately predict the user's channel switching behaviour.
  • the node is arranged to, at start-up, select a default IPTV channel on the basis of the user's predicted behaviour. In this way, if the user habitually watches a certain channel at a certain time, the node can default to that channel if the user switches on the node shortly before that time.
  • the node is optionally selected from one of a Set Top Box and a proxy node arranged to act on behalf of a Set Top Box.
  • the node is optionally adapted to operate in a Peer to Peer IPTV communications network, in which case it is provided with P2P functionality.
  • P2P Peer to Peer IPTV communications network
  • the invention may equally apply to a client/server type of network.
  • a method of operating a node in an IPTV communications network comprises analyzing information relating to a user's IPTV channel switching behaviour and, as a result of the analysis, predicting the user's IPTV channel switching behaviour.
  • the method further comprises requesting from a remote node fragments for a further IPTV channel that is not currently being viewed by the user, receiving from the remote node the requested fragments, and storing the received fragments in a memory at the node.
  • the prediction can be used to pre-fetch fragments from a channel that the user is not currently watching but is likely to switch to.
  • fragments stored in the buffer can be used to begin rendering that channel.
  • the method optionally comprises storing fragments for both the further IPTV channel that is not currently being viewed by the user, and a channel that is currently being viewed by the user.
  • the method optionally comprises stopping requesting fragments for the further IPTV channel after it is determined that the user has not switched between IPTV channels for a predetermined amount of time. In this way, once the user has settled on a particular channel, no fragments will be pre-fetched fro a channel that is not being viewed.
  • the method optionally comprises obtaining the information for analysis from a user behaviour database.
  • a database of user behaviour can make the prediction of the user's IPTV channel switching behaviour more accurate.
  • the method optionally comprises selecting a default IPTV channel on the basis of the user's predicted behaviour when the node is switched on.
  • apparatus for use in receiving media over a communications network, the apparatus comprising means for performing the method described above in the second aspect of the invention.
  • a program for controlling an apparatus to perform the method described above in the second aspect of the invention is provided.
  • a program which, when loaded into an apparatus, causes the apparatus to become an apparatus as described above in the third aspect of the invention.
  • a program described above in either of the fourth or fifth aspects of the invention carried on a carrier medium.
  • the carrier medium is optionally a storage medium.
  • a storage medium containing a program as described above in either of the fourth or fifth aspects of the invention.
  • Figure 1 illustrates schematically in a block diagram an architecture for the distribution of IPTV
  • Figure 2 illustrates schematically in a block diagram an architecture for the distribution of IPTV in a peer to peer network
  • Figure 3 illustrates schematically in a block diagram a buffer in a STB containing data fragments
  • Figure 4 illustrates schematically in a block diagram a media injector and two Set Top Boxes
  • Figure 5 illustrates schematically in a block diagram the signalling required to initiate an IPTV broadcast with a first Set Top Box
  • Figure 6 illustrates schematically in a block diagram the signalling required to initiate an IPTV broadcast with a further Set Top Box
  • Figure 7 illustrates schematically in a block diagram keep alive messages sent by a Set Top Box
  • Figure 8 illustrates schematically a signalling sequence according to an embodiment of the invention.
  • IPTV P2P requires a media injector in order to introduce the IPTV media stream into the network, although the media injector is not a true peer in the network in the sense that it sends media data but does not receive media data from the peers.
  • Figure 4 is a schematic representation of a simple IPTV P2P network 1.
  • the network 1 includes an IPTV server 6 and two STBs STB1 and STB2.
  • Each STB includes a P2P network interface 2, 3 to which is connected a video decoder 9, 1 1.
  • STB1 receives the IPTV media stream from both STB2 and the IPTV Server 6, which injects either streaming content 4 or content from a database 7 using a P2P media injector 8.
  • other network nodes may be peers in the network.
  • FIG. 5 illustrates typical signalling required to initiate an IPTV broadcast with a first STB STB1.
  • the video decoder 9 in STB1 receives an instruction from a user to start channel X. This is relayed to the P2P network interface 2 in STB1 , which sends a request to a STB manager 10 in the IPTV back-end to join channel X.
  • the STB Manager 10 returns a peer list to the P2P function in STB1 , but no IPTV media stream.
  • the peer list includes the P2P media injector 8. Since the media injector can be considered as a peer in the network, it is termed STBO.
  • the P2P function in STB1 then sends a request to join channel X to STBO.
  • STBO receives an IPTV media stream from an IPTV media stream source (for example, from the database 7), and sends a peer list and an IPTV media stream comprising fragments of frames to the P2P network interface of STB1.
  • the P2P network interface of STB1 sends the frames to the video decoder 9 in STB1 , which can then show the IPTV media stream to the user.
  • Figure 6 illustrates typical signalling required to initiate an IPTV broadcast with a further STB STB2.
  • STB1 is already receiving an IPTV media stream from STBO.
  • the P2P network interface in STB2 sends a request join channel X to the STB manager 10.
  • the STB manager 10 returns a peer list but no payload to STB2.
  • the peer list includes STBO and STB1 , as these are both possible sources for the IPTV media stream.
  • the P2P function in STB2 then sends a request to each of STBO and STB1 to join channel X.
  • STBO and STB1 each send a peer list and IPTV data stream to the P2P network interface in STB2, which passes the frames of the IPTV media stream to the video decoder.
  • IPTV media stream is used herein to refer to any kind of media data having real time requirements, and includes Video on Demand, user defined TV content, interactive TV, interactive or co-operative games, or audio media.
  • the media stream is to be delivered to the user such that the user can observe the media content at a constant rate without interruptions or delays.
  • the term "media stream” need not necessarily refer to the media data injected into the network by a media injector, but can also be used to refer to media data received from other peers in a P2P network.
  • Figure 8 shows an STB, 12 which is provided with a video decoder 9 for rendering media, P2P logic 13 for handling P2P signalling, and an end-user analyzer module 14 for analyzing channel viewing behaviour of an end-user.
  • the following steps correspond to the numbering shown in Figure 8:
  • the end-user selects a new channel and signals this to the STB 12.
  • Information relating to the required new channel is sent to the P2P Iogic13 in the STB 12.
  • the P2P logic 13 then handles signalling for obtaining media fragments for the new channel
  • Information relating to the required new channel is sent to the end-user analyzer module 14.
  • the analyzer 14 records the identity of the new channel and the time and date at which the channel was selected and stores the information in a database 15.
  • Stored information includes, for example, the fact that the end-user regularly watches Channel X at 7pm on a Friday.
  • stored information may include the fact that if the end- user is watching Channel Y, then he is most likely to switch next to Channel Z.
  • the analyzer 14 uses the stored information and prediction algorithms to predict the next "likely" channel that the end-user is likely to switch to next. It may also be used if, for example, the user turns on the STB 12 at 6.59pm on a Friday.
  • the STB 12 normally defaults to Channel A, when it is turned on, but the analyzer can be used to predict that the user will want to watch Channel X at 7pm, and so the STB 12 defaults to Channel X; 54.
  • the next "likely" channel determined by the analyzer 14 channel is sent to the P2P logic 13;
  • P2P logic 13 starts to pre-fetch fragments for the likely channel and stores the frames in a buffer 16, even if the user is not currently viewing that channel.
  • the pre-fetched fragments stored in the buffer 16 are used to allow the video decoder 9 of the STB 12 to begin rendering the channel as soon as the user switches to that channel. This greatly reduces the time between a user selecting a new channel and the video decoder 9 rendering the channel for the end-user to view.
  • the analyzer 14 predicts a single channel to which the user will switch to next. However, it will be apparent that the analyser 14 may predict that the user may switch to one of a plurality of channels next, in which case the P2P logic 13 can pre-fetch fragments relating to a plurality of channels that are not currently being watched by the user.
  • the database 15 of user behaviour is used to predict which channels the user will wish to view, and to pre-fetch fragments for those channels in order for a channel to be rendered more quickly when the user switches to that channel.
  • the database can be used to customize an Electronic Program Guide (EPG) for the user, allowing the EPG to give better targeted information that might be relevant to the user.
  • EPG Electronic Program Guide
  • the database 15 can be mined to extract information that can be used for selecting advertisements to insert in the channel currently being watched by the user.
  • the analyzer may predict that if Channel Y is showing advertisements and the user switches to Channel Z, it is likely that the user will switch back to Channel Y to resume viewing Channel Y once the advertisements are over. This type of analysis does not require an analysis of a user's historic channel-switching behaviour.
  • the node that prefetches fragments for channels that are not currently being viewed is the viewer's STB.
  • the invention applies to any peer in the network. This could include a proxy node acting on behalf of one or more STBs, such as a Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer (DSLAM).
  • DSLAM Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer
  • the STB is disposed in a P2P network, although the invention could equally apply to a client-server type of network.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Multimedia (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Databases & Information Systems (AREA)
  • Social Psychology (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Computer Hardware Design (AREA)
  • Computer Graphics (AREA)
  • Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
  • Marketing (AREA)
  • Two-Way Televisions, Distribution Of Moving Picture Or The Like (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un noeud et un procédé à utiliser dans un réseau de communications IPTV. Le noeud comprend une fonction d'analyse utilisateur qui permet d'analyser des informations associées à un comportement d'utilisateur relatif à un changement de canal, et de prédire le comportement d'utilisateur relatif à un changement de canal. La prédiction du comportement d'utilisateur relatif à un changement de canal permet au noeud, par exemple, de remplir une base de données pour établir le profil du comportement d'utilisateur, et faire une recherche préalable de fragments pour un canal IPTV sur lequel un utilisateur peut passer, ce qui permet au noeud de rendre le canal IPTV plus rapidement lorsque l'utilisateur passe sur ledit canal.
PCT/EP2008/051187 2008-01-31 2008-01-31 Procédé et appareil pour obtenir des données multimédia sur un réseau de communications Ceased WO2009095081A1 (fr)

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PCT/EP2008/051187 WO2009095081A1 (fr) 2008-01-31 2008-01-31 Procédé et appareil pour obtenir des données multimédia sur un réseau de communications

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WO2009095081A1 true WO2009095081A1 (fr) 2009-08-06

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2326081A1 (fr) * 2009-09-23 2011-05-25 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Récepteur de diffusion et son procédé de changement de canal
WO2017077377A3 (fr) * 2015-11-03 2017-07-13 中兴通讯股份有限公司 Procédé et dispositif de changement de chaîne, coffret d'abonné et support de stockage
CN108337552A (zh) * 2018-01-30 2018-07-27 庄再濠 一种网络电视的快速切台方法及装置
FR3064871A1 (fr) * 2017-04-03 2018-10-05 Orange Procede et dispositif de transmission de chaines de television

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WO2006041784A2 (fr) * 2004-10-04 2006-04-20 Wave7 Optics, Inc. Minimisation du temps de latence lors d'un changement de chaine de television sur internet
US20060085828A1 (en) * 2004-10-15 2006-04-20 Vincent Dureau Speeding up channel change
WO2008009245A1 (fr) * 2006-07-17 2008-01-24 Siemens Home And Office Communication Devices Gmbh & Co. Kg Procédé d'optimisation des temps de commutation entre différents canaux à contenu numérique compressé
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Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2326081A1 (fr) * 2009-09-23 2011-05-25 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Récepteur de diffusion et son procédé de changement de canal
WO2017077377A3 (fr) * 2015-11-03 2017-07-13 中兴通讯股份有限公司 Procédé et dispositif de changement de chaîne, coffret d'abonné et support de stockage
FR3064871A1 (fr) * 2017-04-03 2018-10-05 Orange Procede et dispositif de transmission de chaines de television
CN108337552A (zh) * 2018-01-30 2018-07-27 庄再濠 一种网络电视的快速切台方法及装置

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