A gateway device-based IPTV service automatic configuration method

Abstract

This invention provides an automatic IPTV service configuration method based on a gateway device, comprising: after the gateway device is powered on, listening for and identifying whether STB characteristic packets are transmitted from the downlink port, querying the device type connected to the downlink port, and determining whether the device connected to the downlink port is an STB device; the gateway device queries the device type connected to the uplink port and listens for and identifies whether DHCP or PPPoE dialing characteristic information exists on the uplink port, thereby determining whether IPTV service exists on the uplink port; based on the identification information of the uplink and downlink ports, the gateway device configures both the uplink and downlink ports as IPTV services and makes it effective. The beneficial effects of this invention are: it realizes automatic IPTV service configuration of the gateway device, reduces the difficulty of on-site network deployment, and saves manpower, material resources, and time.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of gateway device technology, and in particular to an automatic configuration method for IPTV services based on gateway devices. Background Technology

[0002] IPTV, or Interactive Network Television, is a new technology that utilizes broadband cable television networks, integrating the internet, multimedia, and communication technologies to provide home users with a variety of interactive services, including digital television. Internationally, IPTV is defined as a controllable, manageable, securely transmitted wired or wireless IP network with QoS certification, providing multimedia services including video, audio (including voice), text, graphics, and data. Receiving terminals include televisions, tablets, mobile phones, mobile TVs, and other similar terminals. In my country, IPTV is defined as a multimedia service based on a wired IP network with secure, manageable, and QoS-compliant transmission, with the terminal being a television.

[0003] Currently, when using a gateway device to access IPTV services provided by an ISP, it is necessary to manually configure the IPTV uplink and downlink ports through the gateway device's management page. ISP stands for Internet Service Provider.

[0004] Users typically don't use the gateway device's management page for configuration. This usually requires the gateway provider to send personnel to the customer's site for on-site configuration, which is inconvenient for users and significantly increases labor and time costs for the provider, ultimately reducing product competitiveness. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To address the problems in existing technologies, this invention provides an automatic IPTV service configuration method based on gateway devices. This method enables automatic configuration of IPTV services on gateway devices according to the customer's on-site network environment, significantly reducing the difficulty of on-site network deployment and lowering the network deployment and maintenance costs for enterprises. It solves the problems in existing technologies where gateway device providers need to dispatch personnel for configuration, which is time-consuming and labor-intensive, and where on-site network deployment is difficult and inconvenient for users.

[0006] The present invention provides an automatic configuration method for IPTV service based on a gateway device, comprising the following steps:

[0007] Step 1: After the gateway device is powered on, it listens to identify whether STB characteristic packets are coming from the downlink port, queries the device type connected to the downlink port, and thus determines whether the device connected to the downlink port is an STB device.

[0008] Step 2: When the gateway device determines that the device connected to the downlink port is an STB device, the gateway device queries the device type connected to the uplink port and listens to identify whether there is DHCP or PPPOE dialing feature information on the uplink port, thereby determining whether there is IPTV service on the uplink port.

[0009] Step 3: When the gateway device determines that IPTV service exists on the uplink port, the gateway device configures both the uplink and downlink ports as IPTV service and makes it effective based on the identification information of the uplink and downlink ports.

[0010] The present invention is further improved by including the following steps in step 1:

[0011] Step 101: After the gateway device is powered on, a task for collecting downlink port device characteristic information is created. This task collects DHCP, HTTP, UDP, and DNS protocol messages transmitted through the downlink port and temporarily stores the MAC address, IP address, and device type information of the devices connected to the downlink port in the device identification table for later lookup.

[0012] Step 102: The gateway device listens and identifies whether the DHCP, HTTP, and UDP protocol messages coming from the downlink port contain the strings "bssid", "devicename", or "port". If so, it means that the device connected to the downlink port is an STB device.

[0013] Step 103: The gateway device listens to identify whether the DNS protocol messages coming into the downlink port contain a resolution request for the domain name "iptvzeor-z" or "itv2-up". If so, it means that the device connected to the downlink port is an STB device.

[0014] Step 104: The gateway device queries the MAC address, IP address and device type information in the device identification table to identify whether there is a device identified as STB connected. If so, it means that the device connected to the downlink port is an STB device.

[0015] The present invention is further improved by including the following steps in step 2:

[0016] Step 201: The gateway device marks the device connected to the uplink port as an unknown device;

[0017] Step 202: Obtain the device type information of the unknown device and identify whether it contains IPTV service identification information;

[0018] Step 203: When the device type information of the unknown device does not contain IPTV service identification information, the gateway device creates an uplink port device feature information identification task to identify whether DHCP or PPPOE dialing feature information is transmitted to the uplink port within a set time period.

[0019] Step 204: When no DHCP or PPPoE dialing information is received on the uplink port within the set time, the gateway device marks the uplink port as having IPTV service.

[0020] In a further improvement to this invention, in step 1, when the gateway device determines that the device connected to the downlink port is not an STB device, the gateway device prompts the user to check the type of the downlink access device.

[0021] In a further improvement to this invention, in step 2, when the gateway device determines that there is no IPTV service on the uplink port, the gateway device prompts the user that there is no IPTV service. Furthermore, the gateway device automatically queries the device type connected to the uplink port and listens to identify whether there is DHCP or PPPoE dialing feature information on the uplink port every set period, and then determines whether there is IPTV service on the uplink port again.

[0022] In a further improvement to this invention, in step 102, when the gateway device detects that the DHCP, HTTP, or UDP protocol messages transmitted through the downlink port do not contain the strings “bssid”, “devicename”, or “port”, the gateway device prompts the user to check the type of the downlink access device.

[0023] In a further improvement to this invention, in step 103, when the gateway device detects that the DNS protocol message does not contain a resolution request for the domain name "iptvzeor-z" or "itv2-up", the gateway device prompts the user to check the type of the downlink access device.

[0024] In a further improvement to this invention, in step 104, the gateway device queries the MAC address, IP address and device type information in the device identification table. If no device identified as STB is connected, the gateway device prompts the user to check the type of the downlink access device.

[0025] In a further improvement to this invention, in step 202, when the device type information of the unknown device contains IPTV service identifier information, the gateway device marks the uplink port as having IPTV service.

[0026] In a further improvement to this invention, in step 203, when DHCP or PPPoE dialing information is received within a set time period on the uplink port, the gateway device prompts that the access is a regular network device and there is no IPTV service. The initial set time is 2 minutes.

[0027] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows: The automatic IPTV service configuration method based on gateway devices provided by this invention can automatically identify and determine whether the device connected to the downlink port is an STB device according to the customer's on-site network environment, and automatically identify and determine whether IPTV service exists on the uplink port. Based on the identification information of the uplink and downlink ports, the method automatically configures both the uplink and downlink ports as IPTV services and makes them effective. This realizes automatic configuration of IPTV services on gateway devices, significantly reduces the difficulty of on-site network deployment, reduces enterprise network deployment and maintenance costs, saves manpower, material resources and time, enhances product competitiveness, and solves the problems of existing technologies that require gateway device providers to send personnel for configuration, which is time-consuming and laborious, and that on-site network deployment is difficult and troublesome for users. Attached Figure Description

[0028] Figure 1 This is a flowchart illustrating an automatic IPTV service configuration method based on a gateway device according to the present invention.

[0029] Figure 2 This is a flowchart of the method for determining whether the device connected to the downlink port is an STB device according to the present invention;

[0030] Figure 3 This is a flowchart illustrating the method for determining whether an uplink port provides IPTV service according to the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0031] The present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0032] Please see Figure 1-3 The present invention provides an automatic configuration method for IPTV service based on a gateway device, comprising the following steps:

[0033] Step 1: After the gateway device powers on, it listens for STB characteristic packets entering from the downlink port and queries the device type connected to the downlink port to determine if the device is an STB device. When the gateway device determines that the device connected to the downlink port is not an STB device, it prompts the user to check the type of the downlink access device, i.e., prompting the user to check the device type and connect an ATB device. Here, STB device refers to a digital video converter box (SetTopBox), commonly known as a set-top box or set-top box, which is a device that connects a television to an external signal source. In this embodiment, the gateway device refers to a device that some hotels and businesses purchase to extend their local area networks in order to allow more users to access internet and IPTV services. The devices connected to the gateway device may be ordinary network devices such as PCs and mobile phones, or they may be STB / IPTV network devices.

[0034] Step 2: When the gateway device determines that the device connected to the downlink port is an STB device, the gateway device queries the device type connected to the uplink port and listens to identify whether the uplink port has DHCP or PPPoE dialing characteristics to determine whether the uplink port has IPTV service. When the gateway device determines that the uplink port does not have IPTV service, the gateway device prompts the user that there is no IPTV service. The gateway device automatically queries the device type connected to the uplink port and listens to identify whether the uplink port has DHCP or PPPoE dialing characteristics every set period to determine whether the uplink port has IPTV service again. In this embodiment, this step of the gateway device mainly determines whether the uplink port is a regular network device or connected to the ISP's IPTV service. The main principle of identification is: if the uplink port has DHCP or PPPoE dialing characteristics, it means that a regular network device is connected; otherwise, it means that the ISP's IPTV service is connected. Although the actual network device deployment site does not only have regular network devices or IPTV, in the network device deployment site where IPTV needs to be deployed, there are usually only regular network devices or IPTV, and others are ignored. Therefore, in this embodiment, this method is used to determine whether IPTV service exists.

[0035] Step 3: When the gateway device determines that IPTV service exists on the uplink port, it configures both the uplink and downlink ports as IPTV services and makes it effective based on the identification information of the uplink and downlink ports. This realizes automatic configuration of IPTV service on the gateway device, which greatly reduces the difficulty of network equipment deployment on site, reduces the network deployment and maintenance costs of enterprises, and saves manpower, material resources and time.

[0036] Please see Figure 1 and 2 Step 1 also includes the following steps:

[0037] Step 101: After the gateway device is powered on, a task for identifying device characteristics of the downlink port is created. This task collects DHCP, HTTP, UDP, and DNS protocol messages transmitted through the downlink port and temporarily stores the MAC address, IP address, and device type information of the devices connected to the downlink port in the device identification table for later lookup. DHCP, HTTP, UDP, and DNS are all network protocols.

[0038] Step 102: The gateway device listens to and identifies whether the DHCP, HTTP, and UDP protocol messages coming from the downlink port contain the strings "bssid", "devicename", or "port". If they do, it means that the device connected to the downlink port is an STB device. When the gateway device listens to and identifies that the DHCP, HTTP, and UDP protocol messages coming from the downlink port do not contain the strings "bssid", "devicename", or "port", the gateway device prompts the user to check the type of the downlink access device.

[0039] Step 103: The gateway device listens to identify whether the DNS protocol messages coming into the downlink port contain a resolution request for the domain name "iptvzeor-z" or "itv2-up". If so, it indicates that the device connected to the downlink port is an STB device. When the gateway device listens to identify that the DNS protocol messages do not contain a resolution request for the domain name "iptvzeor-z" or "itv2-up", the gateway device prompts the user to check the type of the downlink access device.

[0040] Step 104: The gateway device queries the MAC address, IP address, and device type information in the device identification table to identify if any device marked as STB is connected. If so, it indicates that the device connected to the downlink port is an STB device. When the gateway device queries the MAC address, IP address, and device type information in the device identification table and finds no device marked as STB connected, the gateway device prompts the user to check the type of the downlink access device. The MAC (Media Access Control or Medium Access Control) address, also known as the physical address or hardware address, is used to define the location of a network device. In the OSI model, the third layer (network layer) is responsible for IP addresses, while the second layer (data link layer) is responsible for MAC addresses. Therefore, a host will have one MAC address, and each network location will have its own unique IP address. The MAC address is determined by the network card and is fixed. It may contain device-related information, so in this embodiment, it can also be used to identify the device type. Internet Protocol Address (IP Address) is a unified address format provided by the IP protocol. It assigns a logical address to every network and every host on the Internet to mask the differences in physical addresses. Since it may contain device-related information, it can also be used to identify device types in this embodiment.

[0041] Please see Figure 1 and 3 Step 2 also includes the following steps:

[0042] Step 201: The gateway device marks the device connected to the uplink port as an unknown device.

[0043] Step 202: Obtain the device type information of the unknown device and identify whether it contains IPTV service identification information; when the device type information of the unknown device contains IPTV service identification information, the gateway device marks the uplink port as having IPTV service.

[0044] Step 203: When the device type information of the unknown device does not contain IPTV service identifier information, the gateway device creates an uplink port device feature information identification task to identify whether DHCP or PPPoE dialing feature information is transmitted to the uplink port within a set time period. In step 203, when DHCP or PPPoE dialing feature information is transmitted to the uplink port within the set time period, the gateway device prompts that the connected device is a regular network device and that IPTV service is not available. The initial set time is 2 minutes. In this embodiment, PPPoE and DHCP are both internet connection dialing methods, ultimately aiming to obtain an IP address for internet access. Once this IP address is obtained, the internet access experience is exactly the same.

[0045] Step 204: When no DHCP or PPPoE dialing information is received on the uplink port within the set time, the gateway device marks the uplink port as having IPTV service.

[0046] As can be seen from the above, the beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows: The automatic configuration method for IPTV service based on gateway devices provided by the present invention can automatically identify and determine whether the device connected to the downlink port is an STB device according to the customer's on-site network environment, automatically identify and determine whether IPTV service exists on the uplink port, and automatically configure both the uplink and downlink ports as IPTV services and make them effective based on the identification information of the uplink and downlink ports. This realizes the automatic configuration of IPTV service on gateway devices, which greatly reduces the difficulty of on-site network deployment, reduces the cost of enterprise network deployment and maintenance, saves manpower, material resources and time, enhances the competitiveness of products, and solves the problems of the prior art that require gateway device providers to send personnel to configure, which is time-consuming and laborious, and that on-site network deployment is difficult and troublesome for users.

[0047] The specific embodiments described above are preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the specific scope of the present invention. The scope of the present invention includes, but is not limited to, these specific embodiments. All equivalent changes made in accordance with the present invention are within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for automatic configuration of IPTV service based on a gateway device, characterized in that, Includes the following steps, Step 1: After the gateway device is powered on, it listens to identify whether STB characteristic packets are coming from the downlink port, queries the device type connected to the downlink port, and thus determines whether the device connected to the downlink port is an STB device. Step 2: When the gateway device determines that the device connected to the downlink port is an STB device, the gateway device queries the device type connected to the uplink port and listens to identify whether there is DHCP or PPPOE dialing feature information on the uplink port, thereby determining whether there is IPTV service on the uplink port. Step 3: When the gateway device determines that IPTV service exists on the uplink port, the gateway device configures both the uplink and downlink ports as IPTV service and makes it effective based on the identification information of the uplink and downlink ports; Step 1 further includes the following steps: Step 101: After the gateway device is powered on, a task for collecting downlink port device characteristic information is created. This task collects DHCP, HTTP, UDP, and DNS protocol messages transmitted through the downlink port and temporarily stores the MAC address, IP address, and device type information of the devices connected to the downlink port in the device identification table for later lookup. Step 102: The gateway device listens and identifies whether the DHCP, HTTP, and UDP protocol messages coming from the downlink port contain the strings "bssid", "devicename", or "port". If so, it indicates that the device connected to the downlink port is an STB device. Step 103: The gateway device listens and identifies whether the DNS protocol messages coming into the downlink port contain a resolution request for the domain name "iptvzeor-z" or "itv2-up". If so, it means that the device connected to the downlink port is an STB device. Step 104: The gateway device queries the MAC address, IP address and device type information in the device identification table to identify whether there is a device identified as STB connected. If so, it means that the device connected to the downlink port is an STB device.

2. The automatic configuration method for IPTV service based on a gateway device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, Step 2 also includes the following steps: Step 201: The gateway device marks the device connected to the uplink port as an unknown device; Step 202: Obtain the device type information of the unknown device and identify whether it contains IPTV service identification information; Step 203: When the device type information of the unknown device does not contain IPTV service identification information, the gateway device creates an uplink port device feature information identification task to identify whether DHCP or PPPOE dialing feature information is transmitted to the uplink port within a set time period. Step 204: When no DHCP or PPPoE dialing information is received on the uplink port within the set time, the gateway device marks the uplink port as having IPTV service.

3. The automatic configuration method for IPTV service based on a gateway device as described in claim 2, characterized in that: In step 1, when the gateway device determines that the device connected to the downlink port is not an STB device, the gateway device prompts the user to check the type of the downlink access device.

4. The automatic configuration method for IPTV service based on a gateway device as described in claim 3, characterized in that: In step 2, when the gateway device determines that there is no IPTV service on the uplink port, the gateway device prompts the user that there is no IPTV service. The gateway device automatically queries the device type connected to the uplink port and listens to identify whether there is DHCP or PPPOE dialing feature information on the uplink port every set period, and then determines whether there is IPTV service on the uplink port again.

5. The automatic configuration method for IPTV service based on a gateway device as described in claim 4, characterized in that: In step 102, when the gateway device detects that the DHCP, HTTP, or UDP protocol messages passed to the downlink port do not contain the strings "bssid", "devicename", or "port", the gateway device prompts the user to check the type of the downlink access device.

6. The automatic configuration method for IPTV service based on a gateway device as described in claim 5, characterized in that: In step 103, when the gateway device detects that the DNS protocol message does not contain a resolution request for the domain name "iptvzeor-z" or "itv2-up", the gateway device prompts the user to check the type of the downlink access device.

7. The automatic configuration method for IPTV service based on a gateway device as described in claim 6, characterized in that: In step 104, the gateway device queries the MAC address, IP address and device type information in the device identification table. If no device identified as STB is connected, the gateway device prompts the user to check the type of the downlink access device.

8. The automatic configuration method for IPTV service based on a gateway device as described in claim 7, characterized in that: In step 202, when the device type information of the unknown device contains IPTV service identifier information, the gateway device marks the uplink port as having IPTV service.

9. The automatic configuration method for IPTV service based on a gateway device as described in claim 8, characterized in that: In step 203, when DHCP or PPPoE dialing information is received on the uplink port within a set time, the gateway device prompts that the connected device is a regular network device and there is no IPTV service. The initial set time is 2 minutes.

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