IMS Content Sharing Server for IPTV Session Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current communication networks, specifically IMS networks, lack a straightforward method for users to share IPTV sessions, preventing seamless content sharing between users even when both have access to the same network.
Innovation Solution
A Content Sharing Application Server facilitates IPTV content distribution by routing a user's request to share an ongoing IPTV session, providing a SIP URI and authentication token, allowing the second user to join the session via a SIP INVITE message, and authenticating them to share the content.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a user wants to share IPTV content with another user, then content sharing capability is improved, but the system complexity increases due to lack of straightforward sharing method
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a Content Sharing Application Server as an intermediary component within the IMS network. This server mediates between the first user's ITF and the second user's ITF, handling session establishment, authentication token generation, and session management. The intermediary simplifies the sharing process by providing a dedicated service that handles all complexity internally, while users only need to interact with simple sharing interfaces.
2Reliability
If authentication mechanism is implemented for content sharing, then security is improved, but the ease of operation decreases due to additional authentication steps
Solution Approach 1:
The Content Sharing Application Server performs preliminary authentication actions by generating and distributing authentication tokens to authorized users before actual content sharing occurs. The first user receives a token that they can share with the second user, and the server has already verified both users' identities and permissions. This preliminary authentication simplifies the actual sharing operation, as users only need to present the token rather than undergo complex authentication during sharing.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple users join the same IPTV session, then user experience is improved through simultaneous viewing, but network resource consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables multiple users to merge into the same IPTV session by establishing a shared session context through the Content Sharing Application Server. Instead of creating separate content delivery paths for each user, the system combines multiple users into a single authenticated session group, allowing them to view the same content simultaneously while sharing network resources efficiently.
Data Source
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AI summary
A Content Sharing AS facilitates the sharing of IPTV content distribution sessions between users in an IMS network. A first user's request to share an ongoing IPTV session is routed to the Content Sharing AS, with a SIP URI of a second user with whom to share the content, identification of the desired content, and the Mcast address of the IPTV session. The Content Sharing AS joins the IGMP session group and sends the first user a SIP URI for the content and a unique authentication token. The first user sends the content URI and token to the second user, such as via a SMS message. The second user may then send an SIP INVITE message toward the URI, which the IMS system routes to the Content Sharing AS. The second user provides the authentication token, which the Content Sharing AS uses to authenticate the second user, and share the IPTV content.