IMS Streaming Service Switching via Pre-reserved Media Channels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies fail to provide fast switching capabilities for streaming services within the IMS architecture, impacting user experience and network efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that utilize the fast switching capability of real-time streams in the IMS architecture by employing a media server with a Packet Switched Streaming service (PSS) server and adaptor, which sends switched media content over a before-switching media channel, adjusting media channels according to new requirements and performing rights checking to enable seamless content switching.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If resource reservation is performed in IMS session to provide reliable transmission quality, then transmission reliability is improved, but switching time increases due to the long reservation process
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by establishing resource reservations in advance during the initial IMS session setup. The media channel is prepared and resources are reserved before the actual content switching is needed, allowing fast switching without performing resource reservation during the switching event itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the resource reservation process from the content switching operation. By separating these two functions, the resource reservation is performed independently in advance, while content switching can occur rapidly using the pre-reserved resources without being blocked by the reservation process.
2Extent of automation
If a new RTSP session is established to switch content in IMS architecture, then service control is improved, but switching speed deteriorates due to repeated session setup
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by establishing the RTSP session and media channel in advance during initial content access. The session is set up before switching is needed, with all necessary parameters and resource allocations predetermined, enabling rapid content switching without repeated session establishment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the initially established RTSP session and media channel universal for multiple content switches. The same media channel infrastructure is reused across different content switching operations, eliminating the need to create new sessions for each content change while maintaining automated service control.
3Speed
If fast switching capability is implemented in PSS technology, then switching speed is improved, but integration complexity increases when combining with IMS architecture
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces the P-CSCF as an intermediary that bridges the PSS fast switching capability and the IMS architecture. The P-CSCF handles the coordination between RTSP-based fast switching and SIP-based IMS session control, simplifying the integration complexity by providing a dedicated interface layer.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the switching function into independent components: the PSS layer handles fast content switching using RTSP, while the IMS layer handles service control using SIP. This segmentation allows each layer to operate independently with its optimized switching mechanism, reducing integration complexity through clear functional separation.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method, a system, and an apparatus for switching a streaming service are disclosed herein. The method for switching a streaming service is applied in IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) architecture and includes: receiving a switching request that carries an identifier of requested media; and using a before-switching media channel to send switched media content to User Equipment (UE). The streaming service switching method disclosed herein uses the fast switching capability of the real-time streams in the IMS architecture to switch the streaming service, and uses the before-switching media channel to transmit the switched media content in the IMS architecture, thus improving the switching speed, the user experience, and the network capability of controlling the switching.