Communication Management System for IP-TV Channel Switching Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current IP-TV systems face challenges in minimizing channel switching times due to the complex process of terminating and establishing communication relationships, leading to bandwidth inefficiencies and prolonged switching times, especially when subscribers switch between multiple data streams.
Innovation Solution
A method that records request information to quickly terminate or maintain established communication relationships by determining if the time span between requests is below a specified limit, allowing for immediate release of unnecessary data streams and efficient bandwidth allocation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If traditional IGMP protocols are used to manage multicast groups, then group management functionality is provided, but channel switching time is prolonged due to complex termination and establishment processes
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-establishing communication relationships for multiple channels before they are actually needed. When a channel switch request occurs, the desired communication relationship is already prepared and can be activated immediately, eliminating the need for time-consuming establishment processes during switching.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the communication relationship management from the traditional IGMP protocol sequence and implements it as a separate, parallel mechanism. The network device independently manages communication relationships without waiting for IGMP group membership changes, thereby decoupling the switching time from protocol processing time.
2Loss of time
If communication relationships are maintained for multiple channels, then channel switching becomes faster, but bandwidth is wasted on inactive channels
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the state of communication relationships based on real-time channel switching requests. Communication relationships are established in advance but kept in a low-resource state until actually needed, then activated immediately when requested, and terminated promptly after use. This dynamic state management allows fast switching while minimizing bandwidth consumption during idle periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the parameter of communication relationship state from binary (established/terminated) to multi-state (pre-established, active, inactive). By introducing intermediate states where communication relationships can be prepared without full resource allocation, the system achieves fast switching capability while optimizing bandwidth utilization through selective activation.
3Speed
If traditional channel switching processes are used, then protocol compatibility is maintained, but switching speed is reduced due to sequential processing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The network device acts as an intermediary that sits between the user equipment and the core network. It implements a local optimization mechanism that accelerates channel switching by pre-managing communication relationships, while still maintaining compatibility with standard IGMP protocols for core network communication. This intermediary layer allows protocol compatibility to be preserved while enabling faster switching through local optimizations.
Data Source
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Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a method and a system for establishing communication relations (stream1, stream2, stream3) via a communication medium, att least one communication relation (stream1, stream2) being established via said communication medium. According to the invention, information on queries for establishing one respective communication relation (stream1, stream2, stream3) is recorded, and, depending on the recorded information, at least one of the already established communication relations (stream1, stream2) is terminated or maintained. The information recorded can be e.g. the query times (ti), the interval lapsed between two queries being used to infer the type of communication relation (stream1, stream2, stream3). According to the invention it is for example possible for short intervals to infer queries for IP-TV data streams and previously established communication relations (stream1, stream2) are directly terminated in order to save bandwidth.