Multicast Service Message Management in IP Broadcasting
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing broadcasting methods for multimedia programs over broadband networks, such as IP networks, inefficiently transmit service messages by duplicating them across multiple multiplexed contents, leading to increased bandwidth usage, as each terminal can only receive and demultiplex one content at a time.
Innovation Solution
A method where network headends broadcast a reference multicast address containing a list of service operator identifiers and associated service multicast addresses, allowing terminals to selectively listen to relevant service messages, thereby reducing bandwidth usage and enabling efficient management of information transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If service messages are incorporated into each multiplexed content and broadcast in parallel, then each terminal can receive service messages for the multiplexed content it is demultiplexing, but the number of broadcast copies of the same service message increases, leading to increased bandwidth usage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a reference multicast address as an intermediary channel that carries service messages separately from the multiplexed content. Instead of embedding service messages in each multiplexed content stream, a single copy is broadcast on the reference multicast address, and terminals can selectively receive it. This mediator approach eliminates redundant transmissions while ensuring reliable delivery to all interested terminals.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the service message transmission from the multiplexed content transmission. Service messages are transmitted on a separate reference multicast address, while multiplexed content is transmitted on operator-specific multicast addresses. This segmentation allows terminals to independently manage reception of service messages and content, reducing overall bandwidth consumption by avoiding duplicate service message copies in each content stream.
2Productivity
If a terminal receives and demultiplexes only one multimedia content at a time, then the terminal can process content efficiently, but it cannot receive service messages from multiple operators simultaneously through a single reception channel
Solution Approach 1:
The reference multicast address serves as a universal reception channel that all terminals can access simultaneously, regardless of which multiplexed content they are currently demultiplexing. This universal channel enables terminals to receive service messages from multiple operators without compromising their ability to efficiently process single content streams, thus providing multi-functionality in message reception while maintaining content processing productivity.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~5
AI summary
The invention concerns a method for broadcasting a plurality of multimedia programmes generated by operators of different services, whereby one or more network headends broadcast (in 102) on a reference multicast address a list associating identifiers of service operators with at least one first level service multicast address, the reference multicast address being previously known to all the terminals capable of receiving and multiplexing broadcast multiplexed contents and said reference multicast address being different from all the broadcasting multicast addresses.