Network Access Device for Broadcast Data Stream Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

The implementation of TV Broadcast services in IP networks requires significant updates and control of network equipment, leading to increased load and potential unauthorized access to unauthorized data streams, which complicates resource management and security.

Innovation Solution

A method and device for controlling access to broadcast data streams in a communication network, where a network access device obtains and verifies authorized data flows, rejecting unauthorized access requests, thereby delegating access control and reducing the need for equipment upgrades and minimizing network load.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If RACS subsystem and filtering equipment are implemented to control access to broadcast streams, then access control capability is improved, but device complexity and network upgrade cost increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccess control capabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a gateway as an intermediary component between the user terminal and the broadcast stream. The gateway receives the authorized stream list from the service platform and uses it to filter IGMP join requests from terminals. This intermediary approach enables access control without requiring complex RACS subsystems or filtering equipment in the core network, thus improving access control capability while avoiding significant device complexity increases.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If RACS subsystem and filtering equipment are implemented to control access to broadcast streams, then access control capability is improved, but network upgrade cost and implementation impact increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccess control capabilityVSAvoidnetwork upgrade cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The gateway acts as a cost-effective intermediary that implements access control using existing network infrastructure. Instead of deploying expensive RACS subsystems and filtering equipment throughout the network, the solution concentrates the control function in the gateway, which can be implemented with minimal hardware changes. The gateway leverages standard IGMP protocols and existing stream delivery mechanisms, avoiding costly network-wide upgrades.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses the authorized stream list received from the service platform as a reference copy to control terminal access requests. The gateway maintains this authorized list and compares incoming IGMP join requests against it, allowing terminals to access only streams they are authorized for. This copying approach enables access control through simple list matching rather than complex real-time authentication, reducing implementation costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Measurement precision

If filtering equipment is configured with multicast filtering rules, then access control precision is improved, but device complexity and configuration complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccess control precisionVSAvoidconfiguration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the access control logic from complex filtering equipment and concentrates it in the gateway. The gateway extracts the authorized stream list from service platform messages and uses it to make access decisions. This extraction simplifies the overall system by removing the need for distributed filtering rules across multiple devices, reducing configuration complexity while maintaining precise access control through centralized list management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP2556646B1Method of accessing a broadcast data flow
Publication Date: 2016.12.21 ORANGE SA
  • EP2556646B1 patent drawingFigure 1~5
  • EP2556646B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2556646B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The invention relates to a method of access and more precisely of control of access by a user (20, 22) to a data stream broadcast in a communication network. The method comprises the following steps implemented by an access device (10) by way of which the user accesses the network: obtaining of a set of authorized data streams on the basis of a message relating to an application session between the user and a service platform (34); reception of a request for access from the user to said data stream; verification that the stream does not belong to the set of authorized data streams which was obtained for said user; rejection of the access request.