RTSP-ISA Protocol Converter for VOD Server IP Compatibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing VOD servers used by the cable industry primarily support ISA protocols and QAM-based video delivery, making them incompatible with IP-based devices that rely on RTSP signaling, leading to the inability to interact with IP devices and requiring duplication of resources for IP-based content delivery.
Innovation Solution
A protocol converter, specifically an RTSP-ISA Proxy, and a video redirector module are used to enable conventional non-IP based VOD servers to supply content to IP-based devices by converting between RTSP and ISA protocols, allowing existing VOD equipment to support on-demand content services for IP clients and bridge non-IP and IP-based systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If VOD servers use ISA protocols and QAM-based video delivery, then cable industry compatibility is maintained, but compatibility with IP-based devices is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a protocol converter as an intermediary device that sits between the VOD server and IP-based devices. This converter translates ISA protocols to RTSP protocols, enabling communication between systems that would otherwise be incompatible. The intermediary handles protocol translation without requiring changes to the existing VOD server infrastructure, thus maintaining backward compatibility while enabling forward compatibility with IP-based devices.
2Productivity
If existing VOD servers support only ISA protocols, then cable system integration is simplified, but resource duplication is required for IP-based content delivery
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the existing VOD server system universal by adding protocol conversion capability. The same VOD server can now serve both traditional cable devices (via ISA protocols) and IP-based devices (via RTSP protocols) through the protocol converter. This eliminates the need for separate IP-based content delivery infrastructure, allowing existing resources to be utilized efficiently for multiple types of devices.
3Ease of operation
If VOD servers are designed for conventional CPE devices, then cable industry standards compliance is achieved, but interaction with IP devices is prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The protocol converter acts as a reliable intermediary that ensures accurate translation between ISA and RTSP protocols. It maintains the integrity of control commands and data streams during protocol conversion, ensuring that operations on IP-based devices are reliably executed by the VOD server. The converter handles protocol-specific nuances and edge cases to maintain operational reliability across different protocol domains.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatus for supporting on-demand content services, using conventional non-IP based VOD servers are described. The methods and apparatus of the present invention, through the use of a protocol converter and/or a content redirector, can be used to enable a conventional VOD server to supply content to a customer premise equipment (CPE) device which supports IP based content delivery and/or RSTP control of content delivery. The protocol converter of the invention can be implemented as an RTSP-ISA PROXY. The RTSP Proxy converts messages between RTSP (Real-Time Streaming Protocol) to the appropriate ISA protocol signal or another protocol format. The proxy module handles the conversion between these formats and converts a received signal, e.g. message, into the format required by the device which responds by implementing the operation requested by the signal.