IMS-enabled control channel for IPTV
View Patent ↗An IMS-enabled control channel for an IPTV service is provided by receiving at a Serving Call/State Control Function (S-CSCF) a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) REGISTER message, the SIP REGISTER message identifying the originating user, receiving at the originating user a response from the S-CSCF indicating that the originating user has been authorized, and sending a SIP INVITE message from the S-CSCF to establish an open channel connection with a selected IPTV Application Server (AS). This open channel connection can then be used for the transmission of control messages, such as for starting play, starting recording, stopping play, etc., between the STB and the IPTV applications server, as well as for the delivery of personalized content, such as advertisements, voting responses, personalized voting triggers and targeted interactive events. By maintaining an open control channel with the IPTV AS, this offers a substantial reduction in the setup delay times for different applications.
1. A method of providing an IMS-enabled control channel for an IPTV service, the method comprising:
receiving at a Serving Call/State Control Function (S-CSCF) a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) REGISTER message, the SIP REGISTER message identifying an originating user;
receiving at a SIP terminal of the originating user a response from the S-CSCF indicating that the originating user has been authorized;
sending a SIP INVITE message from the S-CSCF to establish an open persistent control channel between the SIP terminal of the originating user and a selected IPTV Application Server (AS); and
sending and/or receiving control or information messages by the SIP terminal of the originating user by way of the open persistent control channel,
wherein the SIP REGISTER message is sent in response to receipt of a power-on message from a media transmitter/receiver (MTRX) including an IP address of the MTRX.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the open persistent control channel is set up using standard IMS procedures.
3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the control or information messages include IMS messages to the IPTV AS.
4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the control or information messages include personalized content, relating to any one or more of an advertisement, a voting response, a personalized voting trigger and a targeted interactive event.
5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the SIP REGISTER message is received from an identity and IMS module (IMOD) and includes an IP address of the IMOD.
6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the SIP REGISTER message is received by a Proxy Call/State Control Function (P-CSCF) that forwards the SIP REGISTER message to an Interrogating Call/State Control Function (I-CSCF) for directing the SIP REGISTER message towards a selected S-CSCF.
7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the S-CSCF returns an authentication message in response to receipt of the SIP REGISTER message.
8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the S-CSCF receives a SIP REGISTER message including a challenge response in response to sending of an authentication message.
9. The method according to claim 8 , wherein the S-CSCF performs a verification check on the challenge response and sends a connection enabling message in the event of positive verification.
10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein a secure connection established is a TLS/TCP connection or a MSRP/TLS/TCP connection.
11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein a fetch user data subsequence is initiated by the IPTV AS on receipt of the SIP invite message.
12. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the open persistent control channel is an always on control channel for transmitting control and information messages between the SIP terminal of the originating user and the selected IPTV AS.
13. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the open persistent control channel is an always on control channel remains open for a duration of a session between the SIP terminal of the originating user and the selected IPTV AS.
14. An IMS-enabled control system for an IPTV service, comprising:
means for receiving at a Serving Call/State Control Function (S-CSCF) a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) REGISTER message, the SIP REGISTER message identifying the originating user;
means for receiving at the originating user a response from the S-CSCF indicating that the originating user has been authorized;
means for sending a SIP INVITE message from the S-CSCF to establish a open persistent control channel between the originating user and a selected IPTV Application Server (AS); and
means for sending and/or receiving control or information messages by way of the open persistent control channel,
wherein the SIP REGISTER message is sent in response to receipt of a power-on message from a media transmitter/receiver (MTRX) including an IP address of the MTRX.
15. The system according to claim 14 , wherein the open persistent control channel is an always on control channel for transmitting control and information messages between the SIP terminal of the originating user and the selected IPTV AS.
16. The system according to claim 14 , wherein the open persistent control channel is an always on control channel remains open for a duration of a session between the SIP terminal of the originating user and the selected IPTV AS.
17. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising non-transitory code adapted to be executed in an IMS-enabled control system, the computer code adapted to implement a method for providing an IMS-enabled control channel for an IPTV service, the method comprising:
receiving at a Serving Call/State Control Function (S-CSCF) a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) REGISTER message, the SIP REGISTER message identifying an originating user;
receiving at a SIP terminal of the originating user a response from the S-CSCF indicating that the originating user has been authorized;
sending a SIP INVITE message from the S-CSCF,
wherein the computer code is adapted to establish an open persistent control channel between the SIP terminal of the originating user and a selected IPTV Application Server (AS) and adapted to send and/or receive control or information messages by way of the open persistent control channel, and
wherein the SIP REGISTER message is sent in response to receipt of a power-on message from a media transmitter/receiver (MTRX) including an IP address of the MTRX.
18. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 17 , wherein the open persistent control channel is an always on control channel for transmitting control and information messages between the SIP terminal of the originating user and the selected IPTV AS.
19. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 17 , wherein the open persistent control channel is an always on control channel remains open for a duration of a session between the SIP terminal of the originating user and the selected IPTV AS.