Internet protocol (IP) multimedia subsystem (IMS) based peer-to-peer (P2P) content distribution

1. A method for providing peer-to-peer (P2P) content distribution via a P2P applications server, comprising:

receiving, at the P2P applications server, a first session initiation protocol (SIP) invitation with a session description protocol (SDP) offer from a first UE via an Internet protocol (IP) multimedia subsystem (IMS) core network (IM CN) subsystem;

forwarding, from the P2P applications server, the first SIP invitation with the SDP offer to a second UE via the IM CN subsystem;

receiving, at the P2P applications server, a SIP acknowledgement with an SDP from the second UE via the IM CN subsystem;

forwarding, from the P2P applications server, the SIP acknowledgement with the SDP to the first UE via the IM CN subsystem;

verifying, at the P2P applications server, a P2P service subscription for the first UE and user rights to IMS-based P2P content requested by the first UE; and

managing, at the P2P applications server, an IMS-based P2P content distribution session between the first UE and the second UE that enables a communication of requested IMS-based P2P content from the second UE to the first UE after verifying the P2P service subscription and the user rights of the first UE, wherein the IMS-based P2P content distribution session includes a transcoding, a repackaging and a segmentation of the requested IMS-based P2P content at the P2P applications server, and wherein the managing comprises:

receiving, at the P2P applications server, a media presentation description (MPD) metadata file from the second UE;

forwarding, from the P2P applications server, the MPD metadata file to the first UE; and

receiving, at the P2P applications server, an updated SIP invitation from the first UE, wherein the updated SIP invitation includes a parameter specified by the MPD metadata file from the second UE, and wherein the updated SIP invitation is an updated version of the first SIP invitation.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

managing hypertext transfer protocol-based (HTTP-based) download delivery between the first UE and the second UE;

managing dynamic adaptive streaming over HTTP (DASH) stream between the first UE and the second UE; or

managing file delivery over unidirectional transport-based (FLUTE-based) Internet protocol (IP) multicast from a sending UE to multiple receiving UEs.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein:

the HTTP-based download delivery includes a third generation partnership project (3GPP) file format (3GP) file;

the DASH stream includes a media presentation description (MPD) metadata file or DASH-formatted content with different representations; and

the FLUTE-based IP multicasting includes asynchronous layered coding (ALC), a layered coding transport (LCT) building block, or a user service description (USD) file.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

dynamic adaptive streaming over hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) formatting (DASH-formatting) the P2P content; or

file delivery over unidirectional transport-based (FLUTE-based) delivering of the P2P content.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

hosting an SIP back-to-back user agent (B2BUA);

establishing a P2P content delivery session between the two UEs via the SIP B2BUA;

negotiating a P2P session parameter between the two UEs via the SIP B2BUA; managing the P2P content delivery session via a session description protocol (SDP); or

generating new metadata for P2P content delivery via modifications of a media presentation description (MPD) metadata file or a user service description (USD) file.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

hosting P2P content distribution services;

performing service authorization and peer selection during a P2P session initiation and a P2P session modification; and

allowing or denying access to a P2P service.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

forwarding content metadata from the first UE to the second UE, wherein the content metadata includes a media presentation description (MPD) metadata file for dynamic adaptive streaming over hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) (DASH) or a user service description (USD) file for a multimedia broadcast multicast services (MBMS); and

controlling a P2P session via an SIP-based control mechanism.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the P2P applications server is included in a service control function (SCF).

9. At least one non-transitory machine readable storage medium comprising a plurality of instructions adapted to be executed to implement the method of claim 1 .

10. A service control function (SCF) module operable for peer-to-peer (P2P) content distribution, having computer circuitry configured to:

host a P2P applications server operable to:

manage Internet protocol (IP) multimedia subsystem (IMS) content distribution between two user equipments (UEs) that includes a first UE and a second UE;

verify a P2P service subscription for the first UE and user rights to IMS-based P2P content requested by the first UE; and

initiate an IMS-based P2P content distribution session between the first UE and the second UE that enables a communication of requested IMS-based P2P content from the second UE to the first UE after the P2P service subscription and the user rights of the first UE are verified, wherein the IMS-based P2P content distribution session includes a transcoding, a repackaging and a segmentation of the requested IMS-based P2P content at the P2P applications server included in the SCF module, wherein the P2P applications server is further operable to receive a media presentation description (MPD) metadata file from the second UE, forward the MPD metadata file to the first UE, and receive an updated session initiation protocol (SIP) invitation from the first UE, wherein the updated SIP invitation includes a parameter specified by the MPD metadata file from the second UE, and wherein the updated SIP invitation is an updated version of an original SIP invitation of the first UE.

11. The computer circuitry of claim 10 , wherein the computer circuitry configured to host the P2P applications server is further configured to:

manage hypertext transfer protocol-based (HTTP-based) download delivery between two UEs;

manage dynamic adaptive streaming over HTTP (DASH) stream between two UEs; or

manage file delivery over unidirectional transport-based (FLUTE-based) Internet protocol (IP) multicast from a sending UE to multiple receiving UEs.

12. The computer circuitry of claim 11 , wherein:

the HTTP-based download delivery includes a third generation partnership project (3GPP) file format (3GP) file;

the DASH stream includes the MPD metadata file or DASH-formatted content with different representations; and

the FLUTE-based IP multicasting includes asynchronous layered coding (ALC), a layered coding transport (LCT) building block, or a user service description (USD) file.

13. The computer circuitry of claim 10 , wherein the computer circuitry configured to host the P2P applications server is further configured to:

provide dynamic adaptive streaming over hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) format (DASH-format) the P2P content; or

provide file delivery over unidirectional transport-based (FLUTE-based) delivery of the P2P content.

14. The computer circuitry of claim 10 , wherein the computer circuitry configured to host the P2P applications server is further configured to:

host a session initiation protocol (SIP) back-to-back user agent (B2BUA);

establish a P2P content delivery session between the two UEs via the SIP B2BUA;

negotiate a P2P session parameter between the two UEs via the SIP B2BUA;

manage the P2P content delivery session via a session description protocol (SDP);

or

generate new metadata for P2P content delivery via modifications of the MPD metadata file or a user service description (USD) file.

15. The computer circuitry of claim 10 , wherein the computer circuitry configured to host the P2P applications server is further configured to:

host P2P content distribution services; or

perform service authorization and peer selection during a P2P session initiation and a P2P session modification.

16. The computer circuitry of claim 10 , wherein the computer circuitry configured to host the P2P applications server is further configured to:

share content metadata between the two UEs, wherein the content metadata includes the MPD metadata file for dynamic adaptive streaming over hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) (DASH) or a user service description (USD) file for a multimedia broadcast multicast services (MBMS); and

control a P2P session between the two UEs via a session initiation protocol-based (SIP-based) control mechanism.

17. A user equipment (UE) for peer-to-peer (P2P) content distribution, comprising:

a processor to:

host a session initiation protocol (SIP) client and a hypertext transfer protocol/SIP (HTTP/SIP) adapter for Internet protocol (IP) multimedia subsystem-based (IMS-based) P2P streaming or content metadata sharing with a second UE via a P2P applications server in a service control function (SCF); or

host a session initiation protocol (SIP) client and a multimedia broadcast multicast services (MBMS) client for IMS-based P2P multicast streaming with the second UE via the P2P applications server in the SCF,

wherein an IMS-based P2P content distribution session is initiated by the P2P applications server between the UE and the second UE that enables a communication of requested IMS-based P2P content from the second UE to the UE after a P2P service subscription and user rights of the UE are verified, and the requested IMS-based P2P content is transcoded, repackaged and segmented at the P2P applications server during the IMS-based P2P content distribution session, and

wherein the UE is further operable to receive a media presentation description (MPD) metadata file from the second UE via the P2P applications server and transmit an updated SIP invitation to the P2P applications server, wherein the updated SIP invitation includes a parameter specified by the MPD metadata file from the second UE, and wherein the updated SIP invitation is an updated version of an original SIP invitation of the UE; and

a transceiver to:

receive P2P content delivery session parameters from the P2P applications server in the SCF.

18. The UE of claim 17 , wherein for IMS-based P2P streaming or content metadata sharing:

the processor is further configured to:

host an HTTP client; and

establish a SIP session; and

a transceiver to:

receive the MPD metadata file from the second UE; and

receive DASH-formatted contents from the second UE via a session description protocol (SDP) based on the MPD metadata file, wherein the DASH-formatted contents are controlled via the P2P applications server.

19. The UE of claim 17 , wherein for IMS-based P2P multicast streaming:

the processor is further configured to: establish a SIP session; and

a transceiver is configured to:

receive a user service description (USD) file and associated data contents in a P2P multicast stream from the second UE, wherein the P2P multicast stream is controlled via the P2P applications server.

20. The UE of claim 17 , for IMS-based P2P multicast streaming:

the processor is further configured to:

host a broadcast multicast service center user plane sub-function (BMSC.UPF) or a file delivery over unidirectional transport (FLUTE) server; and

establish a SIP session; and

a transceiver to:

upload a user service description (USD) file and associated data contents in a P2P multicast stream to the second UE, wherein the P2P multicast stream is controlled via the P2P applications server.

21. The UE of claim 17 , further comprising:

a transceiver to:

receive a hypertext transfer protocol-based (HTTP-based) download from the second UE;

receive a dynamic adaptive streaming over HTTP (DASH) stream from the second UE;

receive a file over unidirectional transport-based (FLUTE-based) Internet protocol (IP) multicast from a sending UE;

transmit a HTTP-based upload to the second UE;

upload a DASH stream to the second UE; or

deliver a FLUTE-based IP multicast to multiple receiving UEs.

22. The UE of claim 21 , wherein:

the HTTP-based download delivery includes a third generation partnership project (3GPP) file format (3GP) file;

the DASH stream includes the MPD metadata file or DASH-formatted content with different representations; and

the FLUTE-based IP multicasting includes asynchronous layered coding (ALC), a layered coding transport (LCT) building block, or a user service description (USD) file.

23. The UE of claim 17 , wherein:

the processor is further configured to:

capture user-generated contents (UGC); and

encode the UGC in a dynamic adaptive streaming over hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) (DASH) format or in a multimedia broadcast multicast services (MBMS) format; and

a transceiver to:

upload the UGC to the second UE via a P2P applications server in a service control function (SCF).

24. The UE of claim 17 , wherein the UE includes an antenna, a camera, a touch sensitive display screen, a speaker, a microphone, a graphics processor, an application processor, internal memory, or a non-volatile memory port.