Media channel management

Abstract

The media session management of the invention encompasses a media server having access to multiple unicast-based media channels and a user terminal. The user terminal generates and transmits a generic, channel-transparent session request to the server. This request initiates a generic, channel-transparent media session setup procedure between the terminal and the server. The setup procedure involves exchange of requests and responses but no media channel is yet selected or notified at the server. Once the channel-transparent setup has been completed, the user terminal transmits a channel-specific rendering request for a desired media channel to the server. In a subsequent channel switch, the terminal simply transmits a new channel-specific request for a new channel to the server during the ongoing session and reusing the negotiated transport parameters of the channel-transparent setup procedure.

1 . A method, in a user terminal, of switching media channel in a unicast-based media session involving a user terminal receiving a first media content of a first media channel from a media server providing said first media channel and a second media channel, said method comprising said user terminal transmitting, to said media server, a content-specific rendering request for a second media content of said second media channel during said ongoing unicast-based media session, wherein said content-specific rendering request comprises a unique media content resource identifier associated with said second media content. 
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said transmitting step comprises said user terminal transmitting, to said media server, said content-specific rendering request comprising a session identifier associated with said ongoing unicast-based media session and assigned during set-up of said unicast-based media session. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising said user terminal receiving media content of said second media channel on same input ports as was used by said user terminal for receiving media content of said first media channel. 
     
     
         4 . A user terminal comprising:
 a channel switch for switching from a first media channel carrying a first media content to a second media channel carrying a second media content during an ongoing unicast-based media session, said channel switch is arranged for generating a content-specific rendering request for said second media channel and comprising a unique media content resource identifier associated with said second media content; and   a transmitter for transmitting said content-specific rendering request to a media server providing said first media channel to said user terminal and having access to said second media channel.   
     
     
         5 . The user terminal according to  claim 4 , wherein said transmitter is configured to transmit, to said media server, said content-specific rendering request comprising a session identifier associated with said ongoing unicast-based media session and assigned during set-up of said unicast-based media session. 
     
     
         6 . The user terminal according to  4 , further comprising a receiver for receiving media content of said second media channel on same input ports as was used by said user terminal for receiving media content of said first media channel. 
     
     
         7 . A media server providing multiple media channels, each media channel carrying a respective media content, said media server comprises:
 a transmitter for transmitting, to a user terminal, a first media content of a first media channel of said multiple media channels;   a receiver for receiving, from said user terminal, a content-specific rendering request for a second media content of a second media channel of said multiple media channels and comprising a unique media content resource identifier associated with said second media content; and   a media manager for identifying said second media channel based on said unique media content resource identifier and switching media content delivery to said transmitter from said first media content to said second media content for transmission to said user terminal during an ongoing unicast-based media session.   
     
     
         8 . A method, in a media server, of switching media channel in a unicast-based media session involving a media server transmitting a first media content of a first media channel to a user terminal and providing said first media channel and a second media channel, said method comprising:
 said media server receiving, from said user terminal, a content-specific rendering request for a second media content of said second media channel during said ongoing unicast-based media session, wherein said content-specific rendering request comprises a unique media content resource identifier associated with said second media content;   said media server identifying said second media channel based on said unique media content resource identifier; and   said media server switching media content transmission to said user terminal from said first media content to said second media content for transmission to said user terminal during said ongoing unicast-based media session.