System and method for real-time data distribution

The present invention is related to data distribution over networks, more particularly, data distribution to receiving nodes connected to mobile packet networks.

Recent development in information technology devices provides mobile communication terminals with environments for receiving various image data, including still and moving images. Recent enhancement of mobile packet telecommunication network addresses distribution of moving picture data for cellular phones.

The packet telecommunication for the second-generation mobile communications system is achieved by PDC-P (Personal Digital Cellular-Packet), CDPD (cellular Digital Packet Data), and GPRS (General Packet Radio Service). Additionally, the packet telecommunication for third-generation mobile communications system, such as IMT-2000 (International Mobile Telecommunications), is achieved by PDSN/PDGN (Packet Data Service Node / Packet Data Gateway Node).

One proposed method for distributing image data over such packet telecommunication networks involves using an image data storage server which provides desired image data for the requesting terminal in response to a request therefrom. JP-A-P2001-257868 and JP-A-P2003-37836, for example, disclose systems for image data distribution for a cellular phone. In these systems, a gateway server is connected to the cellular phone network for providing connections between the cellular phone and the image distribution server through the Internet or a dedicated network. Desired image data is distributed from the image distribution server to the cellular phone through the gateway server.

Conventional mobile packet communications systems use dynamically assigned IP addresses for identifying the destinations for providing image data distribution services; desired image data is distributed to the destination identified by the associated IP address.

Such packet communications systems are not suitable for real-time exchange of desired data, between the network nodes, because the use of IP addresses for identifying the destinations necessitates intermediate data storage servers for temporally storing data to be exchanged.

There is a need for providing an improved system for real-time data transfer over mobile packet communication networks.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an improved data distribution system for achieving real-time data transfer over a mobile packet communication network without an intermediate data storage server.

In an aspect of the present invention, a data distribution system comprising a server, a data distribution apparatus, and a receiving node, which are connected one another through a mobile packet network. The server includes means for forwarding a distribution request from the receiving node to the data distribution apparatus through a message transfer medium which is designed to transfer a message using a telephone number of the data distribution apparatus as a destination identifier. The server provides a connection between the data distribution apparatus and the receiving node, and thereby achieves real-time distribution of data from the data distribution apparatus to the receiving node therethrough in response to the distribution request.

The message transfer medium is preferably selected out of a group consisting of SMS (short message service), MMS (multimedia messaging service), and an e-mail service.

In preferred embodiments, the data distribution apparatus includes means for analyzing the message to obtain address information associated with the server, and the data distribution apparatus establishes a connection to the server through the mobile packet network using the address information.

The address information preferably includes a global IP address of the server.

User authentication of a user of the receiving node is preferably achieved by using a user ID and a password previously provided for the receiving node by the server.

The user authentication may be performed by the server. Instead, the user authentication may be performed by the data distribution apparatus.

In preferred embodiments, the data distribution apparatus may provide the receiving node with data selected out of a group consisting of video data, still image data, audio data, measured data, and text data.

In another aspect of the present invention, a server, which is designed to be connected to a mobile packet network, is composed of: means for forwarding a distribution request from a receiving node to a data distribution apparatus through a message transfer medium which is designed to transfer a message including the distribution request using a telephone number of the data distribution apparatus as a destination identifier; and means for performing real-time transfer of data from the data distribution to the receiving node through the mobile packet network.

In still another aspect of the present invention, a data distribution apparatus for distributing data to a receiving node over a mobile packet network is composed of means for receiving from a server a message transmitted through a message transfer medium which uses a telephone number of the data distribution apparatus to identifying a destination of the message; means for analyzing the message to obtain address information associated with the server; means for establishing a connection with the server using the address information over the mobile packet network; and means for performing real-time data distribution to the receiving node through the server.

In still another aspect of the present invention, a method for distributing data from a data distribution apparatus to a receiving node through a server over a mobile packet network is composed of: <ul id="ul0001" list-style="none" compact="compact"><li>forwarding a distribution request by the server from the receiving node to the data distribution apparatus through a message transfer medium which uses a telephone number of the data distribution apparatus as a destination identifier; and</li><li>performing real-time data distribution from the data distribution apparatus to the receiving node in response to the distribution request.</li></ul>

In still another aspect of the present invention, a computer readable medium records a program for instructing a server to implement the steps of: <ul id="ul0002" list-style="none" compact="compact"><li>forwarding a distribution request from a receiving node to a data distribution apparatus through a message transfer medium which is designed to transfer a message including the distribution request using a telephone number of the data distribution apparatus as a destination identifier; and</li><li>performing real-time data transfer from the data distribution to the receiving node over a mobile packet network.</li></ul>

In still another aspect of the present invention, a computer readable medium records a program for instructing a data distribution apparatus to implement the steps of: <ul id="ul0003" list-style="none" compact="compact"><li>receiving a message from a server, the message being transmitted through a message transfer medium which uses a telephone number of the data distribution apparatus to identifying a destination of the message;</li><li>analyzing the message to obtain address information associated with the server;</li><li>establishing a connection with the server using the address information over a mobile packet network; and</li><li>performing real-time data distribution to a receiving node through the server over the mobile packet network.</li></ul>

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in details with reference to the attached drawings. <ul id="ul0004" list-style="none" compact="compact"><li>Fig. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary structure of a data distribution system in accordance with the present invention;</li><li>Fig. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary structure of a server provided within the data distribution system;</li><li>Fig. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary structure of a receiving node provided within the data distribution system;</li><li>Fig. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary structure of a data distribution apparatus provided within the data distribution system;</li><li>Fig. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary structure of a video distribution system in a preferred embodiment;</li><li>Fig. 6 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary structure of a receiving node provided within the video distribution system;</li><li>Fig. 7 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary structure of a video distribution apparatus provided within the video distribution system;</li><li>Fig. 8 is a sequence chart illustrating an exemplary operation of the video distribution system;</li><li>Fig. 9 is a block diagram illustrating another exemplary structure of the video distribution apparatus; and</li><li>Fig. 10 is a sequence chart illustrating another exemplary operation of the video distribution system.</li></ul>

System Structure

Fig. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the structure of a data distribution system in one embodiment of the present invention. The data distribution system is composed of a server 1, a GGSN (gateway GPRS support node) 2, a receiving node 3, and a data distribution apparatus 4.

The server 1 is connected to a mobile packet network 100 through the GGSN 2, and also connected to a telephone network 200; the telephone network 200 may be a wireless telephone network or a wired telephone network. The server 1 may be directly connected to the GGSN 2 or indirectly connected to the GGSN 2 through the Internet.

The receiving node 3 is designed to be wirelessly connectable to the mobile packet network 100. The receiving node 3 may include a desktop personal computer, a mobile PDA (personal digital assistant), or a cellular phone.

The data distribution apparatus 4 is designed to be connectable to both of the mobile packet network 100 and the telephone network 200. The data distribution apparatus 4 is configured to distribute various data, such as image data, audio data, measured data, and text data.

In this embodiment, identification of the receiving node 3 and the data distribution apparatus 4 are achieved using two identifiers: one is a telephone number, and another is an IP address. When the receiving node 3 and the data distribution apparatus 4 are connected to the mobile packet network 100, the GGSN 2 dynamically assigns IP addresses to the receiving node 3 and the data distribution apparatus 4. Additionally, telephone numbers are assigned to the receiving node 3 and the data distribution apparatus 4 by the administrator of the telephone network 200.

Fig. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary structure of the server 1. The server 1 is composed of a data transfer module 11, a authentication and distribution management module 12, an SMS (short message service) client 13, and a recording medium 14. The data transfer module 11 transfers data to be distributed from the data distribution apparatus 4 to the receiving node 3. The authentication and distribution management module 12 achieves management of the data distribution from the data distribution apparatus 4, including the user authentication. The SMS client 13 is used for sending SMS messages. The recording medium 14 contains a computer readable program to be executed by the server 1; the server 1 is operated in accordance with the program stored in the recording medium 14.

Fig. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary structure of the receiving node 3. The receiving node 3 includes an interface module 31, a data receiver module 32, a data processor 33, and a GRRS manager 34. The interface module 31 transmits and receives packets through the mobile packet network 100. The data receiver 32 decapsulates the received packets to obtain user data. The data processor 33 performs data processing on the obtained user data, such as audio-video data decoding. The GPRS manager 34 is used for establishing connections to the mobile packet network 100, and for eliminating the established connections.

Fig. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary structure of the data distribution apparatus 4. The data distribution apparatus 4 is composed of an interface module 41, an SMS analyzer module 42, a data transmitter module 43, a data distribution module 44, a GPRS manager 45, and a recording medium 46. The interface module 41 transmits and receives data through the mobile packet network 100 and the telephone network 200, including SMS messages. The SMS analyzer module 42 analyzes the SMS messages received through the telephone network 200. The data transmitter module 43 forward data received from the data distribution module 44 to the server 1. The data distribution module 44 is a data storage device storing data to be distributed to the receiving node 3. The stored data may include video/audio data, measured data, or text data. The GPRS manager 45 is used for establishing connections to the mobile packet network 100, and for eliminating the established connections. The recording medium 46 contains a computer readable program to be executed by the data distribution apparatus 4; the data distribution apparatus 4 is operated in accordance with the program stored in the recording medium 46.

System Operation

With reference to Figs. 1 to 4, an exemplary operation of the data distribution system in this embodiment will be described below.

With reference to Fig. 1, the operation of the data distribution system involves establishing a peer-to-peer connection between the receiving node 3 and the data distribution apparatus 4 through the server 1 in response to a request issued by the receiving node 3; the established peer-to-peer connection is used for data distribution from the data distribution apparatus 4 to the receiving node 3.

In advance of the establishment of the peer-to-peer connection between the receiving node 3 and the data distribution apparatus 4, the telephone numbers of the receiving node 3 and the data distribution apparatus 4 are registered with the server 1. The server 1 generates a user ID and a password associated with the telephone number of the receiving node 3. The user ID and the password are forwarded to the user by mail or other media.

The user desiring the data distribution service is requested to connect the receiving node 3 to the server 1 through the mobile packet network 100 and the GGSN 2. The receiving node 3 uses the global IP address previously assigned to the server 1 for establishing the connection to the server 1.

After establishing the connection between the receiving node 3 and the server 1, the user is prompted to input the user ID and the password into the receiving node 3. Upon receiving the user ID and the password, the receiving node 3 forwards a distribution request including the user ID and the password to the server 1. The authentication and distribution management module 12 within the server 1 authenticates the user with the user ID and the password. When the user is successfully authenticated, the distribution management module 12 retrieves the registered telephone numbers associated with the receiving node 3 and the data distribution apparatus 4.

The SMS client 13 within the server 1 encapsulates the distribution request into an SMS message, and sends the SMS message to the data distribution apparatus 4 using the retrieved telephone numbers; the destination of the SMS message, that is, the data distribution apparatus 4, is identified by the associated telephone number within the SMS message. The content of the SMS message includes the global IP address of the server 1.

Upon receiving the SMS message from the server 1, the data distribution apparatus 4 stores the received SMS message into a file prepared in a storage device, and analyses the SMS message using the SMS analyzer module 42 to obtain the encapsulated distribution request and the global IP address of the server 1. The data distribution apparatus 4 then establishes a connection with the server 1 using the obtained global IP address through the mobile packet network 100 and the GGSN 2. After establishing the connection with the server 1, the data distribution apparatus 4 issues a distribution acknowledgement to the server 1.

In response to the distribution acknowledgment received from the data distribution apparatus 4, the server 1 sends a distribution start notification to the receiving node 3. After sending distribution start notification, the data transfer module 11 then starts to transfer the data received from the data distribution apparatus 4 to the receiving node 3 using the information stored in the distribution management module 12. This effectively achieves a peer-to-peer connection between the receiving node 3 and the data distribution apparatus 4 through the server 1 over the mobile packet network 100. After establishing the peer-to-peer connection, the video distribution apparatus 6 provides real-time data distribution for the receiving node 3 in response to a request from the receiving node 3.

As described above, the data distribution system in this embodiment effectively achieves real-time data distribution of desired data, which may include video/audio data, measured data, or text data, over the mobile packet network 100. One advantage of the data distribution system is that this system does not require a dedicated communication network; the data distribution system in this embodiment only uses existing networks, including the mobile packet network 100 and the telephone network 200. This is advantageous for reducing the cost. Such feature is preferable for video streaming and remote monitoring using PDAs and cellular phones.

Preferred Application

The aforementioned data distribution system architecture is preferably applied to a video distribution system. In one embodiment, as shown in Fig. 5, the video distribution system uses a peer-to-peer gateway as the server 1, and a video distribution apparatus as the data distribution apparatus 4. In Fig. 5, the peer-to-peer gateway is denoted by numeral 5, and the video distribution apparatus is denoted by numeral 6. The configuration of the peer-to-peer gateway 5 is basically identical to that of the server 1.

With reference to Fig. 6, the configuration of the receiving node 3 is slightly modified from the configuration shown in Fig. 3. The receiving node 3 uses a decoder as the data processor 33, and additionally includes a display device 36; the decoder is denoted by numeral 35 in Fig. 6.

The decoder 35 decodes video data received by the data receiver module 32, and displays video images on the display device 36 in response to the decoded video data. When the receiving node 3 includes a SIM (subscriber identify module) card for accessing a mobile communication network incorporating the mobile packet network 100, the decoder 35 may be provided within the SIM card.

Fig. 7 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary structure of the video distribution apparatus 6. The video distribution apparatus 6 uses an imaging device 61, and an encoder 62 as the data distribution module 44.

The imaging device 61 captures and provides images for the encoder 62, and the encoder 62 encodes the images received from the imaging device 61. The shooting direction and zoom of the imaging device 61 can be controlled in response to instructions from the receiving node 3 after establishing the peer-to-peer connection between the receiving node 3 and the video distribution apparatus 6.

Fig. 8 is a sequence chart illustrating an exemplary operation of the video distribution system in this embodiment. The operation shown in Fig. 8 is implemented through executing the computer programs stored in the recording media 14, and 46 by the peer-to-peer gateway 5 and the video distribution apparatus 6.

The operation of the video distribution system involves establishing a peer-to-peer connection between the receiving node 3 and the video distribution apparatus 6 through the server 1 in response to a request issued by the receiving node 3; the established peer-to-peer connection is used for video distribution from the video distribution apparatus 6 to the receiving node 3.

In advance of the establishment of the peer-to-peer connection between the receiving node 3 and the video distribution apparatus 6, the telephone numbers of the receiving node 3 and the video distribution apparatus 6 are registered with the peer-to-peer gateway 5 at Step a1. The peer-to-peer gateway 5 generates a user ID and a password associated with the telephone number of the receiving node 3 at Step a2. The user ID and the password are forwarded to the user by mail or other media.

The user desiring the video distribution service is requested to connect the receiving node 3 to the peer-to-peer gateway 5 through the mobile packet network 100 and the GGSN 2. The receiving node 3 uses the global IP address previously assigned to the peer-to-peer gateway 5 for establishing the connection to the peer-to-peer gateway 5 at Step a3.

After establishing the connection between the receiving node 3 and the peer-to-peer gateway 5, the user is prompted to input the user ID and the password into the receiving node 3. Upon receiving the user ID and the password, the receiving node 3 forwards a distribution request including the user ID and the password to the peer-to-peer gateway 5 using TCP (transmission control protocol) at Step a4.

The authentication and distribution management module 12 within the peer-to-peer gateway 5 authenticates the user with the user ID and the password received from the receiving node 3 at Step a5. When the user authentication is unsuccessful, the peer-to-peer gateway 5 informs the receiving node 3 using TCP that the distribution request is rejected at Step a6.

When the user is successfully authenticated, on the other hand, the distribution management module 12 retrieves the registered telephone numbers associated with the receiving node 3 and the video distribution apparatus 6. The SMS client 13 within the peer-to-peer gateway 5 then encapsulates the distribution request into an SMS massage, and sends the SMS message to the video distribution apparatus 6 using the retrieved telephone numbers at Step a7; the destination of the SMS message (that is, the video distribution apparatus 6) is identified by the associated telephone number. The content of the SMS message includes the global IP address of the peer-to-peer gateway 5.

Upon receiving the SMS message from the peer-to-peer gateway 5 at Step a8, the video distribution apparatus 6 stores the received SMS message into a file prepared in a storage device, and analyses the SMS message using the SMS analyzer module 42 at Step a9 to obtain the encapsulated distribution request and the global IP address of the peer-to-peer gateway 5.

The video distribution apparatus 6 then establishes a connection with the peer-to-peer gateway 5 using the obtained global IP address through the mobile packet network 100 and the GGSN 2 at Step a10. After establishing the connection with the peer-to-peer gateway 5, the video distribution apparatus 6 sends a distribution acknowledgement to the peer-to-peer gateway 5 using TCP at Step a11.

In response to the distribution acknowledgment received from the video distribution apparatus 6, the peer-to-peer gateway 5 sends a distribution start notification to the receiving node 3 using TCP at Step a12. After sending the distribution start notification, the data transfer module 11 within the peer-to-peer gateway 5 then starts to transfer the data received from the video distribution apparatus 6 to the receiving node 3 using the information stored in the distribution management module 12. This achieves a peer-to-peer connection between the receiving node 3 and the video distribution apparatus 6 through the peer-to-peer gateway 5 over the mobile packet network 100. After establishing the peer-to-peer connection, the video distribution apparatus 6 provides real-time video distribution for the receiving node 3 in response to a request from the receiving node 3.

As thus described, the video distribution system in this embodiment effectively achieves real-time video distribution over the mobile packet network 100 without a dedicated communication network. This is advantageous for reducing the cost. Such feature is preferable for video streaming and remote visual monitoring using PDAs and cellular phones.

In an alternative embodiment, the user authentication may be implemented by the video distribution apparatus. In this embodiment, the video distribution apparatus 6 is replaced with a video distribution apparatus 7 illustrated in Fig. 9. The structure of the video distribution apparatus 7 is almost identical to that of the video distribution apparatus 6; the difference is that the distribution apparatus 7 additionally includes an authentication module 71. The authentication module 71 stores therein the user ID and the password received from the peer-to-peer gateway 5, and performs the user authentication comparing the user ID and password within the SMS message received from the peer-to-peer gateway with those stored therein.

The configurations of the receiving node 3 and the peer-to-peer gateway 5 in this embodiment are almost identical to those shown in Figs. 6, and 7, with exception that the distribution management module 12 within the peer-to-peer gateway 5 does not perform the user authentication.

Fig. 10 is a sequence chart illustrating an exemplary operation of the video distribution system in this embodiment. The operation shown in Fig. 10 is implemented through executing the computer programs stored in the recording media 14, and 46 by the peer-to-peer gateway 5 and the video distribution apparatus 7.

As is the case of the previous embodiments, the operation of the video distribution system involves establishing a peer-to-peer connection between the receiving node 3 and the video distribution apparatus 7 through the server 1 in response to a request issued by the receiving node 3; the established peer-to-peer connection is used for video distribution from the video distribution apparatus 7 to the receiving node 3.

In advance of the establishment of the peer-to-peer connection between the receiving node 3 and the video distribution apparatus 7, the telephone numbers of the receiving node 3 and the video distribution apparatus 7 are registered with the peer-to-peer gateway 5 at Step b1. The peer-to-peer gateway 5 generates a user ID and a password associated with the telephone number of the receiving node 3 at Step b2. The user ID and the password are forwarded to the user by mail or other media.

The user desiring the video distribution service from the video distribution apparatus 7 is requested to connect the receiving node 3 to the peer-to-peer gateway 5 through the mobile packet network 100 and the GGSN 2. The receiving node 3 uses the global IP address previously assigned to the peer-to-peer gateway 5 for establishing the connection to the peer-to-peer gateway 5 at Step b3.

After establishing the connection between the receiving node 3 and the peer-to-peer gateway 5, the user is prompted to input the user ID and the password into the receiving node 3. Upon receiving the user ID and the password, the receiving node 3 forwards a distribution request including the user ID and the password to the peer-to-peer gateway 5 using TCP (transmission control protocol) at Step b4.

The peer-to-peer gateway 5 retrieves the registered telephone numbers associated with the receiving node 3 and the video distribution apparatus 7. The SMS client 13 within the peer-to-peer gateway 5 then encapsulates the distribution request, the user ID, and the password into an SMS message, and sends the SMS message to the video distribution apparatus 7 using the retrieved telephone numbers at Step b5; the destination of the SMS message (that is, the video distribution apparatus 7) is identified by the associated telephone number. The content of the SMS message includes the global IP address of the peer-to-peer gateway 5.

Upon receiving the SMS message from the peer-to-peer gateway 5 at Step b6, the video distribution apparatus 7 stores the received SMS message into a file prepared in a storage device, and analyses the SMS message using the SMS analyzer module 42 at Step b7 to obtain the encapsulated distribution request, user ID, password, and the global IP address of the peer-to-peer gateway 5.

The authentication module 71 within the video distribution apparatus 7 authenticates the user with the user ID and password obtained from the SMS message at Step b8. When the user authentication is unsuccessful, the video distribution apparatus 7 sends a distribution rejection to the receiving node 3 using TCP through the peer-to-peer gateway 5 at Step b9, and b10.

When the user is successfully authenticated, on the other hand, the video distribution apparatus 7 then establishes a connection with the peer-to-peer gateway 5 using the global IP address of the peer-to-peer gateway 5 through the mobile packet network 100 and the GGSN 2 at Step b12. After establishing the connection with the peer-to-peer gateway 5, the video distribution apparatus 7 sends a distribution acknowledgement to the peer-to-peer gateway 5 using TCP at Step b12.

In response to the distribution acknowledgment received from the video distribution apparatus 7, the peer-to-peer gateway 5 sends a distribution start notification to the receiving node 3 using TCP at Step 13. After sending the distribution start notification, the data transfer module 11 within the peer-to-peer gateway 5 then starts to transfer the data received from the video distribution apparatus 7 to the receiving node 3 using the information stored in the distribution management module 12. This achieves a peer-to-peer connection between the receiving node 3 and the video distribution apparatus 6 through the peer-to-peer gateway 5 over the mobile packet network 100. After establishing the peer-to-peer connection, the video distribution apparatus 7 provides real-time video distribution for the receiving node 3 in response to a request from the receiving node 3.

As thus described, the video distribution system in this embodiment effectively achieves real-time video distribution over the mobile packet network 100 without a dedicated communication network. This is advantageous for reducing the cost. Such feature is preferable for video streaming and remote visual monitoring using PDAs and cellular phones.

Although the invention has been described in its preferred form with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form has been changed in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

Especially, it should be noted that the present invention may be applied to one-way data distribution systems, including a system for data distribution from a mobile packet network to the Internet, or a system for data distribution from the Internet to a mobile packet network. The present invention may be used for concurrent data distribution for multiple receiving nodes, or for data distribution between different mobile packet networks.

Additionally, it should be noted that the present invention may be applied to data distribution of static image data, audio data, measured data obtained from measuring instruments, or text data.

Furthermore, those skilled in the art would appreciate that the MMS (multimedia Messaging Service) and e-mail service over the telephone network 200 may be used in place of SMS for transmitting the distribution request and the global IP address of the server 1 (or the peer-to-peer gateway 5) over the telephone network 200.