Adaptive multimedia service

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NORWAY (12) PATENT (19) NO (11) 320997 (51) IntCl.

H04L12 / 24 (2006.01) (13) BI

NIPO

<td> (21)</td><td>Appln</td><td> 19971783</td><td>(86) Entering day and</td>

<td></td><td></td><td></td><td>Appln</td>

<td> (22)</td><td>Inng.dag</td><td> 1997.04.18</td><td>(85) Continuation Day</td>

<td> (24)</td><td>Løpedag</td><td> 1997.04.18</td><td>(30) Priority 1996.04.24, SE, 9601558</td>

<td> (41)</td><td>Alm.tilgj</td><td> 1997.10.27</td><td></td>

<td> (45)</td><td>communicated</td><td> 2006.02.27</td><td></td>

<td> (73)</td><td>proprietor</td><td colspan="2">TeliaSonera AB (Publ), Sturegatan 1.10663 STOCKHOLM, SE</td>

<td> (72)</td><td>Inventor</td><td colspan="2">Stellan Emilsson, Gran 31, S-655 94 Karlstad, SE</td>

<td> (74)</td><td>Fullmektig</td><td colspan="2">Acapo AS, PO Box 1880 Nordnes, 5817 BERGEN, NO</td>

<td> (54)</td><td>Designation</td><td colspan="2">Device by mobile telecommunication system</td>

<td> (56)</td><td>cited</td><td></td><td></td>

<td></td><td>publications</td><td colspan="2">EP 0459344 A1, WO 9316550 A1</td>

<td> (57)</td><td>Summary</td><td></td><td></td>

Radiogrensesnltt

The parts of a multimedia service, which is performed in a mobile terminal, are structured in the form of various software components. The structure means that an operator offering the service is given the opportunity to distribute the service in different parts via a data connection, control channel, to a user terminal. This means that the service is divided into a number of software components, such as control applications, video application applications, audio, data and the like, and a service function. By structuring the service in this way, the operator has the opportunity to tailor and at an appropriate time upgrade a multimedia service in a user terminal by downloading, through the control channel, different versions of software components.

Control application [1]

Service * *

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* ..................... «Logical connection

---- Physical connection

Mobile multimedia terminal

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a device and method of a mobile telecommunication system or data communication system which allows one to modify the system's multimedia service offered to suit the needs and geographical areas of different users in which the users of the system are located, where the device contains any number of devices, where specific software components are stored, updated and executed in each of the devices, which corresponds to parts of a complete multimedia service based on the features of the devices.

Multimedia services are very complex, which means that it is very important that they can be adapted to a user's needs as well as to the requirements of the carrier network.

In an environment with competing operators for multimedia services, it is important for operators to have an opportunity to profile themselves, even though they may use the same access network and carrier network

EP 459344 describes equipment that can load software to a terminal such as a cell phone. Different memory locations in the terminal will be able to store the various programs executed using a microprocessor to perform specific functions.

WO 931650 discloses portable telephony equipment that can be connected to memory or "CDI disks" for transmission of relevant information such as geographical areas.

An object of the present invention is therefore to ensure that the part of the mobile multimedia service implemented in software (software) in the mobile terminal can be updated and adapted to specific user conditions.

It is a further object of the present invention to ensure that the frequency bandwidth of the mobile channel is utilized in an optimal manner. This is of course of utmost importance since the mobile channel is used by several different users and operators.

The objects mentioned above can be achieved with a device and a method as described in the characteristic part of claim 1 and claim 6 respectively.

Preferred embodiments of the device according to claim 1 are characterized by the features described in the dependent claims 2-5.

Preferred embodiments of the method of claim 6 are characterized by the features described in the dependent claims 7-9.

The present invention gives rise to a variety of advantages such as, for example:

- an operator can offer a tailor-made mobile multimedia service linked to a user's identity, a user's wishes or geographical location by downloading different versions of software components. In this way, for example, different handover (handover) algorithms and video encoders can be selected depending on geographical location,

- operators can design their mobile multimedia services independently of each other even if they use the same carrier network and access technology, and also download the software that constitutes the implementation of the service,

- an operator can control how a mobile terminal utilizes its carrier network,

- the cost of changing a service becomes relatively low,

- a quick breakthrough is achieved through a changed service.

The following is a detailed description of an embodiment of the invention with reference to the accompanying only drawings.

The figure shows the structure of a mobile multimedia terminal according to the present invention.

The invention describes how those parts of a mobile multimedia service, performed in a mobile terminal, can be structured in the form of software components. This structure means that an operator offering the service is given an opportunity to distribute the service part by part via a data connection (control channel) to a user terminal when there is a need. In a mobile context where one must utilize available bandwidth very efficiently, it is important that you distribute the software components only when there is a need (for example, a new version) and that the proposed structure only needs to distribute part of the software ( a software component).

This means that you utilize the bandwidth of the control channel in an optimal way by sending only the part of the multimedia service that must be sent instead of, as in previous technology, where the entire multimedia service packet was sent.

The structure and operation of the mobile terminal as shown in the drawing will be described below.

The mobile terminal contains a number of devices 1,2, 3,4, 5 and 6 which can be individually updated with new software. These units are the control application unit 1, the service function unit 2, the video application unit 3, the audio application unit 4, the data application unit 5 and the access function unit 6. Each unit can therefore be regarded as a separate software component.

A mobile multimedia service performed in the mobile terminal according to the drawing is thus divided into the following software components based on various functional content:

1. The control application 1, through which a user can control the multimedia service and get information about his behavior.

2. Applications such as video (3), audio (4) and data applications (5). These may include functionality for communicating with the outside world (for example, with another user or corresponding application with another user), and internal processing of incoming or outgoing information.

3. The service function 2 which controls the operation of the multimedia service, which also includes how the mobile service function 2 communicates with the service function that exists in the fixed network (which is managed by an operator) and service logic in other terminals. The service function controls applications 3,4 and 5 based on the user's wishes and the operator's service design.

4. The access function 6, for example, contains logic that handles signaling to control functions in the fixed network necessary to establish a connection, control and monitoring of the mobile terminal's bandwidth utilization and handover algorithms.

These units 1-6 that perform their specific software components are strongly interconnected and exchange information with each other in the form of signals. Because the operator distributes all parts of which the mobile multi-media service consists, it is also responsible for the exchange of information between the software components.

By implementing the various parts of the mobile multimedia services in the form of software, they can also be distributed to the user via a control channel. At startup, the control channel on which the mobile terminal can check the version number of the software components stored in the mobile terminal is first established. For those software components where the version number does not match the version number signaled by the operator, new software components are downloaded to the mobile terminal.

There should also be an opportunity to download the software components to the mobile terminal without using a radio channel, for example via an Ethernet connection or a CD-ROM disc.

In summary, the invention is briefly characterized in that parts of a multimedia service performed in a mobile terminal are structured in the form of various software components. The structure means that an operator offering the service is given the opportunity to distribute the service in different parts via a data connection, control channel, to a user terminal. This means that the service is divided into a number of software components, such as control applications, video, audio, data and similar application customizations, and a service feature. By structuring the service in this way, the operator can tailor and, at an appropriate time, upgrade a multimedia service linked to a user's identity, wishes or geographical location, by downloading, through the control channel, different versions of software components.