CN102244814A - Middleware-based digital television (TV) service value-adding and extending platform and method - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention discloses a middleware-based digital television (TV) service value-adding and extending platform. The platform mainly comprises a resource layer unit, a WEB integration middleware layer unit and an application layer unit, wherein, the WEB integration middleware layer unit contains a WEB service execution environment (WSEE) unit and a WEB service integration environment (WSIE) unit. The service extending platform provides a complete set of an API (application programming interface) so as to rapidly develop on-line value-added service based on RIA (rich internet application).

Description

A middleware-based digital TV value-added expansion service platform and method

technical field

The invention relates to the field of digital TV value-added service platforms, in particular to a middleware-based digital TV value-added service platform and method.

Background technique

With the rapid development of digital TV, digital TV value-added services have been developed in many places in our country. However, the realization of various value-added services is very different, resulting in the interoperability between terminals and service systems of different manufacturers, and the open development and rapid deployment of value-added services are particularly prominent. In order to solve these problems, middleware technology is adopted at present.

At present, terminal (especially set-top box) middleware has been deeply studied at home and abroad. For example, the European DVB organization proposed the MHP middleware architecture, ORCA proposed the RiGHTV middleware architecture, and CCSA defined the set-top box in the set-top box industry standard. middleware structure. And some researchers have discussed the value-added service based on the client mode realized by the set-top box middleware. Set-top box middleware technology provides a path to speed up the launch of set-top boxes and realize the interconnection between IPTV terminals and service systems of different manufacturers, but it does not solve the open development and rapid deployment of various value-added services, and still lacks flexibility. sex. At the same time, the large number of IPTV terminal manufacturers and the number of sold IPTV terminals have also brought considerable difficulties to the solution of the problem.

At present, the global software industry is in the process of transforming from purchasing software products to purchasing online software services (software as a service, SaaS), and its technical support is the rise of new B/S applications - RIA (rich Internet applieation). In the era of broadband networks, revolutionary network application models will inevitably emerge, such as software as a service (Saas) and storage as a service. These modes all have one thing in common, that is, applications are deployed on the server side and data is stored in the data center. The rise of this model starts with the fact that bandwidth is no longer an issue. The network transmission delay can already be ignored. The second is because interactivity is greatly improved thanks to RIA technology. RIA is a new generation of network application that combines the best interactivity of "desktop application" with the easy deployment and upgrade characteristics of "web application". It is essentially a web application with rich interactive experience capabilities. Since RIA is a new server-side network application model with high security, easy deployment, easy upgrade, and good interactive experience, it will replace or coexist with traditional B/S in the future. Under this general background, the present invention proposes a method suitable for deploying such increasingly widespread web page value-added services.

Contents of the invention

The invention provides a middleware-based digital TV value-added extension service platform and method, and provides a new deployment method for the digital TV value-added service platform.

A digital TV value-added extension service platform based on middleware mainly includes the following units: a resource layer unit, a WEB integration middleware layer unit, and an application layer unit.

The resource layer unit is composed of software and hardware resources such as an operating system, hardware, and bearer network, and mainly completes functions of hardware control and network transmission.

The WEB integration middleware layer unit mainly completes the transparency of underlying resources and other functional modules of cooperation objects, the functions of CP content operators and SP service operators application transparency; this layer can be divided into Web business execution environment WSEE, Web business The integrated environment WSIE has two sublayers.

The WSEE sublayer completes functions such as Web Services framework, application registration, application publishing, application discovery, application life cycle management, application scheduling and coordination, inter-application communication, network file system, etc.; the API it provides is called WSEE API.

The WSIE sublayer is used to extend the service platform and other functional modules of the SOP, to integrate third-party RIA applications provided by the CP or SP, and to provide a Web embedded application engine.

The application layer unit mainly realizes various extended applications of IPTV or traditional telecommunication services of telecommunication operators, and may be provided by a third party.

WSEE will include an optional ParLay X Web Services logical component to provide support for traditional telecom services. This component is deployed on a physically separated gateway; ParLay X Web Services is based on Web Services technology, mainly to complete the core of telecom service providers. The following communication services provided by the network: third-party calls, call notifications, short messages, multimedia messages, payment, account management, terminal status, terminal location, call processing, audio calls, multimedia conferencing, address list management and presence.

The WSIE sublayer is used to maintain the intercommunication between the business management platform, portal navigation system, media interaction system, operation and maintenance support system, and security management system. It is recommended to use HTTP for transmission between these interoperable interfaces and use SOAP for invocation, so that All subsystems of SOP can be deployed and processed in a distributed manner; Web embedded application engines are provided, including download service engines, content storage and sharing service engines, document search service engines, document online editing service engines, and multimedia audio and video file online playback services engine; some engines can also provide some SOAP methods in the form of Web services for third-party developers to use.

A method for value-added extension services of digital TV based on middleware, the steps of the method are as follows:

Step 1: The set-top box initiates a power-on authentication request to the service management platform when it is powered on;

Step 2: The business management platform returns the authentication result to the set-top box;

Step 3: The set-top box sends a portal navigation page request to the portal navigation system;

Step 4: The portal navigation system returns the content of the portal navigation page to the set-top box;

Step 5: The set-top box initiates an access request to the extended service platform through the portal navigation system, and the redirection process from the portal navigation system to the extended service platform is omitted here;

Step 6: The extended service platform returns the extended service platform portal interface to the set-top box;

Step 7: The set-top box selects the multimedia file sharing service on the portal interface of the extended service platform. Initiate a multimedia file sharing service selection request to the extended service platform;

Step 8: The extended service platform requests the service management platform to perform service authentication and billing for the user;

Step 9: The service management platform returns confirmation information and user information to the extended service platform;

Step 10: The extended service platform initiates a service use request to the multimedia file sharing service in the following two ways;

Method a: If the multimedia file sharing service is a tightly coupled application developed using the Web integrated middleware development environment, with multiple functions and good interaction effects, initiate a service use request through WSIE API calls, and go to step 11;

Mode b: If the multimedia file sharing service is a loosely coupled common web application, initiate a service use request through HTTP redirection, go to step 13;

Step 11: The multimedia file sharing service accepts the request initiated by the extended service platform and notifies the extended service platform of the response interface information;

Step 12: The extended service platform transmits the response interface of the multimedia file sharing service to the set-top box browser;

Step 13: the user starts to use the multimedia file sharing service.

It can be seen from the foregoing technical scheme that the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

1. The extended service platform described in the present invention can provide transparent access to the underlying software and hardware.

2. The extended service platform of the present invention provides a whole set of APIs, which can rapidly develop RIA-based online value-added services.

3. The extended service platform of the present invention supports efficient network transmission.

Description of drawings

In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the following will briefly introduce the drawings that need to be used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art. Obviously, the accompanying drawings in the following description are only These are some embodiments of the present invention. Those skilled in the art can also obtain other drawings based on these drawings without creative work.

Fig. 1 is the extended service platform architecture diagram of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a working flow chart of the extended service platform of the present invention.

Detailed ways

The following will clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some, not all, embodiments of the present invention. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by persons of ordinary skill in the art without creative efforts fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a middleware-based digital TV value-added extension service platform and method, and provide a new deployment method for the digital TV value-added service platform, which will be described in detail below.

FIG. 1 is a structural diagram of the extended service platform of the present invention.

As shown in Fig. 1, the present invention mainly includes the following units: a resource layer unit, a WEB integration middleware layer unit, and an application layer unit. Among them, the WEB integration middleware layer unit includes the Web business execution environment unit WSEE and the Web business integration environment unit WSIE.

The resource layer unit is composed of software and hardware resources such as an operating system, hardware, and bearer network, and mainly completes functions such as hardware control and network transmission.

The WEB integration middleware layer unit mainly completes the functions of transparency of underlying resources and application transparency of other functional modules of cooperation objects, CP content operators and SP service operators. This layer can be divided into two sub-layers: Web service execution environment (WSEE) and Web service integration environment (WSIE).

The WSEE sublayer mainly completes functions such as Web Services framework, application registration, application release, application discovery, application lifecycle management, application scheduling and collaboration, inter-application communication, and network file system. The API it provides is called WSEE API. WSEE will include an optional ParLay X WebServices logic component to provide support for traditional telecom services. This component can be deployed on physically separate gateways. ParLay X Web Services is currently the most commonly used application program interface in application scenarios involving telecommunication services. Based on Web Services technology, it mainly completes the following communication services that need to be provided by the core network of telecommunication service providers: third-party calls, call notifications, and short messages , multimedia messaging, payment, account management, terminal status, terminal location, call handling, audio calling, multimedia conferencing, address list management and presentation.

The WSIE sublayer mainly completes the following functions.

The first is to expand the business platform and other functional modules of the SOP. Such as business management platform, portal navigation system, media interaction system, operation and maintenance support system, security management system, etc., and work together with these functional modules. For example, through the intercommunication between the business management interface component and the business management platform, the user’s power-on authentication service authorization result, business authentication or authorization result, or the service billing policy of the COP content operation platform can be obtained; through the expansion of the portal or channel portal component and the portal navigation system The intercommunication provides an open channel for users to redirect from the navigation portal to the extended service platform; through the intercommunication between the media interactive interface components and the media interactive system, it provides users with media on-demand services; through the intercommunication between the operation and maintenance support interface components and the operation and maintenance support system, IPTV Terminal management: through the intercommunication between the security management interface component and the security management system, it completes security management or copyright management when users use services. It is recommended to use HTTP for transmission between these interoperable interfaces, and use SOAP for invocation, so that all subsystems of SOP can be deployed and processed in a distributed manner.

The second is the integration of third-party RIA applications provided by CP or SP. It provides its own client API, AJAX-based client framework and class library, front-end GUI subsystem, integrated development environment for open development of third-party CP or SP, and provides application integration for easy integration of third-party RIA applications Come to expand the business platform. For security and deployment convenience, CP or SP can directly deploy RIA applications on their own application servers. The extended service access gateway component of WSIE provides functions of access authentication control, resource allocation and quality monitoring for CP or SP. The APIs provided by the WSIE sublayer are collectively referred to as WSIEAPI.

The third is to provide web embedded application engines (such as download service engine, content storage and sharing service engine, document search service engine, document online editing service engine, multimedia audio and video file online playback service engine, etc.). Some engines can also provide some SOAP methods in the form of Web services for third-party developers to use.

The application layer unit mainly realizes various extended applications of IPTV or traditional telecommunication services of telecommunication operators, and may be provided by a third party.

Fig. 2 is the working flowchart of the extended service platform of the present invention

Taking home multimedia sharing as an example, the workflow of the IPTV extended service platform and IPTV terminals (such as set-top boxes) is shown in Figure 2, and the steps are as follows:

Step 1: The set-top box initiates a power-on authentication request to the service management platform after powering on.

Step 2: The service management platform returns the authentication result to the set-top box.

Step 3: The STB sends a portal navigation page request to the portal navigation system.

Step 4: The portal navigation system returns the contents of the portal navigation page to the STB.

Step 5: The set-top box initiates an access request to the extended service platform through the portal navigation system (the redirection process from the portal navigation system to the extended service platform is omitted).

Step 6: The extended service platform returns the extended service platform portal interface to the set-top box.

Step 7: The set-top box selects the multimedia file sharing service on the portal interface of the extended service platform. Initiate a multimedia file sharing service selection request to the extended service platform.

Step 8: The extended service platform requests the service management platform to perform service authentication and charging for the user.

Step 9: The service management platform returns confirmation information and user information to the extended service platform.

Step 10: The extended service platform initiates a service use request to the multimedia file sharing service. There are two possible ways.

Method a: If the multimedia file sharing service is a tightly coupled application developed using the Web integrated middleware development environment, with more functions and better interaction effects, initiate a service use request through WSIE API calls, and go to step 11.

Mode b: If the multimedia file sharing service is a loosely coupled common web application, a service use request can be initiated simply through HTTP redirection, and go to step 13.

Step 11: The multimedia file sharing service accepts the request initiated by the extended service platform and notifies the extended service platform of the response interface information (such as URL).

Step 12: The extended service platform transmits the response interface of the multimedia file sharing service to the set-top box browser.

Step 13: the user starts to use the multimedia file sharing service.

It should be noted that, since the information interaction and execution process between the above-mentioned devices and units in the system are based on the same idea as the method embodiment of the present invention, the specific content can refer to the description in the method embodiment of the present invention, here No longer.

Those of ordinary skill in the art can understand that all or part of the steps in the various methods of the above-mentioned embodiments can be completed by instructing related hardware through a program, and the program can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium, and the storage medium can include: Read Only Memory (ROM, Read Only Memory), Random Access Memory (RAM, Random Access Memory), disk or CD, etc.

The method for a digital TV value-added extension service platform based on middleware provided by the embodiment of the present invention has been introduced in detail above. In this paper, specific examples have been used to illustrate the principle and implementation of the present invention. The above embodiments The description is only used to help understand the method of the present invention and its core idea; at the same time, for those of ordinary skill in the art, according to the idea of the present invention, there will be changes in the specific implementation and scope of application. In summary , the contents of this specification should not be construed as limiting the present invention.

Claims (4)

1. A digital TV value-added extension service platform based on middleware, is characterized in that, this platform mainly comprises following unit: resource layer unit, WEB integration middleware layer unit, application layer unit; The resource layer unit is composed of software and hardware resources such as an operating system, hardware, and bearer network, and mainly completes hardware control and network transmission functions; The WEB integration middleware layer unit mainly completes the transparency of underlying resources and other functional modules of cooperation objects, the functions of CP content operators and SP service operators application transparency; this layer can be divided into Web business execution environment WSEE, Web business Integrated environment WSIE two sub-layers; The WSEE sublayer completes functions such as Web Services framework, application registration, application release, application discovery, application life cycle management, application scheduling and collaboration, inter-application communication, network file system; the API it provides is called WSEE API; The WSIE sublayer is used to extend the service platform and other functional modules of the SOP, integrate the third-party RIA application provided by the CP or SP, and provide a Web embedded application engine; The application layer unit mainly realizes various extended applications of IPTV or traditional telecommunication services of telecommunication operators, and may be provided by a third party. 2. The platform according to claim 1, characterized in that WSEE will include an optional ParLay X Web Services logical component to provide support for traditional telecommunication services, and this component is deployed on a physically separated gateway; ParLay X Web Services Services is based on Web Services technology, which mainly completes the following communication services that need to be provided by the core network of telecom service providers: third-party call, call notification, short message, multimedia message, payment, account management, terminal status, terminal location, call processing, Audio calling, multimedia conferencing, address list management and presence. 3. The platform according to claim 1, wherein the WSIE sublayer is used to maintain the intercommunication between the business management platform, the portal navigation system, the media interaction system, the operation and maintenance support system, and the security management system, and these intercommunication interfaces It is recommended to use HTTP for transmission and SOAP for calling, so that all subsystems of SOP can be deployed and processed in a distributed manner; Provide web embedded application engines, including download service engine, content storage and sharing service engine, document search service engine, document online editing service engine, multimedia audio and video file online playback service engine; some engines can also provide some SOAP methods are used by third-party developers. 4. A method for digital TV value-added extension services based on middleware, characterized in that the steps of the method are as follows: Step 1: The set-top box initiates a power-on authentication request to the service management platform when it is powered on; Step 2: The business management platform returns the authentication result to the set-top box; Step 3: The set-top box sends a portal navigation page request to the portal navigation system; Step 4: The portal navigation system returns the content of the portal navigation page to the set-top box; Step 5: The set-top box initiates an access request to the extended service platform through the portal navigation system, and the redirection process from the portal navigation system to the extended service platform is omitted here; Step 6: The extended service platform returns the extended service platform portal interface to the set-top box; Step 7: The set-top box selects the multimedia file sharing service on the portal interface of the extended service platform. Initiate a multimedia file sharing service selection request to the extended service platform; Step 8: The extended service platform requests the service management platform to perform service authentication and billing for the user; Step 9: The service management platform returns confirmation information and user information to the extended service platform; Step 10: The extended service platform initiates a service use request to the multimedia file sharing service in the following two ways; Method a: If the multimedia file sharing service is a tightly coupled application developed using the Web integrated middleware development environment, with multiple functions and good interaction effects, initiate a service use request through WSIE API calls, and go to step 11; Mode b: If the multimedia file sharing service is a loosely coupled common web application, initiate a service use request through HTTP redirection, go to step 13; Step 11: The multimedia file sharing service accepts the request initiated by the extended service platform and notifies the extended service platform of the response interface information; Step 12: The extended service platform transmits the response interface of the multimedia file sharing service to the set-top box browser; Step 13: the user starts to use the multimedia file sharing service.

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