Abstract:
A Call Session Control Function (CSCF) unit may receive from a user a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) message, which may be transmitted via a communication terminal, identifying particular media content on a particular content server, and in response the CSCF unit may transmit a second message to a particular application server (SIP-AS) if the CSCF unit determines that the SIP message is associated with the application server. The application server may generate and transmit to the communication terminal accessing information that may be used by the user to retrieve, via the communication terminal, the media content from the content server. Submitting content requests in this manner may enable routing content requests through an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS), thereby making use of filtering features of the IMS for user authentication and access control, and obviating need for separate proprietary access control mechanisms for the content server.

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/510,834, which was filed on Aug. 28, 2006 now U.S. Pat. No. 8,166,129, and which claims priority from European (EP) Patent Application No. 05405515.7 filed on Sep. 2, 2005. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a method and a system for providing media content to a user. Specifically, the present invention relates to a method and a system for providing to a user on a communication terminal media content from a content server. Particularly, the present invention relates to a method and a system for providing the media content to the user on a mobile communication terminal. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Conventionally, media content is made available in the World Wide Web on servers. Users equipped with communication terminals can access the media content through telecommunications networks having access to the Internet. The media content is made available as digital data representing picture, video, audio and/or text content. Typically, users use their communication terminals as client devices to browse the World Wide Web or Internet, respectively, and access media content through hyperlinks referencing the media content. Hyperlinks include or are associated with a uniform resource locator (URL) of the respective media content. Hyperlinks to media content are often provided on web pages of so called portal servers. A hyperlink displayed on the communication terminal and activated (e.g. clicked) by the user causes the respective media content to be transmitted from the (content) server, where the media content is stored, to the communication terminal. Portal servers and content servers can be implemented on a common computer; typically, they are implemented on separate computers, however. To control access to the media content, the portal servers are often provided with access control modules requesting a user to provide login information such as user name, password and/or a credit card number. The access control modules rely on users to register prior to logging in. For subsequent user authentication during login, the registration process requires an authentication process. Considering the vast number and variety of portal servers and content servers providing media content, an enormous overhead is required for the implementation and maintenance of user authentication, registration, login, and access control mechanisms. A multitude of proprietary (non-standardized and inconsistent) solutions are used for authentication, registration, login and access control mechanisms. Furthermore, each portal and/or content server requires an associated data repository for storing user registrations as well as an interface for accessing and updating the data repository. In addition, the data repositories may need to include information about a user&#39;s access rights for media content. Access rights may specify a user&#39;s right to access specific classes or categories of media content and/or to access media content from a specific portal server, content server, or content provider. 
     In patent application US 2004/0184432 described is a method for controlling streaming services between a terminal and a streaming server via a communication network comprising at least one application server and a Call Session Control Function unit. According to US 2004/0184432, a streaming session is requested by the terminal sending a request message, containing information about the media content and the streaming server, e.g. the server address, via the Call Session Control Function unit to the application server. The application server communicates with the streaming server to request a description of the streaming service. Based on the description of the streaming service, the application server sets up a streaming session at the streaming server and informs the terminal accordingly. Subsequently, the terminal initiates the streaming service at the streaming server. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of this invention to provide a method and a system for providing to a user on a communication terminal media content from a content server, which system and method do not have the disadvantages of the prior art. In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method and a system for providing to a user on a communication terminal media content from a content server without the need for implementing separate proprietary access control mechanisms for each content server. 
     According to the present invention, these objects are achieved particularly through the features of the independent claims. In addition, further advantageous embodiments follow from the dependent claims and the description. 
     According to the present invention, the above-mentioned objects are particularly achieved in that the communication terminal is configured to submit, in response to the user activating a hyperlink, associated with the media content, a first message generated as a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) message addressed to a resource identifier identifying the media content. The hyperlink is selected by the user on a portal server, for example. For example, the first message is addressed using an instant messaging uniform resource identifier. The first message is received in a Call Session Control Function unit associated with the user. If there are filter criteria associated with the user that associate the first message with an application server, a second message, including the resource identifier, is transmitted from the Call Session Control Function unit to the application server, particularly a SIP application server. The application server is configured to transmit to the communication terminal accessing means for the user to retrieve the media content from the content server. In response to the accessing means being activated in the communication terminal, the media content is transmitted from the content server to the communication terminal. For example, the resource identifier included in the accessing means is a uniform resource identifier of the media content for the hypertext transfer protocol, the real-time streaming protocol, the real-time transfer protocol, or the file transfer protocol. 
     The Session Initiation Protocol as well as the Call Session Control Function unit were defined by the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) in the context of the Internet Protocol (IP) Multimedia Subsystem (IMS). IMS was defined by 3GPP for providing IP multimedia services over mobile communication networks in 3GPP TS 23.228 V6.8.0, IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) Stage 2, 3 rd  Generation Partnership Project. Multimedia services include a variety of services over both traditional circuit switched media (e.g. voice) and packet switched media (e.g. pictures, video, audio, instant messaging, presence, push-to-talk, chat rooms, etc.). IMS makes it possible for users to use multimedia real-time and non-real-time communication services as well as data oriented multimedia services. IMS supports multimedia services over IP-based networks between end-users as well as between end-users and servers. In addition to mobile radio networks, access over wireless local area networks (WLAN) has been included in the IMS specifications and even fixed IP-based networks can be integrated in IMS, making IMS a generic framework for multimedia services over IP. For setting up and controlling calls and sessions between user equipment and/or application servers, IMS includes so-called Serving Call Session Control Function (S-CSCF) units using the transaction-based Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) and Session Delivery Protocol (SDP) defined in 3GPP TS 24.229 V6.5.1, IP Multimedia Call Control Protocol based on Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) and Session Description Protocol (SDP), Stage 3, 3 rd  Generation Partnership Project. A SIP transaction or dialogue is between two end-points called user agents. Typically, a SIP transaction or dialogue is a multimedia session performed between devices. There are different SIP methods for initiating a SIP transaction or dialogue (e.g. INVITE, SUBSCRIBE or MESSAGE). 
     Generating and submitting in the communication terminal a Session Initiation Protocol message, addressed to a resource identifier identifying the media content, make it possible to route a request for the media content through IMS, thereby making use of IMS&#39;s filtering features for user authentication and access control. Consequently, there is no need for separate proprietary access control mechanisms for the content server and/or a portal server. There is also no need for the portal server and/or the content server to be provided with a data repository, for storing user registrations and/or access rights, or an interface for accessing and updating such a data repository. Instead, defined features of IMS&#39;s Call Session Control Function unit are used to decide whether or not the user of the communication terminal submitting the first message is entitled to access media content related to the first message. IMS user profiles, containing the filter criteria typically used for routing purposes, are taken as the basis for deciding whether or not a user is entitled to access the specified media content. The user profile is retrieved by the Call Session Control Function unit from a home subscriber server (HSS) associated with the user. Specifically, if there are filter criteria, associated with the user, that associate the first message with an application server, the user is considered to be entitled to access the media content. Otherwise, if there are no filter criteria, associated with the user, that associate the first message with an application server, the user is considered not to be entitled to access the media content. Transmitting the second message to the application server makes it possible to dedicate a separate server to the handling of entitled requests for media content. Providing the communication terminal from the application server with accessing means for retrieving the media content makes it possible to adapt the content access flexibly to changing circumstances. 
     In an embodiment, the application server is configured to obtain from the second message the resource identifier and information about an access network being used by the communication terminal. Furthermore, the application server is configured to determine parameters for accessing the content server, based on the information about the access network, and to include the parameters in the accessing means. The information about the access network includes, for example, information about the type of telecommunications network, identification of the (visited) telecommunications network, and/or location information of the user. Parameters, specific to the access network used by the user, can be included automatically in the request for media content without any need for the content server to be provided with respective detection means. 
     In an embodiment, the application server is configured to obtain from the second message charging parameters indicating how to bill the user. Moreover, the application server is configured to generate billing information based on the charging parameters. Implementing a billing process in the application server has the advantage that, independent from the location and/or provider of the media content, the media content can be billed through one consistent mechanism. There is no need to provide the portal or content server with separate billing processes. 
     In an embodiment, the application server determines parameters for accessing the content server based on user customization information. Subsequently, the application server includes the parameters in the accessing means. The customization information includes, for example, an indication of the preferred quality or language. The customization information may be included in the second message, passed from the Call Session Control Function unit to the application server, or it may be stored in the application server or in a home subscriber server (HSS). Requests for media content can be customized without the user having to indicate his preferences with each request and without the user having to use memory in his communication terminal for storing user preferences. 
     In an embodiment, the application server determines user preferences based on user customization information. Subsequently, the application server generates a uniform resource identifier of the media content, based on the user preferences, and includes the uniform resource identifier in the accessing means. For example, different resource identifiers to different media content objects may be used depending on the preferred quality or language of the media content. 
     In addition to a method and system for providing to a user on a communication terminal media content from a content server, the present invention also relates to a computer program product including computer program code means for controlling a processor of a communication terminal, particularly, a computer program product including a computer readable medium containing therein the computer program code means. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will be explained in more detail, by way of example, with reference to the drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a block diagram illustrating schematically an exemplary configuration of a system for providing to a user on a communication terminal media content retrieved from a content server, as well as a possible data flow between components of the system. 
         FIG. 2  shows a timing diagram illustrating schematically a possible data flow between components of the system for providing to a user media content on a communication terminal. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In  FIGS. 1 and 2 , identical reference numerals refer to corresponding components, steps or data flows, respectively. 
     In  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the reference numeral  2  refers to a portal server accessible in the World Wide Web through the Internet. The portal server  2  comprises one or more computers connected to the Internet. The portal server  2  is configured to be accessed by communication terminals by means of conventional browser applications for HTML (Hypertext Markup Language), XHTML (Extensible Hypertext Markup Language), WML (Wireless Markup Language), XML (Extensible Markup Language) or the like. The portal server  2  provides hyperlinks  21  to media content  31  stored on content server  3 . The hyperlinks  21  include or are associated (e.g. via dynamic directory or naming servers) with a uniform resource locator (URL) to the media content  31 . The content server  3  is connected to the Internet and includes one or more computers. The media content is stored as digital data files representing picture, video, audio and/or text content. 
     In  FIGS. 1 and 2 , reference numeral  1  refers to a communication terminal of a user. Communication terminal  1  is preferably a mobile communication terminal such as a mobile telephone supporting IP-based communication, e.g. a mobile telephone for a GSM-network (Global System for Mobile Communication) supporting GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) or for a UMTS-network (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System), a personal digital assistant (PDA), or another personal computer supporting mobile communication over a mobile telephone network or WLAN. As was mentioned earlier, alternatively, communication terminal  1  is a fixed communication terminal configured for IP-based communication over a fixed telecommunications network. The communication terminal  1  is configured to access the Internet through a mobile or fixed telecommunications network, respectively. The communication terminal  1  includes a conventional browser application for accessing the portal server  2 . By means of the browser application the user can access and view web pages of the portal server  2  on the display  11  of the communication terminal  1 . By means of operating elements  13 , e.g. buttons, a keyboard, a touch pad, a scrolling wheel, a trackball, a joystick or the like, the user can select and activate hyperlinks  21  included in web pages of the portal server  2 . 
     As is illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the communication terminal  1  also includes a functional module, request module  12 , which is preferably implemented as a programmed software module. The computer program code of the request module  12  is stored on a computer readable medium, connected fixed or removable to the processor of communication terminal  1 . One skilled in the art will understand, however, that the request module  12  can also be implemented fully or in part by means of hardware. The request module  12  is configured to control the processor of the communication terminal  1 , such that the communication terminal  1  generates a Session Initiation Protocol message, in response to the user activating one of the hyperlinks  21 . Particularly, the Session Initiation Protocol message is of the type “SIP MESSAGE” and addressed to a resource identifier identifying the media content  31  defined by the activated hyperlink  21 . Particularly, an instant messaging uniform resource identifier is used to address the SIP message, for example “MESSAGE im:media-content@provider.net”. The request module  12  is configured to submit the generated message to a telecommunications network enabling access to the IP Multimedia Subsystem IMS. As will be explained later in more detail, the request module  12  is also configured to receive and activate accessing means. 
     The IP Multimedia Subsystem IMS illustrated in  FIG. 1  is adapted to carry out the proposed method for providing to a user on communication terminal  1  media content  31  provided by content server  3 . In  FIG. 1 , only components of the IP Multimedia Subsystem referenced in the description of the proposed method are illustrated. 
     As is illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the IP Multimedia Subsystem IMS includes a Call Session Control Function unit S-CSCF serving (i.e. associated with) the user of communication terminal  1 . The Call Session Control Function unit S-CSCF is based on the specifications for the IP Multimedia Subsystem defined by the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). 
     Furthermore, the IP Multimedia Subsystem IMS includes a Home Subscription Server HSS associated with the user. The Home Subscription Server HSS is based on the specifications for the IP Multimedia Subsystem by 3GPP. The Home Subscription Server HSS contains the user profile  5  of the user, which includes filter criteria iFC associated with the user. The filter criteria iFC include so called Service Trigger Points defining conditions on Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) requests/messages. Moreover, the filter criteria iFC include address information of application servers to be contacted in cases when conditions on a SIP request are met. The user profile  5  also includes other user customization information such as user preferences, e.g. preferred language and/or preferred quality, and/or charging parameters indicating how to bill the user, e.g. off-line or on-line with correlation identity and charging node address. 
     The IP Multimedia Subsystem IMS illustrated in  FIG. 1  also includes a SIP application server SIP-AS. As is illustrated schematically, the SIP application server SIP-AS includes several functional modules: an input module  40 , a referral module  41 , a customization module  42 , and a charging module  43 . The functional modules are preferably implemented as programmed software modules. The computer program code of the functional modules is stored on a computer readable medium, connected fixed or removable to the processor(s) of the application server SIP-AS. One skilled in the art will understand, however, that the functional modules can also be implemented fully or in part by means of hardware. 
     The input module  40  is configured to control the processor(s) of the application server SIP-AS, such that the application server SIP-AS receives messages from the Call Session Control Function unit S-CSCF and obtains from the received message the resource identifier and information about the access network being used by the communication terminal  1 . 
     The customization module  42  is configured to control the processor(s) of the application server SIP-AS, such that the application server SIP-AS determines, based on user customization information, parameters and user preferences for accessing the content server  3 . Depending on the embodiment, the customization module  42  obtains the user customization information from the message received from the Call Session Control Function unit S-CSCF or from the user profile stored in the Home Subscription Server HSS associated with the user. 
     The referral module  41  is configured to control the processor(s) of the application server SIP-AS, such that the application server SIP-AS transmits to the communication terminal  1  accessing means for the user to retrieve the media content  31  from the content server  3 . The referral module  41  is configured to generate and include in the accessing means a uniform resource identifier (URI) of the media content  31 . The uniform resource identifier of the media content  31  is generated by the referral module  41  for the hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP), the real-time streaming protocol (RTSP), the real-time transfer protocol (RTP), the file transfer protocol (FTP) or the like. The referral module  41  generates the uniform resource identifier based on the user preferences determined by the customization module  42 , e.g. different resource identifiers for media content objects of different quality and/or language. Furthermore, the referral module  41  is configured to determine parameters for accessing the content server  3 , based on the information about the access network determined by the network input module  40 . The referral module  41  also includes the parameters for accessing the content server  3  in the accessing means. 
     The charging module  43  is configured to control the processor(s) of the application server SIP-AS, such that the application server SIP-AS determines charging parameters indicating how to bill the user. Depending on the embodiment, the charging module  43  obtains the charging parameters from the message received from the Call Session Control Function unit S-CSCF or from the Home Subscription Server HSS associated with the user. Moreover, charging module  43  is configured to generate billing information, for the media content retrieved by the user, based on the charging parameters. 
     In the Home Subscription Server HSS, the user profile  5  associated with the user includes filter criteria iFC with addressing information of the SIP application server SIP-AS. Moreover, the filter criteria iFC includes Service Trigger Points, which define conditions such that incoming SIP messages related to media content  31  on the content server  3  are forwarded to the SIP application server SIP-AS. 
     The Call Session Control Function unit S-CSCF serving the user and the Home Subscription Server HSS associated with the user are implemented on the same computer or on separate computers. Typically, the SIP application server SIP-AS is implemented on a separate computer. 
     In the following paragraphs, possible sequences of steps executing the proposed method are described with reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
     In step S 0 , the user uses his communication terminal  1  to access a web page of the portal server  2  and selects and activates one of the hyperlinks  21  provided by the portal server  2  and associated with media content  31  of content server  3 . 
     In step S 1 , in response to the user activating the hyperlink, the request module  12  generates a SIP message addressed to an instant messaging uniform resource identifier identifying the media content  31  defined by the activated hyperlink  21 . Implicitly, the instant messaging uniform resource identifier also identifies the content server  3  or provider, respectively, providing the media content  31 . 
     In step S 1 ′, the SIP message generated in step S 1  is submitted by the communications terminal  1  and routed by the telecommunications network to the Call Session Control Function unit S-CSCF serving the user. 
     In step S 2 , the Call Session Control Function unit S-CSCF downloads and/or queries the user profile  5 , including the filter criteria iFC, from the Home Subscription Server HSS associated with the user. For example, the Call Session Control Function unit S-CSCF accesses the Home Subscription Server HSS through a Diameter-based reference point called Sh. Based on the user profile  5 , the Call Session Control Function unit S-CSCF determines whether or not the filter criteria iFC associate the received SIP message with a SIP application server. If the SIP message is associated with a SIP application server, the SIP message is forwarded in step S 3  via a so-called IP Multimedia Subsystem Service Control interface ISC to the respective SIP application server SIP-AS. Depending on the embodiment, the SIP message is forwarded together with additional information concerning the access network being used by the communication terminal  1  as well as user-specific customization information and charging parameters. Otherwise, if no SIP application server is associated with the SIP message, the SIP message is rejected as non-routable. 
     In step S 4 , the application server SIP-AS acknowledges the message forwarded in step S 3  by sending a confirmation to the Call Session Control Function unit S-CSCF. The confirmation is transmitted via the IP Multimedia Subsystem Service Control interface ISC. Correspondingly, in step S 4 ′, the Call Session Control Function unit S-CSCF sends an acknowledgement to the communication terminal  1 . 
     In step S 5 , the application server SIP-AS processes the message received from the Call Session Control Function unit S-CSCF and obtains from the received message the resource identifier identifying the media content  31 . Depending on the embodiment, the application server SIP-AS obtains information concerning the access network being used by the communication terminal  1  as well as user-specific customization information and charging parameters from the received message or through querying the Call Session Control Function unit S-CSCF or the Home Subscription Server HSS, respectively. Moreover, the application server SIP-AS generates accessing means for the user to access the requested media content  31 . The accessing means include a uniform resource identifier (URI) of the media content  31 , generated based on the access network used by the communication terminal  1  and user preferences included in the customization information. Furthermore, the accessing means include parameters for accessing the content server  3 , based on the information about the access network and user customization information. 
     In steps S 6  and S 6 ′, the application server SIP-AS transmits the accessing means to the communications terminal  1  by transmitting a SIP message of type “REFER”, including the accessing means, through the IP Multimedia Subsystem Service Control interface ISC and the Call Session Control Function unit S-CSCF to the communication terminal  1 . 
     In steps S 7  and S 7 ′, the communication terminal  1 , specifically the request module  12 , acknowledges the receipt of the REFER message by sending a confirmation through the Call Session Control Function unit S-CSCF and the IP Multimedia Subsystem Service Control interface ISC to the application server SIP-AS. 
     In step S 8 , the accessing means are activated in the communication terminal  1 . Preferably, for activating the accessing means, the request module  12  is provided with an activating module, configured to automatically transmit an access request to the content server  3  using the uniform resource identifier (URI) and parameters included in the accessing means. In correspondence with the URI, the access request is a request in HTTP, RTSP, RTP, FTP or the like. In an alternative embodiment, displayed to the user on display  11  are the uniform resource identifier (URI) and parameters included in the accessing means, and the access request is generated by the user activating the URI using the operating elements  13 . Accordingly, in step S 8 ′, the media content  31  is accessed by and transmitted to the communications terminal  1  through an HTTP, RTSP, RTP or FTP interface F. 
     In steps S 9  and S 9 ′, the communication terminal  1 , specifically the request module  12 , confirms the successful transmission (receipt) of the media content  31  by responding to the REFER message with a SIP message of type “NOTIFY”, transmitted through the Call Session Control Function unit S-CSCF and the IP Multimedia Subsystem Service Control interface ISC to the application server SIP-AS. 
     In steps S 10  and S 10 ′, the application server SIP-AS acknowledges the receipt of the NOTIFY message by sending a confirmation through the IP Multimedia Subsystem Service Control interface ISC and the Call Session Control Function unit S-CSCF to the communication terminal  1 . 
     In step S 11 , the application server SIP-AS generates billing information for the media content retrieved by the user, based on the charging parameters, the accessed media content, the customization level, the used access network, the user&#39;s location, and/or roaming conditions. 
     The foregoing disclosure of the embodiments of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many variations and modifications of the embodiments described herein will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art in light of the above disclosure. The scope of the invention is to be defined only by the claims appended hereto, and by their equivalents. Specifically, in the description, the computer program code has been associated with specific software modules, one skilled in the art will understand, however, that the computer program code may be structured differently, without deviating from the scope of the invention. Furthermore, the particular order of the steps set forth in the specification should not be construed as limitations on the claims.