Patent Description:
A conventional broadcast network generally uses the Moving Picture Experts Group-<NUM> Transport Stream (MPEG-<NUM> TS) for delivering multimedia contents. The MPEG-<NUM> TS is used as a representative transmission technique for delivering a bit stream in which a plurality of broadcast programs (a plurality of encoded video bit streams) in a transmission environment having an error. For example, the MPEG-<NUM> TS is appropriate for digital TV broadcasting, and the like in the multimedia era.

<FIG> illustrates a layer structure for supporting the conventional MPEG-<NUM> TS.

Referring to <FIG>, the layer for supporting the MPEG-<NUM> TS includes a media coding layer <NUM>, a sync layer <NUM>, a delivery layer <NUM>, a network layer <NUM>, a data link layer <NUM>, and a physical layer <NUM>.

The media coding layer <NUM> and the sync layer <NUM> are formed of a format which is easily usable as a basic unit of recording or transmission of media data. Further, the delivery layer <NUM>, the network layer <NUM>, the data link layer <NUM>, and the physical layer <NUM> record a data block (for example, "AU") configured by the sync layer <NUM> in a recording medium or configure a multimedia frame for transmission. The configured multimedia frame is delivered to a subscriber's terminal and the like through a predetermined network.

To this end, the sync layer <NUM> is composed of a fragment block <NUM> and an access unit <NUM>, and the delivery layer <NUM> is composed of an MPEG-<NUM> TS/MP4 <NUM>, an RTP/HTTP <NUM>, and a UDP/TCP <NUM>.

However, the MPEG-<NUM> TS has several limits in supporting a multimedia service. That is, the MPEG-<NUM> TS has the limitations of unidirectional communication, non-efficiency in transmission due to a fixed frame size, and a generation of an unnecessary overhead while delivering data by using a transmission protocol and an Internet Protocol (IP) specialized to an audio/video.

Accordingly, the MPEG newly suggests the MPEG Media Transport (MMT) standard as one of the multimedia transmission techniques for supporting the multimedia service based on the MPEG technique. Especially, the MMT standard is suggested by the MPEG in order to overcome the limits of the MPEG-<NUM> TS.

For example, the MMT standard may be applied in order to efficiently deliver hybrid contents through heterogeneous networks. Here, the hybrid contents mean a set of contents having multimedia factors such as a video/audio/application, and the like. Further, the heterogeneous network means a network in which a broadcast network, a communication network, and the like are mixed.

In addition, an object of the MMT standard is to define a transmission technique more friendly to the IP which serves as a basic technique in a transmission network for the multimedia service.

Accordingly, the MMT standard typically provides an efficient MPEG transmission technique in a multimedia service environment varying based on the IP, and continuous research and standardization thereof have progressed.

Especially, the MMT standard requires a preparation of a method of providing an efficient MPEG transmission technique in a recent multimedia service environment aiming to provide a hybrid network and hybrid contents.

<NPL>) discloses extended tables for the program information within MPEG2 TS, considering hybrid network environment and hybrid content consumption environment. Moreover new tables for hybrid content consumption are disclosed.

<CIT> discloses s digital broadcasting system and a data processing method wherein received broadcast signals include mobile service data and main service data. Herein, the mobile service data may configure a data group, and the data group may include a signaling information region in some of a plurality of data regions. <CIT> discloses a method and system for forwarding packets within containers in a data communication network. Each container may include packets or additional containers. Packets/containers are stored within containers in a predetermined format that includes a Type field, a Length field and a Value field.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and an aspect of the present invention is to provide a method of providing control information for various types of multimedia contents in a broadcast system supporting an Internet Protocol-based multimedia service.

Further, another aspect of the present invention is to provide a method of providing control information for consuming a hybrid multimedia content in a broadcast system supporting an Internet Protocol-based multimedia service.

Furthermore, another aspect of the present invention is to provide a method of providing information on a hybrid multimedia content in consideration of characteristics of heterogeneous networks in a broadcast system supporting an Internet Protocol-based multimedia service.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for providing multimedia content in a system according to claim <NUM>.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for receiving multimedia content in a system according to claim <NUM>. Further embodiments of the invention are set out in the dependent claims. The further examples called embodiments in the description are illustrative examples.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to configure and provide a control message for consuming a hybrid service or a hybrid content, thereby achieving an effect of efficiently supporting an efficient MPEG transmission in a multimedia environment.

Further, according to the embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to provide a hybrid service or a hybrid content through heterogeneous networks using control information, thereby achieving an effect of supporting an efficient MPEG transmission in a multimedia environment.

In the meantime, other various effects will be directly or implicitly disclosed in the detailed description according to the embodiment of the present invention to be described below.

Hereinafter, an exemplary embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in detail. In the following description, the same elements will be designated by the same reference numerals although they are shown in different drawings.

It may be evident, however, that the various aspects may be practiced without these specific details.

In the following description of the exemplary embodiment, a detailed description of known configurations or functions incorporated herein will be omitted when it is determined that the detailed description may make the subject matter of the present disclosure unclear.

In an embodiment of the present invention to be described below, the MMT standard will be described as an example, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and may be applied to another broadcast technique.

Further, in the embodiment of the present invention to be described below, a layer structure defined in the MMT standard will be described. Further, the embodiment of the present invention to be described below suggests a configuration of a control information message for consuming a multimedia content, so that a layer for providing the control information message in the layer structure defined in the MMT standard will be described in detail.

<FIG> is a diagram conceptually illustrating an MMT service by a broadcast system based on the MMT standard (hereinafter, referred to as an "MMT system") for an application of the present invention.

<FIG> is assumed that a content for the MMT service includes UHD, VOD, live streaming, a file, a widget, an E-book, metadata, and the like. However, the MMT service may target all of the contents expressible with an electrical signal as a matter of course.

Multimedia data according to each of the various contents is encapsulated by a predetermined format by an MMT encapsulator and configured as a multimedia frame, to be delivered in a hybrid manner to a subscriber's terminal through heterogeneous networks. Here, the heterogeneous network means a network of a transmission environment in which a broadcast network and an IT network are mixed.

The subscriber's terminal receiving the multimedia frame hybrid delivered through the heterogeneous networks extracts multimedia data corresponding to a desired content from the multimedia frame, and provides a user with a video/audio/application based on the extracted multimedia data. In this case, each of the multimedia data corresponding to the video/audio/application provided for a specific content is defined as an "MMT asset". Further, the subscriber's terminal is used as a meaning including most of the terminals capable of supporting a multimedia service. A representative example of the subscriber terminal may include an IP TV and a smart phone.

Accordingly, an object achieved by the MMT service is high quality content delivery, hybrid content support, hybrid network support, and the like.

<FIG> illustrates a layer structure for delivering a multimedia frame according to multi-services/contents in the MMT system for an application of the present invention is applied through heterogeneous networks.

Referring to <FIG>, the MMT system for composing the multimedia frame and delivering the multimedia frame includes a media coding layer <NUM>, an encapsulation layer (hereinafter, referred to as "Layer E") <NUM>, delivery layers (hereinafter, referred to as "Layer D") <NUM> and <NUM>, a network layer <NUM>, a data link layer <NUM>, a physical layer <NUM>, and control layers (hereinafter, referred to as "Layer C") <NUM> and <NUM>.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, multimedia data according to multi-contents or multi-services is generated by the media coding layer <NUM> and the Layer E <NUM>, so that the two layers may be considered as constituents of a "multimedia data generator". Further, the multimedia frame is composed by Layer D <NUM>, so that the Layer D <NUM> may be considered as a constituent of a "multimedia frame composition unit". That is, the Layer D <NUM> corresponding to the multimedia frame composition unit configures header information with information on a frame identifier dividing the multimedia frame, and information demanded for measuring a connection service quality in the network layer and performance of the network between terminals, and combines the header information with the multimedia data to compose the multimedia frame. Further, information related to a generation, a consumption, and a transmission of the hybrid contents are provided by the Layers C <NUM> and <NUM>, so that the Layers C <NUM> and <NUM> may be considered as constituents of a "multimedia controller".

Further, as described above, the layers include three description areas, the Layer E <NUM>, the Layers D <NUM> and <NUM>, and the Layers C <NUM> and <NUM>, and the Layer E <NUM> serves to generate hybrid contents, the Layers D <NUM> and <NUM> serve to efficiently deliver the generated contents through heterogeneous networks, and the Layers <NUM> and <NUM> serve to perform a general control for a management of consumption and delivery of the hybrid contents.

The Layer E <NUM> includes MMT E. <NUM><NUM>, MMT E. <NUM><NUM>, and MMT E. <NUM><NUM>. <NUM><NUM> generates a fragment which is the most basic unit for the MMT service with the coded multimedia data provided from the media coding layer <NUM> as an input. <NUM><NUM> generates an Access Unit (AU) for the MMT service by using the fragment generated by the MMT E. <NUM><NUM>. <NUM><NUM> generates a format for generating, storing, and delivering the hybrid contents by combining or dividing the Aus provided by the MMT E. <NUM><NUM>.

The Layer D is composed of MMT D. <NUM><NUM>, MMT D. <NUM><NUM>, and MMT D. <NUM><NUM>. <NUM><NUM> serves as an Application Protocol (AP) performing a similar role to that of an RTP or an HTTP, the MMT D. <NUM><NUM> serves as a network layer protocol performing a similar role to that of an UDP or a TCP, and the MMT D. <NUM><NUM> performs an operation for an optimization between the respective layers configuring the Layer E <NUM> and the respective layers configuring the Layer D <NUM>.

The Layer C is composed of MMT C. <NUM><NUM> and MMT C. <NUM><NUM>. <NUM><NUM> provides information related to the generation and the consumption of the hybrid contents, and the MMT C. <NUM><NUM> provides information related to the delivery of the hybrid contents.

Next, a structure of the MMT C. <NUM> of the Layer C to which the embodiment of the present invention is applied will be described in detail.

<FIG> illustrates the structure of the MMT C. <NUM> according to the embodiment of the present invention.

<NUM> provides information on hybrid multimedia contents and information used when the hybrid multimedia contents are consumed. In the MMT standard, the hybrid multimedia contents may be configured in a form of an MMT asset or an MMT package, and the MMT package may include a plurality of MMT assets.

Referring to <FIG>, the MMT C. <NUM> includes an MMT package/asset information signaling unit <NUM> and an MMT configuration information signaling unit <NUM>. The MMT package/asset information signaling unit <NUM> includes an MMT Package/Asset Information Management Table (MIMT) <NUM>, an MMT Package Configuration Information Table (MPCIT) <NUM>, an MMT Asset Configuration Information Table (MACIT) <NUM>, an MMT Access Information Table (MAIT) <NUM>, a Specific Function Information Table (SFIT) <NUM>, and a Device Capability Information Table (DCIT) <NUM>.

The MPCIT <NUM> contains information on an MMT asset, such as a content name, a content provider, a content form, and an application or a specification of hardware demanded for consuming a content. The MACIT <NUM> contains information on an MMT package, such as package information, a package provider, and asset information configuring a package. The MAIT <NUM> includes information allowing access to the MMT asset or the MMT package. The SFIT <NUM> contains information about a system characteristic, such as device management or digital rights management. The DCIT <NUM> contains function information of a device recommended or demanded for the consumption of the MMT asset or the MMT package. The MIMT <NUM> contains table management information, such as version information and a renewal period for the five tables.

The MMT configuration information signaling unit <NUM> serves to deliver the MMT configuration information. The MMT configuration information contains package information <NUM> on the MMT package, transport characteristics <NUM> which are information to be considered when the MMT package is transported, and composition information necessary when a package or an asset within the package, which is required when the MMT package or the asset within the MMT package is displayed on a screen of the device, is provided on the screen of the device. The transport characteristic <NUM> may contain information on a transport rate and an error rate, or a quality of experience. The composition information contains full composition information providing all of the composition information within a consumption time when the MMT package or the MMT asset is consumed at once, and partial composition information <NUM> delivered with several pieces for various compositions within the consumption time. The partial composition information <NUM> may include various commands, such as play, stop, rewind, show up, and the like. Control information provided from the MMT package/asset information signaling unit <NUM> may be delivered through various delivery mechanisms <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates a delivery mechanism of the MMT C. <NUM> according to the embodiment of the present invention.

<FIG> illustrates a delivery of the MMT package/asset information and MMT configuration information (hereinafter, referred to as a Layer C1 message), which are delivered by the MMT C. <NUM> to a receiving party through the TCP/IP protocol. The mechanism of delivering the Layer C1 messages through the TCP/IP does not require a separate protocol, and is a delivery mechanism appropriate to a case where a server providing the MMT asset/package is directly connected with a client through the Internet.

<FIG> illustrates a delivery of the Layer C1 message in an UDP/IP environment, and illustrates a mechanism appropriate to be used in an environment, in which it is difficult to use the TCP which is stable and has no error, but has many overheads, or an IP-based unidirectional delivery.

<FIG> illustrates a delivery of the Layer C1 message through a D2 protocol provided as a transport protocol in the MMT system. The Layer D is a layer serving the delivery, and is composed of a D1 payload layer and a D2 protocol layer. The D1 payload layer is a layer configuring a payload so as to deliver the MMT package/asset or the Layer C1 message regardless of various transport protocols, and the D2 protocol layer is a layer enabling the D1 payload to be appropriately delivered by providing an appropriate protocol considering the IP environment or the transmission environment. <FIG> illustrates a delivery of the Layer C1 message contained in a payload of a packet provided from the D2 protocol layer, and is a mechanism appropriate to a case where it is necessary to deliver the Layer C1 message through the same logic channel through which the multimedia content is delivered.

<FIG> illustrates a mechanism of delivering the Layer C1 message which is contained in the D1 payload, and is a mechanism appropriate to a case where it is necessary to immediately consume the Layer C1 message, for example, a case where partial composition information on the MMT package/asset and the like is delivered.

<FIG> illustrates an example in which the Layer C1 message may be delivered regardless of the IP environment or the broadcast environment, such as the MPEG-<NUM> TS, and illustrates that the Layer C1 message may be contained in a protocol, such as an SDP, to be delivered.

<FIG> illustrates a configuration of the Layer C1 message according to the embodiment of the present invention.

<FIG> illustrates a general structure of the Layer C1 message. A message type field <NUM> is a field through which whether contents delivered by the Layer C1 message is the MMT package/asset information, the MMT configuration information, the MMT full composition information, or the MMT partial composition information may be notified. About <NUM> bits are sufficient for a length of the message type field <NUM>, but the length of the message type field <NUM> may be <NUM> byte considering an addition of the Layer C1 message, and the length of the message type is not limited in the present invention. A length field <NUM> is a field notifying of an entire length of the Layer C1 message, and may have a variable length according to a header of the Layer C1 message and a length of the payload. That is, the Layer C1 message having a short length may set to have a short length of the length field <NUM>, and the Layer C1 message having a long length may set to have a long length of the length field <NUM>. An optional field <NUM> is not a field optionally provided in the Layer C1 message, but a field providing other values which the Layer C1 message may have according to the type of message, which will be described in detail with reference to 6B to 6E. A payload field <NUM> is a field delivering actual contents of the Layer C1 message.

<FIG> illustrates a case in which the optional field includes table information <NUM> notifying of a type of table contained in the payload and delivered in a case where a message type of the Layer C1 message is the MMT package/asset information. For example, in a case where a table information field <NUM> is <NUM> bits, that is, a value of the table information field <NUM> is <NUM>, it is notified that the MIMT, the MPCIT, and the MACIT are contained in the payload of the Layer C1 message and the MAIT, the SFIT, and the DCIT do not exist, so that a receiving unit may determine whether a necessary table is included in the payload in advance, thereby decreasing an unnecessary operation of the receiving unit. In the above description, existence or nonexistence of the table is only notified through the optional field through a binary expression, but a table identifier, version information, and the like may be additionally delivered, and when the additional information is further contained, the length of the optional field is increased.

<FIG> illustrates a configuration of the optional field in a case where the message type of the Layer C1 message is the configuration information on the MMT package/asset. The configuration information is information connected with a specific MMT package/asset, so that the configuration information essentially requires a package/asset ID <NUM>, and may notify of information <NUM> on the configuration information delivered by the payload, that is, a version. When the Layer C1 message is delivered together with the MMT package or asset corresponding to the configuration information as illustrated in <FIG> or <FIG>, the package/asset ID may be omitted.

<FIG> illustrates a configuration of the optional field in a case where the message type of the Layer C1 message is the full composition information of the MMT package/asset. The composition information is information connected with a specific MMT package/asset, so that the composition information essentially requires a package/asset ID <NUM>, and may notify of information <NUM> on the composition information delivered by the payload, that is, a version. When the Layer C1 message is delivered together with the MMT package or asset corresponding to the composition information as illustrated in <FIG> or <FIG>, the package/asset ID may be omitted.

<FIG> illustrates a configuration of the optional field in a case where the message type of the Layer C1 message is the partial composition information of the MMT package/asset. The partial composition information is information connected with a specific MMT package/asset, so that the composition information may require a package/asset ID <NUM>, but may be delivered together with the MMT package/asset according to a characteristic of the partial composition information, so that the package/asset ID <NUM> may be omitted. A next transmission time <NUM> notifies, in advance, of a time to receive partial composition information after currently received partial composition information, thereby enabling the receiving unit to perform an appropriate operation. Further, the next transmission time <NUM> may also notify of a transmission period of the partial composition information, not a specific time representing a next transmission time. Further, a command may be delivered according to the characteristic of the partial composition information, so that the optional field may include a CRC field <NUM> for checking validity of the command.

Various types of information may be contained in the payload of the partial composition information. The payload of the partial composition information may be composed with a separate scene command of the MPEG Light application Scene Representation (LaSER) and the 3GPP BIFS (Binary Format for Scenes), which are scene composition technologies, commands, such as play, stop, replace, show up, appear, and disappear, may be directly defined and used, and a scene composition for a relatively short length having an XML or SMII, format may be contained in the payload of the partial composition information.

The contents of the payload of the full composition information may be expressed with SMIL, XML, and HTML, and contains information usable for composing a content for a consumption time of the MMT package/asset.

The MMT configuration information includes contents defined in the Layer E performing a packing of the hybrid multimedia contents in the MMT system.

Next, a detailed configuration of the table related to the MMT package/asset information according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

Table <NUM> illustrates the composition of the MIMT.

The MIMT provides information on information tables necessary for consuming the package/asset. A quantity of information necessary for consuming one or a small number of MMT packages is little, but in a case where the plurality of MMT packages is provided through a broadcast network, the number of information tables providing the information necessary for consuming the MMT packages is increased. The MMT package is a transmission and storage object of the hybrid multimedia contents composed of various types of data, and may be, for example, music ranking contents including an application program through which voting is available. The MMT asset is a logic or physical object indicating a program and the like composing the MMT package, and in the music ranking contents package, each of a broadcast image, a broadcast audio, and the application program, through which voting is available, may be the MMT asset.

id in Table <NUM>, which is an identifier of the MIMT, may be a globally unique identifier, may be unique only within a range of a provider providing the MIMT, and may be unique only within a transmission network. As described above, a range of the validity of the MIMT may be determined according to a purpose of use of the MIMT.

MIMT Transmission Info provides information necessary for delivering the MIMT, and has two sub elements of StartTime and Retransmission Period. StartTime provides an initial transmission time of the MIMT, and Retransmission period notifies of a period with an interval of the transmission of the MIMT from the initial transmission time indicated by StartTime, to notify of information on a time at which a user's terminal to receive the MIMT is scheduled to receive the MIMT.

Event Reception provides information through which an event through which a business operator providing the MIMT or a service provider may notify the user's terminal of specific or arbitrary information is receivable. The event may be delivered through a unidirectional channel, such as a terrestrial broadcast channel and a bidirectional channel, such as an Internet network, and thus the information, through which the event is receivable through the unidirectional channel and the bidirectional channel, is provided. Even Reception includes IPBroadcastDelivery, PollURL, and PollPeriod as sub elements.

IPbroadcastDelivery provides event transmission information through the unidirectional channel, and has a port and an address as attributes. Address provides information on an IP address through which the event is delivered. The IP address may include a broadcast IP address, a multicast IP address, an IP address allocated by a service provider, and the like. Port provides information on a port address through which a datagram in which the event is delivered in an IP packet stream specified in the address is identifiable. The user's terminal may receive the event delivered through the unidirectional channel based on the information provided in Port and Address. PollURL and PollPeriod are information through which the event is received through the bidirectional channel. PollURL provides address information, such as URL, through which a user's terminal can directly read the event, and Pollperiod notifies of a time at which the event is renewed to notify the user's terminal of a time at which the user's terminal is to receive a next event.

Information Table Info provides an identifier, a version, a transmission time, a repetition period, reception information, and second reception information for other information tables connected with the MIMT to provide information on the MMT package/asset. The user's terminal to consume the MMT package/asset may receive other information tables providing information necessary for the consumption of the MMT package/asset by using Information Table Info. Information Table Info contains information on one or more other information tables, and the information on the information table includes an identifier of IT provided through InformationTableID, version information on an information table provided through Version, a transmission time of the information table provided through Transmission Time, a repetition transmission period of the information table provided through Repetition Period, an address, through which the information table is receivable, provided through Location, and another address, through which the information table is receivable, provided through <NUM>nd Location. The address may have different values according to an environment in which the information tables are delivered. For example, when the information tables are delivered through the MPEG-<NUM> TS stream, the address has a value provided for a channel reception in the TS system, when the information tables are delivered through the IP broadcast network, the address has an IP address and a port number, and when the information tables are delivered through the mobile communication network, the address is information necessary for the channel reception in the mobile communication network. In order to receive the information table through the information provided by <NUM>nd location in a case where the information table cannot be received through the information provided by Location, that is, in a case where information is obtained before the repetition period of the information table or it is impossible to directly access the transmission network through which the information is delivered, Location and <NUM>nd location are provided. For example, Location provides information through which the information table is receivable through the broadcast channel, and <NUM>nd location provides an address of a server capable of providing the information table so that the information table may be received by an appropriate method if necessary.

TableFilterCode provides criteria based on which the information tables are selected according to predetermined criteria to be used. An example usable as the predetermined criteria, that is, Criteria, includes a package ID, an asset ID, a genre, locations of the user's terminal, time, terminal capability, and the like. When TableFilterCode of the MMT provides a specific MMT package ID, the user's terminal may select and receive only the information tables corresponding to the package ID, or use only the information tables corresponding to the package ID among the received information tables or display only the information tables corresponding to the package ID among the received information tables to the user in order to provide the MMT package information.

PrivateExt is an element used when a business operator, an MMT package producing company, or a producer producing the MIMT desires to provide predetermined information.

Table <NUM> represents the composition of the MPCIT.

The MPCIT is a table providing composition information for the MMT package, and the information provided in the MPCIT is information on the MPCIT itself and composition information on the MMT package. The information on the MPCIT itself includes an identifier (ID) of the MPCIT, and a version of the MPCIT, and transmission information on the MACIT (MPCIT Transmission Info). The identifier of the MPCIT may be a globally unique identifier, and may be unique only within a range of a provider providing the MPCIT, and may be unique only within a transmission network. That is, a range of the validity of the MPCIT may be determined according to a purpose of use of the MPCIT. MPCIT Transmission Info provides information necessary for delivering the MPCIT, and has two sub elements of StartTime and Retransmission Period. StartTime provides an initial transmission time of the MPCIT, and Retransmission period notifies of a period with an interval of the transmission of the MPCIT from the initial transmission time indicated by StartTime, to notify of information on a time at which a device to receive the MPCIT is scheduled to receive the MPCIT. The composition information on the MMT package includes an identifier, a type, a name, a description, voice information, and text information of the package, viewer protection, target user information, information on requirements of a terminal necessary for consuming the MMT package, and information on assets composing the MMT package.

MMT Package ID is an identifier of the MMT package of which the composition information is provided by the MPCIT. MMP Package ID may be allocated by a producer of the MMT package, or may also be allocated by a service provider using the MMT package. Further, a range of validity of MMT Package ID may be globally unique, and may be unique for each region or each service provider. In the present invention, a system for allocating an identifier is not specifically suggested, but an identifier using a random method capable of identifying the MMT package may also be provided through MMP Package ID.

PackageType notifies of the type of package from a point of view of a content or a service. In order to help understanding, the embodiment of the present invention suggests seven types of package, <NUM> - unspecified, <NUM> - Basic Video, <NUM> - Basic Audio, <NUM> - Rich Media, <NUM> - ebook, <NUM> - application, <NUM> - Hybrid Package, and suggests the type of package so as to regulate additional <NUM> types of package. However, the type of package may be added according to a method of discriminating the MMT package by a producer of the MMT package or a service provider using the MMT package. Further, if <NUM> types of package are insufficient, the number of identifiers of the type of package may be increased. Name is a name of the MMT package through which the user may identify the MMT package. Description is a field providing the user with information on the MMT package, and provides information on a genre, summary, a provider, and the like, of the MMT package, and may be provided with several languages. AudioLanguage and TextLanguage provide information on an audio language and a text language used in the MMT package, and several languages may be used therefor. ParentalRating suggests an age of a user appropriate to consume the MMT package, and is used for providing information for preventing users of an age group, which are not suitable to consume the MMT package, from consuming the MMT package. TargetUserProfile provides a profile of a user expected to prefer a random MMT package, and may be, for example, an adolescent generation or people living in a specific place. Required Device Capability is a specification of a user's terminal recommended in consuming the MMT package indicated by the MPCIT, and may include a codec, a memory, a CPU speed, and a device screen size. List of Assets provides information on the asset composing the MMT package indicated by the MPCIT. List of Assets has sub elements of Asset ID and MACIT Info. Asset ID is identifiers of the assets composing the MMT package, MACIT INFO is information on the MACIT corresponding to the assets. The MACIT will be described in detail in Table <NUM>. Information provided in MACIT INFO may be an MACIT identifier and MACIT transmission information. PrivateExt and <Proprietary Elements> are elements used when a business operator, an MMT package producing company, or a producer producing the MPCIT desires to provide predetermined information.

Table <NUM> represents the composition of the MACIT.

The MACIT is a table providing the composition information on the MMT asset. The information provided in the MACIT is information on the MACIT itself and composition information on the MMT asset. The information on the MACIT itself is an identifier (ID) of the MACIT, a version of the MACIT, and transmission information on the MACIT (MACIT Transmission Info). The identifier of the MACIT is an identifier of the MACIT and may be a globally unique identifier, and may be unique only within a range of a provider providing the MACIT, and may be unique only within a transmission network. That is, a range of the validity of the MACIT may be determined according to a purpose of use of the MACIT. MACIT Transmission Info provides information necessary for delivering the MACIT, and has two sub elements of StartTime and Retransmission. StartTime provides an initial transmission time of the MACIT, and Retransmission period notifies of a period with an interval of the transmission of the MACIT from the initial transmission time indicated by StartTime, to notify of information on a time at which a device to receive the MACIT is scheduled to receive the MACIT.

The composition information on the MMT asset includes an identifier, a type, a name, a description, voice information, and text information of the asset, viewer protection, target user information, information on requirements of a terminal necessary for consuming the MMT asset, and information on components composing the MMT asset. The MMT asset may be composed of a single multimedia component, and may be composed of a plurality of multimedia components. An example of the asset composed of the single multimedia component includes a video asset, an audio asset, a text asset, a figure asset. An example of the asset composed of the plurality of multimedia components includes a basic image (basic layer) and an additional image (enhanced layer) of video contents generated by Scalable Video Coding (SVC), a plurality of audio sets composed of several languages, and one page, such as a web page, composed of several multimedia sources and the like.

MMT AssetID is an identifier of the MMT asset of which the composition information is provided by the MACIT. MMP AssetID may be allocated by a producer of the asset, or may also be allocated by a service provider using the asset. Further, a range of validity of MMT AssetID may be globally unique, and may be unique for each region or each service provider. In the present invention, a system for allocating an identifier is not specifically suggested, but an identifier using a random method capable of identifying the MMT asset may also be provided through MMP AssetID.

AssetType notifies of the type of asset from a point of view of a content, a service, or a package. In order to help understanding, the embodiment of the present invention suggests eight types of asset, <NUM> - unspecified, <NUM> - Basic Video, <NUM> - Basic Audio, <NUM> - Rich Media, <NUM> - ebook, <NUM> - application, <NUM> - text, <NUM> - HTML, and suggests the type of package so as to regulate additional <NUM> types of asset. However, the type of asset may be added according to a method of discriminating the asset by a producer of the asset or a service provider using the asset. Further, if <NUM> types of asset are insufficient, the number of identifiers of the types of asset may be increased. Name is a name of the asset within the MMT package through which the user may identify the MMT asset. Description is a field providing the user with information on the asset, and provides information on a format, a genre, summary, a provider, and the like, of the asset, and may be provided with several languages. AudioLanguage and TextLanguage provide information on an audio language and a text language used in the asset, and several languages may be used therefor. ParentalRating suggests an age of a user appropriate to consume the asset, and is used for providing information for preventing users of an age group, which are not suitable to consume the asset, from consuming the corresponding asset. TargetUserProfile provides a profile of a user expected to prefer a random MMT asset, and may be, for example, an adolescent generation or people living in a specific place. Required Device Capability is a specification of a device recommended in consuming the MMT asset indicated by the MACIT, and may include a codec, a memory, a CPU speed, and a device screen size. List of Assets provides information on multimedia components composing the MMT asset indicated by the MPCIT. Component Info is a field providing substantial information on the multimedia components, and may include a name, a form, and a type of the component, information necessary at a component level which is a specification necessary for reproducing the component, and the like. PrivateExt and <Proprietary Elements> are elements used when a business operator, an MMT asset producing company, or a producer producing the MACIT desires to provide predetermined information.

Table <NUM> represents the composition of the MAIT.

The MAIT is a table providing information through which the MMT package and asset are obtainable. The MAIT provides information on the MAIT itself and access information on a network through which the MMT package and asset are provided. The information on the MAIT itself includes an identifier (ID) of the MAIT, and a version of the MAIT, and transmission information on the MAIT (MAIT Transmission Info). The identifier of the MAIT may be a globally unique identifier, and may be unique only within a range of a provider providing the MAIT, and may be unique only within a transmission network. That is, a range of the validity of the MAIT may be determined according to a purpose of use of the MAIT. MAIT Transmission Info provides information necessary for delivering the MAIT, and has two sub elements of StartTime and Retransmission. StartTime provides an initial transmission time of the MAIT, and Retransmission period notifies of a period with an interval of the transmission of the MAIT from the initial transmission time indicated by StartTime, to notify of information on a time at which a device to receive the MAIT is scheduled to receive the MAIT. List of Packages or Assets notifies of the MMT packages and assets accessible through the MAIT. One MAIT may provide access information on one MMT package or asset, and may provide access information on a plurality of MMT packages or assets. In a case where one MAIT provides the access information on the plurality of MMT packages or assets, the MAIT may be used in order to prevent the MAIT from being duplicately provided when one service provider provides the plurality of MMT packages or assets.

AccessType provides information on a type for an access to the MMT package or asset suggested in List of Packages or Assets, and may include three types, BroadcastDelivery, UinicastDeliver, and HybridDelivery. BroadcastDelivery is a case where the MMT package or asset is delivered through the broadcast channel, and provides the type of network (Network Type) and SessionDescription which is information on a session that is a logic path through which the MMT package or asset is delivered as additional information. NetworkType notifies of a used network among broadcast dedicated networks (for example, Advanced Television System Committee (ATSC) that is the US terrestrial broadcasting standard, Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB) that is the European terrestrial broadcasting standard, and Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting - Terrestrial (ISDB-T) that is the Japanese terrestrial broadcasting standard), and a version of the broadcast network. Further, even in a case where the MMT package or asset is delivered through a portable broadcast network (for example, DVB-NGH, ISDB T2, ATSC M/H, and CMMB), information on the type and a version of the portable broadcast network is provided. In addition to the broadcast network or the portable broadcast network, information on a satellite broadcast network or other broadcasting dedicated networks may be added. SessionDescription is used when information on the broadcast network, other than the physical layer, is provided, and in a case of the IP-based broadcast network, the information may be provided by using the Session Description Protocol (SDP) method defined in the IETF, or information necessary for access to the MMT package or asset may be provided by a method defined in each broadcasting standard organization.

UnicastDelivery in AccessType provides the type of network through which access to the MMT package or asset is available, AccessURL providing an address of a server, and SessionDescription that is information on a session that is a logic path between the server and a client. A role of SessionDescription is the same as SessionDescription described in BroadcastDelivery. The server may recognize information on a protocol delivering the MMT package or asset through the type of UnicastDelivery. The protocol may include the protocol of MMT D. <NUM> defined in the MMT standard, HTTP, RTP, FTP, and the like. Access URL provides an address of a server from which the MMT package or asset is obtainable through a unicast network.

Hybrid Access Info provides access information for a case where the MMT package or asset is delivered through a hybrid network environment. The hybrid network environment means an environment in which at least two heterogeneous networks are used for delivering the MMT package or asset. HybridAccessInfo has two sub elements of Broadcast and Unicast. Broadcast provides information on a broadcast network among the hybrid networks and information on the MMT package or asset delivered through the broadcast network by using the form of BroadcastDelivery. Unicast provides information on a unicast network among the hybrid networks and information on the MMT package or asset delivered through the unicast network by using the form of UnicastDelivery.

One of the information provided by the MAIT is related to a Downloadable Conditional Access System (DCAS). The DCAS refers to a CAS which is not mounted on a terminal, but is downloaded for use if necessary. The CAS is typically directly mounted on a terminal, but may be downloaded by an efficient method capable of supporting various CAS solutions. The DCAS solution itself does not belong to the scope of the present invention, so a detailed description thereof will be omitted. In the present specification, a method of providing information on the DCAS through the MAIT when the DCAS is used in the MMT system is suggested. DCAS has sub elements of DCAS Type and DCASServerAddress. DCAS Type notifies of the type of CAS solution, and DCAServerAddress notifies of an address of a server from which the CAS solution and necessary security materials are receivable. PrivateExt and <Proprietary Elements> are elements used when a business operator, an MMT asset producing company, or a producer producing the MAIT desires to provide predetermined information.

The DCIT is a table providing device capability recommended for consuming the MMT package/asset. The DCIT provides information on the DCIT itself and information necessary for consuming the MMT package/asset. The information on the DCIT itself is an identifier (ID) of the DCIT, a version of the DCIT, and transmission information on the DCIT (DCIT Transmission Info). The identifier of the DCIT is an identifier of the DCIT and may be a globally unique identifier, may be unique only within a range of a provider providing the DCIT, or may be unique only within a transmission network. That is, the range of the validity of the DCIT may be determined according to a purpose of use of the DCIT. DCIT Transmission Info provides information necessary for delivering the DCIT, and has two sub elements of StartTime and Retransmission. StartTime provides an initial transmission time of the DCIT, and Retransmission period notifies of a period with an interval of the transmission of the DCIT from the initial transmission time indicated by StartTime, to notify of information on a time at which a device to receive the DCIT is scheduled to receive the DCIT.

DCIT provides a specification of a device for consuming a video and an audio, a specification of a device for downloading a file, and a specification of a device for consuming rich media. The terminal may determine whether it is possible to consume the MMT package/asset conforming to the DCIT based on the information provided by the DCIT. List of Package or Asset provides an ID of the MMT package/asset demanded in the specification of the device provided by the DCIT, or the MACIT providing the configuration information of the MMT package/asset, and the ID of the MACIT.

Claim 1:
A method for providing multimedia content in a system, the method comprising:
generating a packet according to a moving picture experts group, MPEG, media transport, MMT, protocol, the packet including a packet header and a packet payload, wherein the packet payload comprises a signalling message related to a package of the multimedia content; and
transmitting the generated packet to a receiving entity,
wherein the signalling message comprises:
a message type field (<NUM>) comprising information on a type of signalling information comprised in the signaling message,
a length field (<NUM>) comprising information on a length of the signalling message, and
a field (<NUM>) comprising, in a case where the type of the signalling information indicates the signalling message including a plurality of tables related to accessing the package, an identifier of each of the plurality of tables, and version information of each of the plurality of tables, and
a payload field (<NUM>) comprising the plurality of tables, and
wherein a first table of the plurality of tables comprises information on the remaining tables except the first table among of the plurality of tables,
wherein the information on the remaining tables comprises an identifier of a second table among the remaining table, version information of the second table, and location information of the second table.