HK1116612A1 - Method, server and client terminal for group members to watch network tv program synchronously - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for watching the network television, is applied to P2P live network television. The method comprises: a group client initiating the request for acquiring the information of the network television program to a group server; the group server returning the default identification information of the network television channel of this group and/or the identification information of the network television channel that other group members in this group are watching currently to the group client, based on the received request for acquiring the information of the network television program; the group client acquiring and playing the corresponding program content from the P2P network program server, based on the received identification information of the network television channel.

Description

Method for group members to watch network television simultaneously, server and client

Technical Field

The invention relates to P2P (Peer to Peer) network television live broadcast, in particular to a realization method for instant communication group members to watch network television simultaneously and a corresponding group server and group client.

Background

The P2P network allows people to interact directly through the internet. All devices in the P2P network are communication peers, and the devices at each peer are both client and server peers, with a large amount of data flowing in and out. The technical characteristics of P2P are as follows:

(1) how the network device is a server and a client depends on the requirements of users, and the network application is freely driven by the users.

(2) Information directly flows among network equipment, so that the speed is high, the time is short, and the transfer service cost is reduced.

(3) Form the basis and application of network device interaction.

(4) While the network information is decentralized, the P2P devices with the same characteristics can form a subnet existing in a large network such as the internet, so that the information is collected again in a new manner.

The P2P network television, i.e. the network program transmitted by means of P2P, all users watching the same program form a P2P network, each user can obtain program data from other users, and provide the program data to other users.

The existing P2P network tv broadcasting system includes a broadcasting client, a P2P network program server, the client connects to the program server and gets the program information and other client information of the currently watched program from the server, and then uses the obtained information to contact other clients and exchange data with other clients.

And the client acquires the streaming media data of the program, assembles the streaming supported by the player and plays the program.

In the existing P2P network television playing process, only the interaction between the client and the program server and the exchange of streaming media data between the clients are involved, but the clients cannot exchange with each other in the true sense, for example, a client user cannot actively inform other client users of the network television program being watched by the client user, so as to inform friends of the client user to watch the same program and realize an interactive mode of chatting while watching the program.

Disclosure of Invention

The invention provides a method for group members to watch network televisions simultaneously, which is used for solving the problem that the same instant messaging group member cannot conveniently watch the network televisions simultaneously in the prior art.

The method comprises the following steps:

A. the group client logs in the group server and initiates a request for acquiring the network television program information;

B. the group server returns the default of the group and/or the identification information of the network television channel currently watched by other group members of the group to the group client;

C. and the group client provides user selection for the network television channel identification information returned by the group server, and requests a P2P network program server providing network television programs and P2P network management to acquire and play corresponding program contents according to the network television channel selected by the user.

According to the method of the present invention, in the step B, when the group server receives the request for obtaining the network television program information initiated by the group client, it is determined whether the group has other group members currently watching the network television, if so, the identifier information of the network television channel currently watched by the other group members of the group is returned to the group client initiating the request, or the default identifier information of the network television channel currently watched by the other group members of the group and the default identifier information of the network television channel currently watched by the other group members of the group are returned at the same time; otherwise, only returning the default network television channel identification information of the group to the group client initiating the request.

According to the method of the present invention, in the step C, the group client displays a shortcut for selecting a corresponding tv channel in a local window according to the network tv channel identification information returned by the group server, so as to provide user selection.

According to the method, the group client periodically informs the group server of the current state information of the group client and the identification information of the network television channel being watched; and the group server updates the locally stored current state information of the group members and the identification information of the network television channels watched by the group members.

According to the method, the group client periodically acquires the current state information of other group members from the group server; the group server returns the current state information of other locally stored group members and the identification information of the network television channels watched by the group members;

and the group client stores the current state information of other group members returned by the group server and the identification information of the network television channels watched by the group members, and displays the current state information and the identification information in a local window.

According to the method, the group client initiates a channel notification request to the group server, and carries the identification information of the network television channel which is watched locally;

the group server informs the network television channel identification information carried in the channel notification request and the group client identification initiating the request to the group client of other group members in the same group;

and the group client side where the other group members are located selects the notified television channel, requests the P2P network program server for acquiring the corresponding program content and plays the program content.

After receiving the channel notification request, the group server acquires a program name, a program identifier or a current screenshot of a corresponding channel, sets the program name, the program identifier or the current screenshot as a hyperlink and sends the hyperlink to a current window of a group client where other group members are located;

and after the group client side where other group members are located catches the hyperlink clicked by the user, the user requests the P2P network program server to acquire and play the corresponding program content.

The invention provides a group server, which comprises a first input/output interface module, a group service module and a storage module, and also comprises: a first functional module;

when the group service module receives a request for acquiring network television program information initiated by a group client through the first input/output interface module, the first function module acquires the default network television channel identification information of the group and/or the network television channel identification information currently watched by other group members of the group from the storage module, and the network television channel identification information is returned to the group client initiating the request for the network television program information through the first input/output interface module.

The group server provided by the invention also comprises: a second functional module;

when the group service module receives the current state information sent by the group client and the identification information of the network television channel watched by the group service module through the first input/output interface module, the second function module updates the current state information of the group members stored in the storage module and the identification information of the network television channel watched by the group members;

when the group service module receives the current state information of other group members sent by the group client through the first input/output interface module, the second function module obtains the stored current state information of other group members and the identification information of the network television channels watched by the current state information of other group members from the storage module and returns the information to the group client through the first input/output interface module.

The group server provided by the invention also comprises: a third functional module;

after the group service module receives a channel notification request which is sent by a group client and carries identification information of a local network television channel being watched through the first input/output interface module, the third function module notifies the group client of other group members in the same group through the first input/output interface module of the network television channel identification information carried in the channel notification request and the identification of the group client initiating the request.

The group server provided by the invention also comprises: a fourth functional module;

the fourth functional module obtains the network television program information from a P2P network program server providing network television programs and P2P network management through the first input/output interface module, and determines and updates the default network television channel information of the group stored in the storage module.

The invention also provides a group client, which comprises a second input/output interface module, a group login module, a network television playing module, and further comprises: a fifth functional module;

the fifth functional module is configured to initiate a request for acquiring network television program information to the group server through the second input/output interface module after the group login module logs in the group server through the second input/output interface module, receive network television channel identification information, which is returned by the group server and is default in the group and/or currently watched by other group members in the group, and provide the network television channel identification information to the network television playing module, where the network television playing module requests, according to a selection of a user, the P2P network program server providing a network television program and P2P network management to acquire and play a corresponding program content.

The group client provided by the invention also comprises: a sixth functional module;

the sixth functional module is used for periodically informing the group server of the current state information of the sixth functional module and the identification information of the network television channel being watched, and periodically acquiring the current state information of other group members from the group server; and receiving the current state information of other group members returned by the group server and the identification information of the network television channels watched by the group members, and displaying the current state information and the identification information in a local window.

The group client provided by the invention also comprises: a seventh functional module;

the seventh functional module initiates a channel notification request carrying the identification information of the network television channel being watched locally to the group server through the second input/output interface module; receiving the information of the network television channels watched by other group members in the same group and notified by the group server, and displaying the information in a local window for a user to select; and when the television channel selected by the user for notification is captured, starting the network television playing module to request the P2P network program server for acquiring and playing the corresponding program content.

The invention has the following beneficial effects:

(1) in the method, after a group client logs in a group server, a request for acquiring network television program information is initiated; returning default network television channel identification information of the group to the group client by the group server; or returning the network television channel identification information currently watched by other group members of the group; or returning the default network television channel identification information of the group and the network television channel identification information currently watched by other group members of the group at the same time; the group client provides user selection for the network television channel identification information returned by the group server, and requests a P2P network program server providing network television programs and P2P network management to acquire and play corresponding program contents according to the network television channel selected by the user. Therefore, the same group member can acquire the network television channel (or the default network television channel) watched by other members of the group, the same network television program can be watched at the same time, the same group member can conveniently watch the program and chat, and the service experience of the user is improved.

(2) The invention also makes the group client end report the current state information of itself and the identification information of the network television channel being watched periodically, the group server updates the current state information of the group members stored locally and the identification information of the network television channel being watched; when the group server receives a request for acquiring the current state information of other group members periodically initiated by the group client, the locally stored current state information of the other group members and the identification information of the network television channels watched by the other group members are returned; the group client stores the current state information of other group members and the identification information of the watched network television channels returned by the group server, and displays the current state information and the identification information of the watched network television channels in a local window in real time, so that the state information of the group members is updated in real time, each group member can know the network television channels watched by the other group members in real time, and the user interaction is facilitated.

(3) The group client of the invention can also initiate a channel notification request, which is convenient for a certain group member to propose other group members to watch a certain television program together, the group server notifies each group member of the channel identifier of the notification request, and directly displays the name or screenshot identifier of the corresponding program in the current window of the group member, and receives the user selection to directly start to obtain the corresponding program content and play the program.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a network connection for group members to watch network TV simultaneously according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of the method of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a group server structure according to the present invention;

fig. 4 is a schematic diagram of a group client structure according to the present invention.

Detailed Description

The method for watching the network television by the group members simultaneously is applied to live broadcast of the P2P network television, and comprises the following steps:

the group client logs in the group server and initiates a request for acquiring the network television program information;

the group server returns the default network television channel identification information of the group to the group client; or returning the network television channel identification information currently watched by other group members of the group; or returning the default network television channel identification information of the group and the network television channel identification information currently watched by other group members of the group at the same time;

the group client provides user selection for the network television channel identification information returned by the group server, and requests a P2P network program server providing network television programs and P2P network management to acquire and play corresponding program contents according to the network television channel selected by the user.

The schematic diagram of the connection between the entities of the network when the group member simultaneously watches the network television is shown in fig. 1, which includes:

P2P network program server: a group of server clusters for network television broadcasting, which mainly provide network program information, maintain information of P2P network nodes, manage P2P network and the like;

group server of instant messaging: the main functions are as follows: maintaining group membership, forwarding instant messaging messages in the group, maintaining a program list and member states which are played in the current group, communicating with a P2P network program server, updating program information and the like;

group client: receiving the state information of other members in the group, sending program notification information to other group members through the group server, receiving the management of the P2P network program server and performing data exchange, performing data exchange with other clients and decoding and playing programs.

The above-mentioned method of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Referring to fig. 2, the method comprises the following steps:

step S101, logging in a group server by a group client;

step S102, a group client initiates a request for acquiring network television program information to a group server;

step S103, the group server judges whether other group members in the group are watching the network television currently, if so, step S104 is executed; otherwise, go to step S105;

step S104, returning the identification information of the network television channel currently watched by other group members of the group to the group client initiating the request, or simultaneously returning the default identification information of the network television channel currently watched by other group members of the group and the other group members of the group; executing step S106;

step S105, only returning the default network television channel identification information of the group to the group client initiating the request; executing step S106;

step S106, the group client provides the network television channel identification information returned by the group server for user selection; the specific implementation method comprises the following steps:

the group client displays a shortcut for selecting a corresponding television channel in a local window according to the network television channel identification information returned by the group server, and provides user selection;

step S107, starting screen capture;

step S108, judging whether the information of the network television channel selected by the user is captured, if so, executing step S109; otherwise, go to step S107;

step S109, according to the captured network TV channel selected by the user, requesting the P2P network program server providing the network TV program and P2P network management to obtain the corresponding program content and playing. The specific program content acquiring and playing method is the same as the playing mode of the P2P network television in the prior art, for example: the group client carries the network television channel ID selected by the user, requests the P2P network program server to acquire the corresponding program content and other network client information, and the P2P network program server returns the program content and other client address information requesting the same channel program, and the specific streaming media data acquisition and playing are the prior art in the P2P network, and will not be described in detail herein.

In the method provided by the invention, the group client can also periodically inform the current state information of the group client and the identification information of the network television channel being watched to the group server; the group server updates the current state information of the locally stored group members and the identification information of the network television channels watched by the group members.

In the method provided by the invention, the group client also periodically acquires the current state information of other group members from the group server; the group server returns the current state information of other locally stored group members and the identification information of the network television channels watched by the group members; the group client stores the current state information of other group members returned by the group server and the identification information of the network television channels watched by the group members, and displays the current state information and the identification information in a local window.

Current status information of group members, such as: including the group member's instant messaging ID, name, presence status, avatar ID, etc. If the group server returns that a certain member is watching the network television, an icon indicating that the member is watching the network television can be added in the member list displayed in the group client window to clearly indicate that the member is watching the network television, and a corresponding channel number or a corresponding program name and the like can be displayed according to the received network television channel identification which the member is watching (the specific channel number or the program name is issued by the group server).

When the group server returns the current state information of other group members and the identification information of the network television channel watched by the group members to the group client, the group server can return a program index table which comprises the channel ID, the corresponding program name and all the group client identifications for watching the channel. After receiving the program index table, the group client displays the program index table to the user in a local window, and when capturing the hyperlink clicked by the user, requests the corresponding program data from the P2P network program and plays the program data.

Particularly, in order to make a certain group member propose that other group members watch a certain television program together, in the method of the present invention, the group client may also initiate a channel notification request to the group server, carrying the identification information of the network television channel being watched locally, the group server notifies each group member of the channel identification requested to be notified, and directly displays the name or current screenshot of the corresponding program in the current window of the group member, and directly starts to acquire and play the corresponding program content after receiving the user selection.

For example: the method comprises the steps that a shortcut button for informing my channel is arranged at a group client, when the group client catches a user and clicks the shortcut button, a channel informing request is sent to a group server, and the group server is requested to inform each online group member of the network television channel which is watched locally; after receiving the channel notification request, the group server inquires out a program name and a program identifier corresponding to the channel requesting notification or acquires a current screenshot of the corresponding program, and sets the program name, the program identifier or the current screenshot as a hyperlink to be sent to a current window of a group client where other group members are located; and when the group client side where other group members are located catches the user and clicks the corresponding hyperlink, requesting the P2P network program server to acquire and play the corresponding program content.

When the group server sends the channel information requested to be notified by a certain group member to the group client, the group server can also send corresponding descriptive characters together, such as 'Liqu watching the machine cat 05, please enjoy the family together', and the like, so that the same group user can enhance the attribution feeling and the familiarity feeling.

According to the above method provided by the present invention, the present invention provides a group server 10, a schematic structural diagram of which is shown in fig. 3, including a first input/output interface module 101, a group service module 102, and a storage module 103, and further including: a first functional module 104;

when the group service module 102 receives a request for acquiring network television program information initiated by a group client through the first input/output interface module 101, the first function module 104 acquires the default network television channel identification information of the group, the network television channel identification information currently watched by other group members of the group, or the network television channel identification information currently watched by the default network television channel identification information and other group members of the group from the storage module 103, and returns the information to the group client initiating the request for network television program information through the first input/output interface module 101.

The group server 10 provided by the present invention further includes: a second functional module 105;

when the group service module 102 receives the current state information sent by the group client and the identifier information of the network television channel being watched through the first input/output interface module 101, the second function module 105 updates the current state information of the group members and the identifier information of the network television channel being watched, which are stored in the storage module 103;

when the group service module 102 receives the current state information of other group members from the group client through the first input/output interface module 101, the second function module 105 obtains the stored current state information of other group members and the identifier information of the network television channels watched by the other group members from the storage module 103 and returns the obtained current state information and the identifier information to the group client initiating the obtaining request through the first input/output interface module 101.

The group server 10 provided by the present invention further includes: a third functional module 106;

after the group service module 102 receives a channel notification request carrying the identifier information of the network television channel being watched locally sent by the group client through the first input/output interface module 101, the third function module 106 notifies the network television channel identifier information carried in the channel notification request and the identifier of the group client initiating the request to the group client where other group members in the same group are located through the first input/output interface module 101.

The group server 10 provided by the present invention further includes: a fourth functional module 107;

the fourth functional module 107 obtains the iptv program information from the P2P server providing iptv programs and P2P network management through the first input/output interface module 101, and determines and updates the default channel information of the iptv group.

The present invention further provides a group client 20, which includes a second input/output interface module 201, a group login module 202, and a network television playing module 203, and further includes: a fifth functional module 204;

the fifth function module 204 is configured to initiate a request for obtaining network television program information to a group server after the group login module 202 logs in the group server through the second input/output interface module 201, receive network television channel identification information returned by the group server, provide the network television channel identification information to the network television playing module 203, and request, by the network television playing module 203 through the second input/output interface module 201, to a P2P network program server providing a network television program and P2P network management to obtain and play corresponding program content.

The group client 20 provided by the present invention further includes: a sixth functional module 205;

the sixth functional module 205 periodically notifies the group server of the current state information of the group server and the identifier information of the currently watched iptv channel through the second input/output interface module 201, and periodically obtains the current state information of other group members from the group server; and receiving the current state information of other group members returned by the group server and the identification information of the network television channels watched by the group members, and displaying the current state information and the identification information in a local window.

The group client 20 provided by the present invention further includes: a seventh functional module 206;

the seventh functional module 206 initiates a channel notification request carrying the identifier information of the currently watched network television channel to the group server through the second input/output interface module 201; receiving the information of the network television channels watched by other group members in the same group and notified by the group server, and displaying the information in a local window for a user to select; when the tv channel selected by the user is captured, the network tv playing module 203 is started to request the P2P network program server to obtain the corresponding program content and play it.

In summary, in the method of the present invention, after the group client logs in the group server, a request for acquiring network television program information is initiated; returning default network television channel identification information of the group to the group client by the group server; or returning the network television channel identification information currently watched by other group members of the group; or returning the default network television channel identification information of the group and the network television channel identification information currently watched by other group members of the group at the same time; the group client provides user selection for the network television channel identification information returned by the group server, and requests a P2P network program server providing network television programs and P2P network management to acquire and play corresponding program content according to the network television channel selected by the user. Therefore, the same group member can acquire the network television channel (or the default network television channel) watched by other members of the group, the same network television program can be watched at the same time, the same group member can conveniently watch the program and chat, and the service experience of the user is improved.

The invention also makes the group client end report the current state information of itself and the identification information of the network television channel being watched periodically, the group server updates the current state information of the group members stored locally and the identification information of the network television channel being watched; when the group server receives a request for acquiring the current state information of other group members periodically initiated by the group client, the locally stored current state information of the other group members and the identification information of the network television channels watched by the other group members are returned; the group client stores the current state information of other group members and the identification information of the watched network television channels returned by the group server, and displays the current state information and the identification information of the watched network television channels in a local window in real time, so that the state information of the group members is updated in real time, each group member can know the network television channels watched by the other group members in real time, and the user interaction is facilitated.

The group client of the invention can also initiate a channel notification request, which is convenient for a certain group member to propose other group members to watch a certain television program together, the group server notifies each group member of the channel identifier of the notification request, and directly displays the name or screenshot identifier of the corresponding program in the current window of the group member, and receives the user selection to directly start to obtain the corresponding program content and play the program.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, if such modifications and variations of the present invention fall within the scope of the claims of the present invention and their equivalents, the present invention is also intended to include such modifications and variations.

Claims (14)

1. A method for group members to watch network television simultaneously is applied to P2P network television live broadcast, and is characterized by comprising the following steps:

A. the group client logs in the group server and initiates a request for acquiring the network television program information;

B. the group server returns the default of the group and/or the identification information of the network television channel currently watched by other group members of the group to the group client;

C. and the group client provides user selection for the network television channel identification information returned by the group server, and requests a P2P network program server providing network television programs and P2P network management to acquire and play corresponding program contents according to the network television channel selected by the user.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein in step B, when the group server receives the request for obtaining the network tv program information initiated by the group client, it determines whether there is other group members currently watching the network tv in the group, if so, it returns the network tv channel identification information currently watched by other group members in the group to the group client initiating the request, or returns the network tv channel identification information currently watched by default and other group members in the group; otherwise, only returning the default network television channel identification information of the group to the group client initiating the request.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein in step C, the group client displays a shortcut for selecting a corresponding tv channel in a local window according to the network tv channel identification information returned by the group server, so as to provide user selection.

4. The method according to any claim 1-3, wherein the group client periodically notifies the group server of its current status information and the identifier information of the network television channel being watched; and the group server updates the locally stored current state information of the group members and the identification information of the network television channels watched by the group members.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the group client periodically obtains current status information of other group members from the group server; the group server returns the current state information of other locally stored group members and the identification information of the network television channels watched by the group members;

and the group client stores the current state information of other group members returned by the group server and the identification information of the network television channels watched by the group members, and displays the current state information and the identification information in a local window.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising: the group client initiates a channel notification request to the group server, and carries the identification information of the network television channel watched locally;

the group server informs the network television channel identification information carried in the channel notification request and the group client identification initiating the request to the group client of other group members in the same group;

and the group client side where the other group members are located selects the notified television channel, requests the P2P network program server for acquiring the corresponding program content and plays the program content.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the group server obtains a program name, a program identifier or a current screenshot of a corresponding channel after receiving the channel notification request, and sets the program name, the program identifier or the current screenshot as a hyperlink to be sent to a current window of a group client where other group members are located;

and after the group client side where other group members are located catches the hyperlink clicked by the user, the user requests the P2P network program server to acquire and play the corresponding program content.

8. A group server, including the first input/output interface module, group service module, memory module, characterized by, also include: a first functional module;

when the group service module receives a request for acquiring network television program information initiated by a group client through the first input/output interface module, the first function module acquires the default network television channel identification information of the group and/or the network television channel identification information currently watched by other group members of the group from the storage module, and the network television channel identification information is returned to the group client initiating the request for the network television program information through the first input/output interface module.

9. The group server of claim 8, further comprising: a second functional module;

when the group service module receives the current state information sent by the group client and the identification information of the network television channel watched by the group service module through the first input/output interface module, the second function module updates the current state information of the group members stored in the storage module and the identification information of the network television channel watched by the group members; when the group service module receives the current state information of other group members sent by the group client through the first input/output interface module, the second function module obtains the stored current state information of other group members and the identification information of the network television channels watched by the current state information of other group members from the storage module and returns the information to the group client through the first input/output interface module.

10. The group server of claim 8, further comprising: a third functional module;

after the group service module receives a channel notification request which is sent by a group client and carries identification information of a local network television channel being watched through the first input/output interface module, the third function module notifies the group client of other group members in the same group through the first input/output interface module of the network television channel identification information carried in the channel notification request and the identification of the group client initiating the request.

11. The group server of any of claims 8-10, further comprising: a fourth functional module;

the fourth functional module obtains the network television program information from a P2P network program server providing network television programs and P2P network management through the first input/output interface module, and determines and updates the default network television channel information of the group stored in the storage module.

12. A group client comprises a second input/output interface module, a group login module and a network television playing module, and is characterized by further comprising: a fifth functional module;

the fifth functional module is configured to initiate a request for acquiring network television program information to the group server through the second input/output interface module after the group login module logs in the group server through the second input/output interface module, receive network television channel identification information, which is returned by the group server and is default in the group and/or currently watched by other group members in the group, and provide the network television channel identification information to the network television playing module, where the network television playing module requests, according to a selection of a user, the P2P network program server providing a network television program and P2P network management to acquire and play a corresponding program content.

13. The group client of claim 12, further comprising: a sixth functional module;

the sixth functional module is used for periodically informing the group server of the current state information of the sixth functional module and the identification information of the network television channel being watched, and periodically acquiring the current state information of other group members from the group server; and receiving the current state information of other group members returned by the group server and the identification information of the network television channels watched by the group members, and displaying the current state information and the identification information in a local window.

14. The group client of claim 12 or 13, further comprising: a seventh functional module;

the seventh functional module initiates a channel notification request carrying the identification information of the network television channel being watched locally to the group server through the second input/output interface module; receiving the information of the network television channels watched by other group members in the same group and notified by the group server, and displaying the information in a local window for a user to select; and when the television channel selected by the user for notification is captured, starting the network television playing module to request the P2P network program server for acquiring and playing the corresponding program content.