Service Execution Environment for Digital Multimedia

Broadband networking concepts and technologies, such as open signalling, IP switching and xDSL technologies are experiencing a rapid evolution whereas the service concept in traditional ATM networks has not evolved at the same pace. As opposed to the broadband IN-based approach we have composed one vision of a flexible broadband media services and network architecture. The key issue is flexibility in the creation and deployment of new services by service providers that operate independent of the network operator. This can be achieved by introducing an architecture where an open network control interface and a Service Execution Environment (SEE) are provided for service applications. In this environment the service itself can control the network to set up media service sessions. A Java-based SEE is suggested for implementing such an environment. The Java SEE would provide the basic functionality (such as media stream setup/teardown, user and service authentication and billing) on top of which the service providers could implement their services. This enables a flexible distribution of service logic between clients, servers and network nodes.