System and method for providing managed point to point services
First Claim
1. A network services system comprising:
- a video content source operable to output an information stream in response to a delivery request and further operable to discontinue output of the information stream in response to a cease request, the video content source having a unique address;
a mapping engine maintaining a list of available content sources comprising the video content source;
an access engine operable to receive a signal indicative of a user input from a user device, the user input comprising an alias mapable to the unique address and indicating a desire for the information stream; and
a services engine communicatively coupled to the access engine and operable to initiate establishment of at least a portion of a point to point communication link between the user device and the video content source, the network services engine further operable to initiate sending of the delivery request and to track a metric associated with user access to the information stream.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for providing managed point-to-point services are disclosed. In one embodiment of a system incorporating teachings of the present disclosure, a services management center may be capable of receiving a request for connection to a video content source. A requesting user may be part of one managed network and the content source may be part of another network. The content source may be able output an information stream. In operation, the center may determine an address for the video content source and initiate the formation of at least a portion of a point-to-point communication link between the requesting user and the video content source. In some embodiments, the center may be able to track a metric associated with communication of the information stream and may generate a billing record at least partially based upon the metric.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A network services system comprising:
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a video content source operable to output an information stream in response to a delivery request and further operable to discontinue output of the information stream in response to a cease request, the video content source having a unique address;
a mapping engine maintaining a list of available content sources comprising the video content source;
an access engine operable to receive a signal indicative of a user input from a user device, the user input comprising an alias mapable to the unique address and indicating a desire for the information stream; and
a services engine communicatively coupled to the access engine and operable to initiate establishment of at least a portion of a point to point communication link between the user device and the video content source, the network services engine further operable to initiate sending of the delivery request and to track a metric associated with user access to the information stream. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A network services method comprising:
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receiving a request for connection to a video content source operable to output an information stream;
determining an address for the video content source;
initiating formation of at least a portion of a point to point communication link with the video content source;
tracking a metric associated with communication of the information stream; and
generating a billing record at least partially based upon the metric. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A computer-readable medium having computer-readable data to receive a request for connection to a video content source operable to output an information stream, to determine an address for the video content source, to initiate formation of at least a portion of a point to point communication link with the video content source, to issue a notification of a cost associated with accessing the video content source, to accept a prepayment input indicating a method of paying the cost, to track a metric associated with communication of the information stream, and to generate a billing record at least partially based upon the metric.
Specification