Locally originated IPTV programming

• US 20080046946A1
• Filed: 08/21/2006
• Published: 02/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Sbc Knowledge Ventures, L.P.
• Inventors: Walter, Edward, Diroo, Yolius, Wollmershauser, Steven M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,471,903 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/112
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/611 for multicast or broadcast systems for broadcast or conference H04L12/18; arrangements for broadcast or distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/00; arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time H04H60/00; selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS], H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26616 for merging a unicast channel into a multicast channel, e.g. in a VOD application, when a client served by unicast channel catches up a multicast channel to save bandwidth data multicast over packet-switching network H04L12/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4147 PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42646 for reading from or writing on a non-volatile solid state storage medium, e.g. DVD, CD-ROM
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6175 involving transmission via Internet broadcast-related systems characterised by the transmission system being the Internet H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/52 Systems for transmission of a pulse code modulated video signal with one or more other pulse code modulated signals, e.g. an audio signal or a synchronizing signal assembling of a multiplex stream by combining a video stream with other content or additional data, remultiplexing of multiplex streams, insertion of stuffing bits into the multiplex stream, assembling of a packetised elementary stream at server side H04N21/236; disassembling of a multiplex stream, remultiplexing of multiplex streams, extraction or processing of Service Information, disassembling of packetised elementary stream at client side H04N21/434

Abstract

In an embodiment, a third party video content database is coupled to an IPTV network. The IPTV network includes a plurality of set top boxes (STBs). The third party video content database is mapped to the IPTV network via an IP address of the third party content database, and it is associated with an assigned channel on the IPTV network. One or more STBs of the IPTV network have access to the assigned channel.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) server configured to;

receive video content captured by an Internet Protocol (IP) camera;

store the video content in a video database on the server;

associate an IP address of the video database to an assigned channel of an IPTV network; and

associate the assigned channel with one or more set top boxes (STBs) coupled to the IPTV network.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the IP camera comprises a security camera.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the IP camera is placed at a multi-unit dwelling, and further wherein one or more residents of the multi-unit dwelling has access to the video content of the IP camera via the assigned channel.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a list of subscribers having access to the assigned channel.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the list of subscribers is resolved by one or more of a zip code, an area code, a market zone, and a geographic zone.

6. The system of claim 4, further comprising a module to create the list of subscribers.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a network performance testing module to monitor the performance of the IPTV network.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of video streams available from the video database; and

a menu to list the plurality of video streams.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising an IP gateway coupling an analog camera to the IPTV network.

10. A method comprising:

receiving video content over an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) network, the video content collected by an Internet Protocol (IP) camera coupled to a Set Top Box (STB);

storing the video content in a video database;

associating an IP address of the video database to an assigned channel of the IPTV network; and

associating the assigned channel with one or more STBs coupled to the IPTV network.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising configuring the assigned channel so that the assigned channel is shared by a plurality of parties supplying video content through a plurality of IP cameras.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising providing one or more subscribers with access to the assigned channel.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising associating the assigned channel to the one or more subscribers by one or more of a zip code, an area code, a market zone, and a geographic zone.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising identifying subscribers that have access to the assigned channel.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising making available on demand the content to a subscriber.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

conducting network performance testing on the assigned channel;

determining when the bandwidth is outside a parameter on the assigned channel; and

transmitting an alert when the bandwidth is outside the parameter on the assigned channel.

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising notifying a subscriber that content is available for viewing on the assigned channel.

18. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

transmitting multiple video streams to at least one of the STBs having access to the assigned channel; and

presenting a menu of the multiple video streams for the assigned channel.

19. A Set-Top Box (STB) configured to:

receive video content from a video database coupled to an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) network; and

display the video content on an assigned channel of the IPTV network;

wherein the video content originates from an Internet Protocol (IP) camera coupled to the IPTV network through a second STB;

wherein the video database is accessible to the IPTV network through an Internet Protocol (IP) address of the video database; and

wherein the content of the video database is associated with the assigned channel on the IPTV network.

20. The Set-Top Box of claim 19, further comprising an identifier to provide authentication for the STB to view the video content.