Television Content Management for Clients

• US 20090313666A1
• Filed: 06/17/2008
• Published: 12/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Pruter, Sascha, Vink, Fransiscus W., Baldwin, James A.
• Application Number:
  US12/141,047
• Publication Number:
  US 20090313666A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/93
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2463/101 applying security measures for digital rights management data processing systems or methods, specially adapted for commerce, e.g. marketing, shopping, billing, auctions or e-commerce G06Q30/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/45 Network directories; Name-to-address mapping
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/18 using different networks or channels, e.g. using out of band channels cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key distribution involving distinctive intermediate devices or communication paths H04L9/0827; cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for authentication using a plurality of channels H04L9/3215
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2541 Rights Management protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10; security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25816 involving client authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25866 Management of end-user data customer care in data networks H04L41/5077
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42684 Client identification by a unique number or address, e.g. serial number, MAC address, socket ID network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming H04L61/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44222 Analytics of user selections, e.g. selection of programs or purchase activity monitoring of user selections in data processing systems G06F11/34; arrangements for monitoring the user's behaviour or opinions in broadcast systems H04H60/33
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64322 IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

Techniques to manage television content for clients are described. In an implementation, a call is formed to an application programming interface (API) to include an identifier of a client that requested television content and a network address via which the television content is accessible. Whether the television content is to be streamed to the client is managed based on an answer that is received responsive to the call; and includes a result of a determination of whether the client is permitted to consume the television content from the network address.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

forming a call to an application programming interface (API) to include an identifier of a client that requested television content and a network address via which the television content is accessible; and

managing whether the television content is to be streamed to the client based on an answer that;

is received responsive to the call; and

includes a result of a determination of whether the client is permitted to consume the television content from the network address.

2. A method as described in claim 1, wherein:

the forming and the managing are performed by one or more modules of an access network of a network operator; and

the API is provided by a backend of the network operator.

3. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the forming and the managing are performed by a digital subscriber line access multiplexer (DSLAM).

4. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the network address is a multicast address received from the client.

5. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the managing is performed such that the client does not receive a stream of the requested television content when the client is not permitted to consume the television content from the network address.

6. A method as described in claim 5, the managing is performed such that the client is permitted to receive a stream of other television content from another network address by a network operator that performs the forming and the managing when the client is not permitted to consume the requested television content from the network address.

7. A method as described in claim 1, further comprising:

collecting a log that describes interaction of the client with television content;

determining whether the client is permitted to access the television content described in the log; and

managing communication of subsequent television content based on the determining.

8. A method as described in claim 7, wherein the managing includes blocking specific streams of the television content to the client that the client is not permitted to access.

9. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the television content is to be streamed to the client over an Internet Protocol (IP) network.

10. A method comprising:

collecting a log by a network operator that describes interaction of a client with television content;

determining whether the client is permitted to access the television content described in the log; and

managing communication of subsequent television content based on the determining.

11. A method as described in claim 10, wherein:

the log is collected from the client; and

the client monitors the interaction with the television content.

12. A method as described in claim 10, wherein the log describes interaction by the client with multicast addresses that are used to stream the television content to the client.

13. A method as described in claim 10, wherein the log is a digital subscriber line access multiplexer (DSLAM) event log.

14. A method as described in claim 10, wherein the managing includes blocking specific streams of the television content to the client that the client is not permitted to access.

15. A method as described in claim 10, wherein the communication of the subsequent television content is to be performed using an Internet Protocol (IP) network.

16. An apparatus comprising one or more modules to:

connect a plurality of digital subscriber lines to an Internet backbone using one or more multiplexing techniques, in which each of the plurality of digital subscriber lines is connectable to a respective one or more of a plurality of clients; and

managing whether requested television content is to be streamed to one or more said clients by forming a call to an application programming interface (API) to determine whether the one or more said client are permitted to receive the requested television content.

17. An apparatus as described in claim 16, wherein the call to the application programming interface is to be communicated over the Internet backbone.

18. An apparatus as described in claim 16, wherein the managing includes blocking specific streams of the television content to the one or more said clients that the one or more said clients are not permitted to access

19. An apparatus as described in claim 16, wherein the managing includes blocking each stream of television content from the one or more modules to the one or more said clients when the one or more said clients are not permitted to access the requested television content.

20. A digital subscriber line access multiplexer (DSLAM) that includes the apparatus as described in claim 16.