Personalized Media Server in a Service Provider Network

• US 20100281174A1
• Filed: 05/04/2009
• Published: 11/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TiVo Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Comcast Cable Holdings LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Cook, Michael J., Poder, Jim
• Granted Patent: US 8,190,751 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/228
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/185 with management of multicast group membership
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4633 Interconnection of networks using encapsulation techniques, e.g. tunneling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/2514 between local and global IP addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/2578 without involvement of the NAT server
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/2592 using tunnelling or encapsulation
• 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: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/141 Setup of application sessions admission control or resource allocation in data switching networks H04L47/70

Abstract

Apparatuses and methods support a media server that is hosted in a service provider'"'"'s network so that media content can be stored from or rendered to a Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) network. Media content may be stored directly by accessing the media server or by downloading the media content to the media server. A tunnel is established between an endpoint in the DLNA network through the service provider infrastructure to the media server. Subsequently, a session may be established between a DLNA device to the media server through the tunnel using a virtual address, where the media server is addressable as a virtual device within the DLNA network so that the virtual address is part of an address space of the DLNA network. The media server may support a plurality of DLNA networks, in which a tunnel is established to the media service for each DLNA network.

Claims

1. A media server comprising:

a memory; and

a processor configured to retrieve executable instructions from the memory and to perform;

establishing a first tunnel with a first endpoint in a first private network, wherein the first tunnel is associated with a physical address of the media server; and

establishing a first session between a first device in the first private network through the first tunnel using a first virtual address, wherein the media server is external to the first private network and wherein the media server is locally addressable within the first private network using the first virtual address.

2. The media server of claim 1, wherein the first virtual address is contained in an address space of the first private network.

3. The media server of claim 2, wherein the address space is within an address range associated with a cable modem of the first private network.

4. The media server of claim 1, wherein the first tunnel utilizes a Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol (L2TP).

5. The media server of claim 1, wherein the first tunnel utilizes a secure shell (SSH) tunneling protocol.

6. The media server of claim 1, wherein the first session comprises a Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) session.

7. The media server of claim 1, wherein the first private network comprises a Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) network.

8. The media server of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to perform:

establishing a second tunnel with a second endpoint in a second private network; and

establishing a second session between a second device in the second private network through the second tunnel using a second virtual address, wherein the media server is external to the second private network and wherein the media server is locally addressable within the second private network using the second virtual address.

9. The media server of claim 1, wherein the first tunnel is established between a cable modem of the first private network and the media server.

10. The media server of claim 1, wherein the first tunnel is established between a local network router of the first private network and the media server.

11. The media server of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to perform:

establishing a second session between a second device in the first private network through the first tunnel.

26. The media server of claim 1, wherein the first session comprises a Point to Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP).

12. A computer-implemented method comprising:

establishing a first tunnel with a first endpoint in a first private network, wherein the first tunnel is associated with a physical address of the media server; and

establishing a first session between a first device in the first private network through the first tunnel using a first virtual address, wherein the media server is external to the first private network and wherein the media server is locally addressable within the first private network using the first virtual address.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the first virtual address of the media server is within an address range associated with a cable modem of the first private network.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the first tunnel utilizes a Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol (L2TP).

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the first tunnel utilizes a secure shell (SSH) tunneling protocol.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the first session comprises a Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) session.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

establishing a second tunnel with a second endpoint in a second private network; and

establishing a second session between a second device in the second private network through the second tunnel using a second virtual address, wherein the media server is external to the second private network and wherein the media server is locally addressable within the second private network using the second virtual address.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the first virtual address is part of an address space of the first private network.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the first tunnel is established between a cable modem of the first private network and the media server.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein the first tunnel is established between a local network router and the media server.

21. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

establishing a second session between a second device in the first private network through the first tunnel.

22. The method of claim 12, wherein the first private network comprises a Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) network.

23. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions that when executed perform:

establishing a first tunnel with a first endpoint in a first private network, wherein the first tunnel is associated with a physical address of the media server; and

establishing a first session between a first device in the first private network through the first tunnel using a first virtual address, wherein the media server is external to the first private network and wherein the media server is locally addressable within the first private network using the first virtual address.

24. A computer-readable medium of claim 23, wherein the instructions further perform:

establishing a second tunnel with a second endpoint in a second private network; and

establishing a second session between a second device in the second private network through the second tunnel using a second virtual address, wherein the media server is external to the second private network and wherein the media server is locally addressable within the second private network using the second virtual address.

25. The computer-readable medium of claim 23, wherein the first private network comprises a Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) network.