METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TRANSPORTING CONTENT

• US 20100284412A1
• Filed: 05/05/2009
• Published: 11/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: MEUNINCK, TROY C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,160,073 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/401
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2834 Switching of information between an external network and a home network access arrangements H04L12/2856
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4641 Virtual LANs, VLANs, e.g. virtual private networks [VPN] LAN interconnection over a bridge based backbone H04L12/462; encapsulation techniques H04L12/4633; routing of packets H04L45/00; packet switches H04L49/00; virtual private networks for security H04L63/0272
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/70 Admission control; Resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1016 IP multimedia subsystem [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25808 Management of client data terminal profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/303
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25841 involving the geographical location of the client retrieval from the Internet by querying based on geographical locations G06F16/9537; arrangements for identifying locations of receiving stations in broadcast systems H04H60/51; location of the user terminal in data switching networks H04L67/52; services making use of the location of users or terminals in wireless networks H04W4/02; locating users or terminals in wireless networks H04W64/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64322 IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/647 Control signaling between network components and server or clients; Network processes for video distribution between server and clients, e.g. controlling the quality of the video stream, by dropping packets, protecting content from unauthorised alteration within the network, monitoring of network load, bridging between two different networks, e.g. between IP and wireless real-time session protocols H04L65/1101
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0478 Provisions for broadband connections

Abstract

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a controller operable to receive signaling information from a local resource manager (LRM) identifying a recipient media processor (RMP) and describing at least one media characteristic of media content selected by an initiating media processor (IMP) to be presented at the RMP, determine a location of the RMP and a media capability of the RMP, compare the media capability of the RMP to the at least one media characteristic of the media content, determine a media configuration of at least one network element in an interactive television network based on the comparison, configure at least one network element of a virtual private network (VPN) based on the media configuration, and transmit signaling information to the LRM to enable the IMP to present the media content at the RMP over the VPN. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. An initiating media processor (IMP) operating in a private premises, comprising a controller to:

select media content and a recipient media processor (RMP) to present the media content;

transmit signaling information to a local resource manager (LRM) in proximity to the premises via a gateway,

wherein the signaling information identifies the RMP and contains information describing a plurality of media characteristics of the selected media content,

wherein the LRM informs a global resource manager (GRM) operating in an interactive television (iTV) network and located remotely from the premises of a need to present at the RMP the selected media content having at least a portion of the plurality of media characteristics,

wherein the GRM identifies a location of the RMP and a media capability of the RMP,

wherein the GRM compares the media capability of the RMP to the plurality of media characteristics of the selected media content,

wherein the GRM identifies a media configuration of one or more network elements of the iTV network according to the foregoing comparison to enable presentation of the selected media content at the RMP,

wherein the GRM establishes a virtual private network (VPN) connection in the iTV network for supporting media communications between the IMP and the RMP,

wherein the GRM configures one or more network elements of the VPN according to the media configuration, and

wherein the GRM transmits signaling information to the LRM associated with the configured VPN;

receive from the LRM signaling information to enable the IMP to present at the RMP the selected media content over the configured VPN; and

present the selected media content at the RMP via the configured VPN.

2. The IMP of claim 1, wherein the iTV network comprises at least one of an internet protocol television (IPTV) network, an interactive cable television network, and an interactive satellite television network.

3. The IMP of claim 1, wherein the media content comprises at least one of video content, image content, audio content, and text content.

4. The IMP of claim 1, wherein the plurality of media characteristics of the selected media content comprise at least one of an encoding format, a protocol, a resolution format, and an aspect ratio format.

5. The IMP of claim 1, wherein the one or more network elements of the configured VPN comprise at least one of one or more routers and an encoder.

6. The IMP of claim 1, wherein the IMP and the RMP each comprise one of a set-top box, a media player, and a digital video recorder.

7. The IMP of claim 1, wherein the LRM and the GRM each comprise one of a gateway and a router.

8. The IMP of claim 1, wherein the presentation step comprises streaming the media content at the RMP.

9. A local resource manager (LRM), comprising a controller to:

receive signaling information from an initiating media processor (IMP) operating in a premises and located in proximity to the LRM, wherein the signaling information identifies a recipient media processor (RMP) and contains information describing at least one media characteristic of media content selected by the IMP;

communicate the signaling information to a global resource manager (GRM) located remotely from the premises and operating in an interactive television (iTV) network, wherein the GRM is operable to;

determine from the signaling information a location of the RMP and a media capability of the RMP;

compare the media capability of the RMP to the at least one media characteristic of the media content;

determine a media configuration of at least one network element in the iTV network based on the comparison;

establish a virtual private network (VPN) connection between the IMP and the RMP;

configure at least one network element of the VPN according to the media configuration; and

transmit signaling information to the LRM describing the VPN configuration; and

receive from the GRM the signaling information; and

enable the IMP to present at the RMP the media content over the configured VPN according to the signaling information received from the GRM.

10. The LRM of claim 9, wherein the iTV network comprises one of an internet protocol television (IPTV), an interactive cable television network, and an interactive satellite television network.

11. The LRM of claim 9, wherein the IMP adds a first identifier to signaling information it transmits to the LRM to distinguish it from signaling information from another IMP, wherein the LRM adds a second identifier to signaling information it transmits to the GRM to distinguish it from signaling information from another LRM, and wherein the GRM adds a third identifier to the signaling information it transmits to the LRM to identify which IMP the signaling information is intended for.

12. The LRM of claim 9, wherein the IMP streams the media content to the RMP over the configured VPN.

13. The LRM of claim 9, wherein the media content is presented by one of the IMP and a device independent of the IMP, wherein the device is capable of accessing the media content selected by the IMP.

14. The LRM of claim 9, wherein the at least one media characteristic of the media content comprises at least one of an encoding format, a protocol, a resolution format, and an aspect ratio format.

15. The LRM of claim 9, wherein the LRM and the GRM each comprise one of a gateway and a router.

16. The LRM of claim 9, wherein the IMP and the RMP each comprise one of a set-top box, a media player, and a digital video recorder.

17. The LRM of claim 9, wherein the at least one network element of the configured VPN comprises at least one of one or more routers and an encoder.

18. A global resource manager (GRM) operating in an interactive television (iTV) network, comprising a controller to:

receive signaling information from a local resource manager (LRM) located remotely from the GRM, wherein the signaling information identifies a recipient media processor (RMP) and contains information describing at least one media characteristic of media content selected by an initiating media processor (IMP);

determine a location of the RMP and a media capability of the RMP;

compare the media capability of the RMP to the at least one media characteristic of the media content;

determine a media configuration of at least one network element in the iTV network based on the comparison;

establish a virtual private network (VPN) connection to support communications between the IMP and the RMP;

configure at least one network element of the VPN based on the media configuration; and

transmit signaling information associated with the configured VPN to the LRM to enable the IMP to present the media content at the RMP over the VPN.

19. The GRM of claim 18, wherein the LRM adds a first identifier to signaling information it transmits to the GRM to distinguish it from signaling information from another LRM, and wherein the controller is operable to add a second identifier to the signaling information it transmits to the LRM to identify which IMP the signaling information is intended for.

20. The GRM of claim 19, wherein the controller is operable to present substitute media content at one of the RMP and one or more network elements of the configured VPN until the presentation of the media content is initiated at the RMP.

21. The GRM of claim 20, wherein the substitute media content operates as a placebo for the selected media content prior to enablement of the IMP to present the selected media content at the RMP over the configured VPN, and wherein each of the GRM and the LRM comprise one of a gateway and a router.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the at least one media characteristic of the media content comprises at least one of an encoding format, a protocol, a resolution format, and an aspect ratio format.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the iTV network comprises one of an internet protocol television (IPTV) network, an interactive cable television network, and satellite television network.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein a local resource manager serves as an intermediary between the GRM and the IMP for conveying the signaling information of the IMP to the GRM and for enabling the IMP to present the selected media content at the RMP according to the configured VPN.

22. A method, comprising:

selecting media content and a recipient media processor (RMP) to present the selected media content; and

transmitting signaling information to a global resource manager (GRM) operating in an interactive television (iTV) network, wherein the signaling information identifies the RMP and contains information describing at least one media characteristic of the selected media content, wherein the GRM is operable to;

identify a location of the RMP and a media capability of the RMP from the signaling information;

compare the media capability of the RMP to the at least one media characteristic of the selected media content;

determine a media configuration of at least one network element of the iTV network based on the comparison;

establish a virtual private network (VPN) connection between the IMP and the RMP for presenting the media content;

configure at least one network element of the VPN based on the media configuration; and

enable the IMP to present the selected media content at the RMP over the configured VPN.