APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR CONTENT DISTRIBUTION TO PACKET-ENABLED DEVICES VIA A NETWORK BRIDGE

• US 20130227284A1
• Filed: 02/23/2012
• Published: 08/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Inventors: Pfeffer, Howard, Paci, Noah, Nakhre, Tushar, Danforth, Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 9,426,123 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/10 Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material protection in video systems or pay television H04N7/16 ; Digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0236 Filtering by address, protocol, port number or service, e.g. IP-address or URL
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6118 involving cable transmission, e.g. using a cable modem
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64322 IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64707 for transferring content from a first network to a second network, e.g. between IP and wireless

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for providing content to packet-enabled devices in a content distribution network. In one embodiment, a network architecture is disclosed which enables delivery of content to IP-enabled devices such as mobile smartphones and tablet computers using a traditional high-speed data connection. This capability allows the managed network operator to provide content services to an IP-enabled device associated with a non-data subscriber. In one variant, a cable modem is provided which is limited to only retrieve content for delivery to the devices, yet which performs no other functions/services (including provision of high-speed data services). Alternatively, a “media server” modem is utilized to enable delivery of content from the managed network to a client or user device which is also able to obtain high-speed data service from a non-managed or third party managed network via a third-party access point. Security and authentication mechanisms for the transmitted content are also disclosed.

Claims

1. An apparatus for receiving content from a managed network and providing said content to at least one Internet protocol (IP)-enabled client device, the apparatus comprising:

a network interface;

a client interface;

a storage device having at least one computer program stored thereon; and

a processor in communication with said network and client interfaces and said storage device, said processor configured to run said at least one computer program thereon, said at least one computer program configured to, when executed;

receive a request for content via said client interface;

provide at least one address within said managed network for said request; and

transmit said request to said at least one address via said network interface and a high-speed data channel of said managed network;

wherein said provision of said at least one address is performed so that only said content can be retrieved via said high-speed data channel, and no high-speed data services can be provided via said high-speed data channel.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said provision of at least one address comprises provision of a destination address within said managed network from a limited list of authorized IP addresses.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said provision of at least one address comprises provision of a destination address within said managed network from a predetermined limited range of IP address space.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus is further configured to filter communications received via said client interface against a listing or range of authorized destination addresses.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said transmission of said request to said at least one address via a high-speed data channel of said managed network comprises transmitting said request via a QAM modulated radio frequency channel of said managed network.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said managed network is selected from the group consisting of:

(i) a cable television network;

(ii) a satellite network; and

(iii) a hybrid fiber copper (HFCu) network.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus is further configured to receive said content via said network interface as a plurality of MPEG transport stream (.ts) files.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said plurality of files are encrypted, and said apparatus is further configured to obtain a decryption key for said encrypted files from said managed network.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said apparatus is further configured to provide said decryption key and said encrypted files to said client device via said client interface for decryption of said files and rendering of said content thereon.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said plurality of files comprise said content disposed in an MP4 container format.

11. A method for providing content to an Internet protocol (IP)-enabled consumer device, the method comprising:

receiving at a first apparatus a request to access content from said IP-enabled consumer device;

providing said request and a plurality of information necessary to verify permission of said consumer device to access said content to at least one network entity, said at least one entity verifying said permission of said consumer device; and

upon verification of said permission of said consumer device, receiving data relating to said content, said data enabling said consumer device to obtain at least portions of said content for delivery;

wherein said delivery comprises providing said content to said consumer device via said first apparatus over a repurposed high-speed data channel.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising filtering said request, said filtering comprising determining whether a destination address of said request is within a group of authorized addresses.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein said information necessary to verify permission of said consumer device comprises at least one of:

(i) a media access control (MAC) address of said consumer device, and/or (ii) an IP address of said first apparatus.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein said information necessary to verify permission of said consumer device comprises login and password information.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein said information necessary to verify permission of said consumer device comprises information regarding a subscription type or level of a user of said consumer device.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein said content comprises a plurality of cryptographically protected segments, and said data relating to said content comprises a playlist of said protected segments, each segment having a uniform resource locator (URL) for locating said segment.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

receiving a cryptographic element for decrypting said cryptographically protected segments from said first apparatus.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein said cryptographic protection comprises encryption of said plurality of segments utilizing a symmetric encryption key approach.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein said content distribution network comprises a managed network having a plurality of subscribers, said consumer device comprising a device associated with at least one of said subscribers.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein said method further comprises evaluating an entitlement for a user associated with said consumer device to access the requested content.

21. An apparatus for providing packetized content provided from a content distribution network to at least one Internet protocol (IP)-enabled client device, said apparatus comprising:

a first interface for communication with said content distribution network;

a second interface for communication with a third party access point, said access point configured to provide data from a third party network at least to said IP-enabled client device; and

a processor in communication with said first and second interfaces and configured to run at least one computer program thereon, said at least one computer program comprising a plurality of commands which, when executed on said processor, cause said apparatus to;

receive via the second interface a request issued from said client device for delivery of packetized content from the content distribution network;

cause routing of the request via the first interface to an entity of the content distribution network for servicing the request;

receive the requested content from the content distribution network; and

cause forwarding the received content to the IP-enabled client device for rendering.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the request is routed to the apparatus via, and the plurality of segments are forwarded to the client device via, the third-party access point.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the received requested content comprises a plurality of segments that are encrypted, and the at least one computer program is further configured to, when executed:

obtain a decryption key from the content distribution network; and

forward the obtained key to the client device for decryption of the plurality of encrypted segments.

24. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the received requested content comprises a plurality of segments that are encrypted, and the at least one computer program is further configured to, when executed:

obtain a decryption key from the content distribution network; and

decrypt the plurality of encrypted segments using the obtained key to obtain a plurality of decrypted segments; and

forward the decrypted segments to the client device for rendering thereon.

25. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the received requested content comprises a plurality of segments that are encrypted, and the at least one computer program is further configured to, when executed:

obtain a decryption key from the content distribution network;

decrypt the plurality of encrypted segments using the obtained key to obtain a plurality of decrypted segments;

assemble the decrypted segments into a media stream; and

transmit the media stream to the client device via the second interface.

26. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said request at least in part utilizes a secure hyper-text transfer protocol (HTTP).

27. A client apparatus for receiving content from a managed network, the client apparatus comprising:

a communications interface;

a display device; and

a processor in communication with said display device and said communications interface, said processor configured to run at least one computer application thereon, said at least one computer application configured to, when executed;

display a listing of a plurality of content elements available for download from said network on said display device;

receive a selection of at least one of said content elements from a user;

issue a request to an entity for said at least one selected content element via said communications interface;

receive a plurality of segments from said entity via said interface;

receive a playlist from said entity via said interface; and

use said playlist to utilize said segments to render said at least one content element on said display device.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said entity comprises a premises apparatus, the premises apparatus provided by an operator of said managed network.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein said premises apparatus comprises a modem capable of communicating with said managed network.

30. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein said request is configured by said at least one application without a destination address within said managed network, and said premises apparatus is configured to provide a permissible destination address for said request within said managed network from which at least one of said plurality of segments and/or playlist can be obtained.

31. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said at least one application comprises a login function, said login function configured to, when utilized:

receive login data from said user; and

forward at least a portion of said data to said entity.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein said login data comprises at least a user ID and password, and said at least portion is forwarded to said entity as part of said request.

33. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein:

said plurality of segments received from said entity comprise a plurality of transport stream (.ts) files; and

said playlist comprises an M3U file.

34. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein:

said plurality of segments received from said entity are encrypted; and

said at least one application is further configured to, when executed, obtain a decryption key from said managed network via said entity.

35. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said apparatus comprises an IP-enabled device, and said plurality of segments are transmitted via an IP multicast within said managed network.

36. A method of providing packetized media over a managed network having a first channel configured for delivery of media content, and a second channel configured for delivery of high-speed data service, the method comprising enabling a user to receive only said media content otherwise available on said first channel as packetized media via the second channel.

37. A method of providing packetized media over a managed network having a first channel configured for delivery of media content, and a second channel configured for delivery of high-speed data service, the method comprising:

enabling a user to receive said media content via said first channel, or as packetized content via the second channel; and

restricting a user from receiving any of said high speed data service via said second channel.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein said media content comprises MPEG encoded content delivered via a multiplexed MPEG transport stream, and said packetized content comprises content disposed in an MP4 container format and addressed via a network layer protocol.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein said MPEG encoded content delivered via a multiplexed MPEG transport stream comprises MPEG-2 encoded content delivered via a QAM modulated radio frequency channel of said managed network, and said content disposed in an MP4 container format is addressed via an Internet Protocol (IP) and delivered via a QAM modulated radio frequency channel of said managed network.

40. The method of claim 37, wherein said packetized content comprises a plurality of encrypted transport stream (.ts) files and a playlist.

41. The method of claim 37, wherein said restricting comprises providing said user premises equipment sufficient to access only a prescribed range or number of addresses via said second channel.

42. The method of claim 37, wherein said packetized media is delivered to said user via an IP multicast.

43. A method of providing Internet Protocol (IP) content delivery services to mobile device users via a managed content distribution network having both a first media delivery channel and a second high speed data channel, said method comprising:

associating a mobile device with an apparatus capable of accessing the second channel;

issuing a request to receive IP content from said mobile device to said network via said apparatus;

receiving said requested content at said mobile device from said network via said apparatus and said second channel; and

rendering said content on said mobile device;

wherein said apparatus restricts said mobile device from otherwise receiving any high speed data services via said apparatus and said second channel.