Methods, systems, and computer program products for providing third party control of access to media content available via broadcast and multicast service (BCMCS)
First Claim
1. A method for controlling access to streaming media content by a subscriber via a broadcast and multicast service (BCMCS), the method comprising:
- at a network element associated with delivery of streaming media content to a subscriber terminal via a BCMCS;
(a) receiving a message associated with a request for access to streaming media content by a requesting mobile subscriber, wherein the streaming media content is accessible via the BCMCS, where the streaming media content is made available for viewing over a mobile communications network to a plurality of mobile subscribers who join a broadcast or multicast group through which the content is offered;
(b) determining requesting mobile subscriber identification and requested content identification associated with the message;
(c) using the mobile subscriber identification to identify a content viewing rule for the requesting mobile subscriber; and
(d) using the content identification to determine whether allowing the subscriber to view the content would violate the content viewing rule, wherein the content viewing rule is provisionable by or on behalf of a third party separate from a BCMCS network provider or BCMCS content provider and separate from the mobile subscriber to allow the third party to control the viewing of BCMCS-provided content by the mobile subscriber.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The subject matter described herein includes methods, systems, and computer program products for providing third party control of access to media content available via broadcast and multicast service (BCMCS). According to one method, control of access to streaming media content to a subscriber terminal via a BCMCS may be implemented at a network element, such as an authentication, authorization and accounting (AAA) server or a BCMCS controller. The method may include receiving a message associated with a request for access to streaming media content by a requesting mobile subscriber. Mobile subscriber identification and requested content identification information are determined from the message. The mobile subscriber identification is used to identify a content viewing rule for the requesting mobile subscriber. The content identification is used to determine whether allowing the subscriber to view the content would violate the content viewing rule.
80 Citations
41 Claims
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1. A method for controlling access to streaming media content by a subscriber via a broadcast and multicast service (BCMCS), the method comprising:
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at a network element associated with delivery of streaming media content to a subscriber terminal via a BCMCS; (a) receiving a message associated with a request for access to streaming media content by a requesting mobile subscriber, wherein the streaming media content is accessible via the BCMCS, where the streaming media content is made available for viewing over a mobile communications network to a plurality of mobile subscribers who join a broadcast or multicast group through which the content is offered; (b) determining requesting mobile subscriber identification and requested content identification associated with the message; (c) using the mobile subscriber identification to identify a content viewing rule for the requesting mobile subscriber; and (d) using the content identification to determine whether allowing the subscriber to view the content would violate the content viewing rule, wherein the content viewing rule is provisionable by or on behalf of a third party separate from a BCMCS network provider or BCMCS content provider and separate from the mobile subscriber to allow the third party to control the viewing of BCMCS-provided content by the mobile subscriber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A system for controlling the access to streaming media content to be delivered to a subscriber terminal via a broadcast and multicast service (BCMCS), the system comprising:
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(a) a network element associated with the delivery of streaming media content to a mobile subscriber, the network element being adapted to receive a message associated with a request for access to streaming media content by a requesting mobile subscriber, wherein the streaming media content is accessible via the BCMCS, where the streaming media content is made available for viewing over a mobile communications network to a plurality of mobile subscribers who join a broadcast or multicast group through which the content is offered; (b) a media content viewing rules database including mobile-subscriber-specific streaming media content viewing rules; and (c) a media content access controller associated with the network element for determining requesting mobile subscriber identification and requested media content identification information associated with the message and using the requesting mobile subscriber identification and requested media control identification information to access the media content viewing rules database, identify a media content viewing rule for the requesting subscriber and determine whether allowing the subscriber to view the content would violate the content viewing rule, wherein the content viewing rule is provisionable by or on behalf of a third party separate from a BCMCS network provider or BCMCS content provider and separate from the mobile subscriber to allow the third party to control the viewing of BCMCS-provided content by the mobile subscriber. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A computer program product comprising computer executable instructions embodied in a computer readable medium for performing steps comprising:
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at a network element associated with delivery of streaming media content to a subscriber terminal via a BCMCS; (a) receiving a message associated with a request for access to streaming media content by a requesting mobile subscriber, wherein the streaming media content is accessible via the BCMCS, where the streaming media content is made available for viewing over a mobile communications network to a plurality of mobile subscribers who join a broadcast or multicast group through which the content is offered; (b) determining requesting mobile subscriber identification and requested content identification associated with the message; (c) using the mobile subscriber identification to identify a content viewing rule for the requesting mobile subscriber; and (d) using the content identification to determine whether allowing the subscriber to view the content would violate the content viewing rule, wherein the content viewing rule is provisionable by or on behalf of a third party separate from a BCMCS network provider or BCMCS content provider and separate from the mobile subscriber to allow the third party to control the viewing of BGMCS-provided content by the mobile subscriber. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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Specification