Media exchange network supporting multiple broadband network and service provider infrastructures

• US 7,965,719 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2003
• Issued: 06/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bennett, James, Karaoguz, Jeyhan
• Primary Examiner(s): Ahmed; Salman
• Application Number:
  US10/675,380
• Publication Number:
  US 20040114579A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,821 Days
• Field of Search: 370/216, 370/217, 370/218, 370/219, 370/220, 370/221, 370/225, 370/228, 370/35, 370/351, 370/395.3, 370/395.43, 370/395.53, 370/401, 370/395.32, 370/327, 370/397, 370/399, 370/409
• US Class Current: 370/397
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/26 Arrangements for switching distribution systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• 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 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/62 Establishing a time schedule for servicing the requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/63 Routing a service request depending on the request content or context
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2343 involving reformatting operations of video signals for distribution or compliance with end-user requests or end-user device requirements video transcoding H04N19/40; media packet handling at the source H04L65/762
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234363 by altering the spatial resolution, e.g. for clients with a lower screen resolution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2408 Monitoring of the upstream path of the transmission network, e.g. client requests monitoring data switching networks utilization H04L43/0876; scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/254 Management at additional data server, e.g. shopping server, rights management server arrangements for maintenance or administration in data networks H04L41/00; network services using third party service providers H04L67/53
• 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 21/2543 Billing , e.g. for subscription services payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; e-commerce G06Q30/00; arrangements for billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/21
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25435 involving characteristics of content or additional data, e.g. video resolution or the amount of advertising
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/258 Client or end-user data management, e.g. managing client capabilities, user preferences or demographics, processing of multiple end-users preferences to derive collaborative data arrangements for services using the result on the distributing side of broadcast systems H04H60/66; profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25833 involving client hardware characteristics, e.g. manufacturer, processing or storage capabilities allocation of resources considering hardware capabilities in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/5044; allocation of resources considering software capabilities in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/5055
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25875 involving end-user authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; arrangements for secret or secure communication including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26266 : for determining content or additional data repetition rate, e.g. of a file in a DVB carousel according to its importance arrangements for broadcast or for distribution of identical information repeatedly in broadcast distribution systems H04H20/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2668 : Creating a channel for a dedicated end-user group, e.g. insertion of targeted commercials based on end-user profiles information retrieval from the Internet by querying with filtering and personalisation G06F16/9535; arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast H04H20/10; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; adaptation of message content in packet-switching networks H04L51/063
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2743 : Video hosting of uploaded data from client
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2747 : Remote storage of video programs received via the downstream path, e.g. from the server
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 : having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41422 : located in transportation means, e.g. personal vehicle arrangements specially adapted for transportation systems in broadcast systems H04H20/62
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4143 : embedded in a Personal Computer [PC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 : Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4227 : Providing Remote input by a user located remotely from the client device, e.g. at work
• 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 21/4316 : for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4331 : Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 : Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 : Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 : involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/442 : Monitoring of processes or resources, e.g. detecting the failure of a recording device, monitoring the downstream bandwidth, the number of times a movie has been viewed, the storage space available from the internal hard disk arrangements for monitoring broadcast services or broadcast-related services H04H60/29; arrangements for identifying or recognising characteristics with a direct linkage to broadcast information H04H60/35; monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; monitoring in wireless networks H04W24/00
• 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 21/4532 : involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/458 : Scheduling content for creating a personalised stream, e.g. by combining a locally stored advertisement with an incoming stream; Updating operations, e.g. for OS modules ; time-related management operations arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast or during the distribution H04H20/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 : Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4627 : Rights management associated to the content 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 21/4668 : for recommending content, e.g. movies
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 : for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47214 : for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4751 : for defining user accounts, e.g. accounts for children
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4753 : for user identification, e.g. by entering a PIN or password cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4755 : for defining user preferences, e.g. favourite actors or genre retrieval personalisation and generation of user profiles for the retrieval of video data G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 : Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4786 : e-mailing message switching systems, e.g. electronic mail systems H04L51/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4788 : communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 : End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4821 : using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4826 : using recommendation lists, e.g. of programs or channels sorted out according to their score
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4828 : for searching program descriptors retrieval of video data G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4882 : for displaying messages, e.g. warnings, reminders arrangements for providing short real-time information to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 : involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6187 : involving transmission via a telephone network, e.g. POTS
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/632 : using a connection between clients on a wide area network, e.g. setting up a peer-to-peer communication via Internet for retrieving video segments from the hard-disk of other client devices broadcast-related systems characterised by transmission among terminal devices H04H60/80; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6581 : Reference data, e.g. a movie identifier for ordering a movie or a product identifier in a home shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6582 : Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6583 : Acknowledgement
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 : involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/814 : comprising emergency warnings arrangements specially adapted for emergency or urgency in broadcast systems H04H20/59; arrangements for providing alarms, notifications, alerts to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8146 : involving graphical data, e.g. 3D object, 2D graphics
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/141 : between two video terminals, e.g. videophone telephonic communication systems combined with television receiver for reception of entertainment or information matter H04M11/085
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 : by receiver means only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17309 : Transmission or handling of upstream communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 : Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17336 : Handling of requests in head-ends
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 : Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

Certain embodiments of the invention for supporting a plurality of broadband networks and service provider infrastructures may comprise establishing a second communication path that is independent of a first communication path that couples at least two end points via at least a first network. Accordingly, information may be transferred between the two endpoints via the established second communication path. The second communication path may be provisioned for handling various communication functions, for example, operations administration maintenance and provisioning (OAM&P), roaming, user authentication, media transfer, caching, storage management and addressing management. During transfer of the information between the two endpoints via the second communication path, the information may be temporarily stored or cached. The first communication path may be a physical communication path and the second communication path may be a logical communication path that may comprise one or more circuit switched connections and/or one or more packet switched connections.

Claims

1. A method for supporting a plurality of broadband networks and various service provider infrastructures, the method comprising:

establishing a logical communication path that is independent of a physical communication path that couples at least two end points via at least a first broadband network, wherein each network connection on said physical communication path has a corresponding redundant network connection on said logical communication path, wherein at least a first portion of said logical communication path and at least a second portion of said logical communication path utilize different communication protocols and handle communication of different communication types, and wherein both of said physical and logical communication paths are established through the same plurality of network nodes; and

transferring information that would be normally transferred over said physical communication path between said at least two endpoints, via said established logical communication path over said corresponding redundant network connection.

2. The method according to claim 1, comprising provisioning said established logical communication path for handling communication functions.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein said communication functions comprise one or more of operations administration maintenance and provisioning (OAM&

P), roaming, user authentication, media transfer, caching, storage management and/or addressing management.

4. The method according to claim 1, comprising temporarily storing said information during said transferring of said information between said at least two endpoints via said established logical communication path.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said logical communication path comprises one or both of a circuit switched connection and/or a packet switched connection.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said at least two endpoints comprise a first source endpoint and at least a first destination endpoint.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein each of said at least two endpoints comprises one or more of a media processing system, a media peripheral, a personal computer, a third (3^rd) party media provider, a third (3^rd) party storage vendor and/or a channel information server.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein each of said logical and said physical communication paths comprises one or both of a wired and/or a wireless communication link.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon, a computer program having at least one code section for supporting a plurality of broadband networks and various service provider infrastructures, the at least one code section being executable by a computer for causing the computer to perform steps comprising:

establishing a logical communication path that is independent of a physical communication path that couples at least two end points via at least a first broadband network, wherein each network connection on said physical communication path has a corresponding redundant network connection on said logical communication path, wherein at least a first portion of said logical communication path and at least a second portion of said logical communication path utilize different communication protocols and handle communication of different communication types, and wherein both of said physical and logical communication paths are established through the same plurality of network nodes; and

transferring information that would be normally transferred over said physical communication path between said at least two endpoints, via said established logical communication path over said corresponding redundant network connection.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 9, comprising code for provisioning said established logical communication path for handling communication functions.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 10, wherein said communication functions comprise one or more of operations administration maintenance and provisioning (OAM&

P), roaming, user authentication, media transfer, caching, storage management and/or addressing management.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 9, comprising code for temporarily storing said information during said transferring of said information between said at least two endpoints via said established logical communication path.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 9, wherein said second communication path comprises one or both of a circuit switched connection and/or a packet switched connection.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 9, wherein said at least two endpoints comprise a first source endpoint and at least a first destination endpoint.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 9, wherein each of said at least two endpoints comprises one or more of a media processing system, a media peripheral, a personal computer, a third (3^rd) party media provider, a third (3^rd) party storage vendor and/or a channel information server.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 9, wherein each of said logical and said physical communication paths comprises one or both of a wired and/or a wireless communication link.

17. A system for supporting a plurality of broadband networks and various service provider infrastructures, the system comprising:

at least one processor executing a provisioning protocol that establishes a logical communication path that is independent of a physical communication path that couples at least two end points via at least a first broadband network, wherein each network connection on said physical communication path has a corresponding redundant network connection on said logical communication path, wherein at least a first portion of said logical communication path and at least a second portion of said logical communication path utilize different communication protocols and handle communication of different communication types, and wherein both of said physical and logical communication paths are established through the same plurality of network nodes; and

said at least one processor transfers information that would normally be transferred over said physical communication path between said at least two endpoints, via said established logical communication path over said corresponding redundant network connection.

18. The system according to claim 17, said at least one processor provisions said established logical communication path for handling communication functions.

19. The system according to claim 18, wherein said communication functions comprise one or more of operations administration maintenance and provisioning (OAM&

P), roaming, user authentication, media transfer, caching, storage management and/or addressing management.

20. The system according to claim 17, wherein said at least one processor temporarily stores said information during said transferring of said information between said at least two endpoints via said established logical communication path.

21. The system according to claim 17, wherein said logical communication path comprises one or both of a circuit switched connection and/or a packet switched connection.

22. The system according to claim 17, wherein said at least two endpoints comprise a first source endpoint and at least a first destination endpoint.

23. The system according to claim 17, wherein each of said at least two endpoints comprises one or more of a media processing system, a media peripheral, a personal computer, a third (3^rd) party media provider, a third (3^rd) party storage vendor and/or a channel information server.

24. The system according to claim 17, wherein each of said logical and said physical communication paths comprises one or both of a wired and/or a wireless communication link.

25. The system according to claim 17, wherein said at least one processor comprises one or more of a media processing system processor, a media management system processor, a computer processor, a media exchange software processor and/or a media peripheral processor.