Method and apparatus for transporting content

• US 8,160,073 B2
• Filed: 05/05/2009
• Issued: 04/17/2012
• 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.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sheikh, Ayaz
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chau, Peter
• Application Number:
  US12/436,075
• Publication Number:
  US 20100284412A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,078 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/395.2
• 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 comprising a memory coupled to a controller, wherein the controller is operable to:

select media content and a recipient media processor to present the selected media content;

transmit signaling information to a local resource manager in proximity to a private premises via a gateway,

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

wherein the signaling information is transmitted to the local resource manager for the local resource manager to inform a global resource manager operating in an interactive television network and located remotely from the private premises of a need to present at the recipient media processor the selected media content having at least a portion of the plurality of media characteristics,

wherein the signaling information is transmitted to the local resource manager for the global resource manager to identify a location of the recipient media processor and a media capability of the recipient media processor,

wherein the signaling information is transmitted to the local resource manager for the global resource manager to compare the media capability of the recipient media processor to the plurality of media characteristics of the selected media content,

wherein the signaling information is transmitted to the local resource manager for the global resource manager to identify a media configuration of one or more network elements of the interactive television network according to the foregoing comparison to enable presentation of the selected media content at the recipient media processor,

wherein the signaling information is transmitted to the local resource manager for the global resource manager to establish a virtual private network connection in the interactive television network for supporting media communications between the initiating media processor and the recipient media processor,

wherein the signaling information is transmitted to the local resource manager for the global resource manager to configure one or more network elements of the virtual private network according to the media configuration, and

wherein the signaling information is transmitted to the local resource manager for the global resource manager to transmit other signaling information to the local resource manager associated with the configured virtual private network;

receive from the local resource manager the other signaling information to enable the initiating media processor to present at the recipient media processor the selected media content over the configured virtual private network; and

present the selected media content at the recipient media processor via the configured virtual private network.

2. The initiating media processor of claim 1, wherein the interactive television network comprises at least one of an internet protocol television network, an interactive cable television network or an interactive satellite television network.

3. The initiating media processor of claim 1, wherein the selected media content comprises at least one of video content, image content, audio content or text content.

4. The initiating media processor of claim 1, wherein the plurality of media characteristics of the selected media content comprises an encoding format, a protocol, a resolution format, and an aspect ratio format.

5. The initiating media processor of claim 1, wherein the one or more network elements of the configured virtual private network comprise at least one of one or more routers or an encoder.

6. The initiating media processor of claim 1, wherein the initiating media processor and the recipient media processor each comprise one of a set-top box, a media player or a digital video recorder.

7. The initiating media processor of claim 1, wherein the local resource manager and the global resource manager each comprise one of a gateway or a router.

8. The initiating media processor of claim 1, wherein the presentation of the selected media content comprises streaming the selected media content at the recipient media processor.

9. A local resource manager, comprising a memory coupled to a controller, wherein the controller is operable to:

receive signaling information from an initiating media processor, wherein the signaling information identifies a recipient media processor and contains information describing at least one media characteristic of media content selected by the initiating media processor;

communicate the signaling information to a global resource manager of an interactive television network,

wherein the signaling information is communicated to the global resource manager for the global resource manager to provide a location of the recipient media processor and a media capability of the recipient media processor;

wherein the signaling information is communicated to the global resource manager for the global resource manager to compare the media capability of the recipient media processor to the at least one media characteristic of the selected media content;

wherein the signaling information is communicated to the global resource manager for the global resource manager to determine a media configuration of at least one network element in the interactive television network based on the comparison;

wherein the signaling information is communicated to the global resource manager for the global resource manager to facilitate establishment of a virtual private network connection between the initiating media processor and the recipient media processor;

wherein the signaling information is communicated to the global resource manager for the global resource manager to configure at least one network element of the virtual private network according to the media configuration;

wherein the signaling information is communicated to the global resource manager for the global resource manager to transmit additional signaling information to the local resource manager describing the configured virtual private network; and

receive from the global resource manager the additional signaling information; and

enable the initiating media processor to present at the recipient media processor the selected media content over the configured virtual private network according to the additional signaling information received from the global resource manager.

10. The local resource manager of claim 9, wherein the interactive television network comprises one of an internet protocol television, an interactive cable television network or an interactive satellite television network, wherein the initiating media processor operates in a premises and is located in proximity to the local resource manager, wherein the global resource manager is located remotely from the premises.

11. The local resource manager of claim 9, wherein the initiating media processor adds a first identifier to signaling information it transmits to the local resource manager to distinguish it from signaling information from another initiating media processor, wherein the local resource manager adds a second identifier to signaling information it transmits to the global resource manager to distinguish it from signaling information from another local resource manager, and wherein the global resource manager adds a third identifier to the signaling information it transmits to the local resource manager to identify which initiating media processor the signaling information is intended for.

12. The local resource manager of claim 9, wherein the initiating media processor streams the selected media content to the recipient media processor over the configured virtual private network.

13. The local resource manager of claim 9, wherein the selected media content is presented by one of the initiating media processor and a device independent of the initiating media processor, wherein the device is capable of accessing the media content selected by the initiating media processor.

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

15. The local resource manager of claim 9, wherein the local resource manager and the global resource manager each comprise one of a gateway or a router.

16. The local resource manager of claim 9, wherein the initiating media processor and the recipient media processor each comprise one of a set-top box, a media player or a digital video recorder.

17. The local resource manager of claim 9, wherein the at least one network element of the configured virtual private network comprises at least one of one or more routers or an encoder.

18. A global resource manager operating in an interactive television network, comprising a memory coupled to a controller, wherein the controller is operable to:

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

determine at the global resource manager, a location of the recipient media processor and a media capability of the recipient media processor based on the signal information received from the local resource manager;

compare at the global resource manager, the media capability of the recipient media processor to the at least one media characteristic of the selected media content utilizing the signal information received from the local resource manager;

determine at the global resource manager, a media configuration of at least one network element in the interactive television network based on the comparison of the media capability of the recipient media processor to the at least one media characteristic of the selected media content;

facilitate at the global resource manager, establishment of a virtual private network connection to support communications between the initiating media processor and the recipient media processor utilizing the signal information received from the local resource manager;

configure at the global resource manager, at least one network element of the virtual private network based on the determined media configuration; and

transmit from the global resource manager other signaling information associated with the configured virtual private network to the local resource manager to enable the initiating media processor to present the selected media content at the recipient media processor over the configured virtual private network.

19. The global resource manager of claim 18, wherein the local resource manager adds a first identifier to signaling information it transmits to the global resource manager to distinguish it from signaling information from another local resource manager, and wherein the controller is operable to add a second identifier to the other signaling information it transmits to the local resource manager to identify which initiating media processor the other signaling information is intended for.

20. The global resource manager of claim 19, wherein the controller is operable to present substitute media content at one of the recipient media processor and one or more network elements of the configured virtual private network until the presentation of the selected media content is initiated at the recipient media processor.

21. The global resource manager of claim 20, wherein the substitute media content operates as a placebo for the selected media content prior to enablement of the initiating media processor to present the selected media content at the recipient media processor over the configured virtual private network, and wherein each of the global resource manager and the local resource manager comprise one of a gateway or a router.

22. A method, comprising:

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

transmitting signaling information to a global resource manager of an interactive television network, wherein the signaling information identifies the recipient media processor and contains information describing at least one media characteristic of the selected media content,

wherein the signaling information is transmitted to the global resource manager for the global resource manager to identify a location of the recipient media processor and a media capability of the recipient media processor from the signaling information;

wherein the signaling information is transmitted to the global resource manager for the global resource manager to compare the media capability of the recipient media processor to the at least one media characteristic of the selected media content;

wherein the signaling information is transmitted to the global resource manager for the global resource manager to determine a media configuration of at least one network element of the interactive television network based on the comparison;

wherein the signaling information is transmitted to the global resource manager for the global resource manager to facilitate establishment of a virtual private network connection between an initiating media processor and the recipient media processor for presenting the selected media content;

wherein the signaling information is transmitted to the global resource manager for the global resource manager to configure at least one network element of the virtual private network based on the media configuration; and

wherein the signaling information is transmitted to the global resource manager for the global resource manager to enable the initiating media processor to present the selected media content at the recipient media processor over the configured virtual private network.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the at least one media characteristic of the selected media content comprises an encoding format, a protocol, a resolution format, and an aspect ratio format.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the interactive television network comprises one of an internet protocol television network, an interactive cable television network or satellite television network.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein a local resource manager serves as an intermediary between the global resource manager and the initiating media processor for conveying the signaling information of the initiating media processor to the global resource manager and for enabling the initiating media processor to present the selected media content at the recipient media processor according to the configured virtual private network.