Methods and apparatus for providing video on demand and network PVR functions using IP streaming
First Claim
1. A content distribution system, the system comprising:
- a video on demand server;
an IP business management module for performing at least one of billing and authorization functions relating to content delivery requests initiated by an IP customer premise device which supports a first protocol;
a cable network business management module for performing billing functions relating to services provided by said video on demand server, said cable network business management module supporting a second protocol which is different from said first protocol; and
a protocol converter module in communication with said cable network business management module, said IP business management module, said IP customer premise device and said video on demand server, said protocol converter module configured to convert command signals which are in accordance with the first protocol which is used by said IP customer premise device, but which is not supported by said video on demand server, to command signals to which said video on demand server is responsive, said command signals to which said video on demand server is responsive being in accordance with the second protocol and including a content delivery command signal, said protocol converter module being further configured to convert signals from said IP business management module directed to said cable business network management module from said first protocol to said second protocol and to convert signals sent from said cable network business management module to said IP business management module from said second protocol to said first protocol thereby allowing said IP business management module and said cable network business management module to interoperate using said first and second protocols.
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus for supporting on-demand content services, using conventional non-IP based VOD servers are described. The methods and apparatus of the present invention, through the use of a protocol converter and/or a content redirector, can be used to enable a conventional VOD server to supply content to a customer premise equipment (CPE) device which supports IP based content delivery and/or RSTP control of content delivery. The protocol converter of the invention can be implemented as an RTSP-ISA PROXY. The RTSP Proxy converts messages between RTSP (Real-Time Streaming Protocol) to the appropriate ISA protocol signal or another protocol format. The proxy module handles the conversion between these formats and converts a received signal, e.g. message, into the format required by the device which responds by implementing the operation requested by the signal.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A content distribution system, the system comprising:
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a video on demand server; an IP business management module for performing at least one of billing and authorization functions relating to content delivery requests initiated by an IP customer premise device which supports a first protocol; a cable network business management module for performing billing functions relating to services provided by said video on demand server, said cable network business management module supporting a second protocol which is different from said first protocol; and a protocol converter module in communication with said cable network business management module, said IP business management module, said IP customer premise device and said video on demand server, said protocol converter module configured to convert command signals which are in accordance with the first protocol which is used by said IP customer premise device, but which is not supported by said video on demand server, to command signals to which said video on demand server is responsive, said command signals to which said video on demand server is responsive being in accordance with the second protocol and including a content delivery command signal, said protocol converter module being further configured to convert signals from said IP business management module directed to said cable business network management module from said first protocol to said second protocol and to convert signals sent from said cable network business management module to said IP business management module from said second protocol to said first protocol thereby allowing said IP business management module and said cable network business management module to interoperate using said first and second protocols. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for use in delivering content, the method comprising:
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operating an IP business management system module to process a content delivery request from an IP customer premise device requesting content; operating the IP business management system module to send a first command signal in a first format corresponding to a first protocol to initiate delivery of the requested content, said IP business management system module supporting IP based content delivery; operating a protocol converter module to convert said first command signal from said first format to a second format, said second format corresponding to a second protocol which is different from a first protocol used by said IP business management module and which is used by a cable network business management module, said protocol conversion producing a second signal, said second signal being a signal used to initiate content delivery; operating said cable network business management module to process said second signal and send a signal to a video on demand sever to cause the video on demand server to provide the requested content; and operating said protocol converter module to convert presentation control signals including content delivery command signals received from said IP customer premise device into a format to which said video on demand server is responsive while said requested content is being provided by said video on demand server, said format to which said video on demand server is responsive being in accordance with the second protocol. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification