Methods and apparatus for centralized content and data delivery

• US 8,347,341 B2
• Filed: 03/16/2006
• Issued: 01/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Time Warner Cable Inc. (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Inventors: Markley, Jeffrey P., Williamson, Louis D., Carlucci, John B.
• Primary Examiner(s): SCHNURR, JOHN R
• Application Number:
  US11/378,129
• Publication Number:
  US 20070217436A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,483 Days
• Field of Search: 725/74, 725/78, 725/80, 725/81, 725/82, 725/85, 725/203, 725/216, 725/217, 725/227, 725/229, 725/231, 380/203, 380/216, 380/217, 380/227, 380/229, 380/231, 726/26, 726/27, 726/29, 726/31, 726/33
• US Class Current: 725/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• 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 12/2861 Point-to-multipoint connection from the data network to the subscribers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2872 Termination of subscriber connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0893 Assignment of logical groups to network elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0894 Policy-based network configuration management
• 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 21/43615 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 21/43632 involving a wired protocol, e.g. IEEE 1394 high-speed IEEE 1394 serial bus H04L12/40052
• 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 21/4367 Establishing a secure communication between the client and a peripheral device or smart card
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for centralized content, media and data delivery and access within a premises such as, e.g., a residence. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a remotely manageable premises device that acts as a centralized client networking platform, providing gateway services such as network management as well as traditional content and high-speed data delivery functions. The device also acts as the shared internet connection for all devices in the premises via a cable modem, sharing personal and DVR content such as video, music and photos (and any associated metadata) throughout the premises, and providing both a wired and wireless network in the home. Telephony services utilizing e.g., embedded multimedia terminal adapter (eMTA) and/or Wi-Fi architectures may also be provided via the device. The device can also provide a trusted domain for content or data, as well as allowing a subscriber total mobility in the home.

Claims

1. Premises content distribution apparatus for use with one or more media-capable devices, comprising:

a first interface configured to receive protected media content from a first network;

a mass storage device in data communication with said first interface and configured to store at least a portion of said protected media content; and

a second interface configured to provide networking throughout at least a portion of a premises;

wherein said premises content distribution apparatus is further configured to;

maintain first and second security layers, said first security layer corresponding to devices within a secure network and having a first level of content protection associated therewith, said second layer corresponding to devices outside said secure network, yet having security thereof verified and having a second level of content protection associated therewith, said second level of protection being less than said first level;

receive a request from one of said one or more media-capable devices via said second interface for transfer of said protected content;

determine that said requesting media-capable device is associated with said second security layer;

transfer said protected content to said requesting media-capable device; and

transfer at least one rule to said requesting media-capable device, said at least one rule configured to restrict at least one of (i) playback;

(ii) transfer; and

/or (iii) replication of said transferred protected content by said requesting media-capable device;

wherein said at least one rule is selected from a plurality of available rules based at least in part on a determination that said requesting media-capable device is associated with said second security layer.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

said second interface is configured to receive unprotected media content for storage on said mass storage device, said unprotected media content being generated by at least one of said one or more media-capable devices; and

said premises content distribution apparatus is configured to store said unprotected content, and distribute said unprotected content to one or more other devices without regard to content protection level thereof.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus in data communication with one or more server processes configured to generate one or more lists of said protected media content accessible to said requesting media-capable device.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said networking throughout at least a portion of said premises is provided at least in part by at least one wireless access point within said premises.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said networking throughout at least a portion of said premises is provided at least in part by an Internet protocol (IP) network.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus further comprises a video interface configured to generate video signals operative to drive a video monitor.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said apparatus is further configured to, substantially simultaneously:

generate video signals based at least on a first media file; and

transmit digital data associated with a second media file via at least one of said first and second interfaces.

8. Premises content distribution apparatus for use with one or more media-capable devices, comprising:

a first interface configured to receive encoded media content from a first network, said encoded media content being received according to a first packet protocol and encapsulated via a second packet protocol; and

a second interface configured to provide networking throughout at least a portion of a premises; and

wherein said premises content distribution apparatus is further configured to;

assemble said encapsulated and encoded media content from said first packet protocol;

maintain first and second security layers, said first security layer having a first level of content protection associated therewith, said second layer having a second level of content protection associated therewith, said second level of protection being less than said first level;

receive a request from one of said one or more media-capable devices via said second interface for transfer of said encoded content;

authenticate said requesting media-capable device as being associated with said second security layer;

transmit said encapsulated media content to said requesting media-capable device via said second packet protocol; and

transfer at least one rule to said requesting media-capable device, said at least one rule configured to restrict at least one of (i) playback;

(ii) transfer; and

/or (iii) replication of said transferred encoded and protected content by said requesting media-capable device.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said second packet protocol comprises said Internet Protocol (IP).

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said first packet protocol comprises a Motion Picture Experts Group (MPEG) protocol, and said encoded media content is encoded based at least in part on either an MPEG-2 or H.264 codec.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said premises content distribution apparatus further comprises a mass storage device, and is further configured to:

de-encapsulate said encapsulated and encoded media content from said IP protocol;

store said de-encapsulated and encoded media content on said mass storage device; and

before said transmission, re-encapsulate said stored de-encapsulated media content in accordance with said IP protocol.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said transmission of said encapsulated media content comprises an IP multicast, said multicast also comprising a transmission of said encapsulated media content to other ones of said media-capable devices.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said second interface comprises a wireless access interface comprising an IEEE-Std. 802 compliant access point (AP).

14. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said first and second interface are in data communication with one another.

15. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising an apparatus configured to communicate with said first interface to pass IP-based telephony data between a user of said premises and said first network.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said first interface comprises a DOCSIS-compliant cable modem, and said apparatus configured to communicate comprises an embedded multimedia terminal adapter (eMTA).

17. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said apparatus further comprises a trusted domain for content received over said first interface, said individual ones of said one or more media-capable devices having a security level within said trusted domain.

18. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said apparatus is remotely accessible via said first interface and said first network.

19. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a downloadable conditional access system (DCAS).

20. A method of content distribution for use with a plurality of media-capable devices, said method comprising:

storing protected content received from a first network;

enabling networking between said plurality of media-capable devices;

receiving a request from one of said plurality media-capable devices for transfer of said protected content, said request being made via a second network;

upon a determination that said requesting media-capable device is associated with a first of two security layers, transferring said protected content, and transferring at least one rule to said requesting media-capable device, said at least one rule restricting at least one of (i) playback;

(ii) transfer; and

/or (iii) replication of said transferred protected content by said requesting media-capable device;

wherein said second security layer corresponds to devices within a secure network and having a first level of content protection associated therewith; and

wherein said first layer corresponds to devices outside said secure network, yet having security thereof verified and having a second level of content protection associated therewith, said second level of protection being less than said first level.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said networking between said plurality of media-capable devices comprises networking over a power line interface for exchanging data over power lines.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein said protected content is received from a content server in an external hybrid fiber coax (HFC) cable network.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein said protected content comprises at least one of personal music, video and images, and said requesting media-capable device comprises a Universal Plug-and-Play (UPnP)-compatible device.

24. A method of content distribution for use with one or more media-capable devices, said method comprising:

receiving protected encoded media content from a first network, said encoded media content being received according to a first packet protocol and encapsulated using a second packet protocol;

constructing said encapsulated and encoded media content from said first packet protocol;

receiving a request from an authenticated one of said one or more media-capable devices via said second interface for transfer of said encoded content;

transmitting said encapsulated media content to said requesting media-capable device using said second packet protocol; and

when said requesting media-capable device is associated with a first security layer, transferring at least one rule thereto;

wherein said first security layer comprises a level of content protection associated therewith, which is less than a level of content protection associated with a second security layer; and

wherein said at least one rule restricts at least one of (i) playback;

(ii) transfer; and

/or (iii) replication of said transferred encoded and protected content by said requesting media-capable device.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein said act of managing network traffic throughout said premises provides access to a shared internet connection for said one or more media-capable devices.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein said shared internet connection is provided by a modem, and said shared internet connection comprises a connection to a hybridized fiber network.

27. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein said shared internet connection is provided by a radio frequency tuner, and said shared internet connection comprises a satellite network.