Method and apparatus for transporting media content in a virtual private network having configurable network devices

• US 8,582,578 B2
• Filed: 03/23/2012
• Issued: 11/12/2013
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): Sheikh, Ayaz
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHAU, PETER P
• Application Number:
  US13/428,628
• Publication Number:
  US 20120240178A1
• Time in Patent Office: 599 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 local resource manager server that receives a request to distribute media content, and provides signaling information to a global resource manager server. The global resource manager server can determine a media configuration of a network element based on the signaling information and a media capability of a recipient media processor. The signaling information can be provided to the local resource manager server to enable an initiating media processor to present the media content at the recipient media processor over a virtual private network.

Claims

1. A non-transitory machine readable storage medium comprising instructions which, responsive to being executed by a processor within a global resource manager server, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

receiving first signaling information from a local resource manager server located remotely from the global resource manager server, wherein the first signaling information identifies a recipient media processor and describes a media characteristic of media content;

determining a location of the recipient media processor and a media capability of the recipient media processor based on the first signaling information;

comparing the media capability of the recipient media processor to the media characteristic of the media content;

determining a media configuration of a network element in an interactive television network based on the comparing of the media capability of the recipient media processor to the media characteristic of the media content;

facilitating establishment of a virtual private network to support communications between an initiating media processor and the recipient media processor based on the first signaling information received from the local resource manager server;

configuring a network element of the virtual private network, resulting in a configured virtual private network, based on the media configuration; and

transmitting second signaling information associated with the configured virtual private network to the local resource manager server to cause the initiating media processor to present the media content at the recipient media processor over the configured virtual private network.

2. The non-transitory machine readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the media content is selected by the initiating media processor.

3. The non-transitory machine readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the first signaling information includes a first identifier added by the local resource manager to distinguish from third signaling information from another local resource manager server, and further comprising instructions which, responsive to being executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

adding a second identifier to the second signaling information to identify the initiating media processor that is to be provided with the second signaling information.

4. The non-transitory machine readable storage medium of claim 1, comprising instructions which, responsive to being executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising providing substitute media content for the recipient media processor until a presentation of the media content is initiated at the recipient media processor.

5. The non-transitory machine readable storage medium of claim 4, wherein each of the global resource manager server and the local resource manager server comprise one of a gateway or a router.

6. The non-transitory machine readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the interactive television network comprises one of an Internet Protocol television network, an interactive cable television network, an interactive satellite television network, or a combination thereof.

7. The non-transitory machine readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the media content comprises one of video content, image content, audio content, text content, or a combination thereof.

8. The non-transitory machine readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the media characteristic of the media content comprises a plurality of characteristics including an encoding format, a protocol, a resolution format, and an aspect ratio format.

9. The non-transitory machine readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the network element of the configured virtual private network comprises an encoder.

10. The non-transitory machine readable storage medium 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.

11. The non-transitory machine readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein a presentation of the media content is generated based on streaming the media content to the recipient media processor.

12. The non-transitory machine readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the media content is surveillance video.

13. A system comprising:

a global resource manager server, and

a local resource manager server in communication with the global resource manager server, wherein the local resource manager server is located remotely from the global resource manager server and provides first signaling information to the global resource manager server, wherein the first signaling information identifies a recipient media processor and describes a media characteristic of media content,

wherein the global resource manager server determines a location of the recipient media processor and a media capability of the recipient media processor based on the first signaling information,

wherein the global resource manager server determines a comparison between the media capability of the recipient media processor and the media characteristic of the media content,

wherein the global resource manager server determines a first media configuration of a first network element in an interactive television network based on the comparison between the media capability of the recipient media processor and the media characteristic of the media content,

wherein the first media configuration is configured to cause configuration of a second network element of a virtual private network, resulting in a configured virtual private network, based on the first media configuration, wherein the configured virtual private network supports communications between an initiating media processor and the recipient media processor, and

wherein the global resource manager server provides second signaling information associated with the configured virtual private network to the local resource manager server to cause the initiating media processor to present the media content at the recipient media processor over the configured virtual private network.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the media content is surveillance video.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the media characteristic of the media content comprises a plurality of characteristics including an encoding format, a protocol, a resolution format, and an aspect ratio format, and wherein the second network element of the configured virtual private network comprises an encoder.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the initiating media processor and the recipient media processor each comprise a set-top box, and wherein each of the global resource manager server and the local resource manager server comprise a router.

17. A non-transitory machine readable storage medium comprising instructions which, responsive to being executed by a processor within a local resource manager server, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

receiving a request to distribute media content to a recipient media processor, wherein the request is received from an initiating media processor, and

providing first signaling information to a global resource manager server located remotely from the local resource manager server, wherein the first signaling information identifies a recipient media processor and describes a media characteristic of media content,

wherein the first signaling information is configured to cause the global resource manager server to determine a location of the recipient media processor and a media capability of the recipient media processor,

wherein the first signaling information is configured to cause the global resource manager to determine a comparison between the media capability of the recipient media processor and the media characteristic of the media content,

wherein the first signaling information is configured to cause the global resource manager to determine a first media configuration of a first network element in an interactive television network based on the first signaling information and the comparison between the media capability of the recipient media processor and the media characteristic of the media content,

wherein the first media configuration is configured to cause configuration of a second network element of a virtual private network, resulting in a configured virtual private network, based on the first media configuration, wherein the configured virtual private network supports communications between the initiating media processor and the recipient media processor, and

wherein the first signaling information is configured to cause the global resource manager server to provide second signaling information associated with the configured virtual private network to the local resource manager server to cause the initiating media processor to present the media content at the recipient media processor over the configured virtual private network.

18. The non-transitory machine readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the media characteristic of the media content comprises a plurality of characteristics including an encoding format, a protocol, a resolution format, and an aspect ratio format, and wherein the network element of the configured virtual private network comprises an encoder.

19. The non-transitory machine readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the initiating media processor and the recipient media processor correspond to a set-top box, and wherein each of the global resource manager server and the local resource manager server include a router.