Locally originated IPTV programming

• US 8,817,095 B2
• Filed: 05/28/2013
• Issued: 08/26/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Diroo, Yolius, Wollmershauser, Steven M., Walter, Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Hee-Yong
• Application Number:
  US13/903,065
• Publication Number:
  US 20130263175A1
• Time in Patent Office: 455 Days
• Field of Search: 348/143
• US Class Current: 348/143
• 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: H04N 21/26616 for merging a unicast channel into a multicast channel, e.g. in a VOD application, when a client served by unicast channel catches up a multicast channel to save bandwidth data multicast over packet-switching network H04L12/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4147 PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42646 for reading from or writing on a non-volatile solid state storage medium, e.g. DVD, CD-ROM
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6175 involving transmission via Internet broadcast-related systems characterised by the transmission system being the Internet H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/52 Systems for transmission of a pulse code modulated video signal with one or more other pulse code modulated signals, e.g. an audio signal or a synchronizing signal assembling of a multiplex stream by combining a video stream with other content or additional data, remultiplexing of multiplex streams, insertion of stuffing bits into the multiplex stream, assembling of a packetised elementary stream at server side H04N21/236; disassembling of a multiplex stream, remultiplexing of multiplex streams, extraction or processing of Service Information, disassembling of packetised elementary stream at client side H04N21/434

Abstract

In an embodiment, a third party video content database is coupled to an IPTV network. The IPTV network includes a plurality of set top boxes (STBs). The third party video content database is mapped to the IPTV network via an IP address of the third party content database, and it is associated with an assigned channel on the IPTV network. One or more STBs of the IPTV network have access to the assigned channel.

Claims

1. A non-transitory machine readable storage medium, comprising instructions, wherein responsive to executing the instructions, a processor performs operations comprising:

obtaining video content captured by a camera, wherein the camera captures the video content without capturing audio content;

storing the video content in a video database accessible by a server;

associating an internet protocol address of the video database to an assigned channel of an interactive television network;

configuring the assigned channel for a plurality of parties to supply video content captured by a plurality of cameras without audio content;

obtaining a sharing schedule that is generated without user input;

based on the sharing schedule, assigning to each of the plurality of parties a different time period for presentation on the assigned channel of the video content associated with a corresponding party of the plurality of parties;

associating the assigned channel with set top boxes coupled to the interactive television network; and

sending an authorization code to permit access to the video content to the set top boxes coupled to the interactive television network that are identified with a list of subscribers having authorized access to the assigned channel.

2. The non-transitory machine readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise monitoring the assigned channel and transmitting an alert responsive to a determination that bandwidth usage exceeds a threshold.

3. The non-transitory machine readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the camera is located at a multi-unit dwelling, and wherein residents of the multi-unit dwelling have access to the video content of the camera via the assigned channel.

4. The non-transitory machine readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the list of subscribers is generated by equipment of a third party that is different from a service provider operating the server.

5. The non-transitory machine readable storage medium of claim 4, wherein the list of subscribers is based on a common geographic zone associated with each of the set top boxes.

6. The non-transitory machine readable storage medium of claim 4, wherein the list of subscribers is based on a common membership in an organization associated with each of the set top boxes.

7. The non-transitory machine readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the sharing schedule is received from equipment of a third party that is different from a service provider operating the server.

8. The non-transitory machine readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise the server providing access to a plurality of video streams available from the video database and access to a menu to list the plurality of video streams.

9. The non-transitory machine readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein an internet protocol gateway couples the camera to the interactive television network, wherein the camera comprises an analog camera.

10. A method comprising:

receiving, by a media processor, video content from a video database coupled to an interactive television network;

receiving, by the media processor, an authorization code from an interactive television server in communication with the video database and a list of media processors authorized to have access to the video content, wherein the interactive television server is operated by a service provider; and

displaying, by the media processor, the video content on an assigned channel of the interactive television network,

wherein the video content originates from a camera in communication with the interactive television network through a second media processor,

wherein the video database is accessible to the interactive television network through an internet protocol address of the video database,

wherein the content of the video database is associated with the assigned channel on the interactive television network,

wherein the assigned channel is configured for a plurality of parties to supply video content captured by a plurality of cameras without audio content,

wherein a sharing schedule is generated for presentation of content on the assigned channel,

wherein the sharing schedule is generated without user input, and

wherein a third party manages switching between the video content for each of the plurality of parties during different time periods without changing the internet protocol address of the video database, the third party being different from the service provider.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the sharing schedule is generated by equipment that is operated by the third party, and wherein the plurality of parties are selected from a list of subscribers generated by the equipment of the third party based on a common geographic zone.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the assigned channel is provided with a same internet protocol address for each of the different time periods, and wherein the plurality of parties are selected from a list of subscribers generated by equipment of the third party based on a common membership in an organization.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the video content is multicast to authorized subscriber devices associated with a list of subscribers.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising receiving an alert indicating that bandwidth usage is outside a threshold associated with the assigned channel.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the alert is received responsive to network performance testing of the assigned channel.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the operations comprise receiving multiple video streams and presenting a menu describing the multiple video streams.

17. A non-transitory machine readable storage medium, comprising instructions, wherein responsive to executing the instructions, a processor performs operations comprising:

receiving video content from a video database coupled to an interactive television network;

receiving an authorization code from a server in communication with the video database and a list of media processors authorized to have access to the video content, wherein the server is operated by a service provider;

displaying the video content on an assigned channel of the interactive television network; and

receiving an alert indicating that bandwidth usage is outside a threshold associated with the assigned channel,

wherein the video content originates from a camera in communication with the interactive television network through a second media processor,

wherein the video database is accessible to the interactive television network through an internet protocol address of the video database,

wherein the content of the video database is associated with the assigned channel on the interactive television network,

wherein the assigned channel is configured for a plurality of parties to supply video content captured by a plurality of cameras without audio content,

wherein a sharing schedule for the assigned channel is generated, and

wherein a third party manages switching between the video content for each of the plurality of parties during different time periods without changing the internet protocol address of the video database.

18. The non-transitory machine readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the sharing schedule is generated by equipment operated by a third party that is different from the service provider, and wherein the sharing schedule is generated without user input.

19. The non-transitory machine readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein an identifier is utilized to provide authentication for the media processor to view the video content.

20. The non-transitory machine readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the plurality of parties are selected from a list of subscribers generated by equipment of the third party based on one of a common geographic zone or a common membership in an organization.