System and method for unified metadata brokering and policy-based content resolution in a video architecture

• US 8,887,214 B1
• Filed: 07/06/2012
• Issued: 11/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Synamedia Limited
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Cruz, Gil C., Andreasen, Flemming S., Black, Neil, Collum, Matt, Katsnelson, Alexander, Ruman, Shane, Ferguson, Malcolm B., Viveganandhan, Mahesh C. Vittal
• Primary Examiner(s): SHEPARD, JUSTIN E
• Application Number:
  US13/543,775
• Time in Patent Office: 858 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 725/90
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2816 Controlling appliance services of a home automation network by calling their functionalities arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station; in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom H04Q9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/00 Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0815 providing single-sign-on or federations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2665 Gathering content from different sources, e.g. Internet and satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4112 having fewer capabilities than the client, e.g. thin client having less processing power or no tuning capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4227 Providing Remote input by a user located remotely from the client device, e.g. at work
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4627 Rights management associated to the content 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 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64322 IP

Abstract

A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes establishing a connection between a client and a messaging fabric associated with a video system that includes a metadata broker element; storing metadata information associated with content, where the content is associated with a release uniform resource locator (URL); and generating a content guide, (e.g., an electronic program guide) that includes a plurality of content definitions (e.g., channels). A particular content (e.g., program) in the content guide is associated with a particular release URL that can be translated into a more specific URL based on a number of criteria.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

establishing a connection between a client and a messaging fabric associated with a video system that includes a metadata broker element;

storing metadata information associated with content, wherein the content is associated with a release uniform resource locator (URL);

generating a content guide that includes a plurality of assets, wherein each of the assets are associated with a corresponding release URL and at least one corresponding source content URL, wherein the corresponding release URL indicates a content resolution server for returning one of the at least one corresponding source content URLs to the client;

identifying an asset requested by the client based on a corresponding release URL associated with the requested asset; and

translating the corresponding release URL into a specific source content URL and returning the specific source content URL to the client, wherein the returned specific source content URL specifies a particular access network and a particular delivery entity for delivering a particular version of the asset.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein entries in the content guide are correlated with other content and metadata in the metadata broker via metadata fields.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the content is associated with a selected one of a group of types of content, a group consisting of:

a) linear television programs;

b) on-demand videos;

c) time-shifted programs; and

d) advertising.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing particular metadata information associated with a user'"'"'s personalized content in the metadata broker element, wherein the personalized content is associated with a particular release URL.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

associating the user'"'"'s personalized content with a user and a user group to which the user belongs.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a metadata search query for content at the metadata broker element; and

providing a particular release URL that matches the search query.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

authenticating the client requesting the asset; and

providing the asset to the client.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the particular access network and the particular delivery entity for retrieving the particular version of the asset are determined based on a location of a device associated with the client requesting the asset.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request that includes personalized content;

limiting a response to the request to particular metadata from an authenticated user and user groups to which the authenticated user belongs.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

associating a plurality of users with a user group that is identified using particular metadata.

11. Logic encoded in one or more non-transitory media that includes instructions for execution and when executed by a processor is operable to perform operations, comprising:

establishing a connection between a client and a messaging fabric associated with a video system that includes a metadata broker element;

storing metadata information associated with content, wherein the content is associated with a release uniform resource locator (URL);

generating a content guide that includes a plurality of assets, wherein each of the assets are associated with a corresponding release URL and at least one corresponding source content URL, wherein the corresponding release URL indicates a content resolution server for returning one of the at least one corresponding source content URLs to the client;

identifying an asset requested by the client based on a corresponding release URL associated with the requested asset; and

translating the corresponding release URL into a specific source content URL and returning the specific source content URL to the client, wherein the returned specific source content URL specifies a particular access network and a particular delivery entity for delivering a particular version of the asset.

12. The logic of claim 11, wherein entries in the content guide are correlated with other content and metadata in the metadata broker via metadata fields.

13. The logic of claim 11, the operations further comprising:

associating a plurality of users with a user group that is identified using particular metadata.

14. The logic of claim 11, the operations further comprising:

receiving a metadata search query for content at the metadata broker element; and

providing a particular release URL that matches the search query.

15. The logic of claim 11, the operations further comprising:

authenticating the client requesting the asset; and

providing the asset to the client.

16. The logic of claim 11, wherein the particular access network and the particular delivery entity for retrieving the particular version of the asset are determined based on a location of a device associated with the client requesting the asset.

17. An apparatus, comprising:

a memory element configured to store instructions;

a processor coupled to the memory element; and

a metadata broker element, wherein the apparatus is configured to;

establish a connection between a client and a messaging fabric associated with a video system that includes a metadata broker element;

store metadata information associated with content, wherein the content is associated with a release uniform resource locator (URL);

generate a content guide that includes a plurality of assets, wherein each of the assets are associated with a corresponding release URL and at least one corresponding source content URL, wherein the corresponding release URL indicates a content resolution server for returning one of the at least one corresponding source content URLs to the client;

identify an asset requested by the client based on a corresponding release URL associated with the requested asset; and

translate the corresponding release URL into a specific source content URL and return the specific source content URL to the client, wherein the returned specific source content URL specifies a particular access network and a particular delivery entity for delivering a particular version of the asset.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein entries in the content guide are correlated with other content and metadata in the metadata broker via metadata fields.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the apparatus is further configured to:

store particular metadata information associated with a user'"'"'s personalized content in the metadata broker element, wherein the personalized content is associated with a particular release URL.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the apparatus is further configured to:

receive a metadata search query for content at the metadata broker element; and

provide a particular release URL that matches the search query.