Methods and apparatus to deliver media content across foreign networks

• US 9,401,855 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2008
• Issued: 07/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2008
• 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: Beattie, James Gordon, Griesmer, Stephen J., Mallya, Arvind R.
• Primary Examiner(s): VOSTAL, ONDREJ C
• Application Number:
  US12/262,991
• Publication Number:
  US 20100115605A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,825 Days
• Field of Search: 726/15, 705/50
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5019 Ensuring fulfilment of SLA
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/509 wherein the managed service relates to media content delivery, e.g. audio, video or TV
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0852 Delays
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/10 Active monitoring, e.g. heartbeat, ping or trace-route
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/16 Threshold monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/70 Admission control; Resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/745 Reaction in network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/785 among multiple network domains, e.g. multilateral agreements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/824 Applicable to portable or mobile terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/61 taking into account QoS or priority requirements

Abstract

Example methods and apparatus to deliver media content across foreign networks are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes receiving a request from a subscriber of a media provider, the media provider associated with a native network and identifying a foreign network associated with a current location of the subscriber. The example method also includes identifying at least one quality of service (QoS) parameter associated with the foreign network, comparing the at least one foreign network QoS parameter with a first threshold value, and at least one of prohibiting a service delivered by the media provider when the at least one foreign network QoS parameter fails to meet the first threshold value, or enabling the service when the at least one foreign network QoS parameter meets the first threshold value.

Claims

1. A method to deliver media services, comprising:

determining whether a request received from a subscriber of a media provider associated with a native network originated from the native network, the request being for the media provider to deliver a desired media service to the subscriber; and

when the request is determined to have originated from a network other than the native network;

identifying a foreign network from which the request originated;

identifying a quality of service parameter associated with delivering a type of media service corresponding to the desired media service to the subscriber through the foreign network;

comparing the quality of service parameter with a first threshold;

when the quality of service parameter fails to satisfy the first threshold, preventing delivery of the desired media service to the subscriber; and

when the quality of service parameter satisfies the first threshold, and in response to detecting constraining of a bandwidth by the foreign network associated with delivering the type of media service, enabling the desired media service to be delivered to the subscriber through the foreign network by establishing a virtual private network tunnel between the subscriber and the media provider, the virtual private network tunnel concealing the desired media service from being detected by the foreign network.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the identifying of the foreign network further includes receiving an originating Internet protocol address from the subscriber, the originating Internet protocol address associated with the foreign network.

3. A method as defined in claim 2, wherein the originating Internet protocol address is associated with a router of the foreign network.

4. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the identifying of the quality of service parameter further includes querying a foreign network data source including data indicative of at least one of a foreign network latency value, a foreign network download speed, or a foreign network upload speed.

5. A method as defined in claim 4, wherein the quality of service parameter is indicative of an average quality of service parameter value.

6. A method as defined in claim 4, further including a time-of-day value associated with the quality of service parameter.

7. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the identifying of the quality of service parameter further includes initiating at least one of a trace route or a ping on at least one of an Internet protocol address or a uniform resource locator associated with the foreign network.

8. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the first threshold is established by the media provider as a minimum acceptable quality of service.

9. A method as defined in claim 8, further including a second threshold established by the media provider to invoke the desired media service at a reduced quality.

10. A method as defined in claim 9, wherein the reduced quality is at least one of a reduced frames-per-second value or a reduced bits-per-second value.

11. A method as defined in claim 8, further including a second threshold established by the media provider to invoke the desired media service at an alternate quality that is buffered by a subscriber device.

12. A method as defined in claim 8, further including retrieving a customer profile to determine whether to fully enable the desired media service or partially enable the desired media service.

13. A method as defined in claim 12, wherein to partially enable the desired media service, the desired media service is adjusted to reduce latency.

14. A method as defined in claim 12, wherein to partially enable the desired media service, the desired media service is adjusted to buffer data associated with the desired media service at a device of the subscriber.

15. An apparatus to deliver a media service, comprising:

a memory including machine readable instructions; and

a processor to execute the instructions to;

invoke a services request manager to determine whether a request received from a subscriber of a media provider associated with a native network originated from the native network, the request being for the media provider to deliver a desired media service to the subscriber; and

when the request is determined to have originated from a network other than the native network;

invoke the services request manager to identify a foreign network from which the request originated;

invoke a foreign network quality manager to identify a quality of service parameter associated with delivering a type of media service corresponding to the desired media service through the foreign network;

invoke the foreign network quality manager to compare the quality of service parameter with a first threshold;

when the quality of service parameter fails to satisfy the first threshold, invoke a service delivery manager to prevent delivery of the desired media service to the subscriber; and

when the quality of service parameter satisfies the first threshold, and in response to detecting constraining of a bandwidth by the foreign network associated with delivering the type of media service, invoke the service delivery manager to enable the desired media service to be delivered to the subscriber through the foreign network by establishing a virtual private network tunnel between the subscriber and the media provider, the virtual private network tunnel concealing the desired media service from being detected by the foreign network.

16. An apparatus as defined in claim 15, wherein the processor is further to execute the instructions to invoke the service delivery manager to adjust a quality of the desired media service to at least one of maintain or improve a latency parameter of the foreign network.

17. An apparatus as defined in claim 16, wherein the processor is further to execute the instructions to invoke the service delivery manager to reduce at least one of a resolution of the desired media service, a frames-per-second value of the desired media service, or a bits-per-second value of the desired media service.

18. An apparatus as defined in claim 15, wherein the processor is further to execute the instructions to invoke a customer profile manager to identify whether the desired media service is to be delivered with at least one of a threshold latency value or a threshold quality value.

19. An apparatus as defined in claim 18, wherein the processor is further to execute the instructions to invoke the service delivery manager to reduce a quality value of the desired media service to enable the desired media service to be delivered with a latency satisfying the threshold latency value.

20. An apparatus as defined in claim 18, wherein the processor is further to execute the instructions to invoke the service delivery manager to invoke a buffer of a subscriber device to enable the desired media service to be delivered at a quality satisfying the threshold quality value.

21. A tangible machine readable storage device comprising instructions which, when executed, cause a machine to perform operations, comprising:

determining whether a request received from a subscriber of a media provider associated with a native network originated from the native network, the request being for the media provider to deliver a desired media service to the subscriber; and

when the request is determined to have originated from a network other than the native network;

identifying a foreign network from which the request originated;

identifying a quality of service parameter associated with delivering a type of media service corresponding to the desired media service to the subscriber through the foreign network;

comparing the quality of service parameter with a first threshold;

when the quality of service parameter fails to satisfy the first threshold, preventing delivery of the desired media service to the subscriber; and

when the quality of service parameter satisfies the first threshold, and in response to detecting constraining of a bandwidth by the foreign network associated with delivering the type of media service, enabling the desired media service to be delivered to the subscriber through the foreign network by establishing a virtual private network tunnel between the subscriber and the media provider, the virtual private network tunnel concealing the desired media service from being detected by the foreign network.

22. A machine readable storage device as defined in claim 21, wherein the identifying of the foreign network further includes receiving an originating Internet protocol address from the subscriber, the originating Internet protocol address associated with the foreign network.

23. A machine readable storage device as defined in claim 22, wherein the originating Internet protocol address is associated with a router of the foreign network.

24. A machine readable storage device as defined in claim 21, wherein the identifying of the quality of service parameter further includes querying a foreign network data source including data indicative of at least one of a foreign network latency value, a foreign network download speed, or a foreign network upload speed.

25. A machine readable storage device as defined in claim 21, wherein the identifying of the quality of service parameter further includes initiating at least one of a trace route or a ping on at least one of an Internet protocol address or a uniform resource locator associated with the foreign network.

26. A machine readable storage device as defined in claim 21, wherein the first threshold is established by the media provider as a minimum acceptable quality of service.

27. A machine readable storage device as defined in claim 26, further including a second threshold established by the media provider to invoke the desired media service at a reduced quality.

28. A machine readable storage device as defined in claim 27, wherein the reduced quality is at least one of a reduced frames-per-second value or a reduced bits-per-second value.

29. A machine readable storage device as defined in claim 26, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the machine to perform operations including retrieving a customer profile to determine whether to fully enable the desired media service or partially enable the desired media service.

30. A machine readable storage device as defined in claim 29, wherein to partially enable the desired media service, the desired media service is adjusted to reduce latency.

31. A machine readable storage device as defined in claim 29, wherein to partially enable the desired media service, the desired media service is adjusted to buffer data associated with the desired media service at a device of the subscriber.