Apparatus and methods for content distribution to packet-enabled devices via a network bridge

• US 9,426,123 B2
• Filed: 02/23/2012
• Issued: 08/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Inventors: Pfeffer, Howard, Paci, Noah, Nakhre, Tushar, Danforth, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Su, Sarah
• Application Number:
  US13/403,814
• Publication Number:
  US 20130227284A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,643 Days
• Field of Search: 713/163, 713/168, 709/231, 709/232
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/10 Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material protection in video systems or pay television H04N7/16 ; Digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0236 Filtering by address, protocol, port number or service, e.g. IP-address or URL
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6118 involving cable transmission, e.g. using a cable modem
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64322 IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64707 for transferring content from a first network to a second network, e.g. between IP and wireless

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for providing content to packet-enabled devices in a content distribution network. In one embodiment, a network architecture is disclosed which enables delivery of content to IP-enabled devices such as mobile smartphones and tablet computers using a traditional high-speed data connection. This capability allows the managed network operator to provide content services to an IP-enabled device associated with a non-data subscriber. In one variant, a cable modem is provided which is limited to only retrieve content for delivery to the devices, yet which performs no other functions/services (including provision of high-speed data services). Alternatively, a “media server” modem is utilized to enable delivery of content from the managed network to a client or user device which is also able to obtain high-speed data service from a non-managed or third party managed network via a third-party access point. Security and authentication mechanisms for the transmitted content are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A system for delivery of media content to a client device over a data service, said system comprising:

a content server within a managed network;

an access point in communication with a non-managed network; and

a media server configured to;

retrieve said media content from said content server over a first channel for delivery to said client device, said first channel being dedicated only for said retrieval of said media content;

execute a first application and a second application, said first application configured to enable outbound communications within a permissible address space, and said second application configured to block media content from one or more client devices with impermissible Internet Protocol (IP) addresses; and

register as a client of said access point in communication with said non-managed network for delivery of a packetized version of said media content to said client device over a second channel, said second channel being configured for delivery of said data service without use of high-speed data services and dedicated only for delivery of said packetized version of said media content to said client device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said managed network comprises a headend origin source.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said managed network comprises an edge cache.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said retrieved media content is encrypted.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said media server and said access point are in communication via a direct connection or a premises network.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said media server is a modem comprising:

a first interface for communication with said managed network; and

a second interface for communication with said non-managed network.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said media server comprises a processor configured to execute at least one computer program thereon, said computer program comprising a plurality of instructions which are configured to, when executed, filter communications received at said media server.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said client device comprises a processor configured to execute at least one computer program thereon, said computer program comprising a plurality of instructions which are configured to, when executed, discover said media server.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said delivery of said data service without use of high-speed data services comprises delivery without use of data over cable service interface specification (DOCSIS) modem apparatus.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said delivery of said data service without use of high-speed data services comprises delivery via at least a data over cable service interface specification (DOCSIS) modem apparatus yet without a subscription to high-speed data services that are provided via the modem apparatus.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein said first channel comprises a media content channel and said second channel comprises a data channel that previously only used to provide high-speed services such that said packetized content was previously only available to said client device on said media content channel.

12. A method for providing content to Internet Protocol (IP)-enabled client devices associated with a content distribution network, said method comprising:

enabling a client device to receive packetized media content from said content distribution network; and

limiting a type of service received by said client device within the content distribution network to only data services associated with said packetized media content via said content distribution network, said content distribution network serves non-packetized and said packetized media content;

wherein said limiting said type of service received by said client device comprises restricting said client device from receiving high-speed data services via at least one channel.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said act of limiting said type of service is performed via providing at least one destination address within said content distribution network from a limited list of authorized IP addresses.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein said act of limiting of said data service comprises filtering communications received against a listing or range of authorized destination addresses.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein said content distribution network comprises at least one of:

(i) a cable television network;

(ii) a satellite network; and

(iii) a hybrid fiber copper (HFCu) network.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising receiving said packetized content as a plurality of Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) transport stream (.ts) files.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said plurality of files are encrypted, and said method further comprises obtaining a decryption key for said encrypted files from said content distribution network.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising providing said decryption key and said encrypted files to said client device for decryption of said files and rendering of said content thereon.

19. The method of claim 16 further comprising providing a playlist of Uniform Resource Locator (URL) addresses for said plurality of MPEG transport stream files.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said playlist further comprises a URL to a content decryption key.

21. The method of claim 12, wherein said not providing said client device with high-speed data services comprises allowing the client device to utilize a physical transport normally used by said high-speed services.

22. An apparatus configured to provide content to a plurality of Internet Protocol (IP)-enabled client devices associated with a content distribution network, said apparatus comprising:

a network interface;

a client interface;

a storage device having at least one computer program stored thereon; and

a processor in data communication with said network interface, said client interface, and said storage device, said processor configured to run said at least one computer program thereon, said at least one computer program configured to, when executed;

enable at least one of said plurality of IP-enabled client devices to receive packetized media content from said content distribution network via said network interface;

limit a type of service received by said at least one of said plurality of IP-enabled client devices via said network interface to only data services associated with said packetized media content via said content distribution network, said content distribution network delivers non-packetized and said packetized media content; and

provide said packetized media content to said at least one of said plurality of IP-enabled client devices without use of high-speed data services.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said limitation of said type of service is performed via a provision of at least one destination address within said content distribution network from a limited list of authorized IP addresses.

24. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said limitation of said data service comprises at least filtration of communications received via said client interface against a listing or range of authorized destination addresses.

25. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said content distribution network comprises at least one of:

(i) a cable television network, (ii) a satellite network, or (iii) a hybrid fiber copper (HFCu) network.

26. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said apparatus is further configured to receive said packetized content via said network interface as a plurality of Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) transport stream (.ts) files.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein said plurality of MPEG transport stream files are encrypted, and said apparatus is further configured to obtain a decryption key for said encrypted files from said content distribution network.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said apparatus is further configured to provide said decryption key and said encrypted files to said client device via said client interface for decryption of said encrypted files and rendering of said content thereon.