Methods and apparatus for packetized content delivery over a content delivery network
First Claim
1. A method of providing Internet Protocol (IP) based services within a managed content distribution network, comprising:
- broadcasting at least a first service via a multiplexed transport stream;
responsive to authenticating a registered IP-enabled client device based at least in part on a plurality of user profiles stored at a home subscriber server (HSS), establishing one or more IP sessions with said registered IP-enabled client device;
delivering at least a second service via said one or more established IP sessions, said second service specific to said registered IP-enabled client device;
delivering a third service via said one or more IP sessions;
wherein said second and third services comprise different user services;
blending at least said second and third services together at a headend of said managed network to provide a blended service to said registered IP-enabled client device such that said second and third services are combined into a common session; and
wherein said blending comprises integrating said second and third services in a unified control and device environment;
wherein said established one or more IP sessions manage delivery of said second service to said registered IP-enabled client device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for delivery of packetized content (e.g., video, audio, data, etc.) over a content delivery network. In one embodiment, the content is packetized using an Internet Protocol (IP), and delivered by a service provider over both managed and unmanaged networks to subscribers of the provider, so as to provide delivery at any time, at any location, and via any designated user device. The delivered content may originate from the service provider, third-party content sources (e.g., networks or studios), the subscriber(s) themselves, or other sources including the Internet. Use of a common control and service functions within the network afford the ability to integrate or blend services together, thereby affording the service provider and subscriber new service and economic opportunities. Content delivery sessions may also be migrated from one device to another. A network-based user interface infrastructure, and gateway-based client-side architecture, are also disclosed.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method of providing Internet Protocol (IP) based services within a managed content distribution network, comprising:
- broadcasting at least a first service via a multiplexed transport stream;
responsive to authenticating a registered IP-enabled client device based at least in part on a plurality of user profiles stored at a home subscriber server (HSS), establishing one or more IP sessions with said registered IP-enabled client device;delivering at least a second service via said one or more established IP sessions, said second service specific to said registered IP-enabled client device;
delivering a third service via said one or more IP sessions;
wherein said second and third services comprise different user services;
blending at least said second and third services together at a headend of said managed network to provide a blended service to said registered IP-enabled client device such that said second and third services are combined into a common session; and
wherein said blending comprises integrating said second and third services in a unified control and device environment;
wherein said established one or more IP sessions manage delivery of said second service to said registered IP-enabled client device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
- broadcasting at least a first service via a multiplexed transport stream;
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9. A core entity apparatus configured to provide Internet Protocol (IP) based services in a managed content distribution network, comprising:
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a first interface configured to cause a network apparatus to broadcast a first service via a multiplexed transport stream; a database comprising information configured to identify a plurality of registered IP-enabled client devices; a second interface configured to cause delivery of a second service; and 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; identify at least one IP-enabled client device; when said at least one IP-enabled client device selects IP-services; responsive to an authentication of said at least one IP-enabled client device at a home subscriber server (HSS), transmit authentication data of said at least one IP-enabled client device and preference data associated to a user of said IP-enabled client device to an advertisement server to facilitate advertising targeted to a user associated with said at least one IP-enabled client device; establish one or more IP sessions with said at least one IP-enabled client device; and cause delivery of said second service to said at least one IP-enabled client device via said one or more IP sessions, said second service specific to said at least one IP-enabled client device; and wherein said second service specific to said at least one IP-enabled client device comprises delivery of advertising targeted to said user associated with said at least one IP-enabled client device; and when said at least one IP-enabled client device does not select IP-services; provision said first service via a multiplexed transport stream; and wherein said first service and said second service are different user services. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A network apparatus configured to provide Internet Protocol (IP) based services in a managed content distribution network, comprising:
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a first interface in data communication with a video content source and configured to obtain video content for distribution over said managed content distribution network; a second interface configured to broadcast at least a first service via a multiplexed transport stream to a first registered IP-enabled client device or a second registered IP-enabled client device; a processing apparatus in data communication with said second interface; a third interface in data communication with said processing apparatus; a fourth interface in data communication with a home subscriber server (HSS); a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising one or more instructions which are configured to, when executed by said processing apparatus, cause said network apparatus to; responsive to an identification and authentication of a registered IP-enabled client device at said HSS; establish one or more IP sessions via said third interface with said first registered IP-enabled client device, said network apparatus being a logical endpoint of said one or more IP sessions; deliver IP-encapsulated video and one or more IP-encapsulated voice or data services thereto via said one or more IP sessions, said video service comprising delivery of said video content to said first registered IP-enabled device; and transfer said one or more IP sessions from said first registered IP-enabled device to said second registered IP-enabled device. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification