Apparatus and methods for content delivery and message exchange across multiple content delivery networks
First Claim
1. A computerized method for providing protected Internet Protocol (IP) packetized content via an unmanaged network associated with a third party service provider to an authorized user of a managed content delivery network, said computerized method comprising:
- receiving, at an entity of said managed content delivery network, data representative of a request for said protected IP packetized content, said data specifying a prescribed quality-of-service (QoS) level and comprising at least information identifying a requesting user and information identifying said requested IP packetized content;
determining, based at least in part on said information identifying said requesting user, an identity of said requesting user as said authorized user of said managed content delivery network;
generating a unique identifier for said authorized user; and
transmitting, from said entity of said managed content delivery network, a response to said request to an entity of said unmanaged network, said response comprising said unique identifier and a subscription level of said authorized user;
wherein receipt of said transmitted response is configured to cause said entity of said unmanaged network to deliver said protected IP packetized content to said authorized user in accordance with said QoS level; and
wherein said unique identifier and said subscription level are stored at said entity of said unmanaged network and are configured to enable use in a subsequent request, said subsequent request comprising a request for second protected content different than said delivered IP packetized content, said storage of said subscription level configured to enable said entity of said unmanaged network to determine at least one of an encoding or a bitrate for said different second protected content.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for providing protected content to subscribers of a managed (e.g., MSO) network via a content source accessible via an internetwork such as the Internet. In one embodiment, a user accesses a service provider portal (e.g., website), and requests content. The service provider determines whether the requesting user is permitted to access the content, and what rights or restrictions are associated with the user. This includes authenticating the user as a subscriber of the MSO, and determining the subscriber'"'"'s subscription level. In another embodiment, a user'"'"'s account with the MSO and service provider may be federated, thus a given user will have MSO-specific information regarding its identity (such as login information, GUID, etc.) and is able to perform a single sign on to request and receive content.
451 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A computerized method for providing protected Internet Protocol (IP) packetized content via an unmanaged network associated with a third party service provider to an authorized user of a managed content delivery network, said computerized method comprising:
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receiving, at an entity of said managed content delivery network, data representative of a request for said protected IP packetized content, said data specifying a prescribed quality-of-service (QoS) level and comprising at least information identifying a requesting user and information identifying said requested IP packetized content; determining, based at least in part on said information identifying said requesting user, an identity of said requesting user as said authorized user of said managed content delivery network; generating a unique identifier for said authorized user; and transmitting, from said entity of said managed content delivery network, a response to said request to an entity of said unmanaged network, said response comprising said unique identifier and a subscription level of said authorized user; wherein receipt of said transmitted response is configured to cause said entity of said unmanaged network to deliver said protected IP packetized content to said authorized user in accordance with said QoS level; and wherein said unique identifier and said subscription level are stored at said entity of said unmanaged network and are configured to enable use in a subsequent request, said subsequent request comprising a request for second protected content different than said delivered IP packetized content, said storage of said subscription level configured to enable said entity of said unmanaged network to determine at least one of an encoding or a bitrate for said different second protected content. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A computerized method for providing protected digitally rendered content via a first, unmanaged content delivery network to an authorized user of a second, managed content delivery network, said computerized method comprising:
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receiving, at an entity of said first, unmanaged content delivery network, data representative of a request for said protected digitally rendered content from a computerized user device associated with said authorized user, said data comprising at least information identifying said computerized user device and information identifying said protected digitally rendered content; querying a plurality of records maintained with said first, unmanaged content delivery network to determine both;
(i) a unique identifier of said computerized user device, and (ii) content protection data, said unique identifier being previously provided to said entity of said first, unmanaged content delivery network by an entity of said second, managed content delivery network, said content protection data pre-positioned at said first unmanaged content delivery network by said entity of said second managed content delivery network to maintain integrity of said protected digitally rendered content outside of said second managed content delivery network and within said first unmanaged content delivery network; anddelivering said protected digitally rendered content to said computerized user device based at least in part on said querying, said protected digitally rendered content being pre-configured by said entity of said first unmanaged content delivery network according to one or more capabilities of said computerized user device, said one or more capabilities being determined based on use of said unique identifier. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. Computerized network apparatus configured for use in a content delivery network to authorize access by at least one computerized user device to a selected one or more Internet Protocol (IP) packet stream services via a packet network, said packet network configured for delivery of said one or more IP packet stream services according to a prescribed quality-of-service (QoS) level, said computerized network apparatus comprising:
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a first data interface configured to receive; information identifying said at least one computerized user device; and data representative of a request for said access to said selected one or more IP packet stream services, said request configured to specify said QoS level; a processor apparatus in data communication with the first data interface; storage apparatus in data communication with said processor apparatus and comprising at least one computer program, said computer program comprising a plurality of instructions configured to, when executed on said processor apparatus; verify said information identifying said at least one computerized user device as being associated with at least one subscriber of said content delivery network; generate a unique identifier specific to said at least one subscriber; and generate a response to said request for said access to said selected one or more IP packet stream services; and a second data interface in data communication with said processor apparatus and configured to transmit; said unique identifier to at least one entity of said packet network for storage thereon; and said response to said request for said access to said selected one or more IP packet stream services; wherein said computerized network apparatus is further configured to cause delivery of said selected one or more IP packet stream services via said packet network and according to said QoS level; and wherein said unique identifier is linked to protection data pre-positioned at said at least one entity of said packet network, and said unique identifier is used in an application of digital rights management or other forms of content protection in response to a subsequent request from said at least one subscriber for one or more different services, prior to provision of said one or more different services, said digital rights management or said other forms of content protection being specific to said at least one subscriber, said pre-positioned protection data configured to enable an operator of said content delivery network to maintain integrity of said one or more different services outside of said content delivery network and within said packet network; and wherein said link of said unique identifier to said pre-positioned protection data enables use of said one or more different services in said subsequent request without having to redirect said at least one subscriber back to said operator of said content delivery network for authentication. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A computerized method of operating an unmanaged packet network, comprising:
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receiving, from an Internet Protocol (IP)-enabled computerized device, data representative of a request for IP packetized content at an entity of said unmanaged packet network, said IP packetized content being protected in accordance with one or more policies specified by an operator of a managed content distribution network, said data specifying a prescribed quality-of-service (QoS) level and comprising information uniquely associated with a subscriber of said managed content distribution network; accessing information stored at said entity received from said operator, said stored information comprising a unique identifier associated with said subscriber and enabling said entity to determine whether said request for said IP packetized content should be granted; when granting said request, issuing a communication to said managed content distribution network indicating that said IP packetized content is being provided; linking pre-positioned cryptographic data to said unique identifier for use in one or more subsequent requests for digitally rendered content from said subscriber, said cryptographic data pre-positioned by said operator of said managed content distribution network at said entity of said unmanaged packet network in order for said operator of said managed content distribution network to maintain integrity of said IP packetized content outside of said managed content distribution network and within said unmanaged packet network; and causing said IP packetized content to be provided to said requesting IP-enabled computerized device in accordance with said QoS level over said unmanaged packet network. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A computerized method for providing protected digitally rendered content via a first network to an authorized user of a second network, said computerized method comprising:
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receiving, at an entity of said second network, data representative of a request for first protected digitally rendered content, said data comprising information uniquely associated with a subscriber of said second network; determining, based at least in part on said information uniquely associated with said subscriber, an identity of said subscriber as said authorized user of said second network; causing generation of a unique identifier for said authorized user; and transmitting a response to said request to an entity of said first network, said response comprising said unique identifier and a subscription level of said requesting user; wherein receipt of said transmitted response is configured to cause said entity of said first network to deliver said first protected digitally rendered content to said authorized user; wherein said unique identifier and said subscription level are stored at said entity of said first network and are configured to enable use in a subsequent request, said subsequent request comprising a request for second protected digitally rendered content different than said first digitally rendered content; and wherein said storage of said unique identifier and said subscription level at said entity enables said entity of said first network to automatically pre-configure said first and second digitally rendered content according to one or more capabilities of a computerized device at which said first and second digitally rendered content are to be displayed, said one or more capabilities determined based on use of at least said unique identifier, said storage of said subscription level configured to enable said entity of said first network to determine at least one of an encoding or a bitrate for said first and second digitally rendered content during said automatic pre-configuration. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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Specification