Apparatus and methods for providing content to an IP-enabled device in a content distribution network
First Claim
1. A method for providing content to an Internet Protocol (IP)-enabled user device via a managed content distribution network, the user device associated with a subscriber of the network, the method comprising:
- receiving a request for a content element, the request received from the user device via a wireless-enabled settop box, the content element comprising at least video;
authenticating the wireless-enabled settop box as having a valid video services subscription only;
processing the content element into a plurality of segments, each of the plurality of segments being associated to a particular uniform resource locator (URL);
cryptographically protecting at least a portion of the plurality of segments;
generating a playlist configured to, when selected for playback by the subscriber, form a complete playout of the requested content element, the playlist comprising data representative of a list of the particular URL for each of the plurality of segments of the complete playout and a URL associated with a cryptographic element, the cryptographic element being configured to decrypt content which has been cryptographically protected; and
providing the data representative of the playlist and the plurality of protected segments to the user device via the managed content distribution network and the wireless-enabled settop box of the subscriber in data communication with the managed content distribution network, the providing via the managed content distribution network and the wireless-enabled settop box comprising delivery, via infrastructure of the managed content distribution network utilized for at least delivery of Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) video services, and over in-band quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) channels using an MPEG-2 transport stream and encapsulation protocol.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and methods for providing content to IP-enabled devices in a content distribution network. In one embodiment, a network architecture is disclosed which enables delivery of content to such IP-enabled devices without the use of a high-speed data connection This capability allow the managed network operator to provide content services to an IP-enabled device associated with a non-data subscriber. In one implementation, requests for content from user IP-enabled devices are received, authenticated, and content processed into a series of encrypted segments. Once the requesting user/device is authenticated, the segments are provided with a playlist. The rendering device is also provided access to a decryption key (e.g., via a URL to a managed key server). Variants providing (i) user access to the MSO distribution network via an indigenous modem or gateway; and (ii) user access to the MSO core via a gateway and a third party unmanaged network are described.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method for providing content to an Internet Protocol (IP)-enabled user device via a managed content distribution network, the user device associated with a subscriber of the network, the method comprising:
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receiving a request for a content element, the request received from the user device via a wireless-enabled settop box, the content element comprising at least video; authenticating the wireless-enabled settop box as having a valid video services subscription only; processing the content element into a plurality of segments, each of the plurality of segments being associated to a particular uniform resource locator (URL); cryptographically protecting at least a portion of the plurality of segments; generating a playlist configured to, when selected for playback by the subscriber, form a complete playout of the requested content element, the playlist comprising data representative of a list of the particular URL for each of the plurality of segments of the complete playout and a URL associated with a cryptographic element, the cryptographic element being configured to decrypt content which has been cryptographically protected; and providing the data representative of the playlist and the plurality of protected segments to the user device via the managed content distribution network and the wireless-enabled settop box of the subscriber in data communication with the managed content distribution network, the providing via the managed content distribution network and the wireless-enabled settop box comprising delivery, via infrastructure of the managed content distribution network utilized for at least delivery of Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) video services, and over in-band quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) channels using an MPEG-2 transport stream and encapsulation protocol. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. Network apparatus configured to enable provision of Internet Protocol (IP) content to an IP-enabled user device via a managed content distribution network via extant video delivery infrastructure, the IP-enabled user device associated with a subscriber of the managed content distribution network, the subscriber registered therein, the network apparatus comprising:
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processing apparatus; data interface apparatus in data communication with the processing apparatus and configured to receive requests from IP-enabled user devices via the managed network; a subscriber database in data communication with the processing apparatus, the database comprising data authenticating the subscriber as being entitled to access the requested content element; and computerized logic in data communication with the processing apparatus and configured to; based at least on a received request from the IP-enabled user device for a content element, cause access of the database to authenticate the subscriber, the request comprising authentication data provided by the subscriber; after the authentication, cause processing of the content element into a plurality of segments, each of the plurality of segments being associated to a particular uniform resource locator (URL); cause cryptographic protection of at least a portion of the plurality of segments; cause generation of data representative of a playlist configured to, when selected for playback by the subscriber, form a complete playout of the requested content element, the data representative of the playlist comprising a list of the particular URL for each of the plurality of segments of the complete playout and a URL associated with a cryptographic element, the cryptographic element being configured to decrypt content which has been cryptographically protected; and cause provision, via infrastructure of the managed network, of the data representative of the playlist and the plurality of protected segments to the IP-enabled user device via an MPEG-based transport stream and a settop box in data communication with the IP-enabled user device; wherein; the managed network utilized for delivery of at least Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) video services; the provision comprises delivery of the data representative of the playlist and the plurality of protected segments over in-band quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) channels using an MPEG-2 transport stream and encapsulation protocol; and the authentication comprises authentication of the settop box as having a valid video services subscription only. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. Computer readable apparatus comprising a non-transitory storage medium, the non-transitory medium comprising at least one computer program having a plurality of instructions, the instructions configured to, when executed on a processing apparatus:
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receive data representative of a request for a digitally rendered content element, the data representative of the request received from a computerized user device via a settop box (STB); authenticate the STB as having a valid video services subscription only; cause processing of the digitally rendered content element into a plurality of segments, each of the plurality of segments being associated to a particular uniform resource locator (URL); cause cryptographic protection of at least a portion of the plurality of segments; cause generation of a playlist configured to, when selected for playback by the subscriber, form a complete playout of the requested content element, the playlist comprising a list of the particular URL for each of the plurality of segments of the complete playout and a URL associated to a cryptographic element, the cryptographic element being configured to decrypt content which has been cryptographically protected; and cause provision of the playlist and the plurality of protected segments to the computerized user device via;
(i) the STB, and (ii) infrastructure of a managed content distribution network also utilized for delivery of MPEG video services, the provision comprising delivery over in-band quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) channels using an MPEG-2 transport stream and encapsulation protocol. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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Specification