Multi-access content server with security management for IPTV

• US 8,683,538 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2006
• Issued: 03/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TiVo Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Tucker, Curtis
• Primary Examiner(s): EKPO, NNENNA NGOZI
• Application Number:
  US11/607,686
• Publication Number:
  US 20080134277A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,672 Days
• Field of Search: 725/86, 725/87, 725/133, 725/141, 725/153
• US Class Current: 725/113
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23439 for generating different versions
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25875 involving end-user authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; arrangements for secret or secure communication including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26283 for associating distribution time parameters to content, e.g. to generate electronic program guide data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/162 Authorising the user terminal, e.g. by paying; Registering the use of a subscription channel, e.g. billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A system and method for distributing content over multiple networks may include at least two encoders configured to encode the content in formats for play on devices having different formats. A metadata management unit may be configured to apply information associated with the content to the content in the form of metadata. A content management server may be in communication with the encoders and be configured to receive and store the content. A conditional access digital rights management server may be in communication with the content management server and be configured to authenticate a user. A middleware server may be in communication with the content management server and be configured to manage a program guide accessible to users to view and select content to play on a device. Devices of different formats may be configured to access the content management server and select content to play via the program guide.

Claims

1. A system for distributing content over multiple networks, said system comprising:

a receiver, located on a content provider network, configured to receive content from a content source, wherein the content provider network excludes customer premises equipment;

a plurality of content-provider encoders located on the content provider network, at least two of the content-provider encoders configured to encode the content into at least two different formats for play on devices having different formats;

a metadata management unit located on the content provider network configured to apply information associated with the content to the content in the form of metadata;

a content management server located on the content provider network, in communication with said plurality of encoders and configured to receive and store the content, the content management server configured to receive a content selection request from a user device and communicate the content selection request to a middleware server and in response to receiving a verified content selection request from the middleware server, transmitting an encoded content associated with the content selection request to the user device, the encoded content format being selected based on a type of device associated with the user device;

a conditional access digital rights management server located on the content provider network in communication with said content management server and configured to authenticate a user from among multiple customers of a communications service provider attempting to access the content, the conditional access digital rights management server configured to receive a security key associated with a user profile from the user device and determine if the security key is capable of decrypting a content associated with the content selection request, and notify the middleware server if the security key is capable of decrypting a content associated with the content selection request;

the middleware server located on the content provider network in communication with said content management server and configured to manage a program guide accessible to users to view and select content to play on a device, the middleware server configured to receive the content selection request from the content management server and authenticate the user device based on an identifier associated with the user device that is received with the content selection request and responsive to authenticating the user device and receiving a notification from the conditional access digital rights management server that the security key associated with the user profile is capable of decrypting a content associated with the content selection request, communicating the verified content selection request back to the content management server; and

a plurality of devices configured for different formats and configured to access the content management server via at least one network and select content to play via the program guide.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the content management server is a video on-demand server and the content is stored programming available for selection by the user.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the encoders includes (i) A television video encoder configured to encode the content in a format available to be played on a television and (ii) A wireless device video encoder configured to encode the content in a format available to be played on a wireless device.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein the wireless device is a mobile telephone.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the encoders further compress the content using a compression technique.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the compression technique is H.264.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the devices include a television associated with a set top box.

8. The system according to claim 1, further comprising at least one database managed by said content management server, said at least one database configured to store the same content in different formats.

9. The system according to claim 1, further comprising an input/output unit in communication with at least one network and configured to receive requests from users for content via the at least one network and communicate the encoded content via the at least one network to the users.

10. A method for distributing content, said method comprising:

receiving raw content from a content producer, with a receiver, located on a content provider network, configured to receive content from a content source, wherein the content provider network excludes customer premises equipment;

encoding the raw content into at least two different formats for play on devices having different respective formats with a plurality of content-provider encoders located on the content provider network, at least two of the content-provider encoders configured to encode the content into at least two different formats for play on devices having different formats;

applying information associated with the content to the encoded content for display to a user with a metadata management unit located on the content provider network configured to apply information associated with the content to the content in the form of metadata;

storing the encoded content in the different formats on a content management server located on the content provider network, in communication with said plurality of encoders and configured to receive and store the content, the content management server configured to receive a content selection request from a user device and communicate the content selection request to a middleware server and in response to receiving a verified content selection request from the middleware server, transmitting an encoded content associated with the content selection request to the user device, the encoded content format being selected based on a type of device associated with the user device;

authenticating a user from among multiple customers of a communications service provider attempting to access the encoded content in the different formats with a conditional access digital rights management server located on the content provider network in communication with said content management server and configured to authenticate the user from among multiple customers of a communications service provider attempting to access the content;

determining, with the conditional access digital rights management server if a security key associated with a user profile received from a user device is capable of decrypting an encoded content associated with the content selection request;

notifying the middleware server if the security key is capable of decrypting a content associated with the content selection request;

managing a program guide accessible to users to view and select content to play on a device with the middleware server, the middleware server being configured to receive the content selection request from the content management server and authenticate the user device based on an identifier associated with the user device that is received with the content selection request and responsive to authenticating the user device and receiving a notification from the conditional access digital rights management server that the security key associated with the user profile is capable of decrypting a content associated with the content selection request;

communicating the verified content selection request back to the content management server; and

distributing, by the content provider system, the encoded content to a plurality of devices configured for different formats and configured to access the content management server via at least one network and select content to play via the program guide.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein storing the encoding content includes storing movies available by selection by the user.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein encoding includes encoding the raw content into a format available to be played on a television and in a format available to be played on a wireless device.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein encoding includes encoding the raw content into a raw format to be played on a mobile telephone.

14. The method according to claim 10, further comprising compressing the encoded content in different formats using a compression technique.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein compressing includes compressing using the H.264 compression technique.

16. The method according to claim 10, wherein distributing includes distributing the encoded content to a set top box associated with a television.

17. The method according to claim 10, wherein storing includes storing the encoded content in at least one database configured to store the same content in different formats.

18. The method according to claim 10, further comprising receiving a request from users for content via at least one network and distributing the encoded content via the at least one network to the users.