Apparatus and methods for content delivery and message exchange across multiple content delivery networks

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12081818-B2
Application number	US-202217751394-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 23, 2022
Priority date	Nov 24, 2008
Publication date	Sep 3, 2024
Grant date	Sep 3, 2024

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 programmer website website, and requests content. The programmer 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 programmer may be federated, thus a given user will have MSO-specific information regarding its identity (such as login information, GUID, etc.) and/or information regarding subscription level and service details, stored at the programmer. Messages received from the MSO representing permission for the user to access content may also be stored at the programmer site for later reference.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A computerized mobile device configured for use within at least two mobile network environments, the computerized mobile device comprising:
digital processor apparatus;
wireless interface apparatus in data communication with the digital processor apparatus and configured for wireless communication with at least a first radio area network (RAN) utilizing a first wireless access protocol, and a second RAN utilizing a second wireless access protocol; and
storage apparatus in data communication with the digital processor apparatus and comprising a storage medium, the storage medium comprising at least one computer program, the at least one computer program, configured to, when executed on the digital processor apparatus:
based at least on an authentication of the computerized mobile device, receive identification data, the identification data configured to enable the computerized mobile device to access digitally rendered content via a network packet process associated with a first wireless network infrastructure, the first wireless network infrastructure comprising a managed network having an operator associated therewith;
establish data communication with the network packet process via at least the first RAN when the computerized mobile device is operating connected to the first RAN; and
establish data communication with the network packet process when the computerized mobile device is operating connected to the second RAN, wherein the second RAN is part of a second wireless network infrastructure network comprising an unmanaged internetwork.

2. The computerized mobile device of claim 1 , wherein the authentication comprises authentication of the computerized mobile device to the first RAN.

3. A computerized mobile device configured for use within at least two mobile network environments, the computerized mobile device comprising:
digital processor apparatus;
wireless interface apparatus in data communication with the digital processor apparatus and configured for wireless communication with at least a first radio area network (RAN) utilizing a first wireless access protocol, and a second RAN utilizing a second wireless access protocol; and
storage apparatus in data communication with the digital processor apparatus and comprising a storage medium, the storage medium comprising at least one computer program, the at least one computer program, configured to, when executed on the digital processor apparatus:
based at least on an authentication of the computerized mobile device, receive identification data, the identification data configured to enable the computerized mobile device to access digitally rendered content via a network packet process associated with a first wireless network infrastructure, the first wireless network infrastructure comprising a managed cable network having a multiple systems operator (MSO) associated therewith;
establish data communication with the network packet process via at least the first RAN when the computerized mobile device is operating connected to the first RAN; and
establish data communication with the network packet process when the computerized mobile device is operating connected to the second RAN, wherein the second RAN is part of a second wireless network infrastructure network comprising a managed wireless network managed by a mobile network operator.

4. The computerized mobile device of claim 3 , wherein:
the at least one computer program is further configured to, when executed on the digital processor apparatus:
transmit data representative of a request to access the digitally rendered content;

the receipt of the identification data is further based at least on the data representative of the request; and
the network packet process comprises an active or existing session, the active or existing session configured to provide the access to the digitally rendered content regardless of whether the computerized mobile device is operating connected to the first RAN or the second RAN.

5. The computerized mobile device of claim 4 , wherein the at least one computer program is further configured to, when executed on the digital processor apparatus:
transmit data representative of a subsequent request to access other digitally rendered content; and
receive data representative of a message denying the access to the other digitally rendered content, the denial based at least on the identification data being not valid for the other digitally rendered content.

6. A computerized method for enabling a wireless user device to access digitally rendered content via operation within both of a first radio area network (RAN) utilizing a first wireless access protocol, and a second RAN utilizing a second wireless access protocol, the computerized method comprising:
receiving data representative of a request for the wireless user device to access the digitally rendered content; and
based at least on authentication of the wireless user device, causing provision of identification data associated with the wireless user device, the identification data configured to enable the wireless user device to access the digitally rendered content via at least one active session and a network packet process associated with a wireless network infrastructure;
wherein:
the at least one active session is configured to enable the wireless user device to:
(i) establish data communication with the network packet process via at least the first RAN when the wireless user device is operating connected to the first RAN; and
(ii) establish data communication with the network packet process when the wireless user device is operating connected to the second RAN; and

the receiving of the data representative of the request for the wireless user device to access to the digitally rendered content comprises receiving data according to one or more protocols enabling management of protected digitally rendered content across a heterogeneous network environment, the heterogeneous network environment comprising one or more networks not under direct control by a managed network operator of a managed wireless network, the one or more networks comprising at least one of the first RAN or the second RAN.

7. The computerized method of claim 6 , wherein:
the receiving of the data representative of the request for the wireless user device to access the digitally rendered content comprises receiving data representative of data session request at a packet data network (PDN) gateway process, the PDN gateway process in data communication with a database comprising data correlating one or more Internet Protocol (IP) addresses with user account information; and
the authentication of the wireless user device comprises accessing via the database to at least determine a correlation between an IP address of the wireless user device and at least a portion of the user account information associated with the wireless user device.

8. The computerized method of claim 6 , further comprising accessing a database apparatus, the accessing enabling a computerized network apparatus to perform a network address lookup function relative to the wireless user device;
wherein:
the network address lookup function is configured to indicate whether the wireless user device is associated with the wireless network infrastructure; and
the authentication of the wireless user device is based at least on the association of the wireless user device with the wireless network infrastructure.

9. The computerized method of claim 6 , further comprising:
transacting data when the wireless user device is operating connected to the second RAN; and
causing the wireless user device to disassociate with the first RAN thereafter.

Assignees

• Time Warner Cable Entpr Llc

Inventors

• Cronk Gary
• Putsch Jonathan
• Boutilier James
• Miller Paul L
• Dillon Michael

Classifications

• H04N21/6125

  involving transmission via Internet (transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82) · CPC title

• H04N21/4753

  for user identification, e.g. by entering a PIN or password (cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08) · CPC title

• H04N21/25816

  involving client authentication (restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06) · CPC title

• H04N21/2541

  Rights Management (protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10; security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08) · CPC title

• H04N21/6581

  Reference data, e.g. a movie identifier for ordering a movie or a product identifier in a home shopping application · CPC title