Integration system for communications networks

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018041891-A1
Application number	US-201715672282-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 8, 2017
Priority date	Aug 8, 2016
Publication date	Feb 8, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

Embodiments of the disclosure provide methods, systems, apparatuses, and computer program products for facilitating communications between a plurality of devices and subsystems on a first network (for example, a first cable network) and one or more devices and subsystems on a second network (for example, a second cable network) using an integration system on the first network. In one embodiment, the integration system may allow for deployment of new systems or infrastructures that can cooperatively operate with legacy systems already deployed on the first or second networks. Particular embodiments of the subject matter may reduce the cost associated with deploying, upgrading and/or maintaining the devices and systems on the first and/or second networks.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method comprising:
receiving one or more account numbers, each being associated with an account; comparing the one or more account numbers to a set of stored account numbers to identify valid account numbers; filtering account numbers to remove the account numbers that are determined to be invalid based at least in part on the comparing; determining, for each account number determined to be valid, a type of the account associated with the respective account numbers; determining, for each account number determined to be valid, whether the account number requires synchronization based on the type of each account; performing one or more synchronization operations for each account that requires synchronization; retrieving, for each account number determined to be valid, a list of devices associated with the account number; and providing data to one or more devices from the list of devices that facilitates provisioning of content to the one or more devices.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the receiving one or more account numbers comprises receiving one or more account numbers from a third-party network, the receiving performed over the Internet.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the performing one or more synchronization operations comprises determining a channel mapping between a home network and a third-party network.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the retrieving, for each account number determined to be valid, a list of devices associated with the account number comprises receiving data from a billing system on a home network.

5 . The method of claim 1 , the method further comprising retrieving, from a third-party network over the Internet, for each account number determined to be valid, a third-party account number that is associated with the account number.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the determining, for each account number determined to be valid, whether the account number requires synchronization based on the type of each account is based at least in part on the retrieved third-party account number.

7 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the performing the one or more synchronization operations for each account that requires synchronization is based at least in part on the retrieved third-party account number.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the providing data to one or more devices from the list of devices comprises receiving data from one or more second devices associated with a third-party network, wherein further, the receiving is performed over the Internet.

9 . The method of claim 1 , the method further comprising determining, for each account number determined to be valid, one or more rules indicative of account permissions associated with the account.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the providing data to one or more devices from the list of devices further comprises providing data to one or more devices from the list of devices based at least in part on the one or more rules.

11 . A system comprising:
a device operating on a home network, the device comprising:
at least one memory that stores computer-executable instructions; and
at least one processor of the one or more processors configured to access the at least one memory, wherein the at least one processor of the one or more processors is configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to:
cause to receive, by the at least one processor, one or more account numbers, each being associated with an account;
compare, by the at least one processor, the one or more account numbers to a set of stored account numbers to identify valid account numbers;
filter, by the at least one processor, to remove the account numbers that are determined to be invalid based at least in part on the comparing;
determine, by the at least one processor, for each account number determined to be valid, a type of the account associated with the respective account number;
determine, by the at least one processor, for each account number determined to be valid, whether the account number requires synchronization based on the type of each account;
perform, by the at least one processor, one or more synchronization operations for each account that requires synchronization;
retrieve, by the at least one processor, for each account number determined to be valid, a list of devices associated with the account number; and
cause to provide, by the at least one processor, data to one or more devices from the list of devices that facilitates provisioning of content to the one or more devices.

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the causing to receive, by the at least one processor, one or more account numbers comprises causing to receive, by the at least one processor, one or more account numbers from one or more second devices associated with a third-party network, wherein further the receiving is performed over the Internet.

13 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the performing, by the at least one processor, one or more synchronization operations comprises determining, by the at least one processor, a channel mapping between the home network and a third-party network.

14 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the retrieving, by the at least one processor, for each account number determined to be valid, a list of devices associated with the account number comprises causing to receive, by the at least one processor, data from a billing system on the home network.

15 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to retrieve, by the at least one processor, from a third-party network over the Internet, for each account number determined to be valid, a third-party account number that is associated with the account number.

16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the determining, by the at least one processor, for each account number determined to be valid, whether the account number requires synchronization based on the type of each account is based at least in part on the retrieved third-party account number.

17 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the performing, by the at least one processor, the one or more synchronization operations for each account that requires synchronization is based at least in part on the retrieved third-party account number.

18 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the causing to provide data, by the at least one processor, to one or more devices from the list of devices comprises causing to receive, by the at least one processor, data from one or more second devices associated with a third-party network, wherein further, the receiving is performed over the Internet.

19 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to determine, by the at least one processor, for each account number determined to be valid, one or more rules indicative of account permissions associated with the account.

20 . The system of claim 19 , wherein the causing to provide, by the at least one processor, data to one or more devices from the list of devices further comprises providing data to one or more devices from the list of devices based at least in part on the one or more rules.

Assignees

• Cox Communications Inc

Inventors

• Bleyl Donald Carl
• Fields Erik
• Landis John
• Nelson Josh
• Pereira Roy

Classifications

• H04W8/245

  from a network towards a terminal · CPC title

• H04N21/6125

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

• H04W74/002

  Transmission of channel access control information · CPC title

• H04W60/02

  by periodical registration · CPC title

• H04W8/005

  Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals · CPC title