Method and apparatus for providing video on demand

Abstract

A session border controller for delivering content includes a first port to communicate with a user using a first signaling protocol, a second port to communicate with a content provider using a second signaling protocol, and a processor coupled to the first and second ports. The session border controller sends a message to the content provider to begin delivery of a content destined for the user. The session border controller receives a first media stream including the content and content provider information from the content provider. The session border controller creates a second media stream that includes the content without the content provider information, and delivers the second media stream to the user.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A session border controller comprising:
 a first port to communicate with a user;   a second port to communicate with a content provider;   a processor coupled to the first port and to the second port, the processor configured to:
 receive an authentication message identifying the user; 
 send a PLAY message to the content provider to begin delivery of a content destined for the user, 
 receive a first media stream including the content and content provider information from the content provider, 
 create a second media stream that includes the content without the content provider information, and 
 deliver the second media stream to the user. 
   
     
     
         2 . The session border controller of  claim 1 , further comprising a third port to communicate with a database server, wherein the processor is further coupled to the third port and configured to:
 receive a first selection message for the content from the user,   obtain a location for the content selected by the user from a database server;   send a second selection message for the content to the content provider,   receive a reply message from the content provider in response to the second selection message indicating that the content is ready,   send an OK message to the user after receiving the reply message, and   receive an ACK message from the user before sending the PLAY message to the content provider.   
     
     
         3 . The session border controller of  claim 1 , wherein communications over the first port use a session initiation protocol (SIP) and communications over the second port use a real-time stream protocol (RTSP). 
     
     
         4 . The session border controller of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to receive an encryption key from the content provider and wherein creating the second media stream encrypts the first media stream with the encryption key if the first port is connected to an untrusted access network. 
     
     
         5 . The session border controller of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to maintain a state for the first port, the state being used with messages from the user to create messages to be sent to the content provider. 
     
     
         6 . The session border controller of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to select the content provider from a plurality of content providers, each of which has the content, such that the first media stream has a first format that is easiest to transcode to a second format of the second media stream. 
     
     
         7 . The session border controller of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further to create a detailed billing record including an identifier of the content provider, a content type indicator, and associated statistics. 
     
     
         8 . The session border controller of  claim 1 , further comprising a third port to communicate with a second user, wherein the processor is further coupled to the third port and configured to:
 receive a selection message for the content from the second user, and   deliver a second media stream to the second user.   
     
     
         9 . The session border controller of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 obtain a location for the content from a database server;   send a selection message for the content to a content provider;   send an INVITE message to the user when the content is ready to be delivered, and   receive an OK message from the user before sending the PLAY message to the content provider.   
     
     
         10 . A method for delivering content from a session border controller to a user; the method comprising:
 sending a PLAY message to the content provider to begin delivery of a content destined for the user;   receiving a first media stream including the content and content provider information from the content provider;   creating a second media stream that includes the content without the content provider information; and   delivering the second media stream to the user without content provider information.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 receiving a first selection message for the content from the user;   obtaining a location for the content selected by the user from a database server;   sending a second selection message for the content to a content provider;   receiving a reply message from the content provider in response to the second selection message indicating that the content is ready;   sending an OK message to the user after receiving the reply message; and   receiving an ACK message from the user before sending the PLAY message to the content provider.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein messages are exchanged with the user using real-time transport protocol (SIP) as a first signaling protocol and messages are exchanged with the content provider using real time stream protocol (RTSP) as a second signaling protocol. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising receiving an encryption key from the content provider and wherein creating the second media stream includes encrypting the first media stream with the encryption key if the first port is connected to an untrusted access network. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising maintaining a state for the first port, the state being used with messages from the user for creating messages to be sent to the content provider. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising selecting the content provider from a plurality of content providers; each of which has the content, such that the first media stream has a first format that is easiest to transcode to a second format of the second media stream. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising creating a detailed billing record including an identifier of the content provider, a content type indicator, and associated statistics. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 receiving a third selection message for the content from a second user; and   delivering the second media stream to the second user.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 obtaining a location for the content from a database server;   sending a selection message for the content to a content provider;   sending an INVITE message to the user when the content is ready to be delivered; and   receiving an OK message from the user before sending the PLAY message to the content provider.   
     
     
         19 . A session border controller comprising:
 means for sending a PLAY message to the content provider to begin delivery of a content destined for the user;   means for receiving a first media stream including the content and content provider information from the content provider;   means for creating a second media stream that includes the content without the content provider information; and   means for delivering the second media stream to the user.   
     
     
         20 . The session border controller of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 means for receiving a first selection message for the content from the user;   means for obtaining a location for the content selected by the user from a database server;   means for sending a second selection message for the content to a content provider;   means for receiving reply message from the content provider in response to the second selection message indicating that the content is ready;   means for sending an OK message to the user after receiving the reply message; and   means for receiving an ACK message from the user before sending the PLAY message to the content provider.