Method and system for authenticated fast channel change of media provided over a DSL connection

1. A method for enabling fast access to a media channel available on a core network from an access node, the method comprising:

at a multicast enabled access node, receiving a request for the media channel from a subscriber coupled to the access node over an xDSL connection;

if the subscriber is authorized to access the media channel, granting access to the media channel based on subscriber authorization information local to the access node without requesting the subscriber authorization information from the core network in response to the request for the media channel; and

distributing the media channel to the subscriber over the xDSL connection using a multicast protocol available at the access node.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the multicast enabled access node uses an IGMP multicast protocol.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the subscriber authorization information is included in a database at the access node.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing an instance of the media channel to the core network through a router coupled to another network.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising employing a remote process to maintain the subscriber authorization information.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving the subscriber authorization information from a remote process.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the channel carries media for at least one of displaying, recording, and playing with a set top box.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the media channel is made available at the access node in advance of selection by the subscriber.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the multicast enabled access node is a Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer (DSLAM).

10. An access node for enabling fast access to a media channel available on a core network, the access node comprising:

a first network interface that employs a packet-based protocol to exchange packets with the core network;

a second network interface for multiplexing a plurality of xDSL connections, each xDSL connection coupling a respective subscriber to the access node; and

a transcoder that performs actions, including:

receiving a request for the media channel from a particular subscriber,

if the particular subscriber is determined to be authorized to access the media channel, granting access to the media channel based on subscriber authorization information local to the access node without requesting the subscriber authorization information from the core network in response to the request for the media channel, and

distributing the media channel to the particular subscriber over a corresponding xDSL connection using a multicast protocol available at the access node.

11. The access node of claim 10 , wherein the multicast access is enabled using an IGMP protocol.

12. The access node of claim 10 , wherein the subscriber authorization information is stored in a local database.

13. The access node of claim 10 , wherein the media channel is made available at the access node in advance of selection by the subscriber.

14. The access node of claim 10 , wherein the access node is a Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer (DSLAM).

15. A system for enabling fast access to a media channel available on an IP based core network, the system comprising:

(a) a multicast enabled access node configured to:

enable a subscriber to access the media channel on the core network, wherein the subscriber is coupled to the access node over a local loop data connection, and

distribute the media channel to the subscriber over the local loop data connection using a multicast protocol available at the access node;

(b) a set top box for sending a request for the media channel from the subscriber to the multicast enabled access node over the local loop data connection;

(c) a database for storing subscriber authorization information at the access node, the information being employed to determine whether the subscriber is authorized to access the media channel without requesting the information from the core network in response to the request for the media channel; and

(d) a router that enables the core network to establish a single instance of the media channel that is selectable by subscribers authorized at the access node.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the multicast enabled access node is multicast enabled with IGMP.

17. The system of claim 15 , further comprising a remote process that maintains the subscriber authorization information.

18. The system of claim 15 , wherein the media channel is made available at the access node in advance of selection by the subscriber.

19. The system of claim 15 , wherein the multicast enabled access node is a Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer (DSLAM).

20. A method for providing fast access to a media channel available on a core network from a multicast enabled access node, the method comprising:

receiving, at the multicast enabled access node, a request for a media channel from a subscriber connected to the access node over a local loop data connection;

determining whether the subscriber is authorized to access the media channel based on subscriber authorization information provided at the access node for the subscriber without requesting the subscriber authorization information from the core network in response to the request for the media channel; and

enabling the subscriber to access the media channel over the local loop data connection using a multicast protocol if the subscriber is determined to be authorized to access the media channel.

21. The method of claim 20 , wherein the media channel is made available at the access node in advance of selection by the subscriber.

22. The method of claim 20 , wherein the multicast enabled access node is a Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer (DSLAM).