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

1. A computerized method for providing protected Internet Protocol (IP) packetized content via an unmanaged network associated with a third party service provider to an authorized user of a managed content delivery network, said computerized method comprising:

receiving, at an entity of said managed content delivery network, data representative of a request for said protected IP packetized content, said data specifying a prescribed quality-of-service (QoS) level and comprising at least information identifying a requesting user and information identifying said requested IP packetized content;

determining, based at least in part on said information identifying said requesting user, an identity of said requesting user as said authorized user of said managed content delivery network;

generating a unique identifier for said authorized user; and

transmitting, from said entity of said managed content delivery network, a response to said request to an entity of said unmanaged network, said response comprising said unique identifier and a subscription level of said authorized user;

wherein receipt of said transmitted response is configured to cause said entity of said unmanaged network to deliver said protected IP packetized content to said authorized user in accordance with said QoS level; and

wherein said unique identifier and said subscription level are stored at said entity of said unmanaged network and are configured to enable use in a subsequent request, said subsequent request comprising a request for second protected content different than said delivered IP packetized content, said storage of said subscription level configured to enable said entity of said unmanaged network to determine at least one of an encoding or a bitrate for said different second protected content.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said information identifying said requesting user comprises login information pre-established at said entity of said managed content delivery network to correspond to said authorized user.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said generating said unique identifier for said authorized user comprises generating a user-specific global unique identifier (GUID).

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said storage of said unique identifier enables said entity of said unmanaged network to identify said authorized user and transmit a response to said subsequent request based thereon, thereby obviating one or more communications between said entity of said unmanaged network and said entity of said managed content delivery network.

5. A computerized method for providing protected digitally rendered content via a first, unmanaged content delivery network to an authorized user of a second, managed content delivery network, said computerized method comprising:

receiving, at an entity of said first, unmanaged content delivery network, data representative of a request for said protected digitally rendered content from a computerized user device associated with said authorized user, said data comprising at least information identifying said computerized user device and information identifying said protected digitally rendered content;

querying a plurality of records maintained with said first, unmanaged content delivery network to determine both: (i) a unique identifier of said computerized user device, and (ii) content protection data, said unique identifier being previously provided to said entity of said first, unmanaged content delivery network by an entity of said second, managed content delivery network, said content protection data pre-positioned at said first unmanaged content delivery network by said entity of said second managed content delivery network to maintain integrity of said protected digitally rendered content outside of said second managed content delivery network and within said first unmanaged content delivery network; and

delivering said protected digitally rendered content to said computerized user device based at least in part on said querying, said protected digitally rendered content being pre-configured by said entity of said first unmanaged content delivery network according to one or more capabilities of said computerized user device, said one or more capabilities being determined based on use of said unique identifier.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein said first network comprises a packet switched network, and said second network comprises a substantially circuit-switched content delivery network.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein said packet switched network comprises an IP (Internet Protocol) Multimedia Services (IMS) entity.

8. The method of claim 5 , further comprising initiating a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) session between said entity of said first unmanaged content delivery network and said computerized user device.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein said data representative of request comprises a SIP message from said computerized user device, said SIP message including one or more identifiers of said protected digitally rendered content.

10. Computerized network apparatus configured for use in a content delivery network to authorize access by at least one computerized user device to a selected one or more Internet Protocol (IP) packet stream services via a packet network, said packet network configured for delivery of said one or more IP packet stream services according to a prescribed quality-of-service (QoS) level, said computerized network apparatus comprising:

a first data interface configured to receive:

information identifying said at least one computerized user device; and

data representative of a request for said access to said selected one or more IP packet stream services, said request configured to specify said QoS level;

a processor apparatus in data communication with the first data interface;

storage apparatus in data communication with said processor apparatus and comprising at least one computer program, said computer program comprising a plurality of instructions configured to, when executed on said processor apparatus:

verify said information identifying said at least one computerized user device as being associated with at least one subscriber of said content delivery network;

generate a unique identifier specific to said at least one subscriber; and

generate a response to said request for said access to said selected one or more IP packet stream services; and

a second data interface in data communication with said processor apparatus and configured to transmit:

said unique identifier to at least one entity of said packet network for storage thereon; and

said response to said request for said access to said selected one or more IP packet stream services;

wherein said computerized network apparatus is further configured to cause delivery of said selected one or more IP packet stream services via said packet network and according to said QoS level; and

wherein said unique identifier is linked to protection data pre-positioned at said at least one entity of said packet network, and said unique identifier is used in an application of digital rights management or other forms of content protection in response to a subsequent request from said at least one subscriber for one or more different services, prior to provision of said one or more different services, said digital rights management or said other forms of content protection being specific to said at least one subscriber, said pre-positioned protection data configured to enable an operator of said content delivery network to maintain integrity of said one or more different services outside of said content delivery network and within said packet network; and

wherein said link of said unique identifier to said pre-positioned protection data enables use of said one or more different services in said subsequent request without having to redirect said at least one subscriber back to said operator of said content delivery network for authentication.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein said response to said request comprises a communication which causes said at least one computerized user device to establish a session with said at least one entity of said packet network, and to receive said selected one or more IP packet stream services via said established session.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein said packet network comprises a service provider in communication with said at least one computerized user device via an Internet, and said content delivery network comprises a managed cable television network in communication with said service provider via said Internet.

13. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein said plurality of instructions are further configured to, when executed on said processor apparatus, in response to said request, remove said at least one unique identifier from said storage at said packet network.

14. A computerized method of operating an unmanaged packet network, comprising:

receiving, from an Internet Protocol (IP)-enabled computerized device, data representative of a request for IP packetized content at an entity of said unmanaged packet network, said IP packetized content being protected in accordance with one or more policies specified by an operator of a managed content distribution network, said data specifying a prescribed quality-of-service (QoS) level and comprising information uniquely associated with a subscriber of said managed content distribution network;

accessing information stored at said entity received from said operator, said stored information comprising a unique identifier associated with said subscriber and enabling said entity to determine whether said request for said IP packetized content should be granted;

when granting said request, issuing a communication to said managed content distribution network indicating that said IP packetized content is being provided;

linking pre-positioned cryptographic data to said unique identifier for use in one or more subsequent requests for digitally rendered content from said subscriber, said cryptographic data pre-positioned by said operator of said managed content distribution network at said entity of said unmanaged packet network in order for said operator of said managed content distribution network to maintain integrity of said IP packetized content outside of said managed content distribution network and within said unmanaged packet network; and

causing said IP packetized content to be provided to said requesting IP-enabled computerized device in accordance with said QoS level over said unmanaged packet network.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein said communication comprises a message identifying both said IP packetized content and at least one of: (i) said subscriber, and (ii) said IP-enabled computerized device.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein said communication is agnostic to an underlying transport over which it is carried to said managed network.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein said causing said IP packetized content to be provided to said requesting IP-enabled computerized device over said unmanaged packet network comprises encrypting said IP packetized content using said pre-positioned cryptographic data that is specific to said subscriber.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein said pre-positioned cryptographic data comprises a public/private key pair assigned to said subscriber by said managed network operator.

19. The method of claim 14 , wherein said information stored at said entity received from said operator further comprises configuration information relating to at least one aspect of said IP-enabled computerized device.

20. A computerized method for providing protected digitally rendered content via a first network to an authorized user of a second network, said computerized method comprising:

receiving, at an entity of said second network, data representative of a request for first protected digitally rendered content, said data comprising information uniquely associated with a subscriber of said second network;

determining, based at least in part on said information uniquely associated with said subscriber, an identity of said subscriber as said authorized user of said second network;

causing generation of a unique identifier for said authorized user; and

transmitting a response to said request to an entity of said first network, said response comprising said unique identifier and a subscription level of said requesting user;

wherein receipt of said transmitted response is configured to cause said entity of said first network to deliver said first protected digitally rendered content to said authorized user;

wherein said unique identifier and said subscription level are stored at said entity of said first network and are configured to enable use in a subsequent request, said subsequent request comprising a request for second protected digitally rendered content different than said first digitally rendered content; and

wherein said storage of said unique identifier and said subscription level at said entity enables said entity of said first network to automatically pre-configure said first and second digitally rendered content according to one or more capabilities of a computerized device at which said first and second digitally rendered content are to be displayed, said one or more capabilities determined based on use of at least said unique identifier, said storage of said subscription level configured to enable said entity of said first network to determine at least one of an encoding or a bitrate for said first and second digitally rendered content during said automatic pre-configuration.

21. The method of claim 20 , wherein said protected first and second digitally rendered content are protected in accordance with one or more policies specified by an operator of said second network using content protection data that is substantially unique to said authorized user of said second network, and said content protection data comprises data pre-positioned by said operator within said first network, said pre-positioned data enabling said operator to maintain integrity of said protected first and second digitally rendered content outside of said second network and within said first network.