IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,647,632
Granted Patent B2
US 12,647,632 · App. 18/830,796 · Granted Jun 2, 2026

Secure content delivery to multiple client devices via a local server

Inventors: Xin Wang (Rancho Palos Verdes, CA); Richard Tatem (Middletown, MD); Reza Pezeshki (Washington, DC); Joseph Z Fung (Temple City, CA); Brian Moore (Washington, DC); Horia-Mihai Popa (Lasi, RO); Luan Le-Chau (Los Angeles, CA)
Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
H04N21/2541H04N21/21H04N21/2347H04N21/26613H04N21/6112H04N21/6143
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,647,632
App. No.
18/830,796
Granted
Jun 2, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a local server coupled to a plurality of client devices. The local server may receive encrypted content from one or more content sources and provide the content to the client devices. The local server and client devices may be part of a multi-client environment such as a hotel or conference center. The local server does not decrypt and re-encrypt content, thereby allowing the use of low cost equipment. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims (64)

1 . A device, comprising:

a processing system of a local server, the processing system including a processor; and

a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations, comprising:

receiving, at the local server over a local network, a first request for first encrypted media content associated with a first broadcast channel from each of a first plurality of client devices;

receiving, at the local server, the first encrypted media content from a first content source, wherein the first content source comprises a satellite system;

receiving, at the local server over the local network, a second request for second encrypted media content associated with a second broadcast channel from each of a second plurality of client devices;

receiving, at the local server, the second encrypted media content from a second content source, wherein the second content source comprises a broadband content source;

multicasting, by the local server over the local network, the first encrypted media content to the first plurality of client devices; and

multicasting, by the local server over the local network, the second encrypted media content to the second plurality of client devices.

2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the operations comprise:

caching the first encrypted media content in a media content storage device resulting in cached first encrypted media content; and

caching the second encrypted media content in the media content storage device resulting in cached second encrypted media content.

3 . The device of claim 2 , wherein the operations comprise:

accessing the cached first encrypted media content from the media content storage device; and

accessing the cached second encrypted media content from the media content storage device.

4 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the operations comprise:

receiving a third request for at least one first decryption key associated with the first encrypted media content from at least one of the first plurality of client devices; and

receiving a fourth request for at least one second decryption key associated with the second encrypted media content from at least one of the second plurality of client devices.

5 . The device of claim 4 , wherein the operations comprise:

providing the at least one first decryption key to the at least one of the first plurality of client devices; and

providing the at least one second decryption key to the at least one of the second plurality of client devices.

6 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of client devices is located on a common premises.

7 . The device of claim 6 , wherein the common premises comprises a hotel, and the first plurality of client devices comprises devices in rooms of the hotel.

8 . A non-transitory, machine-readable medium, comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processing system of a local server, the processing system including a processor, facilitate performance of operations, the operations comprising:

receiving, at the local server over a local network, a first request for first encrypted media content associated with a first broadcast channel from each of a first plurality of client devices;

receiving, at the local server, the first encrypted media content from a first content source, wherein the first content source comprises a satellite system;

receiving, at the local server over the local network, a second request for second encrypted media content associated with a second broadcast channel from each of a second plurality of client devices;

receiving, at the local server, the second encrypted media content from a second content source, wherein the second content source comprises a broadband content source;

determining, at the local server, that there is a first license to provide the first encrypted media content to the first plurality of client devices resulting in a first determination;

determining, at the local server, that there is a second license to provide the second encrypted media content to the second plurality of client devices resulting in a second determination;

multicasting, by the local server over the local network, the first encrypted media content to the first plurality of client devices based on the first determination; and

multicasting, by the local server over the local network, the second encrypted media content to the second plurality of client devices based on the second determination.

9 . The non-transitory, machine-readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the operations comprise:

caching the first encrypted media content in a media content storage device resulting in cached first encrypted media content; and

caching the second encrypted media content in the media content storage device resulting in cached second encrypted media content.

10 . The non-transitory, machine-readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the operations comprise:

accessing the cached first encrypted media content from the media content storage device; and

accessing the cached second encrypted media content from the media content storage device.

11 . The non-transitory, machine-readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the operations comprise:

receiving a third request for at least one first decryption key associated with the first encrypted media content from at least one of the first plurality of client devices; and

receiving a fourth request for at least one second decryption key associated with the second encrypted media content from at least one of the second plurality of client devices.

12 . The non-transitory, machine-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the operations comprise:

providing the at least one first decryption key to the at least one of the first plurality of client devices; and

providing the at least one second decryption key to the at least one of the second plurality of client devices.

13 . The non-transitory, machine-readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the first plurality of client devices is located on a common premises.

14 . The non-transitory, machine-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the common premises comprises a hotel, and the first plurality of client devices comprises devices in rooms of the hotel.

15 . A method, comprising:

receiving, by a processing system of a local server, the processing system including a processor, a first request for first encrypted media content associated with a first broadcast channel from each of a first plurality of client devices, the first request being received over a local network;

receiving, by the processing system of the local server, the first encrypted media content from a first content source, wherein the first content source comprises a satellite system;

receiving, by the processing system of the local server over the local network, a second request for second encrypted media content associated with a second broadcast channel from each of a second plurality of client devices;

receiving, by the processing system of the local server, the second encrypted media content from a second content source, wherein the second content source comprises a broadband content source;

multicasting, by the processing system of the local server over the local network, the first encrypted media content to the first plurality of client devices, wherein the multicasting of the first encrypted media content comprises providing a first license associated with the first encrypted media content to each of the first plurality of client devices; and

multicasting, by the processing system of the local server over the local network, the second encrypted media content to the second plurality of client devices, wherein the multicasting of the second encrypted media content comprises providing a second license associated with the second encrypted media content to each of the second plurality of client devices.

16 . The method of claim 15 , comprising:

caching, by the processing system of the local server, the first encrypted media content in a media content storage device resulting in cached first encrypted media content; and

caching, by the processing system of the local server, the second encrypted media content in the media content storage device resulting in cached second encrypted media content.

17 . The method of claim 16 , comprising:

receiving, by the processing system, a third request for at least one first decryption key associated with the first encrypted media content from at least one of the first plurality of client devices; and

receiving, by the processing system, a fourth request for at least one second decryption key associated with the second encrypted media content from at least one of the second plurality of client devices.

18 . The method of claim 17 , comprising:

providing, by the processing system, the at least one first decryption key to the at least one of the first plurality of client devices; and

providing, by the processing system, the at least one second decryption key to the at least one of the second plurality of client devices.

19 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the first plurality of client devices is located on a common premises.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the common premises comprises a hotel, and the first plurality of client devices comprises devices in rooms of the hotel.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 23, 2024
From: WANG, XIN; TATEM, RICHARD; PEZESHKI, REZA; FUNG, JOSEPH Z.; MOORE, BRIAN; POPA, HORIA-MIHAI; LE-CHAU, LUAN
To: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
Reel/Frame 068665/0686 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 17478291 · Sep 17, 2021
Related Publication 20240430507A1 · Dec 26, 2024
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