Method and apparatus for providing virtual closed circuit television

摘要

A method and apparatus for providing a private broadcast channel service, e.g., a virtual closed circuit television service, on packet networks such as Service over Internet Protocol (SoIP) networks are disclosed. For example, a customer subscribes to the private broadcast channel service for a group having a plurality of confirmed members who have confirmed their desire to participate. The network service provider enables one or more of the group members to upload media content to the service provider's network. The service provider then broadcasts the uploaded media content to all the confirmed members such that each confirmed member may view the media content by simply tuning to the appropriate channel assigned for the private broadcast channel service.

主权项

1. A method for providing a private broadcast channel service, comprising:
receiving, by a processor at a service provider of the private broadcast channel service, a list of members for a group from a subscriber, wherein a level of access for each member of the list of members is defined by the subscriber, wherein the private broadcast channel service comprises a closed circuit television channel that refers to a channel containing media content directed towards a specific list of destinations, wherein the level of access includes an access for a member of the list of members to provide the media content on the closed circuit television channel; contacting, by the processor, the list of members to receive a confirmation from each of the list of members to join the group for participating in the private broadcast channel service; and establishing, by the processor, the private broadcast channel service for a confirmed member of the list of members who has provided the confirmation to join the group, where the private broadcast channel service provides the media content on the closed circuit television channel to the confirmed member, wherein the media content is provided by the member who has the level of access to provide the media content on the closed circuit television channel.