Managed access to media services

摘要

Methods, apparatuses and systems directed to account-based access to media services are described. A media access controller server validates a voucher for an offer of network content and issues a token permitting access to the content. A media access manager server validates the token and invokes a playlist-generation step at a publishing point, and returns the content to a user's media player. A custom plug-in on the media access manager may enforce terms of service imposed by the publisher, such as a maximum number of simultaneous streams permitted by a single voucher, or a time window for use of the voucher. Streams whose voucher's end time has expired are terminated by the plug-in.

主权项

1. A method of controlling access to network content, comprising:
validating that a voucher representing authorization to access network content at a publishing point is valid, wherein the voucher comprises a unique ID identifying a particular transaction through which access to network content has been granted; and generating a token, separate and distinct from the voucher, which authorized assess to the network content after the voucher is validated, wherein generating a token comprises generating the token for a first media player, and generating a second token for a second media player where both tokens comprises the unique ID from the validated voucher.