Patent ID: 9392313
Filing Date: 2016-07-12
CPC Classification: G06F,G06Q,H04N

Claim Text:
1. A method for operating a virtual broadcast network, the method comprising: using, by a virtual broadcaster, a network server remotely located from the virtual broadcaster and managed by a communications service provider to host a virtual broadcast network for a region serviced by the communications service provider; selecting, by the virtual broadcaster via a control panel, content provider broadcast content feeds from a plurality of different content service providers including other virtual broadcasters and a quality of service (QoS) and digital rights management (DRM) associated with users receiving the broadcast content feeds provided through the virtual broadcast network; storing, on the network server, the selected broadcast content feeds for distribution by the virtual broadcast network managed by the communication service provider, the network server further accessible by a metro Ethernet provider providing metro Ethernet to one or more regions including the region serviced by the communications service provider, the selected broadcast content feeds available on the network server to the one or more regions via metro Ethernet; identifying, via the network server, at least one threshold requirement associated with a first content provider of a selected content provider broadcast content feed for broadcasting through the virtual broadcast network; determining, via the network server, whether the virtual broadcaster meets the at least one threshold requirement to broadcast the selected content provider broadcast content feed on the virtual broadcast network; restricting, if the at least one threshold requirement is unmet, via the network server, the selected content provider broadcast content feed; allowing, if the at least one threshold requirement is met, via the network server, the selected content provider broadcast content feed to be broadcasted through the virtual broadcast network of the virtual broadcaster; mapping the content provider broadcast content feeds selected by the virtual broadcaster from the plurality of different content service providers to virtual broadcast content feeds of the virtual broadcast network managed by the communication service provider, wherein virtual broadcast content feeds comprise broadcast content being broadcast by the plurality of content service providers on their respective content provider broadcast content feeds; and broadcasting the broadcast content feeds utilizing the QOS and the DRM on behalf of the virtual broadcaster to the users in the one or more regions who access the virtual broadcast network over metro Ethernet as managed by the communication service provider; wherein selecting, via a control panel, the at least one broadcast content feed includes selecting the at least one broadcast content feed via a graphical user interface that displays a selectable list of broadcast content feeds, wherein the QoS and the DRM is associated with each of the broadcast content feeds, and wherein the selectable list of broadcast content feeds are broadcast channels branded by the virtual broadcast network.