Abstract:
Methods and apparatus to distribute media content are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a client interface to receive a request from a wireless communication device for authorization to present media, the media received at the wireless communication device in an encrypted format. A database is to store an association of the wireless communication device and a wired network termination unit. A record interface is to, in response to the request for authorization, query the database based on an identifier of the wireless network communication device to determine whether the wired network termination unit is authorized to receive the media via a wired communication path, and in response to determining that the wired network termination unit is authorized to receive the media via the wired communication path authorize the wireless communication device to decrypt and present the transmitted media.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This patent arises from a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/382,188, filed on May 8, 2006, entitled “METHODS AND APPARATUS TO DISTRIBUTE MEDIA CONTENT.” U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/382,188 is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates generally to media systems and, more particularly, to methods and apparatus to distribute media content. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Interpret protocol television (IPTV) services provide television media content over a broadband network. In general, an IPTV provider receives media content from media content creators and distributes the media content to consumer locations. The IPTV provider then converts the media content into packetized digital media streams. The packetized digital media streams are distributed to consumer locations via an internet protocol (IP) multicast or an IP unicast. The consumer location includes a consumer device that receives the packetized digital media streams and converts the streams into media content suitable for display on a television. Because the consumer device communicates with the IPTV provider over an IP connection, the consumer device can easily transmit data back to the IPTV provider, in other words, the IPTV provider and the consumer device can engage in two-way communication. 
         [0004]    As media content distribution technologies, like IPTV, have developed, the ability to integrate media content services has increased. In particular, media content creators have begun to provide media content to cellular telephone services for distribution to the subscribers of the cellular phone service. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an example telecommunication system for distributing media. 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is a flowchart representative of example machine readable instructions which may be executed to distribute media content. 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is a flowchart representative of example machine readable instructions which may be executed to distribute media content. 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  illustrates an example telecommunication system for providing internet protocol television (IPTV) media content. 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  is an example processor system that may execute the machine readable instructions represented by  FIGS. 2 and/or 3  to implement the example methods and apparatus described herein. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0010]    An example telecommunication system  100  for distributing media content is illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The example methods and apparatus described herein may be used to distribute media content to a television connected to a media content receiver and to a mobile device (e.g., a device constructed to be carried by a person (e.g., in a pocket, purse, briefcase, on a belt-clip, etc.) during normal day-to-day activities such as a mobile phone, a Blackberry®, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a portable media presentation device, a gaming device, a personal media player, a two-way pager, a moving picture experts group (MPEG) layer three (MP3) player, etc. In the example methods and apparatus, a telecommunication provider manages media content subscriptions for both the television media content receiver and the mobile device. For example, a media content consumer may subscribe to receive media content (e.g., the Home Box Office (HBO) channel) at the consumer&#39;s household. If the same consumer attempts to access the media content on a cellular phone, the subscription records associated with the household subscription are queried. After determining that the consumer has already subscribed to receive the media content at their household, the telecommunication system  100  will allow the media content to be presented on the cellular phone. For example, the media content may be the picture-in-picture portion of a media content program. The media content may be provided to the cellular phone with or without a fee in addition to the home subscription fee. 
         [0011]    The example telecommunication system  100  of  FIG. 1  includes a consumer location  102 , a telecommunication network  104 , a wireless telecommunication system  106 , and a mobile device  108 . The example telecommunication system  100  receives media content from media content distributors and/or creators and transmits the media content to the consumer location  102  and the mobile device  108 . 
         [0012]    The consumer location  102  may be any geographically fixed location where media content is presented. For example, the consumer location  102  may be a household, a business, etc. The example consumer location  102  comprises a television  110 , a network terminal unit (NTU)  112 , customer premise equipment (CPE)  114 , and a personal computer (PC)  116 . 
         [0013]    Television  110  displays media content received from the CPE  114 . The example television  110  may be any type of television such as, for example, a standard definition television, an enhanced definition television, a high-definition television, a cathode ray tube (CRT) television, a liquid crystal display (LCD) television, a plasma television, a projection television, an organic light emitting diode (OLED) television, a surface-conduction electron-emitter display (SED) television, etc. Alternatively, the television  110  may be any other device that is capable of receiving and presenting media content such as, for example, any type of radio receiver/player, a projector, a monitor, a computer, etc. 
         [0014]    The NTU  112  communicatively couples the consumer location  102  with the telecommunication network  104 . In the example telecommunication system  100 , the NTU  112  receives internet protocol (IP) data from the telecommunication system  104  and transmits IP data to the telecommunication system  104 . In the illustrated example, the NTU  112  receives IP television (IPTV) media content. The example NTU  112  transmits the IPTV media content to the CPE  114  and/or the computer  116 , which are described in further detail below. In the example telecommunication system  100 , the NTU  112  and the CPE  114  are discrete devices. However, persons of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the NTU  112  and the CPE  114  may be integrated in a single device. 
         [0015]      100151  The example NTU  112  is an asynchronous digital subscriber line (ADSL) terminal unit-remote (ATU-R). Alternatively, the NTU  112  may be any other communications unit such as, for example, a cable modem, a satellite receiver, an optical network terminal unit (ONT), a symmetrical digital subscriber line (SDSL) terminal unit, an integrated services digital network (ISDN) terminal unit, a high bit-rate digital subscriber line (HDSL) terminal unit, a very high bitrate digital subscriber line (VDSL) terminal unit, an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) terminal unit, an Ethernet network card, a wireless network card (e.g., a wireless network card that operates according to any of the IEEE 802.11 protocols), a channel service unit (CSU), a data service unit (DSU), a modem, or any other type of communication device. 
         [0016]    The example NTU  112  communicates with the CPE  114  and the computer  116  via an Ethernet connection. The NTU  112  may alternatively be connected to the CPE  114  and/or the computer  116  via a wireless network connection, a serial communications connection, a parallel communications connection, a universal serial bus (USB) connection, an IEEE 1394 (FireWire) connection, a high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) connection, etc. While  FIG. 1  illustrates the connections between the NTU  112  and the CPE  114  and the NTU  112  and the computer  116  as direct connections, the connections may alternatively include one or more of a hub, a router, a switch, a gateway, etc. For example, a router may be attached to the NTU  112  and each of the CPE  114  and the computer  116  (as well as any other device) may be connected to the router via a hardwire or wireless connection. 
         [0017]    The CPE  114  selects media content received from the telecommunication network  104  and outputs the media content to the television  110 . For example, a consumer may request (via a remote control) that the CPE  114  output the content currently presented by HBO. The CPE  114  will send a message (via the NTU  112 ) to the telecommunication network  104  requesting that the telecommunication network  104  send the HBO media content stream to the consumer location  102  or allow the CPE  114  to connect to the HBO media content stream. When the CPE  114  receives the HBO media content stream, the CPE  114  will output the HBO media content stream to the television. Alternatively, if the CPE  114  receives broadcast media content (e.g., a cable television broadcast), the CPE  114  will use tuning circuitry to extract the HBO media content from the broadcast media content and output the HBO media content to the television  110 . The CPE  114  is sometimes referred to as a set-top-box (STB), a residential gateway (RG), a receiver, an integrated receiver/decoder (IRD), or a tuner. As previously described, the CPE  114  and the NTU  112  may be integrated in a single device. As an additional alternative, the CPE  114  may be integrated in the television  110  or the television  110  may include a card-slot for receiving a card that implements the CPE  114 . 
         [0018]    The computer  116  receives media content via the NTU  112  and executes software that causes media content to be presented on an available display and/or available audio presentation hardware. The computer  116  may additionally connect to networked data sources (e.g., a local computer network, the internet, etc.) via the NTU  112 . The computer  116  may be a personal computer (PC), a laptop computer, a notebook computer, a tablet PC, a hand-held computer, a home theatre PC (HTPC), etc. Alternatively, the computer  116  may be a PDA, a gaming device, a portable media presentation device, a portable media player, an MP3 player, mobile phone, etc. While the example computer  116  receives media content via the NTU  112 , the computer  116  may additionally or alternatively receive media content via the CPE  114 . 
         [0019]    In some examples, a consumer may use the computer  116  to access a list of available media content. The consumer may access the list of available media content by visiting a webpage using web browsing software (e.g., Microsoft Internet Explorer®, Mozilla FireFox®, Netscape®, Opera™, etc.) installed on the computer  116 . The webpage may or may not be provided over an encrypted or secure connection. The computer  116  may alternatively include dedicated software for requesting and presenting the list of available media content. Once the list of available media content is retrieved and presented, the consumer may select a media content program, stream or broadcast for presentation. The computer  116  requests the media content stream from the telecommunication network  104  via the NTU  114 . The requested media content is presented to the consumer via the web browsing software or the dedicated software. 
         [0020]    The telecommunication network  104  provides media content services and IP data services to the consumer location  102  and/or, via the wireless telecommunication system  106 , to the mobile device  108 . The example telecommunication network  104  provides IPTV media content services, but other media types might likewise be appropriate. The telecommunication network  104  comprises a client interface  118 , a stored media interface  120 , media storage  122 , a billing interface  124 , a billing storage  126 , and a “live” media interface  128 . 
         [0021]    The client interface  118  is communicatively coupled to the NTU  114  and the wireless telecommunication system  106  to transmit data to and/or receive data from the NTU  114  and the wireless telecommunication system  106 . The client interface receives and/or retrieves media content from the media storage  122  via the stored media interface  120  and from the media content creators/distributors via the “live” media interface  128 . Based on the available media content, the client interface  118  generates a list of available media content for transmission to consumers. For example, the client interface  118  may transmit a list of available media content to the CPE  114  via the NTU  112 . The client interface  118  may receive requests for media content from the CPE  114  via the NTU  112 . The client interface  118  also may receive requests for media content from the mobile device  108  via the wireless telecommunication system  106 . In response, the client interface  118  transmits the requested media content to the CPE  114  and/or the mobile device  108  via the NTU  112  or the wireless telecommunication system  106 , respectively. The client interface  118  may encrypt the media content and/or add copy-protection information to the media content. 
         [0022]    Additionally, the client interface  118  receives consumer and device identification information from the CPE  114 , the NTU  112 , the computer  116 , the mobile device  108 , and/or the wireless telecommunication network  106 . The client interface  118  transfers the consumer and device identification information to the billing interface  124  for authentication. The client interface  118  receives information from the billing interface  124  indicating whether the consumer and device are authorized to access requested media content. For example, the client interface  118  may receive a request for media content including a username/password, a phone number, and/or a device serial number. The client interface  118  extracts the username/password, the phone number, and/or the device serial number and transmits them to the billing interface  124  to determine whether the consumer and/or device associated with the consumer is authorized to access the media content. If the billing interface  124  indicates that the access is authorized, the client interface  124  allows the media content to be transmitted to the requesting device from either the media storage  122  via the stored media interface  120  or the media content creator/distributor via the “live” media interface  128 . Alternatively, the billing interface  124  may instruct the client interface  118  to offer and/or grant a license for presentation of the media content the device. 
         [0023]    The stored media interface  120  stores media content received from media content creators/distributors in the media storage  122 , retrieves the media content when a request is received via the client interface  118 , and transmits the media content to requesting devices via the client interface  118 . In the illustrated example, the stored media interface  120  is a standalone server. Alternatively, the stored media interface  120  may be integrated with the client interface  118 , the billing interface  124 , and/or the “live” media interface  128 . 
         [0024]    The media storage  122  stores retrievable media content for the stored media interface  120 . The media storage  122  may be any type of storage device capable of storing media. content such as, for example, any type of volatile memory, any type of non-volatile memory, a database, etc. The media storage  122  may be a standalone storage device or may be integrated with the stored media interface  120 . The media content stored in the media storage  122  may be full resolution media content programs, reduced size media content programs (e.g., media content intended for use as picture-in-picture), programs specifically for display on mobile devices, clips of media content programs, and/or other media types. 
         [0025]    The billing interface  124  determines whether a user and/or device is authorized to access media cont Writ in response to a request received via the client interface  118 . The billing interface  124  may additionally determine whether a consumer and/or device are/is authorized to access subscriber data networks (e.g., the internet). To these ends, the billing interface  124  accesses billing records stored in the billing storage  126 . For example, the billing interface  124  may receive a username/password associated with a consumer and/or a serial number associated with the CPE  114  along with a request to access media content (e.g., content associated with HBO). The billing interface  124  attempts to retrieve one or more billing records associated with the username/password and/or the serial number from the billing storage  126 . If one or more billing records exist, the billing interface  124  determines if the one or more billing records indicate(s) that the requesting device is authorized to access the requested media content (e.g., the consumer subscribes to HBO and has paid their bills). If the billing interface  124  determines that one or more records indicate(s) that the consumer is authorized to access the requested media content, the billing interface  124  sends a message to the client interface  118  indicating that the consumer is authorized to access the media content. 
         [0026]    The example billing storage  126  is an accounting database associating consumer and/or device identification information with media content subscription information. The example billing storage  126  may additionally store information associated with a user&#39;s data network access subscription (e.g., internet access subscription) and/or wireless network access subscription cellular phone access subscription). In the illustrated example, the billing storage  126  is a standalone storage device. However, it will be understood by persons of ordinary skill in the art that the billing storage  126  may alternatively be integrated with the billing interface  124 . 
         [0027]    The “live” media interface  128  is a media content interface that handles the acquisition of media content from media content creators/distributors and the distribution of the “live” media content to consumers via the client interface  118 . The “live” media content may be received from media content creators/distributors and immediately, or nearly immediately, transmitted to consumers. In other words, the “live” media content may not be stored in the telecommunication network  104  (e.g., media content stored in the media content storage  122 ). Of course, “live” media content may be live action content (e.g., new casts, sporting events, etc.) or previously recorded events. For example, while a basketball game may be recorded and received by the “live” media interface  128  as the game is played, or near the time that the game is played, a game show may be recorded, stored by the media content creator/distributor, and transmitted to the “live” media interface  128  at a time much later than the time that the game show was recorded. The “live” media content may be full resolution media content programs, reduced size media content programs (e.g., media content intended for use as picture-in-picture), programs specifically for display on mobile devices, clips of media content programs, and/or other media content. 
         [0028]    The example wireless telecommunication network  106  is a cellular telecommunication network. The example wireless telecommunication network  106  receives requests for media content and/or lists of available media content from the mobile device  108  (e.g., HTML formatted requests, XML formatted requests, etc.) and transmits the requests to the client interface  118 . The wireless telecommunication network  106  of the illustrated example receives media content from the client interface  118  and transmits the media content to the requesting mobile device  108 . The wireless telecommunication network may be any type of cellular telecommunication network such as, for example, a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) circuitry, Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM), General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) circuitry, universal mobile telecommunication system (UNITS) circuitry, etc. Alternatively, the wireless telecommunication network  106  may use any other type of wireless communications network and/or protocol such as, for example, Bluetooth communications, any variety of IEEE 802.11 protocol communications, etc. 
         [0029]    The mobile device  108  of the illustrated example (e.g., a cellular telephone) is communicatively coupled to the wireless telecommunication network  106 . The mobile device  108  generates requests for media content and/or lists of available media content and transmits them via the wireless telecommunication network  106  to the client interface  118 . The mobile device of the illustrated example transmits information about the consumer using the mobile device (e.g., a username and/or password) and/or information about the mobile device (e.g., a serial number or network identifier) along with the request. In addition, the mobile device  108  receives media content and/or lists of available media content from the client interface  118  via the wireless telecommunication network  106 . The mobile device  108  presents the received media content and/or lists of available media content using presentation circuitry (e.g., speakers and/or a display screen). For example, a consumer using the mobile device may request presentation of an HBO program. The mobile device sends the request along with a serial number associated with the mobile device to the client interface  118  via the wireless telecommunication network  106 . After determining that the mobile device  108  is authorized to receive the HBO program, the media content is transmitted to the mobile device via the wireless telecommunication network  106 . The mobile device  108  receives the HBO program and shows the video content on a display screen and plays the audio content over speakers or attached headphones. For example, the mobile device may include a software application for decrypting and presenting media content programs. Alternatively, a software application for decrypting and presenting media content may be provided on a server for the mobile device to download and install. 
         [0030]    An alternative implementation of the example telecommunication system  100  of  FIG. 1  is discussed below in connection with  FIG. 4 . 
         [0031]    A flowchart representative of example machine readable instructions for implementing the telecommunication network  104  of  FIG. 1  is shown in  FIGS. 2-3 . In this example, the machine readable instructions comprise a program for execution by a processor such as the processor  9012  shown in the example computer  9000  discussed below in connection with  FIG. 5 . The program may be embodied in software stored on a tangible medium such as a CD-ROM, a floppy disk, a hard drive, a digital versatile disk (DVD), or a memory associated with the processor  9012 , but persons of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate that the entire program and/or parts thereof could alternatively be executed by a device other than the processor  9012  and/or embodied in firmware or dedicated hardware in a well known manner. For example, any or all of the client interface  118 , the stored media interface  120 , the billing interface  124 , and/or the “live” media interface  128  could be implemented by software, hardware, and/or firmware. Further, although the example program is described with reference to the flowcharts illustrated in  FIGS. 2-3 , persons of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate that many other methods of implementing the telecommunication network  104  may alternatively be used. For example, the order of execution of the blocks may be changed, and/or some of the blocks described may be changed, eliminated, or combined. 
         [0032]      FIG. 2  is a flowchart representative of example machine readable instruction which may be executed for distributing media content. In the example machine readable instructions of  FIG. 2 , media content is transmitted to mobile devices on demand. In other words, media content is not transmitted to mobile devices until the mobile device requests the media content. 
         [0033]    The execution of the example machine readable instructions of  FIG. 2  begins when the client interface  118  receives a request for a list of available media content from a receiving device (e.g., the computer  116  or the mobile device  108 ) (block  202 ). The client interface prepares a list of media content available via the stored media interface  120  and/or the “live” media interface  128  and transmits the list to the mobile device (block  204 ). The client interface  118  then receives a request for media content from the mobile device (block  206 ). For example, after reviewing the list of available media content, a consumer using the mobile device  108  may transmit a request to view desired media content. The request includes consumer identification information (e.g., a username/password) and/or device identification information (e.g., a serial number for the mobile device). 
         [0034]    After receiving the request for media content, the client interface  118  transmits the request and the identification information to the billing interface  124 . The billing interface  124  determines the identity of the consumer and/or device by comparing the receiving identification information with information stored in the billing storage  126  (block  208 ). The billing interface  124  then retrieves media content subscription information associated with the determined identity from the billing storage  126  (block  210 ). In one example, the subscription information is subscription records associated with a fixed geographical location. For example, the subscription records may be subscription records associated with a subscription to media content at a house. The example subscription records may be associated with a subscription to a premium content channel (e.g., the HBO channel). In another example, the subscription records may be associated with both a geographically fixed location and the mobile device. 
         [0035]    Next, the billing interface  124  compares the requested media content to subscription information associated with a fixed geographical location (e.g., a home or a business) to determine if the requesting device is authorized to access the requested media content (block  212 ). If the consumer and/or the device are not authorized to access the media content, the billing interface  124  transmits a notification (e.g., an access denied error message) the mobile device via the client interface  118  and the NTU  112  or the wireless communication network  106  (block  218 ). If the consumer and/or device are authorized to access the media content because of their geographical based subscription (e.g., a subscription associated with a fixed geographical location), the billing interface informs the client interface  118  that the requesting consumer and/or device are authorized to access the media content. The client interface then encrypts and/or establishes a license for the media content (block  214 ). Then, the client interface  118  transmits the encrypted and/or licensed media content to the mobile device (block  216 ). 
         [0036]      FIG. 3  is a flowchart representative of example machine readable instruction which may be executed for distributing media content. In the example machine readable instructions of  FIG. 3 , media content is transmitted to receiving devices as it is received from media content creators/distributors. In other words, the media content is streamed to the receiving device from a media content creator/distributor. The receiving device may store the media content for later presentation or may present the media content as it is received. In the example process of  FIG. 2 , a consumer using the mobile device does not request that the media content is transmitted. 
         [0037]    The execution of the example machine readable instructions of  FIG. 3  begins when media content is received from a content creator/distributor via the “live” media interface  126  (block  302 ). The “live” media interface  128  transmits the media content to the CPE  114  via the client interface  118  and the NTU  112  (block  304 ). The CPE  114  may store the media content or present the media content on the television  110 . 
         [0038]    The client interface  118  then encrypts and/or licenses the media content block  306 ). The media content is licensed to be played only on devices that are authorized to receive and present the media content. For example, the media content may be licensed for playback on the computer  116  and/or the mobile device  108 . The client interface  118  then transmits the media content the computer  116  via the NTU  112  and/or the mobile device  108  via the wireless telecommunication network  106  (block  308 ). 
         [0039]    When the media content is received by the computer  116  and/or the mobile device  108 , the computer  116  and/or the mobile device  108  will attempt to validate the license for playback by sending a request including identification information for the consumer and/or the device to the client interface  118 . The client interface  118  receives the request to validate the license and transmits the request to the billing interface  124  to determine if the consumer and/or device are/is authorized to access the media content (block  310 ). The billing interface  124  determines the identity of the consumer and/or the device by comparing the received identification information to information stored in the billing storage  126  (block  312 ). The billing interface  124  then retrieves media content subscription information from the billing storage  126 . The billing interface  124  compares the media content requested to billing records in the billing storage  126  to determine if the consumer and/or device are/is authorized to access the requested media content (block  316 ). If the consumer or device is not authorized to access the media content, the billing interface transmits an error the device via the client interface  118  and the NTU  112  or the wireless telecommunication network  106  (block  320 ). Additionally, the computer  116  or the mobile device  108  may provide a way for the consumer to subscribe to the media content. If the consumer and device is authorized to access the media content, the billing interface  124  transmits a notification to the computer  116  and/or the mobile device  108  via the client interface  118  and the NTU  112  or the wireless telecommunication network  106  indicating that the media content may be presented (block  318 ). 
         [0040]      FIG. 4  illustrates an example telecommunication system  400  for providing internee protocol television (IPTV) media content. In general, the telecommunication system  400  includes a household  402 , a wireless telecommunication system  404 , a client facing tier  406 , an acquisition system  408 , a video on demand system  410 , an operations and management system  412 , and an application and storage tier  414 . 
         [0041]    In general, the telecommunication system  400  receives media content from media content creators/distributors via the acquisition system  408 . The media content is transmitted to the client facing tier  406 . In the client facing tier, the media content is either transmitted to the video on demand system  410  for storage or transmitted to the household  402  or the wireless telecommunication system  404 . The application and storage tier  414  verifies that consumers connecting to the telecommunication system  400  are authorized to access media content and other services provided by the telecommunication system  400  (e.g., internet access, pay per view access, etc.) The application and storage tier additionally transmits usage information (e.g., purchase of a pay per view movie) to the operations and management system  412 . The operations and management system provides an interface for the telecommunication system  400  for use by technicians. In addition, the operations and management system  412  tracks billing information associated with media content creators/distributors. 
         [0042]    The household  402  is similar to the household  102  of  FIG. 1 . The household  402   a  includes a television  402   a,  a CPE  402   b,  a computer  402   c,  and a NTU  402   d,  which may be similar the television  110 , the CPE  114 , the computer  116 , and the NTU  112  of  FIG. 1 , respectively. The devices in the household  402  receive IPTV media content similar to the media content received by the household  102  of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0043]    The wireless telecommunication system  404  is similar to the wireless telecommunication system  106  and the mobile device  108  of  FIG. 1 . The wireless telecommunication system  404  includes a cellular communications network  404   a  and a cellular telephone  404   b,  which may be similar to the wireless telecommunication system  106  and the mobile device  108  of  FIG. 1 , respectively. 
         [0044]    The client facing tier  406  is similar to the client interface  118  of  FIG. 1 . The client facing tier  406  comprises a DServer  406   a,  a terminal server  406   b,  and a client gateway  406   c . The DServer  406   a  temporarily stores media content as the media content s transmitted to the household  402  and/or the wireless telecommunication system  404 . The terminal server  406   b  provides applications that may be executed remotely from the CPE  402   b,  the computer  402   c , and/or the cellular telephone  404   b.  The client gateway  402   c  communicates with the CPE  402   b  and the computer  402   c  via the NTU  402   d  and the cellular telephone  404   b  via the cellular communications network  404   a.    
         [0045]    The acquisition system  408  comprises a live acquisition server  408   a  and a video on demand (VOD) importer  408   b.  The live acquisition server  408   a  acquires media content from media content creators/distributors, encodes media content, encrypts media content, and encapsulates media content for delivery to the household  402  and/or the wireless telecommunication network  404  via remote transmission protocols. The VOD importer  408   b  receives VOD content from media content creators/distributors and stores the media content on the VOD server  410   a.    
         [0046]    The operations and management system  412  comprises an operational support system/business support system (OSS/BSS)  412   a,  a simple network management protocol (SNMP) monitor  412   b,  and a TV2 management system  412   c.  The OSS/BSS  412   a  stores billing information associated with media content creators/distributors. The SNMP monitor  412   b  provides a user interface for technicians to access system errors and messages. The TV2 management system  412   c  provides management tools for technicians to configure the telecommunication system  400 . 
         [0047]    The application and storage tier  414  comprises an application server  414   a,  an OSS/BSS gateway  414   b,  a domain controller  414   c,  and a subscriber and system store  414   d.  The application server  414   a  provides user interface applications for the CPE  402   b,  For example, the application server  414   a  provides a user interface for access to video on demand media content. The OSS/BSS gate  414   b  provides an interface between the operations and management system  412  and the application and storage tier  414 . The domain controller  414   c  provides network services such as user authentication, current time announcement, etc. The subscriber and system store  414   d  stores information associated with consumer media content subscriptions and electronic program guide data. The subscriber and system store  414   d  may be similar to the billing storage  126  of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0048]      FIG. 5  is a block diagram of an example computer  9000  capable of executing the machine readable instructions represented by  FIGS. 2 and/or 3  to implement the apparatus and/or methods disclosed herein. The computer  9000  can be, for example, the NTU  112 , the CPE  114 , the computer  116 , or the telecommunication network  104  and/or any part thereof. 
         [0049]    The system  9000  of the instant example includes a processor  9012  such as a general purpose programmable processor. The processor  9012  includes a local memory  9014 , and executes coded instructions  9016  present in the local memory  9014  and/o another memory device. The processor  9012  may execute, among other things, the machine readable instructions illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . The processor  9012  may be any type of processing unit, such as a microprocessor from the Intel® Centrino® family of microprocessors, the Intel® Pentium® family of microprocessors, the Intel® Itanium® family of microprocessors, and/or the Intel XScale® family of processors. Of course, other processors from other families are also appropriate. 
         [0050]    The processor  9012  is in communication with a main memory including a volatile memory  9018  and a non-volatile memory  9020  via a bus  9022 . The volatile memory  9018  may be implemented by Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory (SDRAM), Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM), RAMBUS Dynamic Random Access Memory (RDRAM) and/or any other type of random access memory device. The non-volatile memory  9020  may be implemented by flash memory and/or any other desired type of memory device. Access to the main memory  9018 ,  9020  is typically controlled by a memory controller (not shown) in a conventional manner. 
         [0051]    he computer  9000  also includes a conventional interface circuit  9024 . The interface circuit  9024  may be implemented by any type of well known interface standard, such as an Ethernet interface, a universal serial bus (USB), and/or a third generation input/output (3GIO) interface. 
         [0052]    One or more input devices  9026  are connected to the interface circuit  9024 . The input device(s)  9026  permit a user to enter data and commands into the processor  9012 . The input device(s) can be implemented by, for example, a keyboard, a mouse, a touchscreen, a track-pad, a trackball, isopoint and/or a voice recognition system. 
         [0053]    One or more output devices  9028  are also connected to the interface circuit  9024 . The output devices  9028  can be implemented, for example, by display devices (e.g., a liquid crystal display, a cathode ray tube display (CRT), a printer and/or speakers). The interface circuit  9024 , thus, typically includes a graphics driver card. 
         [0054]    The interface circuit  9024  also includes a communication device such as a modem or network interface card to facilitate exchange of data with external computers via a network (e.g., an Ethernet connection, a digital subscriber line (DSL), a telephone line, coaxial cable, a cellular telephone system, etc.). 
         [0055]    The computer  9000  also includes one or more mass storage devices  9030  for storing software and data. Examples of such mass storage devices  9030  include floppy disk drives, hard drive disks, compact disk drives and digital versatile disk (DVD) drives. 
         [0056]    At least some of the above described example methods and/or apparatus are implemented by one or more software and/or firmware programs running on a computer processor. However, dedicated hardware implementations including, but not limited to, application specific integrated circuits, programmable logic arrays and other hardware devices can likewise be constructed to implement some or all of the example methods and/or apparatus described herein, either in whole or in part. Furthermore, alternative software implementations including, but not limited to, distributed processing or component/object distributed processing, parallel processing, or virtual machine processing can also be constructed to implement the example methods and/or apparatus described herein. 
         [0057]    It should also be noted that the example software and/or firmware implementations described herein are optionally stored on a tangible storage medium ;  such as: a magnetic medium (e.g., a magnetic disk or tape); a magneto-optical or optical medium such as an optical disk; or a solid state medium such as a memory card or other package that houses one or more read-only (non-volatile) memories, random access memories, or other re-writable (volatile) memories; or a signal containing computer instructions. A digital file attached to e-mail or other information archive or set of archives is considered a distribution medium equivalent to a tangible storage medium. Accordingly, the example software and/or firmware described herein can be stored on a tangible storage medium or distribution medium such as those described above or successor storage media. 
         [0058]    Although this patent discloses example systems including software or firmware executed on hardware, it should be noted that such systems are merely illustrative and should not be considered as limiting. For example, it is contemplated that any or all of these hardware and software components could be embodied exclusively in hardware, exclusively in software, exclusively in firmware or in some combination of hardware, firmware and/or software. Accordingly, while the above specification described example systems, methods and articles of manufacture, persons of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate that the examples are not the only way to implement such systems, methods and articles of manufacture. Therefore, although certain example methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture have been described herein, the scope of coverage of this patent is not limited thereto. On the contrary, this patent covers all methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture fairly falling within the scope of the appended claims either literally or under the doctrine of equivalents.