Patent ID: 8170037

Claim:
A communication system, comprising: a content distribution network; a first mile configuration connected to the content distribution network; the first mile configuration comprising: a broadcast station configured to generate media signals; at least one encoder coupled to the broadcast station, wherein the at least one encoder is configured to continuously encode in real-time the media signals generated from the broadcast station and to continuously convert the media signals into Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) data packets; and at least one Virtual Private Network (VPN) server coupled to the at least one encoder for establishing a secure and constant tunneling interface for transmitting the TCP/IP data packets over a VPN uni-cast tunnel connection between the at least one VPN server of the first mile configuration to the content distribution network comprising a private network; a gateway server provided in the VPN uni-cast tunnel connection for establishing communications in the private network, wherein the gateway server is configured to control incoming and outgoing connections, to control network traffic, and to accept VPN traffic from a plurality of incoming transmissions transmitted through the VPN uni-cast tunnel to the private network controlled by a database and secured by an active directory coupled to the gateway server; and a plurality of streaming servers coupled to the active directory for distributing the TCIP/IP data packets transmitted from the broadcast station to at least one node of the private network.