Content delivery across heterogeneous networks

A method for content delivery across a plurality of heterogeneous networks different ones of which include a source node and in-network subscriber nodes one of which is a gateway node of and between the heterogeneous network and another heterogeneous network that includes an out-of-network subscriber node, the method comprising:

• storing a database of unified identity codes (UICs) for that categorize information as respective categories of information, and in association with the UICs, in-network addresses of the in-network subscriber nodes subscribed to the respective categories of information, the gateway node being an in-network subscriber node of the in-network subscriber nodes subscribed to at least one of the respective categories of information to enable the out-of-network subscriber node to subscribe to the at least one of the respective categories of information;
• receiving from the source node, a query including a UIC for a category of information to which one or more in-network subscriber nodes are subscribed;
• and in response thereto, retrieving from the database using the UIC, one or more in-network addresses for the one or more in-network subscriber nodes, the database being integrated with the gateway node;
• and replying to the query with the one or more in-network addresses for use by the source node to transmit content to the one or more in-network subscriber nodes, and in at least one instance in which the one or more in-network subscriber nodes include the gateway node and the one or more in-network addresses include the in-network address thereof, for the gateway node to route the content to the out-of-network subscriber node,
• wherein the gateway node, and the memory stores further executable instructions to further at least:
• store a plurality of keys for each of the heterogeneous networks for enabling content delivery between the heterogeneous networks;
• receive an encrypted data packet from a source network node, the encrypted data packed including the content;
• decrypt the data packet using a key of the plurality of keys associated with the heterogeneous network of the source network node;
• and
• generate another data packet, including the content, using a key of the plurality of keys associated with the heterogeneous network of the out-of-network subscriber node for routing the content to the out-of-network subscriber node.

A computer-readable storage medium for content delivery across a plurality of heterogeneous networks different ones of which include a source node and in-network subscriber nodes one of which is a gateway node of and between the heterogeneous network and another heterogeneous network that includes an out-of-network subscriber node, the computer-readable storage medium being non-transitory and having computer-readable program code portions stored therein that in response to execution by a processor, cause an apparatus to at least:

• store a database of unified identity codes (UICs) for that categorize information as respective categories of information, and in association with the UICs, in-network addresses of the in-network subscriber nodes subscribed to the respective categories of information, the gateway node being an in-network subscriber node of the in-network subscriber nodes subscribed to at least one of the respective categories of information to enable the out-of-network subscriber node to subscribe to the at least one of the respective categories of information;
• receive from the source node, a query including a UIC for a category of information to which one or more in-network subscriber nodes are subscribed;
• and in response thereto, retrieve from the database using the UIC, one or more in-network addresses for the one or more in-network subscriber nodes, the database being integrated with the gateway node;
• and reply to the query with the one or more in-network addresses for use by the source node to transmit content to the one or more in-network subscriber nodes, and in at least one instance in which the one or more in-network subscriber nodes include the gateway node and the one or more in-network addresses include the in-network address thereof, for the gateway node to route the content to the out-of-network subscriber node,
• wherein the the gateway node, and the memory stores further executable instructions to further at least:
• store a plurality of keys for each of the heterogeneous networks for enabling content delivery between the heterogeneous networks;
• receive an encrypted data packet from a source network node, the encrypted data packed including the content;
• decrypt the data packet using a key of the plurality of keys associated with the heterogeneous network of the source network node;
• and
• generate another data packet, including the content, using a key of the plurality of keys associated with the heterogeneous network of the out-of-network subscriber node for routing the content to the out-of-network subscriber node.