Methods and apparatus for controlling unauthorized streaming of content

A system, comprising:

• a communication network interface, located at a customer premise, for communicating with a network node located outside said customer premise via a communication network;
• a first web server, located at said customer premise, configured to receive a first video on demand service request message from a first device coupled to a home network, said first video on demand service request message requesting content stored on a video on demand server which is a separate device from said home network gateway, said first video on demand service request message including a first source identifier identifying said first device as the source of said first video on demand service request message and a first content identifier identifying content requested by said first video on demand service request message;
• a memory, located at said customer premises, used for storing video on demand service request message information, said memory including, for individual request messages which request content, a request message source identifier and an identifier of the requested content, said memory including a stored portion of said first video on demand service request message including said first source identifier and said first content;
• a second web server, located at said customer premise, configured to receive a second message including a second source identifier identifying source of said second message, said second web server being different from said first web server;
• and
• a processor configured to determine, based on whether said first source identifier stored in said memory matches said second source identifier included in the second received message, whether to provide the requested video on demand service to a sender of said second message.

A non-transitory computer readable medium having machine executable instructions stored thereon for controlling a processor in a home network gateway, the non-transitory computer readable medium including:

• code for controlling the home network gateway to receive a first video on demand service request message from a first device coupled to a home network, said first video on demand service request message requesting content stored on a video on demand server which is a separate device from said home network gateway, said first video on demand service request message including a first source identifier identifying said first device as a source of said first video on demand service request message and a first content identifier identifying content requested by said first video on demand service request message;
• code for controlling the home network gateway to store a portion of said first video on demand service request message including said first source identifier and said first content identifier in memory used for storing video on demand service request message information;
• code for controlling the home network gateway to receive a second message including a second source identifier identifying source of said second message;
• and
• code for controlling the home network gateway to determine, based on whether said first source identifier stored in said memory matches said second source identifier included in the second received message, whether to provide said content that was requested by said first video on demand service request message to a sender of said second message.

A home network gateway for controlling content streaming on a home network, the home network gateway comprising:

• a home network interface, located at a customer premise, for communicating with devices coupled to said home network;
• a communication network interface, located at said customer premise, for communicating with a network node, located outside said customer premise, over a communication network;
• a first web server, located at said customer premise, configured to receive via said home network interface a first video on demand service request message from a first device coupled to the home network, said first video on demand service request message including a first source identifier identifying said first device as the source of said first video on demand service request message and a first content identifier identifying content requested by said first video on demand service request message;
• a memory used for storing video on demand service request message information, said memory including, for individual request messages which request content, a request message source identifier and an identifier of the requested content, said memory including a stored portion of said first video on demand service request message including said first source identifier and said first content identifier identifying content requested by said first video on demand service request message;
• a second web server, located at said customer premise, configured to receive a second message addressed to said second web server, said second message including a second source identifier identifying the source of said second message via said home network interface, said second web server being different from said first web server;
• and
• a processor at the home network gateway being configured to determine, based on whether said first source identifier stored in said memory matches said second source identifier included in the second received message, whether to provide the requested video on demand service to a sender of said second message.