System and method for streaming media

A system for streaming media to a viewer for a request for media comprising:

• a media switch configured to receive from the viewer at a media switch address a reservation identification and a presentation identification, to receive reservation data having a valid reservation identification, to validate the reservation identification using the valid reservation identification, and, if validated, to stream to the viewer at least some media for a presentation identified by the presentation identification;
• a routing processor configured to receive for a routing processor identification the presentation identification and the reservation identification, to receive the reservation data, to use the presentation identification to determine if the media switch is configured to stream media for the presentation, and, if so configured, to transmit the reservation data to the media switch and to transmit the media switch address to the viewer;
• and
• a management system configured to receive the request for media, to build a reservation having the reservation identification, the routing processor identification, and the presentation identification, to transmit the reservation to the viewer, and to transmit the reservation data to the routing processor.

A reservation state model for streaming media to a viewer for a request for the media, the request having a reservation, the reservation state model using at least one processor and comprising:

• an identification of a routing processor selected to select a media switch;
• an identification of the media switch selected to stream the media;
• and
• an identification of at least one state change for at least one state occurring for streaming the media to the viewer comprising at least one member of a group comprising a session initiation state and a session termination state, each comprising a reservation identification for the reservation.

A reservation state model for streaming media to a viewer for a request for the media, the request having a reservation, the reservation state model using at least one processor and comprising:

• a media switch state model comprising at least one state change for at least one state occurring for streaming the media to the viewer comprising at least one member of a group comprising a session initiation state and a session termination state, each comprising a reservation identification for the reservation;
• a routing processor state model comprising an identification of a media switch selected to stream the media and the reservation identification;
• and
• a management system state model comprising an identification of a routing processor selected to select the media switch and the reservation identification.

A system for streaming media to a viewer for a request for media comprising:

• a management system configured to receive a request for media, to identify a presentation having the requested media, to build a reservation for the request having a presentation identification, a processor identification that the viewer can call, and a reservation identification, to transmit the reservation to the viewer, and to transmit reservation data for the request having the reservation identification and the presentation identification;
• a routing processor configured to receive the reservation data from the management system, to receive for the processor identification the reservation from the viewer, to process the reservation data to determine if the presentation is configured to be streamed, to validate the reservation identification received from the viewer with the reservation data, and, if the presentation is configured to be streamed and if the reservation identification is validated, to transmit an address to the viewer and to transmit the reservation data;
• and
• a media switch configured to receive the reservation data from the routing processor, to receive from the viewer at the address the reservation identification and the presentation identification, to process the reservation identification with the reservation data to validate the reservation identification, and, if valid, to stream at least partially media for the presentation to the viewer.

A method for streaming media comprising:

• receiving a request for media and building in response thereto a reservation having a reservation identification for the request;
• receiving at a routing processor identification reservation data comprising a valid reservation identification and a media identification and determining if a media switch is configured to stream media for the request;
• transmitting the reservation data to the media switch if the media switch is configured, at least initially, to stream media for the request;
• receiving a reservation identification at the media switch;
• processing the reservation identification and the reservation data to determine if the reservation identification is valid;
• and
• streaming the media for the request if the reservation identification is valid.

A method for streaming media to a viewer for a request for media comprising:

• receiving the request and building a reservation having a reservation identification, a routing processor identification, and a presentation identification;
• transmitting the reservation to the viewer and transmitting reservation data to a routing processor, the reservation data comprising a valid reservation identification;
• receiving at the routing processor the reservation data;
• receiving from the viewer a presentation identification and a reservation identification at a routing processor identification for thr routing processor;
• using the presentation identification to determine if a media switch is configured to stream media for the presentation, and, if so configured, transmitting the reservation data to the media switch and transmitting a media switch address to the viewer;
• receiving from the viewer at the media switch address the reservation identification and the presentation identification;
• validating the reservation identification using the valid reservation identification;
• and
• if validated, streaming to the viewer at least some media for the presentation identified by the presentation identification.

A method for streaming media for a viewer comprising:

• receiving a request for media and building in response thereto a reservation having a reservation identification and a media identification;
• transmitting reservation data comprising a valid reservation identification and the media identification to a routing processor and transmitting the reservation formatted for reception by the viewer;
• receiving the reservation data at the routing processor and determining if a media switch is configured to stream media identified by the media identification;
• transmitting the reservation data to the media switch if the media switch is configured, at least initially, to stream media for the request;
• receiving a reservation identification and receiving from the routing processor the reservation data;
• processing the reservation identification and the reservation data to determine if the reservation identification is valid;
• and
• streaming at least partially the media identified by the media identification if the reservation identification is valid.

A method for streaming media for a viewer comprising:

• processing a request for media and building in response thereto a reservation having a reservation identification and a media play list comprising a plurality of media names;
• transmitting reservation data comprising a valid reservation identification and the media play list to a routing processor and transmitting the reservation formatted for reception by the viewer;
• for each media name on the play list, determining if a media switch is configured to stream media identified by the media name;
• for each media name on the play list, transmitting the reservation data to the media switch if the media switch is configured, at least initially, to stream media for the media name;
• processing the reservation identification and the reservation data at the media switch to determine if the reservation identification is valid;
• and
• streaming at least partially the media identified by the media name if the reservation identification is valid.

A method for streaming media for a viewer comprising:

• processing a request for media and building in response thereto a reservation having a reservation identification and a media play list comprising a plurality of media names;
• transmitting reservation data comprising a valid reservation identification and the media play list to a routing processor and transmitting the reservation formatted for reception by the viewer;
• determining if a media switch is configured to stream media identified by the media play list;
• transmitting the reservation data to the media switch if the media switch is configured, at least initially, to stream media for the media play list;
• validating the reservation identification with the reservation data;
• and
• for each media name on the play list, streaming at least partially the media identified by the media name if the reservation identification is valid.

A method for processing a media request comprising:

• receiving media, at least one media rule indicating how the media is to be distributed, and at least one order rule indicating settlement for streamed media;
• distributing the media according to the media rule and transmitting a media identification for the media and the order rule;
• receiving the media request and building and transmitting a reservation having a reservation identification and the media identification;
• receiving at least one information block identifying the reservation identification and streaming for at least some of the media;
• and
• processing the information block with the reservation identification and according to the order rule to generate a settlement record.

A method for streaming media comprising:

• receiving a request for media and building in response thereto a reservation having a reservation identification for the request;
• receiving reservation data comprising a valid reservation identification and a media identification at a routing processor and determining if a media switch is configured to stream media for the request;
• transmitting the reservation data to the media switch if the media switch is configured, at least initially, to stream media for the request;
• validating the reservation identification using the valid reservation identification;
• and
• streaming the media for the request simultaneously in a plurality of parallel sessions.