# US 2010/0169503 A1 · Content Tagging of Media Streams > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2010/0169503 A1 - Document ID: US20100169503A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/344,719 - Filed: 2008-12-29 - Published: 2010-07-01 - Earliest claimed: 2008-12-29 - Assignees: Cisco Technology, Inc. - Inventors: Kurt Kollmansberger; Michael Keohane; William VerSteeg; James Clark - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20100169503A1 ## CPC - H04L 65/765: {intermediate} - H04L 67/561: Adding application-functional data or data for application control, e.g. adding metadata - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract In one embodiment, a network device comprises a tag processor configured to process a media stream received at the network device. The media stream is sent through a network to a desired destination. The tag processor comprises at least one of a tag inserter module and a tag module. The tag inserter module inserts a tag into the media stream, the tag indicating content of the media stream and the network device providing the tag. The tag module identifies and reports a value of a tag received within the media stream, and forwards the media stream to a user and/or compares the identified value to an expected tag value, and forwards the media stream to a user in the event that the comparison indicates a match. The present invention embodiments further include a method and logic for content tagging of the media stream. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method, comprising: (a) receiving a media stream at a source device and inserting into the media stream a tag indicating content of the media stream and the source device providing the tag, wherein the media stream is sent from the source device through a network to a desired destination; (b) in response to a network device receiving the media stream prior to the desired destination, identifying and reporting the tag within the received media stream, selectively inserting into the media stream a tag indicating content of the media stream and the network device providing the tag, and selectively forwarding the media stream with the tag through the network toward the desired destination; and (c) in response to the desired destination including the network device receiving the media stream: (c.1) identifying a value of the tag within the received media stream; (c.2) comparing the identified value to an expected tag value; and (c.3) in the event that the comparison indicates a match, delivering the media stream to a user interface. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) further comprises: (b.1) identifying a value of the tag within the received media stream; (b.2) comparing the identified value to an expected tag value; and (b.3) in the event that the comparison indicates a match, forwarding the media stream with the inserted tag through the network toward the desired destination. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein in the event that one of the comparisons indicates a match at the network device, generating and forwarding a content verification report to a system management device, the verification report indicating that the identified tag value matches the expected tag value. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) further comprises: (b.1) substituting the content of the media stream with an alternative content; and (b.2) inserting a substitute tag into the media stream indicating the substitute content. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein step (b.2) further comprises: (b.2.1) in the event that the comparison indicates a difference between the identified tag value and the expected tag value, forwarding the media stream through the network in response to the identified tag being a substitute tag indicating substitution of the media stream content; and step (c.3) further comprises: (c.3.1) in the event that the comparison indicates a difference between the identified tag value and the expected tag value, delivering the media stream to the user interface in response to the identified tag being a substitute tag indicating substitution of the media stream content. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein step (b.2) further comprises: (b.2.2) generating and forwarding a substitution content delivery verification report to a system management device, the substitution content delivery verification report indicating that the identified tag is determined to be a substitute tag; and step (c.3) further comprises: (c.3.2) generating and forwarding a substitution content delivery verification report to a system management device, the substitution content delivery verification report indicating that the identified tag is determined to be a substitute tag. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the media stream is packetized according to a real-time transport protocol (RTP) and the tag is inserted within at least one of a synchronization source (SSRC) identifier field, a contributing source (CSRC) identifier field and an extension field of the RTP packet header. ### Claim 8 A network device, comprising: a tag processor configured to process a media stream at the network device, wherein the media stream is sent through a network to a desired destination, the tag processor comprising at least one of: a tag inserter module to insert a tag into the media stream, wherein the tag indicates content of the media stream and the network device providing the tag; and a tag module to identify and report a value of a tag received within the media stream and to perform at least one of: forwarding the media stream to the user, and comparing the identified value to an expected tag value, and forwarding the media stream to a user in the event that the comparison indicates a match. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The network device of claim 8, wherein the tag processor includes the tag inserter module to insert a substitute tag into the media stream when the content of the media stream is substituted with substitute content. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The network device of claim 9, wherein the tag processor includes the tag module and the tag module forwards the media stream to the user in response to the comparison not indicating a match and the tag being the substitute tag. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The network device of claim 10, wherein tag module comprises: a report generator module configured to generate and forward one or more reports to a system management device, the reports indicating one or more conditions of the identified tag value matching the expected tag value and the identified tag being a substitute tag. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The network device of claim 8, wherein the media stream is packetized according to a real-time transport protocol (RTP) and the tag inserter module inserts the tag within at least one of a synchronization source (SSRC) identifier field, a contributing source (CSRC) identifier field and an extension field of the RTP packet header. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The network device of claim 8, wherein the network device is one of a source device providing the media stream, a routing device, a multiplexing device, a transrating device, a content splicing device, an encoding device, an encryption device, a transport service device, and a receiving device for providing the media stream content to a user. ### Claim 14 Logic encoded in one or more tangible media for execution and when executed operable to: (a) receive a media stream at a source device and insert into the media stream a tag indicating content of the media stream and the source device providing the tag, wherein the media stream is sent from the source device through a network to a desired destination; (b) in response to a network device receiving the media steam at a network device prior to the desired destination, identify and report the tag within the received media stream, selectively insert into the media stream a tag indicating content of the media stream and the network device providing the tag, and selectively forward the media stream with the tag through the network toward the desired destination; and (c) in response to the desired destination including the network device receiving the media stream: (c.1) identify a value of the tag within the received media stream; (c.2) compare the identified value to an expected tag value; and (c.3) in the event that the comparison indicates a match, deliver the media stream to a user interface. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The logic of claim 14, wherein step (b) further comprises: (b.1) identify a value of the tag within the received media stream; (b.2) compare the identified value to an expected tag value; and (b.3) in the event that the comparison indicates a match, forward the media stream with the inserted tag through the network toward the desired destination. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The logic of claim 15, wherein in the event that one of the comparisons indicates a match at the network device, generate and forward a content verification report to a system management device, the verification report indicating that the identified tag value matches the expected tag value. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The logic of claim 14, wherein step (b) further comprises: (b.1) substitute the content of the media stream with an alternative content; and (b.2) insert a substitute tag into the media stream indicating the substitute content. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The logic of claim 15, wherein step (b.2) further comprises: (b.2.1) in the event that the comparison indicates a difference between the identified tag value and the expected tag value, forward the media stream through the network in response to the identified tag being a substitute tag indicating substitution of the media stream content; and step (c.3) further comprises: (c.3.1) in the event that the comparison indicates a difference between the identified tag value and the expected tag value, deliver the media stream to the user interface in response to the identified tag being a substitute tag indicating substitution of the media stream content. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The logic of claim 18, wherein step (b.2) further comprises: (b.2.2) generate and forward a substitution content delivery verification report to a system management device, the substitution content delivery verification report indicating that the identified tag is determined to be a substitute tag; and step (c.3) further comprises: (c.3.2) generate and forward a substitution content delivery verification report to a system management device, the substitution content delivery verification report indicating that the identified tag is determined to be a substitute tag. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The logic of claim 14, wherein the media stream is packetized according to a real-time transport protocol (RTP) and the tag is inserted within at least one of a synchronization source (SSRC) identifier field, a contributing source (CSRC) identifier field and an extension field of the RTP packet header.