Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090133049 | Method and Apparatus for Limiting Access to Programming in a Switched Digital Video System - A content delivery system headend is provided. The headend includes a Switched Digital Video (SDV) manager for coordinating SDV sessions requested by subscribers over an access network. The headend also includes an input unit such as a server for receiving content to be broadcast during the SDV sessions. Additionally, the headend includes a subscriber control unit for comparing channel change requests received by the SDV manager from subscribers to subscriber-established rules. Tuning information for accessing programming specified in the channel change requests is only supplied if the channel change requests do not conform to any of the subscriber-established rules for blocking the programming. | 05-21-2009 |
20120210382 | Content Archive Model - An archive model can be used for managing networked storage of recorded content, such as network DVR (digital video recorder) content. Content may be initially recorded to an active storage device, with individual duplicate copies recorded for each requesting user, and subsequently archived to an archive storage device. For playback, the content can be reconstituted into the active storage device prior to delivery to the requesting user. Content can be predictively reconstituted in anticipation of user needs, and the reconstitution capacity of the system can be dynamically reallocated for load balancing. | 08-16-2012 |
20120321278 | NETWORK RECORDER BUFFER - A network digital video recording (nDVR) system may take into account the capabilities of a requesting user's local DVR when managing network recordings. The user's local DVR may include a temporary buffer that is normally used to record what the DVR is tuned to, and may be used for local trickplay functionality such as pausing live television. The nDVR features described herein may track the usage of the user's temporary DVR buffer, and use that in determining what to stream in response to a user's playback request. The nDVR system can also determine if the user's local DVR has an unused tuner at a time of a program recording, and can instruct the user's local DVR to also tune to the program. | 12-20-2012 |
20140079374 | Optically Readable Codes in a Content Delivery System - A method, apparatus, and software are provided for using an optically-readable code such as a quick-response (QR) code. The optically-readable code may represent a uniform resource identifier (URI) including parameters that represent a query, such as a query for content and/or other data. The query results may be used to command a content consumption device to record or otherwise obtain an item of content. The optically-readable code may additionally or alternatively be determined based upon a status of the device, such as what content, or portion thereof, is currently being displayed, and/or what error condition is being experienced. | 03-20-2014 |
20140101708 | Transmission And Consumption Of Time-Shifted Content In A One-Way Communication Environment - Aspects of the disclosure relate to control of transmission and consumption of content in a device, such as an end-point rendering device. The content can include linear-programming content assets and/or time-shifted content assets. Consumption can be mediated by a control device that can coordinate the functional interaction between the device and a content distribution network node or an access network node that can supply the content and related information. | 04-10-2014 |
20140233923 | Managing Stored Content - A content management system may assist users in managing the storage of various pieces of content, such as television programs, that the user has recorded. The system may track the user's consumption behavior, determining which programs the user regularly watches and which programs the user regularly ignores, and use that consumption behavior to determine which recorded programs to recommend for relocation to a remote storage, or for outright deletion. The system can also use the behavior information to modify new recording requests, such as directing a new request to a secondary storage location if it is unlikely that the user will view the recording. | 08-21-2014 |
20140250235 | Streaming and Downloading of Content - Methods, apparatuses, systems, and software are described for providing content to a device comprising streaming content and sending content in a non-streaming manner (e.g., by downloading a file containing the content). In some aspects, switching between streaming and downloading may be performed in a dynamic manner during presentation of the content, and may be seamless to the user's viewing experience. | 09-04-2014 |
20140280688 | Methods And Systems For Dynamic Data Management - Methods and systems for managing data are disclosed. One method can comprise storing first data locally relative to a user device and storing second data remotely relative to the user device. The first data and the second data can relate to the same content. The method can also comprise generating a manifest comprising location information relating to the first data and the second data and receiving a request for transmission of one or more of the first data and the second data based upon the manifest. | 09-18-2014 |