Methods and apparatus for selecting digital access technology for programming and data delivery
First Claim
1. Computerized apparatus configured for communication with a content delivery network, the computerized apparatus comprising:
- at least one data interface for communication with one or more computerized client devices;
at least one hardware or software interface configured to interface with one or more conditional access functions of each of the one or more computerized client devices;
processor apparatus in data communication with the at least one data interface and at least one hardware or software interface; and
computer-readable apparatus in data communication with the processor apparatus and comprising a non-transitory storage medium, the non-transitory storage medium comprising at least one computer program having a plurality of instructions, the plurality of instructions configured to, when executed by the processor apparatus;
receiving data indicative of a plurality of digitally rendered content elements from a computerized entity of the content delivery network;
generate profile data related to the one or more conditional access functions of the one or more computerized client devices;
cause computerized analysis of the generated profile data, the analysis comprising at least a correlation between (i) at least one of the one or more conditional access functions supported by at least a first one of the one or more computerized client devices and (ii) a capability required to decode individual ones of the digitally rendered content elements of the plurality; and
based at least on the correlation, modify the data indicative of the plurality of digitally rendered content elements, the modified data comprising data indicative of one or more of the digitally rendered content elements that are specific to at least the first one of the one or more computerized client devices.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for selecting digital access technology used to deliver content data over a network are disclosed. In one embodiment, the network comprises an HFC cable or satellite network that includes a server process interfacing with a plurality of customer premises equipment (CPE), and/or associated client devices, each having different capabilities profiles. The server determines one or more capabilities possessed by the CPE, and evaluates one or more program or content choices for possible delivery to that CPE based on its profile. The server generates a list of programs or content based on this evaluation, and transmits this list to the CPE, which displays the list for viewing by a user. The user is therefore offered a list of available content that is compatible with their specific configuration. A business and operational rules engine is also optionally employed to control the operation of the foregoing processes to accomplish particular business or operational goals.
394 Citations
21 Claims
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1. Computerized apparatus configured for communication with a content delivery network, the computerized apparatus comprising:
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at least one data interface for communication with one or more computerized client devices; at least one hardware or software interface configured to interface with one or more conditional access functions of each of the one or more computerized client devices; processor apparatus in data communication with the at least one data interface and at least one hardware or software interface; and computer-readable apparatus in data communication with the processor apparatus and comprising a non-transitory storage medium, the non-transitory storage medium comprising at least one computer program having a plurality of instructions, the plurality of instructions configured to, when executed by the processor apparatus; receiving data indicative of a plurality of digitally rendered content elements from a computerized entity of the content delivery network; generate profile data related to the one or more conditional access functions of the one or more computerized client devices; cause computerized analysis of the generated profile data, the analysis comprising at least a correlation between (i) at least one of the one or more conditional access functions supported by at least a first one of the one or more computerized client devices and (ii) a capability required to decode individual ones of the digitally rendered content elements of the plurality; and based at least on the correlation, modify the data indicative of the plurality of digitally rendered content elements, the modified data comprising data indicative of one or more of the digitally rendered content elements that are specific to at least the first one of the one or more computerized client devices. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A computerized method for operating a computerized client device for use in a content delivery network, the computerized method comprising:
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polling one or more hardware elements of a plurality of computerized client devices in communication with the computerized client device for respective conditional access capabilities supported by the plurality of computerized client devices; receiving, based on the polling, data indicative of one or more of the respective conditional access capabilities; transmitting data representative of a request for particular digitally rendered content to a computerized network entity, the request originating from at least one of the plurality of computerized client devices; and based at least on a determination that the request comprises a request for particular digitally rendered content that is not compatible with the one or more conditional access capabilities of the at least one of the plurality of computerized client devices, enabling the at least one of the plurality of computerized client devices to access;
(i) the requested non-compatible digitally rendered content, and (ii) software needed by the at least one of the plurality of computerized client devices to decode the requested non-compatible digitally rendered content. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. Computer readable apparatus comprising a non-transitory storage medium, the non-transitory medium comprising at least one computer program having a plurality of instructions, the plurality of instructions configured to, when executed on a processing apparatus:
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poll logic associated with one or more hardware elements of each of a plurality of computerized client devices for respective conditional access capabilities thereof; receive, based on the poll, a plurality of respective messages from the plurality of computerized client devices, each of the plurality of messages having data that indicates one or more of the conditional access capabilities; generate a data structure comprising data descriptive of the one or more conditional access capabilities supported by at least one of the plurality of computerized client devices; transmit data representative of a request for a particular digitally rendered content to an entity of a content delivery network, the request associated to one of the plurality of computerized client devices; cause an evaluation to determine, based at least on the generated data structure, that the request comprises a request for particular digitally rendered content not compatible with the one or more conditional access capabilities of the one of the plurality of computerized client devices; and based at least on the determination, enable the one of the plurality of computerized client devices to access (i) the requested non-compatible digitally rendered content, and (ii) software needed by the one of the plurality of computerized client devices to decode the requested non-compatible digitally rendered content. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification