Digital video recorder state cache

• US 10,116,986 B2
• Filed: 06/24/2017
• Issued: 10/30/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Inventors: Smith, Robert Todd, Frusciano, Douglas, Mahonchak, Carissa
• Primary Examiner(s): Mengesha, Mulugeta
• Application Number:
  US15/632,308
• Publication Number:
  US 20170295395A1
• Time in Patent Office: 493 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23106 involving caching operations prefetching while addressing of a memory level in which the access to the desired data or data block requires associative addressing means within memory systems or architectures G06F12/0862; caching at an intermediate stage in a data network H04L67/568
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2747 Remote storage of video programs received via the downstream path, e.g. from the server
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4147 PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4331 Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/436 Interfacing a local distribution network, e.g. communicating with another STB or one or more peripheral devices inside the home
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47217 for controlling playback functions for recorded or on-demand content, e.g. using progress bars, mode or play-point indicators or bookmarks specific graphical features in visual interfaces H04N21/4312
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64322 IP

Abstract

A digital video recorder control database is maintained for a digital video recorder in communication with a plurality of set-top boxes. The database includes program content, associated programming metadata, and a recording schedule. A subset of the digital video recorder control database is pushed from the digital video recorder control database to the plurality of set-top boxes for local caching on the plurality of set-top boxes. The subset includes at least a portion of the recording schedule.

Claims

1. A method comprising the steps of:

maintaining a bookmark service database in communication with a plurality of set-top boxes, said bookmark service database comprising a plurality of bookmarks for a plurality of programs, each of said bookmarks in turn comprising a program identifier and a play position;

obtaining, at said bookmark service database, an indication that a given one of said set-top boxes has updated its cache with a bookmark action;

updating said bookmark service database to reflect said bookmark action; and

pushing, from said bookmark service database to said plurality of set-top boxes other than said given one of said set-top boxes, at least a portion of said bookmark service database for local caching on said plurality of set-top boxes,

wherein said pushing is carried out in response to said obtaining of said indication and wherein said subset includes an update to reflect said bookmark action.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said pushing is carried out on a periodic schedule.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising maintaining a digital video recorder control database on a digital video recorder, wherein said digital video recorder is collocated in a premises with said plurality of set-top boxes.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said digital video recorder control database includes information which controls a multi-tuner digital video recorder, and wherein said portion of said bookmark service database pushed in said pushing step comprises instructions regarding which tuner of said multi-tuner digital video recorder to use for a recording.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising maintaining a digital video recorder control database on a digital video recorder in a network node remote from a premises in which said plurality of set-top boxes are located.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said digital video recorder control database includes information which controls a multi-tuner digital video recorder, and wherein said portion of said bookmark service database pushed in said pushing step comprises instructions regarding which tuner of said multi-tuner digital video recorder to use for a recording.