Methods and apparatus for selecting digital access technology for programming and data delivery
First Claim
1. Computerized client apparatus for use within a content delivery network, the computerized client apparatus comprising:
- display apparatus;
network data interface apparatus;
processor apparatus in data communication with the display apparatus and the network data interface apparatus; and
non-transitory computer-readable storage apparatus in data communication with the processor apparatus and comprising one or more computer programs, the one or more computer programs comprising a plurality of instructions configured to, when executed on the processor apparatus;
receive at least one digitally rendered content element from a computerized network apparatus of the content delivery network;
evaluate the at least one digitally rendered content element based at least on first data relating one or more capabilities of the computerized client apparatus;
based at least on the evaluation, process the received at least one digitally rendered content element so as to configure the at least one digitally rendered content element for at least the computerized client apparatus, the configuration based at least on the first data relating to one or more capabilities;
receive, via the network data interface apparatus, second data relating to one or more capabilities of a second computerized client apparatus; and
generate third data indicative of both (i) the one or more capabilities of the computerized client apparatus, and (ii) the one or more capabilities of the second computerized client apparatus.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for selecting digital access technology for programming and data delivery over, e.g., a network. 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.
466 Citations
20 Claims
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1. Computerized client apparatus for use within a content delivery network, the computerized client apparatus comprising:
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display apparatus; network data interface apparatus; processor apparatus in data communication with the display apparatus and the network data interface apparatus; and non-transitory computer-readable storage apparatus in data communication with the processor apparatus and comprising one or more computer programs, the one or more computer programs comprising a plurality of instructions configured to, when executed on the processor apparatus; receive at least one digitally rendered content element from a computerized network apparatus of the content delivery network; evaluate the at least one digitally rendered content element based at least on first data relating one or more capabilities of the computerized client apparatus; based at least on the evaluation, process the received at least one digitally rendered content element so as to configure the at least one digitally rendered content element for at least the computerized client apparatus, the configuration based at least on the first data relating to one or more capabilities; receive, via the network data interface apparatus, second data relating to one or more capabilities of a second computerized client apparatus; and generate third data indicative of both (i) the one or more capabilities of the computerized client apparatus, and (ii) the one or more capabilities of the second computerized client apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. Computer readable apparatus 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 on a digital processing apparatus:
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generate capabilities profile data, the capabilities profile data indicative of a plurality of capabilities of a computerized client device; transmit the capabilities profile data to a computerized network apparatus of a content delivery network; and enable reception of one or more digitally rendered program streams, the one or more digitally rendered program streams comprising one or more digitally rendered content elements inserted therein, the one or more digitally rendered content elements selected by the computerized network apparatus based at least on algorithmic evaluation of the transmitted capabilities profile data. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A computerized method for operating a computerized gateway device for use in a content delivery network, the computerized method comprising:
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evaluating data relating to one or more capabilities of a first computerized client device and one or more capabilities of a second computerized client device, the first and second computerized client devices each in data communication with the computerized gateway device, the evaluating to identify one or more common capabilities between the first and second computerized client devices; generating, via the computerized gateway device, capabilities profile data, the capabilities profile data indicating at least the one or more common capabilities; receiving data comprising a dynamically modifiable listing of available digitally rendered programs, the available digitally rendered programs being compatible with the one or more common capabilities; and delivering a digital media stream comprising digitally rendered content to the first and second computerized client devices in a media encoding format which is compatible with the one or more common capabilities, the delivering comprising delivering one or more respective variants of a particular digitally rendered program of the available digitally rendered programs to each of the first and second computerized client devices, the one or more respective variants comprising at least some digital content that is specific to respective geographic locations of the first and second computerized client devices. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. Computerized gateway apparatus for use within a content delivery network, the computerized client apparatus comprising:
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network interface apparatus; digital processor apparatus in data communication with the network interface apparatus; and non-transitory computer-readable storage apparatus in data communication with the digital processor apparatus and comprising one or more computer programs, the one or more computer programs comprising a plurality of instructions configured to, when executed by the digital processor apparatus; evaluate one or more capabilities of a first computerized client device and one or more capabilities of a second computerized client device, the first and second computerized client devices each in data communication with the computerized gateway apparatus, to identify one or more common capabilities between the first and second computerized client devices, the evaluation comprising a polling, via at least one application programming interface (API), of one or more functional elements of each of the first and second computerized client devices for the respective one or more capabilities thereof; cause generation of capabilities profile data, the capabilities profile data indicative of at least the one or more common capabilities, the generation comprising generation of the capabilities profile data based at least on data returned by the first and second computerized client devices pursuant to the polling; transmit, via at least use of a session-based protocol, the capabilities profile data to a computerized network entity; and based at least in part on the capabilities profile data, cause delivery of a digital content stream comprising digitally rendered content to the first and second computerized client devices in a media encoding format which is compatible with the one or more common capabilities. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification