Methods and apparatus for selecting digital access technology for programming and data delivery

• US 20070204314A1
• Filed: 02/27/2006
• Published: 08/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Time Warner Cable Inc. (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Inventors: Markley, Jeffrey P., Hasek, Charles A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,170,065 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/100
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25825 involving client display capabilities, e.g. screen resolution of a mobile phone optimising the visualisation of content during browsing in the Internet G06F16/9577; processing of terminal status or physical abilities in wireless networks H04W8/22; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25833 involving client hardware characteristics, e.g. manufacturer, processing or storage capabilities allocation of resources considering hardware capabilities in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/5044; allocation of resources considering software capabilities in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/5055
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25858 involving client software characteristics, e.g. OS identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26283 for associating distribution time parameters to content, e.g. to generate electronic program guide data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42676 for modulating an analogue carrier signal to encode digital information or demodulating it to decode digital information, e.g. ADSL or cable modem
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4516 involving client characteristics, e.g. Set-Top-Box type, software version or amount of memory available
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4627 Rights management associated to the content security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4821 using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6168 involving cable transmission, e.g. using a cable modem
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6371 directed to network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/643 Communication protocols network streaming protocols, e.g. real-time transport protocol [RTP] or real-time control protocol [RTCP], H04L65/65
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6582 Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/835 Generation of protective data, e.g. certificates protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17309 Transmission or handling of upstream communications

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for selecting digital access technology for programming and data delivery over, e.g., a content-based 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 the 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.

Claims

1. A system for distributing video programming on-demand, comprising:

a plurality of video signal processing devices, each said device having at least one conditional access capability, and configured to generate a capabilities profile and receive video programming signals;

a video-on-demand server configured to receive said capabilities profile from individual ones of said devices and identify on-demand video programming that is compatible with individual ones of said capabilities profiles; and

a network connecting said video signal processing devices to said video on-demand server, and transmitting said capabilities profiles and information relating to said identified compatible on-demand video programming between said video signal processing devices and said video on-demand server.

2. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said at least one conditional access capability is provided by one or more hardware-based modules.

3. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least some of said plurality of video signal processing devices are selected from the group consisting of:

(i) a set-top box; and

(ii) a personal media device (PMD) coupled directly or indirectly through an interface to a cable network.

4. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least some of said video signal processing devices determine said at least one capability by polling at least one hardware or software module.

5. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least some of said video processing devices further comprise a digital processor and software running thereon, said software comprising a operating system and an application component, said application component being adapted to request a capabilities profile from said device, and said operating system configured to poll at least one hardware or software module.

6. The system as set forth in claim, 1, wherein said network comprises a hybrid fiber coaxial (HFC) cable television network, and at least a portion of said plurality of devices has heterogeneous conditional access capabilities.

7. A method of operating client equipment in communication with a content-based network, said equipment comprising a plurality of supported conditional access options and at least one application, the method comprising:

running said at least one application;

providing at least one hardware or software interface capable of interface with said conditional access options;

discovering said conditional access options; and

reporting said conditional access options to a process.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said act discovering comprises the act of polling a hardware or software registry of said client equipment to identify said conditional access options.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said act of reporting to a process comprises transmitting a session setup protocol message to a session resource manager (SRM) process located remote from said client equipment on said content-based network.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein said conditional access options are selected from a group consisting of:

(i) Powerkey, (ii) DigiCipher, (iii) NDS, and (iv) a digital rights manager (DRM).

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said network comprises a multi-channel distribution network of the hybrid fiber coax (HFC) type, and said client equipment comprises a digital set-top box.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein said at least one application is rendered in an object-oriented language.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein said act of discovering comprises reading a capabilities registry of said client equipment.

14. The method of claim 7, wherein said client equipment is in data communication with said network via a set-top box, and said act of reporting comprises transmitting said discovered conditional access options over said network via said set-top box.

15. The method of claim 8, wherein said act of reporting to a process comprises transmitting a message to a software process configured to control at least in part the switching of program streams within a broadcast switched architecture network.

16. A method for operating a video processing device for use in a content-based network, comprising:

polling one or more hardware elements for conditional access capabilities;

receiving one or more conditional access capabilities in response to said polling; and

generating information describing the conditional access capabilities supported by said video processing device.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising transmitting a session-based protocol message to a session resource manager (SRM) located on said content-based network remote from said video processing device.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein said session-based protocol comprises:

a descriptor parameter describing a particular resource descriptor;

a descriptor length parameter; and

a data field.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein said one or more conditional access capabilities are selected from the group consisting of:

(i) Powerkey, (ii) DigiCipher, (iii) NDS, and (iv) a digital rights manager (DRM).

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

receiving a list of programs available for video-on-demand viewing, said list selected based at least in part on said act of generating information;

displaying said list of programs to a user;

receiving a selection from said user;

transmitting said selection;

receiving video programming;

accessing said video programming based at least in part on one of said supported conditional access capabilities; and

displaying said video programming.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

receiving a list of programs available for video-on-demand viewing, said list selected based at least in part on said act of generating information;

displaying said list of programs to a user;

receiving a selection from said user;

transmitting said selection;

receiving video programming;

accessing said video programming based at least in part on one of said supported conditional access capabilities; and

displaying said video programming.

22. The method of claim 16, further comprising transmitting a message to a software process configured to control at least in part the delivery of program streams to a node within a broadcast switched architecture network.

23. Apparatus for receiving digital information from a network, said digital information including a conditional access component, said apparatus comprising a microprocessor for running software modules, said apparatus further comprising:

a plurality of conditional access functions, each having a substantially distinct conditional access capability;

an application for obtaining a conditional access profile; and

an operating system for polling said plurality of conditional access functions in order to generate information for said conditional access profile.

24. The apparatus as set forth in claim 23, wherein said plurality of conditional access functions comprises a hardware-based conditional access function, said hardware-based function comprising a conditional access support registry.

25. The apparatus as set forth in claim 23, wherein said plurality of conditional access functions comprises a plurality of software-based conditional access functions and an associated conditional access support registry.

26. The apparatus as set forth in claim 23, wherein said application is further configured to generate and transmit a conditional access capability message using a session-based protocol.

27. The apparatus as set forth in claim 23, where said conditional access capabilities are selected from the group consisting of:

(i) Powerkey, (ii) DigiCipher, (iii) NDS, and (iv) a digital rights manager (DRM).

28. The apparatus as set forth in claim 23, further comprising a radio frequency (RF) interface for at least receiving modulated digital RF signals.

29. The apparatus as set forth in claim 23, wherein said application is rendered using an object oriented programming language.

30. The apparatus as set forth in claim 23, wherein said apparatus is in data communication with a set-top box adapted for use in cable television network.

31. The apparatus as set forth in claim 23, wherein said apparatus is in data communication with a DOCSIS cable modem adapted for use in cable television network.

32. Network server apparatus, comprising:

a processor;

a storage device in data communication with said processor; and

a computer program configured to run on said processor, said program being adapted to;

receive conditional access profile information from at least one network client device;

determine at least one content element compatible with said profile information;

and

generate information for transmission to said at least one client device relating to said at least one content element.

33. The server apparatus of claim 32, wherein said network comprises a content-based cable network, and said server comprises a server process associated with a video-on-demand function of said network.

34. The server apparatus of claim 32, wherein said computer program is further adapted to:

identify when two or more of said at least one client devices have the same profile information; and

invoke a bandwidth-conserving content delivery mechanism to at least said two or more devices.

35. A method of identifying programming deliverable over a network that is available for on-demand viewing by a user, the method comprising:

determining a capabilities profile provided by a plurality of conditional access (CA) modules contained in a client device;

transmitting said capabilities profile to a network agent;

determining at least one on-demand program compatible with said capabilities profile;

transmitting information identifying said at least program to said client device; and

displaying at least a portion of said information for viewing by a user.

36. The method as set forth in claim 35, wherein said network agent comprises a system resource manager (SRM) associated with a video on-demand server process of said network.

37. The method as set forth in claim 35, wherein said determining a capabilities profile comprises polling said modules to determine which of a plurality of conditional access functions are supported thereby.

38. The method as set forth in claim 37, wherein said capabilities profile comprises identification of at least one encryption key.

39. A method of doing business over a cable television network, comprising:

receiving first information relating to the capabilities of a plurality of CPE operatively communicating with said network;

receiving second information relating to the respective subscription level of subscribers associated with said plurality of CPE; and

selecting, based at least in part on said first and second information, one of a plurality of variants of a content element for delivery to each of said plurality of CPE.

40. A method of doing business over a cable television network, comprising:

receiving first information relating to the capabilities of a CPE operatively communicating with said network;

receiving second information relating to the subscriber associated with said CPE;

evaluating, based at least in part on said first information, content for possible delivery to said CPE; and

where said act of evaluating indicates that said content is not suitable for said CPE capabilities, selectively providing a component to said CPE based at least in part on said second information.

41. In a switched content delivery network having a node and a switching mechanism controlling delivery of programs to said node, a method of operating said network comprising:

providing a plurality of programs to said switching mechanism;

obtaining first information relating to the capabilities of particular client devices serviced by said node;

obtaining second information relating to program requests from said plurality of client devices; and

based at least in part on said first and second information, selectively switching at least one of said programs for delivery to said node using at least said switching mechanism.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein said switched content delivery network comprises a broadcast switched architecture (BSA), and said act of obtaining first information comprises obtaining information relating to the conditional access (CA) capabilities available to individual ones of said client devices.