SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR UTILIZING A SECURED SERVICE PROVIDER MEMORY

• US 20100325675A1
• Filed: 06/18/2009
• Published: 12/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: McBride, Kevin M., Smoyer, Clinton J., Morrissey, Michael P., Cook, Andrew V., Kerr, Jade D.
• Granted Patent: US 9,307,205 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/97
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2402 Monitoring of the downstream path of the transmission network, e.g. bandwidth available traffic monitoring in data switching networks H04L43/00; monitoring data switching networks utilization H04L43/0876
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26275 for distributing content or additional data in a staggered manner, e.g. repeating movies on different channels in a time-staggered manner in a near video on demand system
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2668 Creating a channel for a dedicated end-user group, e.g. insertion of targeted commercials based on end-user profiles information retrieval from the Internet by querying with filtering and personalisation G06F16/9535; arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast H04H20/10; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; adaptation of message content in packet-switching networks H04L51/063
• 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 21/4335 Housekeeping operations, e.g. prioritizing content for deletion because of storage space restrictions storage management, e.g. defragmentation G06F3/0604; unloading stored programs G06F9/445; storage management in file systems G06F16/10; buffering arrangements in a network node or in an end terminal in packet networks H04L49/90
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/437 Interfacing the upstream path of the transmission network, e.g. for transmitting client requests to a VOD server flow control in data networks H04L47/10; streaming protocols, e.g. RTP or RTCP, H04L65/65; scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests in data packet switching networks H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44222 Analytics of user selections, e.g. selection of programs or purchase activity monitoring of user selections in data processing systems G06F11/34; arrangements for monitoring the user's behaviour or opinions in broadcast systems H04H60/33
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4667 Processing of monitored end-user data, e.g. trend analysis based on the log file of viewer selections
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6405 Multicasting data broadcast and multicast in packet switching networks H04L12/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64322 IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6543 for forcing some client operations, e.g. recording remote booting in general G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A system and method for utilizing a secured service provider memory are disclosed. An electronic device is associated with a subscriber and is in communication with a data distribution network configured to deliver data by a service provider to the subscriber. The data distribution network comprises a server in communication with the data distribution network and the server configured to deliver a stream of data over the data distribution network. The electronic device comprises a first memory communicatively connected to the server. The first memory is configured to receive and store data from the server and it is accessible by the subscriber. A second memory is also communicatively connected to the server. The second memory is configured to receive and store data from the server, though the second memory is accessible only by the service provider.

Claims

1. A system for delivering data to a subscriber, said system comprising:

a network server in communication with a data distribution network, said network server configured to deliver streams of data over said data distribution network;

a trickle server in communication with said data distribution network, said trickle server configured to deliver data over said data distribution network;

an electronic device in communication with said data distribution network, said electronic device comprising;

a first memory, and

a second memory, said electronic device configured to receive and store data from said network server at said first memory, said electronic device configured to receive and store data from said trickle server at said second memory; and

a processor in communication with said trickle server and said video server, said processor configured to receive information related to a particular video and process said information to determine parameters for pushing a data file to said second memory of said electronic device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said data is video content, and said network server is configured to deliver a plurality of streams of video content over said video distribution network.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said video server is configured to deliver a first stream of said plurality of streams over said network on a first channel, said first stream begins being delivered at a first time, said video server is configured to deliver a second stream of said plurality of staggered streams over said network on a second channel, said second stream begins being delivered at a second time, and said information comprises a stagger interval of time defined by the difference between said first time and said second time.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said parameters include a time required to push said data file onto said second memory.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said parameters include an amount of memory on said second memory required to store said data file.

7. A method of delivering video content over a network in communication with a subscriber, said method comprising the steps of:

providing an electronic device associated with said subscriber, said electronic device having a first memory and a second memory, said electronic device configured to deny said subscriber access to said second memory;

delivering a plurality of staggered streams of first video content over said network, each of said streams having a first length;

pushing a segment of said first video content onto said second memory of said electronic device, said pushed segment having a second length which is less than said first length;

receiving a first request for said first video content at said electronic device;

retrieving said pushed segment from said second memory of said electronic device and displaying said pushed segment content to said subscriber;

locating one of said staggered streams delivered over said network; and

recording said one of said staggered streams on said first memory of said electronic device.

6. The system of claim 7, wherein said electronic device is a set top box.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of displaying said recorded staggered stream to said subscriber when said pushed segment ends.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising the steps of providing a first server and a second server, said first server communicatively connected to said first memory of said electronic device, said second server communicatively connected to said second memory, wherein said plurality of staggered streams are delivered by said first server, and said pushed segment is pushed by said second server.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein said plurality of staggered streams are delivered over said network at a first rate, said pushed segment is pushed to said second memory of said electronic device at a second rate, and first rate is faster than said second rate.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising the steps of:

delivering a first stream of said plurality of staggered streams over said network on a channel; and

delivering a second stream of said plurality of staggered streams over said network on said channel, wherein said first stream stops being delivered at a first time, said second stream begins being delivered at a second time, and said pushed segment is pushed to said second memory of said electronic device between said first time and said second time.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said first stream and said second stream are delivered over said network at a first rate, said pushed segment is pushed to said second memory of said electronic device at a second rate, and said first rate is faster than said second rate.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein said electronic device is a set top box.

14. The method of claim 7, further comprising the steps of:

receiving a second request for a second video content at said electronic device; and

determining the available bandwidth capacity of the network lines associated with said electronic device.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said electronic device continues to record said one of said staggered streams delivered over said network on said second memory of said electronic device after said second request for said second video content is received.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said electronic device records a remainder of said one of said staggered streams to said second memory.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein said electronic device records a portion of said one of said staggered streams to said second memory, said portion has a third length defined by the difference in delivery start times between a first stream and a second stream of said plurality of staggered streams.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein said electronic device is a set top box.

19. A method of delivering video content over a network in communication with a plurality of subscribers, said method comprising the steps of:

providing an electronic device associated with each of said subscribers, said electronic device having a first memory and a second memory, said electronic device configured to deny said subscribers access to said second memory;

providing a network server and a database, said database storing data associated with the viewing habits of said subscribers,

receiving a request for said video content at said network server;

querying said database to determine subscribers likely interested in said video content, said querying step resulting in the identification of a subset of said subscribers likely interested in said video content;

delivering said video content to said network devices associated with said subset of said subscribers; and

storing said video content on said second memory of said electronic devices associated with said subset of said subscribers.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising the step of processing said data with respect to information related said video content, said information is selected from the group consisting of title, genre, rating, release date, cast, director and producer, wherein said processing step results in a list identifying said subset.

21. The method of claim 19 further comprising the step of verifying the available bandwidth capacity of the communication lines associated with said subset of said subscribers.

22. The method of claim 19 further comprising the step of notifying said subset of said subscribers that said video content is ready for immediate viewing.

23. The method of claim 19 wherein said electronic device is a set top box.

24. A system for delivering video content by a service provider to a plurality of subscribers, said system comprising:

a video server in communication with said video distribution network, said video server configured to deliver a multicast stream of video content over said video distribution network;

a plurality of electronic devices in communication with a video distribution network, each of said electronic device comprising;

a first memory accessible by one of said subscribers, and

a second memory accessible only by said service provider;

a database associated with said video server to maintain subscriber activity data, said database configured to receive information related to particular video content; and

a processor in communication with said database, said processor configured to process said subscriber activity data with respect to said information related to particular video content, said processor configured to generate a list of said subscribers likely interested in said particular video content, wherein said video server is operable to push said particular video content to a set of second memories of said electronic devices associated with said list of likely interested subscribers.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein said video server is configured to check the available bandwidth capacity of the network lines associated with said list of likely interested subscribers.

26. The system of claim 24, wherein said information related to said particular video content is selected from the group consisting of title, genre, rating, release date, cast, director and producer.

27. The system of claim 24, wherein said electronic device is a set top box.

28. An electronic device associated with a subscriber and in communication with a data distribution network configured to deliver data by a service provider to said subscriber, said data distribution network comprising a server in communication with said data distribution network, said server configured to deliver a stream of data over said data distribution network, said electronic device comprising:

a first memory communicatively connected to said server, said first memory configured to receive and store data from said server, said first memory accessible by said subscriber; and

a second memory communicatively connected to said server, said second memory configured to receive and store data from said server, said second memory accessible only by said service provider.

29. The electronic device of claim 28 further comprising data management software capable of verifying the amount of data stored within said second memory, wherein said data management software is capable of reporting said amount of data stored within said second memory to said service provider.

30. The electronic device of claim 29, wherein said second memory constructed and arranged to be remotely configured by said service provider.

31. The electronic device of claim 28, wherein said data is video content, said server is configured to deliver a plurality of streams of video content over said video distribution network.

32. The electronic device of claim 28, wherein said electronic device is a set top box.