METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR PACKETIZED CONTENT DELIVERY OVER A CONTENT DELIVERY NETWORK

• US 20110107379A1
• Filed: 05/19/2010
• Published: 05/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Inventors: Gould, Kenneth, Pfeffer, Howard, Hardin, Glen, Patel, Vipul, Gaedtke, Jason, Markley, Jeffery P., Hegde, Vedavati, Williamson, Louis, Cholas, Chris, Hasek, Charles, Aissi, Wilfrid, Lajoie, Michael L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,516,529 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/87
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1016 IP multimedia subsystem [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1023 Media gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/611 for multicast or broadcast systems for broadcast or conference H04L12/18; arrangements for broadcast or distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/00; arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time H04H60/00; selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS], H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/148 Migration or transfer of sessions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for delivery of packetized content (e.g., video, audio, data, etc.) over a content delivery network. In one embodiment, the content is packetized using an Internet Protocol (IP), and delivered by a service provider over both managed and unmanaged networks to subscribers of the provider, so as to provide delivery at any time, at any location, and via any designated user device. The delivered content may originate from the service provider, third-party content sources (e.g., networks or studios), the subscriber(s) themselves, or other sources including the Internet. Use of a common control and service functions within the network afford the ability to integrate or blend services together, thereby affording the service provider and subscriber new service and economic opportunities. Content delivery sessions may also be migrated from one device to another. A network-based user interface infrastructure, and gateway-based client-side architecture, are also disclosed.

Claims

1-43. -43. (canceled)

44. Network apparatus in communication with a node of said network, said node configured to provide content to a plurality of heterogeneous types of user devices, comprising:

one or more first interfaces configured to receive a plurality of content;

a second interface configured to provide content to one or more of said user devices via said node;

a storage apparatus; and

a digital processor configured to run at least one computer program thereon which, when executed;

responsive to a request for one or more content elements by a user device which is not of a first type, delivers said requested one or more content elements via a first transport stream protocol; and

delivers said requested one or more content elements via a second transport stream protocol, where said first transport stream protocol is specific to said first of said hetereogeneous types of user devices, and wherein said second transport stream protocol is agnostic to said plurality of types of user devices.

45. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein at least a portion of said plurality of content includes analog feeds, digital feeds, and third party content.

46. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein at least a portion of said plurality of content includes Internet content.

47. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein said Internet content is obtained from a web server.

48. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein at least a portion of said plurality of content includes Video-On-Demand (VOD) content.

49. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein said apparatus further comprises a central media server.

50. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein said second interface comprises a multiplexer and modulator.

51. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein said at least one computer program, when executed, additionally causes delivery of said requested one or more content elements in said first transport stream protocol encapsulated within said second transport stream protocol.

52. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein said first type of user device comprises legacy, non-IP enabled devices.

53. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein said second transport stream protocol comprises MPEG-2 or H.264 encoded content encapsulated using an IP protocol and transported over an MPEG transport.

54. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein said first transport stream protocol comprises MPEG-2 encoded content transported over an MPEG multiplexed transport.

55. Gateway apparatus, comprising:

a first interface configured to receive a plurality of content, said plurality of content comprising at least one of audio, video, and data content;

a plurality of second interfaces;

a storage apparatus; and

a digital processor configured to run at least one computer program thereon which, when executed;

enables generation of a user-specific user interface; and

provides said plurality of content to one or more heterogeneous types of user devices via said plurality of second interfaces.

56. The gateway apparatus of claim 55, wherein said first interface comprises a radio frequency interface, and said plurality of content is encapsulated in IP packets that are transported via a transport stream carried by one or more first radio frequency channels.

57. The gateway apparatus of claim 56, wherein said radio frequency interface is further adapted to receive a plurality of content that is not encapsulated in IP packets and that is transported via a transport stream carried by one or more second radio frequency channels, said one or more second channels comprising at least one channel different than said one or more first channels.

58. The gateway apparatus of claim 57, wherein said plurality of content encapsulated in. IP packets comprises. MPEG-4/H.264 encoded content, and said one or more first radio, frequency channels comprise DOCSIS channels within a hybridized optical fiber/conductor distribution network.

59. The gateway apparatus of claim 56, wherein at least a portion of said second interfaces comprise substantially plug-and-play interfaces utilizing a high-speed serialized bus protocol.

60. The gateway apparatus of claim 55, wherein enablement of generation of said user-specific user interface comprises:

receiving information necessary to enable said generation of said user interface via said first interface; and

passing said information to said one or more user devices via one or more of said second interfaces to facilitate generation of said user interface on said one or more user devices.

61. The gateway apparatus of claim 55, wherein said at least one computer program is further configured to communicate with a network-based user interface (UI) server via said first interface.

62. The gateway apparatus of claim 60, wherein said server comprises a Web4CE (CEA 2014) compliant server configured for Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) Remote UI generation.

63. The gateway apparatus of claim 55, further comprising at least one application adapted to facilitate merger of two or more IP-based services on a common display.

64. The gateway apparatus of claim 63, wherein said first interface is configured to communicate with an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) enabled host network having a common control plane, said common control plane at least in part enabling said merger of said two or more IP-based services on said common display.

65. User premises apparatus configured for receipt of content, comprising:

a first interface capable of receiving content comprising a first type and a second type, the first type comprising first at least one of voice, video or data carried via a multiplexed transport stream, and a second type comprising second at least one of voice, video or data encapsulated using an internetworking protocol;

a processor;

an application capable of running on said processor and configured to, when executed;

receive a request for said first type or said second type of content; and

cause said first interface to selectively receive said requested first or second type of content.

66. The user premises apparatus of claim 65, wherein said first interface comprises a radio frequency interface having at least one tuner, said first and second types of content each being carried via one or more radio frequency channels accessible via said at least one tuner.

67. The user premises apparatus of claim 66, further comprising first and second client interfaces, said first client interface being configured to interface said premises apparatus with a legacy settop box, and said second interface being configured to interface said premises apparatus with an IP-enabled device having a TCP/IP stack.

68. The user premises apparatus of claim 67, wherein said IP-enabled device is configured to issue said request for said second type of content, and said legacy settop box is configured to issue said request for said first type of content via a legacy signaling protocol.

69. The user premises apparatus of claim 67, wherein said IP-enabled device having a TCP/IP stack comprises a mobile user device having both digital rights management (DRM) and plug-and-play capabilities.

70. The user premises apparatus of claim 67, wherein said premises apparatus further comprises:

a mass storage device;

Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) capability enabling discovery of one or more connected client devices; and

copy protection software such that content stored on said mass storage device may be marked with an appropriate copy protection directive when transferred from said mass storage device to said IP-enabled device.

71. The user premises apparatus of claim 65, wherein said first type of content comprises MPEG-encoded content carried via an MPEG container format.

72. The user premises apparatus of claim 71, wherein said second type of content comprises MPEG-4/H.264 encoded content that is IP-encapsulated and carried via an MPEG container format.

73. The user premises apparatus of claim 72, wherein said second type of content is also carried via a multiplexed transport stream.

74. The user premises apparatus of claim 65, further comprising at least one computer program configured to provide. Quality-of-Service (QoS) management functions for at least said second at least one of voice, video or data encapsulated using an internetworking protocol.

75. The user premises apparatus of claim 65, further comprising at least one unicast translation function to convert a multicast associated with said second type of content into unicast within said premises.

76. User premises apparatus for use with a distribution network, comprising:

a first interface comprising a demodulator capable of demodulating modulated signals, said modulated signals comprising content encapsulated using an Internet Protocol (IP);

a TCP/IP stack capable of de-encapsulating said. IP-encapsulated content;

at least one first computer program configured to provide user-specific user interface generation;

at least one second computer program configured to provide Quality-of-Service (QoS) management functions for data encapsulated using said Internet Protocol; and

at least one third computer program configured to provide blending of at least two IP-based services delivered to said apparatus.

77. The user premises apparatus of claim 76, wherein said distribution network comprises a hybridized fiber and conductor network, said first interface comprises a radio frequency tuner and demultiplexer, and said modulated signals are carried via one or more radio frequency channels and are multiplexed within a transport stream.

78. The user premises apparatus of claim 76, wherein said blending of at least two IP-based services delivered to said apparatus comprises utilizing first information that has been exposed as a first web service and combining it with second information exposed as a second web service to produce a new service not enabled by either of the first or second web services alone.

79. The user premises apparatus of claim 76, wherein said blending of at least two IP-based services delivered to said apparatus comprises providing a VoIP caller identification function on a video display associated with said premises apparatus.

80. The user premises apparatus of claim 76, wherein said blending of at least two IP-based services delivered to said apparatus comprises providing a VoIPcall-accept/ignore control function via a remote control unit associated with said user premises apparatus.

81. The user premises apparatus of claim 76, wherein said blending of at least two IP-based services delivered to said apparatus comprises providing a calendar alert function on a video display associated with said premises apparatus.

82. The user premises apparatus of claim 76, wherein said blending of at least two IP-based services delivered to said apparatus comprises providing an digital image file sharing function on a video display associated with said premises apparatus.

83. The user premises apparatus of claim 76, wherein said blending of at least two IP-based services delivered to said apparatus comprises providing a pause function for pausing play of said de-encapsulated and demodulated content when an IP-based voice call is received by said user premises device.