METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR SELECTING DIGITAL CODING/DECODING TECHNOLOGY FOR PROGRAMMING AND DATA DELIVERY

• US 20110131619A1
• Filed: 02/09/2011
• Published: 06/02/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hasek, Charles A., Markley, Jeffrey P.
• Granted Patent: US 8,804,767 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/93
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23439 for generating different versions
• 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 21/4516 involving client characteristics, e.g. Set-Top-Box type, software version or amount of memory available
• 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 21/454 Content or additional data filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/458 Scheduling content for creating a personalised stream, e.g. by combining a locally stored advertisement with an incoming stream; Updating operations, e.g. for OS modules ; time-related management operations arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast or during the distribution H04H20/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4621 Controlling the complexity of the content stream or additional data, e.g. lowering the resolution or bit-rate of the video stream for a mobile client with a small screen arrangements for using the results of monitoring on user's side in broadcast systems H04H60/65; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10
• 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 21/6582 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 21/6587 Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for selecting digital coding and/or decoding 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

1-41. -41. (canceled)

42. Apparatus adapted to distribute media content within a network, the apparatus comprising:

a first interface adapted to receive a plurality of media content in a first format from said network, individual ones of said plurality of media content comprising one or more rules for the use thereof;

at least one processor configured to utilize said one or more rules for the use of said individual ones of said plurality of media content to determine whether said individual ones of said plurality of media content may be provided to one or more requesting devices; and

a second interface adapted to transmit said individual ones of said plurality of media content to said one or more requesting devices.

43. The apparatus of claim 42, further comprising logic configured to perform said transmission of said individual ones of said plurality of media content in response to at least (i) a selection of said individual ones of said plurality of media content by one or more requesting devices, and (ii) said determination,

44. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein said transmission of said individual ones of said plurality of media content to said one or more requesting devices comprises transmission of a transcoded version thereof.

45. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein said transmission of said individual ones of said plurality of media content to said one or more requesting devices comprises transmission of said one or more rules for the use thereof.

46. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein said one or more rules for the use of said individual ones of said plurality of media content comprise digital rights management (DRM) requirements associated therewith.

47. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein said processor is further configured to ensure that said individual ones of said plurality of media content are not available for simultaneous use by two or more devices.

48. A method of providing access to a plurality of content to a portable client device via a premises network, said method comprising:

receiving a selection of at least one of said plurality of content from said portable client device;

determining copy protection rules associated with said selected at least one of said plurality of content; and

selectively providing or not providing a version of said selected at least one of said plurality of content to said portable client device based at least in part on said rules.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein:

said receiving a selection comprises receiving information regarding information relating to a configuration of client device; and

said version of said selected at least one of said plurality of content comprises a version thereof transcoded into a format for use on said portable client device, said version being selected based at least in part on said information.

50. The method of claim 48, further comprising removing said version of said selected one of said plurality of content from said portable client device.

51. The method of claim 50, wherein said removal of said version from said portable client device occurs automatically after a predetermined period of time.

52. The method of claim 48, wherein if said copy protection rules indicate said selected at least one of said plurality of content shall have no simultaneous views, and it is determined said selected at least one of said plurality of content is currently viewed on a second device, performing said step of selectively not providing said version to said portable client device.

53. The method of claim 48, further comprising determining whether one or more of said copy protection rules associated with said selected at least one of said plurality of content has been violated, and if so, reporting to a network entity.

54. Apparatus adapted to distribute content within a premises network, said apparatus comprising:

a first interface configured to receive said content from a storage entity;

a second interface configured to transfer said content to a consumer device; and

a processor configured to run at least one computer program, said at least one computer program configured to;

access one or more rules associated with said content; and

utilize said rules in said transfer of said content;

wherein said transfer of said content to said consumer device comprises removal of said content from said storage entity.

55. The apparatus of claim 54, wherein storage entity is accessible by said apparatus via the Internet.

56. The apparatus of claim 54, wherein said one or more rules associated with said content are transferred to said apparatus from said storage device.

57. The apparatus of claim 54, wherein said storage entity comprises a digital video recorder (DVR) associated with a consumer premises apparatus.

58. The apparatus of claim 54, wherein said processor is further configured to convert said content from a first encoding format to a second encoding format, said second format capable of being utilized by said consumer device, said first format not capable of being utilized by said consumer device.

59. A consumer device for use in providing a plurality of content to a plurality of second devices connected thereto, comprising:

a first interface configured to receive said plurality of content from said first network;

a second interface configured to receive requests for individual ones of said plurality of content from one or more of said plurality of second devices;

a storage entity configured to store said plurality of content and a plurality of copy protection rules relating to said plurality of content; and

a processor configured to run at least one software application thereon, said software application configured to determine whether transmission of said individual ones of said plurality of content to said one or more of said plurality of second devices is compliant with said copy protection rules of said plurality of content;

wherein if it is determined that said transmission is compliant with said copy protection rules, said second interface transmitting said individual ones of said plurality of content to said one or more of said plurality of second devices.

60. The consumer device of claim 59, wherein said plurality of copy protection rules relating to said plurality of content are pre-stored at said storage entity prior to said receipt of said plurality of content.

61. The consumer device of claim 59, wherein said first network comprises a content delivery network, and said transmission of said individual one of said plurality of content occurs via a premises network.

62. The consumer device of claim 59, wherein said individual one of said plurality of content is removed from said storage entity substantially contemporaneous with transmission thereof to said one of said plurality of second devices.

63. The consumer device of claim 59, wherein said storage entity comprises a digital video recorder (DVR).