SERVICE ENTRY DEVICE

• US 20140026170A1
• Filed: 07/17/2013
• Published: 01/23/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Francisco, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 9,854,297 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/80
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2834 Switching of information between an external network and a home network access arrangements H04L12/2856
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5692 Selection among different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/24 Multipath
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/70 Admission control; Resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805

Abstract

A system is described in which, in some embodiments, a centralized service entry device may be used to coordinate communications going into and out of a home or premises. The service entry device may be physically connected to a plurality of external access networks, such as a cable television coaxial or fiber connection and a twisted-pair wire connection, and may coordinate access to those networks by a plurality of in-home devices. Within the home, the system may include a plurality of client devices to assist in the coordination of communications with devices in different rooms within the home.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, from a requesting device, a request for content;

obtaining a first portion of the content from a first external access network, and supplying the first portion of the content to a requesting device in response to the request for the content;

responsive to a switch request, obtaining a second portion of the content from a second external access network;

during presentation of the content, switching to a second external access network for obtaining the second portion of the content occurring after the first portion of the content; and

supplying the second portion of the content to the requesting device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the second portion is responsive to a change in conditions with respect to the requesting device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein obtaining the second portion is responsive to the requesting device changing network connectivity.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein obtaining the second portion is responsive to the requesting device having a different permitted bitrate.

5. The method of claim 1, including, responsive to the switch request, transmitting a plurality of requests for the second portion of the content using a plurality of external network interfaces.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to the switch request, transmitting instructions to sources respectively associated with the first and second external access networks indicating that a source switch is to occur.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein transmitting instructions includes transmitting a time stamp indicative of a time for a switch to occur.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising buffering the second portion until a switching time arrives.

9. A method comprising while video content is output to a first device, switching sources between a first external access network and a second external access network to obtain a future portion of a video program.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising performing the switching in response to receiving an indication of a change in conditions with the first device.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising performing the switching in response to a change in network connectivity associated with the first device.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising performing the switching in response to a change in the first device'"'"'s permitted bitrate.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising performing the switching by transmitting instructions to two sources of the video content indicating that the switching is to occur.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising transmitting a time stamp for the switching to occur.

15. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

scheduling a time at which the switching will occur; and

performing the switching at the scheduled time.

16. The method of claim 9, further comprising buffering the future portion received over the second external access network until the switching is performed.

17. A method, comprising:

receiving, at a computing device, a client device request to view a video program;

during presentation of the video program by the client device, switching sources of the video program responsive to a change in connectivity.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

transmitting instructions on both a first and a second external network interface informing respective sources that switching sources is needed.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising transmitting a time stamp indicating when the switch is to occur.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the switching sources is responsive to the client device changing network connectivity.