Content Storage Method and System

• US 20140143816A1
• Filed: 01/28/2014
• Published: 05/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Comcast Cable Holdings LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Compton, Charles L.
• Granted Patent: US 9,888,267 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/88
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/23 using cryptography, e.g. encryption, authentication, key distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/27 Arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/39 for identifying broadcast space-time use of Electronic Programme Guides H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23106 involving caching operations prefetching while addressing of a memory level in which the access to the desired data or data block requires associative addressing means within memory systems or architectures G06F12/0862; caching at an intermediate stage in a data network H04L67/568
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2408 Monitoring of the upstream path of the transmission network, e.g. client requests monitoring data switching networks utilization H04L43/0876; scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25866 Management of end-user data customer care in data networks H04L41/5077
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25875 involving end-user authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; arrangements for secret or secure communication including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2747 Remote storage of video programs received via the downstream path, e.g. from the server
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47214 for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6581 Reference data, e.g. a movie identifier for ordering a movie or a product identifier in a home shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17309 Transmission or handling of upstream communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17336 Handling of requests in head-ends

Abstract

A content storage method and system for use in a content distribution network are provided. A personal file locker is established on the network for a user. A content-storage-request database is established. The database tracks requests by the user for placing video programs into the user'"'"'s file locker for personal use by the user. Upon the broadcasting of a video program for which there exists a request by the user to place the video program into the user'"'"'s file locker, the requested video program is stored in the user'"'"'s file locker. The stored video program is then made available to the user for viewing. Alternative approaches to content storage methods and systems are also described, including the use of a buffer enhancement to enable the performance of operations on “live” television.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

establishing a user-specific pause buffer for future recording of live programming;

establishing a user-specific scheduled recording buffer for future scheduled recording of programming; and

providing the user a control for dynamically allocating, for future recording, buffer space between the pause buffer and the scheduled recording buffer.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the pause buffer and scheduled recording buffer are remote buffers established on a network server that is remote from a location of the user.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising using the pause buffer to record programming as it is consumed by the user.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein using the pause buffer further comprises circularly recording the live programming at the network server as it is consumed by the user at the user'"'"'s location.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein providing the user a control further includes providing an option to enable the user'"'"'s pause buffer for subsequent recording of live programming as it is consumed.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising using a network computing device to maintain a plurality of pause buffers for a plurality of users, and using the pause buffers to allow the users to pause live programming as they are consuming the live programming, and to resume consumption.

7. The method of claim 2, further comprising providing the user with an option to deactivate the user'"'"'s pause buffer.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein if a user has not scheduled to record a first program in the user'"'"'s scheduled recording buffer, then the first program will be recorded for the user in the pause buffer only if the user consumes the first program as it is transmitted live.

9. The method of claim 2, further comprising reserving, by the network server, a predetermined amount of network storage space for each of a plurality of users, and allowing each of the plurality of users to indicate how much of their reserved space will be used as a pause buffer, and how much will be used as a scheduled recording buffer.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the predetermined amount of network storage space reserved for each of the plurality of users is based on an expiration date.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising automatically expanding a size of a first user'"'"'s reserved network storage space to accommodate a request by the first user.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising storing duplicate copies of a first program in two or more of the plurality of users'"'"' network storage space.

13. A computer-readable medium, storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the following to occur:

assign a predetermined amount of storage space to each of a plurality of remote users; and

offer each of the remote users an option to dynamically allocate a first portion of their assigned storage space to function as a pause buffer for future recording of live programming, and a second portion of their assigned storage space to serve as a scheduled recording buffer for future scheduled recording of programs.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, further storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the following to occur:

maintaining a plurality of network pause buffers for a corresponding plurality of users, each network pause buffer recording the live programming as it is remotely consumed by the pause buffer'"'"'s corresponding user.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, further storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the following to occur:

circularly record content in each of the plurality of network pause buffers.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, further storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the following to occur:

receive a request from a first user to deactivate the first user'"'"'s pause buffer and stop the first user'"'"'s pause buffer from operating.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the predetermined amount of network storage space assigned to each of the plurality of users is based on an expiration date.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, further storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the following to occur:

automatically expanding a size of a first user'"'"'s assigned network storage space to accommodate a request by the first user.

19. A method comprising:

assigning, at a device, a predetermined amount of storage space to each of a plurality of remote users; and

offering, at the device, each of the remote users an option to dynamically allocate a first portion of their assigned storage space to function as a pause buffer for future recording of live programming, and a second portion of their assigned storage space to serve as a scheduled recording buffer for future scheduled recording of programs.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

automatically expanding a size of a first user'"'"'s assigned network storage space to accommodate a request by the first user.