Storage optimization in a cloud-enabled network-based digital video recorder

• US 9,124,911 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2013
• Issued: 09/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cox Communications Incorporated (Cox Enterprises Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Cox Communications Incorporated (Cox Enterprises Incorporated)
• Inventors: Rothschild, Keith Alan, Karach, Slavisha
• Primary Examiner(s): Kumar, Pankaj
• Assistant Examiner(s): NEWLIN, TIMOTHY R
• Application Number:
  US13/800,617
• Publication Number:
  US 20140237525A1
• Time in Patent Office: 902 Days
• Field of Search: 725/145
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/10 Indexing; Addressing; Timing or synchronising; Measuring tape travel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2187 Live feed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/231 Content storage operation, e.g. caching movies for short term storage, replicating data over plural servers, prioritizing data for deletion
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23113 involving housekeeping operations for stored content, e.g. prioritizing content for deletion because of storage space restrictions storage management, e.g. defragmentation G06F3/0604; snloading stored programs G06F9/445; housekeeping operations in file systems, e.g. deletion policies G06F16/10; buffering arrangements in a network node or in an end terminal in packet networks H04L49/90
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23406 involving management of server-side video buffer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2347 involving video stream encryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/236 Assembling of a multiplex stream, e.g. transport stream, by combining a video stream with other content or additional data, e.g. inserting a URL [Uniform Resource Locator] into a video stream, multiplexing software data into a video stream; Remultiplexing of multiplex streams; Insertion of stuffing bits into the multiplex stream, e.g. to obtain a constant bit-rate; Assembling of a packetised elementary stream multiplexing of data packets for data networks, e.g. RTP/UDP H04L65/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23805 Controlling the feeding rate to the network, e.g. by controlling the video pump
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/242 Synchronization processes, e.g. processing of PCR [Program Clock References] arrangements for synchronising broadcast or distribution via plural systems in broadcast distribution systems H04H20/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26613 for generating or managing keys in general key distribution for secret or secure communication involving central third party, e.g. key distribution center [KDC] or trusted third party [TTP] H04L9/083; network support of key management H04L63/06; key management for network security in communication control or processing H04W12/04
• 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 21/4147 PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• 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 21/43622 Interfacing an external recording device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8456 by decomposing the content in the time domain, e.g. in time segments

Abstract

This disclosure describes systems and methods related to cloud-enabled network-based digital video recording. In some embodiments, a request to copy a file to a plurality of target file locations may be received. A file may be retrieved and processed. The processing may include apportioning the file into a plurality of data blocks. At least one of the plurality of data blocks may be stored. A plurality of references pointers associated with each of the plurality of data blocks may be generated. The plurality of reference pointers may be stored to each of the plurality of file locations.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving, by a network-based digital video recording (nDVR) system comprising one or more computers, a request to copy a file to a plurality of locations;

associating, by the nDVR system, a dynamically adjustable quota to a user account based at least in part on a user subscription;

sending, by the nDVR system, a notification upon determining the quota has reached a threshold;

processing, by the nDVR system, the file, wherein the processing comprises apportioning the file into a plurality of data blocks;

periodically scanning, by the nDVR system, at least one of the plurality of data blocks to determine if the at least one of the plurality of data blocks is to be deleted;

storing, by the nDVR system, the plurality of data blocks to a location;

generating, by the nDVR system, a plurality of reference pointers associated with each of the plurality of data blocks; and

storing, by the nDVR system, the plurality of reference pointers;

wherein storing the plurality of reference pointers comprises storing the plurality of reference pointers to the plurality of locations, wherein at least one of the plurality of location is associated with a user account.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the request to copy the file comprises a source location of the file.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, further comprising:

retrieving, by the nDVR system, the file from the source location.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein processing the file comprises at least one of forward error correction or partial response maximum likelihood (PRML) processing.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating, by the nDVR system, an i-node for each of the plurality of data blocks.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein generating the plurality of reference pointers is based at least in part on the i-node.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

encoding, by the nDVR system, each of the plurality of data blocks.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating, by nDVR system, a record event based at least in part on the received request.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, further comprising:

removing, by the nDVR system, the record event based at least in part on storing the plurality of reference pointers.

10. The method of claim 1, further includes:

associating, by the nDVR system, based at least in part on the quota, a value to the file; and

storing, by the nDVR system, the plurality of reference pointers based on the assigned value.

11. A system comprising:

at least one memory storing computer-executable instructions; and

at least one processor, wherein the at least one processor is configured to access the at least one memory and to execute the computer-executable instructions to;

receive a request to copy a file to a plurality of locations;

associate a dynamically adjustable quota to a user account based at least in part on a user subscription;

send a notification upon determining the quota has reached a threshold;

process the file, wherein the processing comprises apportioning the file into a plurality of data blocks;

periodically scan at least one of the plurality of data blocks to determine if the at least one of the plurality of data blocks is to be deleted;

store the plurality of data blocks to a location;

generate a plurality of reference pointers associated with each of the plurality of data blocks; and

store the plurality of reference pointers;

wherein storing the plurality of reference pointers comprises storing the plurality of reference pointers to the plurality of locations, wherein at least one location is associated with a user account.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the request to copy the file comprises a source location of the file.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to:

retrieve the file from the source location.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein processing the file comprises at least one of forward error correction or partial response maximum likelihood (PRML) processing.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to:

generate an i-node for each of the plurality of data blocks.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein generating the plurality of reference pointers is based at least in part on the i-node.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to:

encode each of the plurality of data blocks.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to:

generate a record event based at least in part on the received request.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to:

remove the record event based at least in part on storing the plurality of reference pointers.

20. the system of claim 11, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to:

associate, based at least in part on the quota, a value to the file; and

store the plurality of reference pointers based on the assigned value.