Apparatus and methods for network video recording
First Claim
1. A method for delivery of content via a network personal video recorder in a content delivery network, said method comprising:
- ingesting said content via a network-initiated determination, in real-time;
processing said content, said processing comprising;
segmenting said content into a plurality of elements, each of said segmented plurality of elements comprising at least one splice point;
creating a virtual file comprising a plurality of pointers, each associated to a physical location of a storage block for storing respective ones of said plurality of elements of said content, said virtual file stored with said content; and
removing one or more discontinuity artifacts between one or more of said segmented plurality of elements in real-time by transcoding only data near said at least one splice point in said segmented plurality of elements;
storing said segmented content elements;
receiving a request for at least a portion of said content;
generating a content stream using at least a portion of said content elements;
sending said content stream to one or more users;
during said act of sending said content stream to said one or more users, monitoring a transmission rate of said act of sending and a number of retransmission requests by said one or more users;
determining a transmission efficiency based, at least in part, on said transmission rate and said number of retransmission requests by said one or more users; and
adjusting said transmission rate when said determined transmission efficiency is less than a threshold level.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and methods for the capture and delivery of content over a network. In one embodiment, the network comprises a cable television network, and the apparatus comprises a local server which stores, processes and assembles content prior to its delivery to a VOD server, thus obviating the need for superfluous VOD storage. This approach also facilitates various pre-streaming processing in a video recording (e.g., nPVR) system, and gives a network operator dynamic control over local playlists. In another embodiment, the local server of the improved system obviates the need for a VOD server in the nPVR system. One or more content libraries adapted to facilitate nPVR content access across one or more regions of a broadcast network are also disclosed. Secondary content (e.g., promotions, advertisements, etc.) can also be selectively inserted into nPVR content. Various access, business or operational rules and methods implementing the foregoing are also described.
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Citations
39 Claims
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1. A method for delivery of content via a network personal video recorder in a content delivery network, said method comprising:
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ingesting said content via a network-initiated determination, in real-time; processing said content, said processing comprising; segmenting said content into a plurality of elements, each of said segmented plurality of elements comprising at least one splice point; creating a virtual file comprising a plurality of pointers, each associated to a physical location of a storage block for storing respective ones of said plurality of elements of said content, said virtual file stored with said content; and removing one or more discontinuity artifacts between one or more of said segmented plurality of elements in real-time by transcoding only data near said at least one splice point in said segmented plurality of elements; storing said segmented content elements; receiving a request for at least a portion of said content; generating a content stream using at least a portion of said content elements; sending said content stream to one or more users; during said act of sending said content stream to said one or more users, monitoring a transmission rate of said act of sending and a number of retransmission requests by said one or more users; determining a transmission efficiency based, at least in part, on said transmission rate and said number of retransmission requests by said one or more users; and adjusting said transmission rate when said determined transmission efficiency is less than a threshold level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system for acquisition and distribution of content in a content delivery network, said system comprising:
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at least one staging processor adapted to; acquire first content; identify a plurality of I-frames within said acquired first content; generate a plurality of segments of said acquired first content by a division of said acquired first content at one or more of said plurality of identified I-frames; and insert additional content between individual ones of said plurality of segments to generate second content; at least one storage entity, said storage entity adapted to store said second content; at least one local video on demand (VOD) server entity, said VOD server entity adapted to; upon request for said first content from a requesting device, request and receive said second content from said storage entity; generate a content stream via at least portions of said second content; distribute said content stream via said network to said requesting device monitor a transmission rate of said distribution of said content stream; evaluate a number of retransmission requests by said requesting device; determine a transmission efficiency based, at least in part, on said transmission rate and said number of retransmission requests; and adjust said transmission rate based on said determined transmission efficiency. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for delivery of content via a network personal video recorder in a content distribution network, said method comprising:
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receiving a request for content specific to a geographic region to which a first apparatus is associated from a centralized content library on behalf of a second apparatus not associated with said specific geographic region; ingesting said content based on said request; processing said content, said processing comprising segmenting said content into a plurality of elements, and creating a virtual file comprising at least one pointer associated with a physical location of a chapter storage block of said content; storing said segmented content elements and said virtual file; generating a content stream using at least a portion of said content elements; despite said second apparatus not being associated to said specific region, sending said content stream to said centralized content library, said centralized content library configured to provide said content to said second apparatus; monitoring, during said act of sending said content stream, a transmission rate thereof; determining a number of retransmission requests by said centralized content library; and adjusting said transmission rate based on a transmission efficiency, said transmission efficiency being based at least in part on said transmission rate and said number of retransmission requests. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. An apparatus for storage and distribution of content in a network personal video recorder (nPVR) system of a content delivery network, said apparatus comprising:
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an interface, said interface adapted to enable said apparatus to receive and distribute said content; a storage entity, said storage entity adapted to store said content; and a processing entity, said processing entity adapted to run at least one computer program thereon, said computer program comprising a plurality of instructions which are adapted to, when executed, enable said apparatus to; receive a request for content specific to a geographic region to which said apparatus is associated from a centralized content library on behalf of a second apparatus not associated to said specific geographic region; ingest said content based on said request; process said content via segmentation of said content into a plurality of elements, and creation of a virtual file comprising at least one pointer associated with a physical location of a chapter storage block of said content; store said segmented content elements and said virtual file; generate a content stream based at least in part on said content; despite a determination that said second apparatus is not associated to said specific region, provide said content stream to said centralized content library, said centralized content library configured to communicate said content stream to said second apparatus; monitor a transmission rate of said provision of said content stream and a number of retransmission requests by said centralized library; and adjust said transmission rate based on a transmission efficiency, said transmission efficiency being based at least in part on said transmission rate and said number of retransmission requests. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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Specification