Entitlement validation and quality control of content in a cloud-enabled network-based digital video recorder

• US 9,479,805 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2013
• Issued: 10/25/2016
• 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): SCHNURR, JOHN R
• Application Number:
  US13/801,004
• Publication Number:
  US 20140237521A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,322 Days
• Field of Search: 725/25, 726/4
• 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 system and methods related to entitlement validation and quality control of content in a cloud-enabled network-based digital video recording system. In some embodiments, whether a record event exists may be determined. The record event may indicate an entitlement check associated with a content asset needs to be completed. A determination may be made as to whether a user account is authorized to access the content asset. An asset record associated with the content asset may be modified to prevent future recording of the content asset. A record to delete the content asset may be generated in association with the user account in response to determining the user account is not authorized to access the content asset. The record event may be removed.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

determining, by a network-based digital video recording (nDVR) system comprising one or more computers, whether a record event exists indicating that an entitlement check associated with a content asset needs to be completed; and

performing, by the nDVR system and in response to determining that a record event exists indicating that an entitlement check associated with a content asset needs to be completed, an entitlement check of the record event comprising;

determining whether a user account is authorized to access the content asset;

modifying an asset record associated with the content asset to indicate whether the user account is authorized to access the content asset; and

modifying the record event to indicate that the entitlement check associated with the content asset has been completed.

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

generating, by the nDVR system, a record to delete the content asset in response to determining the user account is not authorized to access the content asset.

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

receiving, by the nDVR system, a request to remove the record to delete the content asset;

removing, by the nDVR system, the record to delete; and

removing, by the nDVR system, the record event.

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

deleting, by the nDVR system, the content asset associated with the user account;

removing, by the nDVR system, the record to delete; and

removing, by the nDVR system, the record event.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, further comprising:

removing, by the nDVR system, a record event associated with copying the content asset to a plurality of target locations; and

removing, by the nDVR system, files associated with the deleted content asset from a directory associated with the user account.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the user account is authorized to access the content asset occurs within a pre-determined period before a broadcast time associated with the content asset.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein modifying an asset record associated with the content asset to indicate whether the user account is authorized to access the content asset comprises:

modifying the asset record associated with the content asset to prevent future recording of the content asset.

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

determining, by the nDVR system, a quota associated with the user account is insufficient to record the content asset; and

generating, by the nDVR system, a record to delete the content asset in response to determining the quota is insufficient.

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

generating, by the nDVR system, a notification, wherein the notification comprises an option to increase the quota associated with the user account;

receiving, by the nDVR system from a user associated with the user account, a selection of the option to increase the quota associated with the user account;

removing, by the nDVR system, the record to delete; and

removing, by the nDVR system, the record event.

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

determining, by the nDVR system, whether a second record event exists indicating a quality control check associated with the content asset needs to be completed, wherein the content asset comprises a plurality of media segments;

determining, by the nDVR system, whether a manifest file associated with the content asset is accurate in comparison to the plurality of media segments;

in response to determining the manifest file is not accurate, modifying, by the nDVR system, the manifest file based upon, at least in part, the plurality of media segments; and

removing, by the nDVR system, the second record event.

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;

determine whether a record event exists indicating that an entitlement check associated with a content asset needs to be completed; and

perform, in response to determining that a record event exists indicating that an entitlement check associated with a content asset needs to be completed, an entitlement check of the record event comprising;

determining whether a user account is authorized to access the content asset; and

in response to determining that a user account is authorized to access the content asset, modifying an asset record associated with the content asset to indicate that user account is authorized to access the content asset; and

in response to determining that a user account is not authorized to access the content asset, modifying an asset record associated with the content asset to indicate that user account is not authorized to access the content asset; and

modifying the record event to indicate that the entitlement check associated with the content asset has been completed.

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

generate a record to delete the content asset in response to determining the user account is not authorized to access the content asset.

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

receive a request to remove the record to delete the content asset;

remove the record to delete; and

remove the record event.

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

delete the content asset associated with the user account;

remove the record to delete; and

remove the record event.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to:

remove a record event associated with copying the content asset to a plurality of target locations; and

remove files associated with the deleted content asset from a directory associated with the user account.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein determining whether the user account is authorized to access the content asset occurs within a pre-determined period before a broadcast time associated with the content asset.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein modifying an asset record associated with the content asset to indicate that the user account is not authorized to access the content asset comprises:

modify the asset record associated with the content asset to prevent future recording of the content asset.

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

determine a quota associated with the user account is insufficient to record the content asset; and

generate a record to delete the content asset in response to determining the quota is insufficient.

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

generate a notification, wherein the notification comprises an option to increase the quota associated with the user account;

receive, from a user associated with the user account, a selection of the option to increase the quota associated with the user account;

remove the record to delete; and

remove the record event.

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

determine whether a second record event exists indicating a quality control check associated with the content asset needs to be completed, wherein the content asset comprises a plurality of media segments;

determine whether a manifest file associated with the content asset is accurate in comparison to the plurality of media segments;

in response to the determination that the manifest file is not accurate, modify the manifest file based upon, at least in part, the plurality of media segments; and

remove the second record event.