Multi-format distribution of content

• US 9,578,352 B2
• Filed: 11/13/2014
• Issued: 02/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Inventors: Manchester, James S., Angus, Michael, Miles, Wilfred Jaime
• Primary Examiner(s): Alata, Yassin
• Application Number:
  US14/540,119
• Publication Number:
  US 20150074733A1
• Time in Patent Office: 831 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23439 for generating different versions
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2358 for generating different versions, e.g. for different recipient devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2381 Adapting the multiplex stream to a specific network, e.g. an Internet Protocol [IP] network transmission of MPEG streams over ATM H04L12/5601
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2402 Monitoring of the downstream path of the transmission network, e.g. bandwidth available traffic monitoring in data switching networks H04L43/00; monitoring data switching networks utilization H04L43/0876
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25808 Management of client data terminal profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/303
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25825 involving client display capabilities, e.g. screen resolution of a mobile phone optimising the visualisation of content during browsing in the Internet G06F16/9577; processing of terminal status or physical abilities in wireless networks H04W8/22; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2668 Creating a channel for a dedicated end-user group, e.g. insertion of targeted commercials based on end-user profiles information retrieval from the Internet by querying with filtering and personalisation G06F16/9535; arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast H04H20/10; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; adaptation of message content in packet-switching networks H04L51/063
• 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 21/4331 Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4358 for generating different versions, e.g. for different peripheral devices
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44029 for generating different versions
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/472 End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content end-user interfaces for retrieving video data from a database G06F16/739; network services for supporting unicast streaming H04L65/612
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6118 involving cable transmission, e.g. using a cable modem
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/631 Multimode Transmission, e.g. transmitting basic layers and enhancement layers of the content over different transmission paths or transmitting with different error corrections, different keys or with different transmission protocols

Abstract

A content delivery resource in a cable network receives a request for specified content. The content delivery resource retrieves profile information assigned to the subscriber domain. The profile information indicates multiple different playback formats assigned to the subscriber domain. To service the request, the content delivery resource utilizes the profile information associated with the subscriber domain to select versions of the specified content encoded in accordance with the multiple different playback formats. The content delivery resource then initiates transmission of the versions of the specified content in the multiple different playback formats to the subscriber domain for playback on multiple types of playback devices.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

via computer processor hardware, executing operations of;

receiving a request from a subscriber for retrieval of specified content, the request indicating to transmit the specified content to a subscriber domain;

retrieving profile information assigned to the subscriber domain, the profile information indicating multiple different playback formats assigned to the subscriber domain;

utilizing the profile information of the subscriber domain to identify the multiple different playback formats assigned to the subscriber domain;

retrieving versions of the specified content encoded in accordance with the multiple different playback formats assigned to the subscriber domain; and

to satisfy the request for the specified content from the subscriber, initiating transmission of the versions of the specified content in the multiple different playback formats over a shared communication link to the subscriber domain;

wherein receiving the request includes;

receiving the request from a first playback device operated by the subscriber in the subscriber domain, the request received from the first playback device to transmit the specified content to the subscriber domain, the profile information indicating that the first playback device supports playback of the specified content in accordance with a first encoding format;

the method further comprising;

utilizing the profile information to identify that a second playback device in the subscriber domain supports a second encoding format, the second encoding format different than the first encoding format; and

wherein initiating transmission of the versions of the specified content in the multiple different playback formats to the subscriber domain includes;

in response to receiving the request from the first playback device;

i) transmitting the specified content in the first encoding format to the subscriber domain over a first channel of the shared communication link, the first channel supporting data transmissions independent of a second channel of the shared communication link, and ii) transmitting the specified content in the second encoding format to the subscriber domain over the second channel of the shared communication link.

2. The method as in claim 1, wherein

the profile information indicates the multiple different playback formats of multiple different types of playback devices operated in the subscriber domain, the multiple different playback formats pre-specified prior to receiving the request.

3. The method as in claim 1 further comprising:

initiating storage of the versions of the specified content in a storage device disposed in the subscriber domain in which multiple different types of playback devices subsequently access and playback the specified content in the multiple different playback formats.

4. The method as in claim 1 further comprising:

responsive to receiving the request;

over the first channel, streaming the specified content in the first encoding format to a storage device located in the subscriber domain, the first encoding format streamed for subsequent playback by the first playback device in the subscriber domain; and

over the second channel, streaming the specified content in the second encoding format over the shared communication link for playback of the specified content on the second playback device in the subscriber domain.

5. The method as in claim 4 further comprising:

transmitting the specified content over the first channel in accordance with a non-adaptive bit rate; and

transmitting the specified content over the second channel as an adaptive bit rate data stream.

6. The method as in claim 4 further comprising:

transmitting the specified content in the first encoding format over a first dedicated portion of bandwidth of the shared communication link as broadcast communications; and

transmitting the specified content in the second encoding format over a second dedicated portion of bandwidth of the shared communication link as IP (Internet Protocol) communications.

7. The method as in claim 1, wherein initiating transmission of the specified content in the multiple different playback formats to the subscriber domain includes:

responsive to the request, streaming the specified content in the first encoding format in accordance with a first playback bit rate, streaming the specified content in the second encoding format in accordance with a second playback bit rate, which is different than the first playback bit rate.

8. The method as in claim 1 further comprising:

prior to initiating transmission of the versions of the specified content to the subscriber domain;

providing a notification that the specified content can be transmitted to the subscriber domain in the multiple playback formats as specified by the profile information; and

as a response to the notification, receiving the request to transmit the specified content in the multiple playback formats.

9. The method as in claim 1, wherein the versions of the specified content includes a first version of the specified content encoded in accordance with the first encoding format and a second version of the specified content encoded in accordance with the second encoding format.

10. The method as in claim 9, wherein the first playback device tunes to a particular carrier frequency to receive the first version of the specified content;

and

wherein the second playback device receives the second version of the specified content as data packets transmitted over a packet-switched data network.

11. The method as in claim 1 further comprising:

retrieving the versions of the specified content and initiating transmission of the versions of the specified content in response to receiving the request.

12. The method as in claim 1 further comprising:

initiating simultaneous transmission of;

i) the specified content in the first encoding format over the first channel, and ii) the specified content in the second encoding format over the second channel.

13. A method comprising:

via computer processor hardware, executing operations of;

receiving a request from a subscriber for retrieval of specified content, the request indicating to transmit the specified content to a subscriber domain;

retrieving profile information assigned to the subscriber domain, the profile information indicating multiple different playback formats assigned to the subscriber domain;

utilizing the profile information of the subscriber domain to indentify the multiple different playback formats assigned to the subscriber domain;

retrieving versions of the specified content encoded in accordance with the multiple different playback formats assigned to the subscriber domain; and

to satisfy the request for the specified content from the subscriber, initiating transmission of the versions of the specified content in the multiple different playback formats over a shared communication link to the subscriber domain;

the method further comprising;

streaming a first version of the content over a broadcast channel of a shared cable network to a repository in the subscriber domain, the first version of the content encoded for playback by a first playback device in the subscriber domain;

providing notification to a second playback device in the subscriber domain that the content has been requested for retrieval;

detecting input provided from the second playback device to stream a second version of the specified content directly to the second playback device; and

initiating transmission of the second version of the specified content over a portion of bandwidth of the shared cable network dedicated to transmission of IP (Internet Protocol) data traffic.

14. A method comprising:

via computer processor hardware, executing operations of;

receiving a request from a subscriber for retrieval of specified content, the request indicating to transmit the specified content to a subscriber domain;

retrieving profile information assigned to the subscriber domain, the profile information indicating multiple different playback formats assigned to the subscriber domain;

utilizing the profile information of the subscriber domain to identify the multiple different playback formats assigned to the subscriber domain;

retrieving versions of the specified content encoded in accordance with the multiple different playback formats assigned to the subscriber domain; and

to satisfy the request for the specified content from the subscriber, initiating transmission of the versions of the specified content in the multiple different playback formats over a shared communication link to the subscriber domain;

the method further comprising;

streaming a first version of the content and a second version of the content over the shared communication link to a repository in the subscriber domain, the first version and second version of content transmitted over bandwidth of the shared communication link supporting QAM modulation, the first version of the content encoded for playback by a first playback device in the subscriber domain, the second version of the content encoded for playback by a second playback device in the subscriber domain;

streaming a third version of the specified content over bandwidth of the shared cable network dedicated to convey transmission of IP (Internet Protocol) data traffic to the subscriber domain.