Digital video recorder state cache

• US 9,693,105 B2
• Filed: 04/24/2014
• Issued: 06/27/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Inventors: Frusciano, Douglas, Mahonchak, Carissa, Smith, Robert Todd
• Primary Examiner(s): MENGESHA, MULUGETA A
• Application Number:
  US14/261,155
• Publication Number:
  US 20150312616A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,160 Days
• Field of Search: 725 93, 725100, 725131-134
• 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 21/2747 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 21/4331 Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback
• 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 21/436 Interfacing a local distribution network, e.g. communicating with another STB or one or more peripheral devices inside the home
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47217 for controlling playback functions for recorded or on-demand content, e.g. using progress bars, mode or play-point indicators or bookmarks specific graphical features in visual interfaces H04N21/4312
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64322 IP
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 999/99 dummy group

Abstract

A digital video recorder control database is maintained for a digital video recorder in communication with a plurality of set-top boxes. The database includes program content, associated programming metadata, and a recording schedule. A subset of the digital video recorder control database is pushed from the digital video recorder control database to the plurality of set-top boxes for local caching on the plurality of set-top boxes. The subset includes at least a portion of the recording schedule.

Claims

1. A method comprising the steps of:

maintaining, for a digital video recorder in communication with a plurality of set-top boxes, a digital video recorder control database comprising program content, associated programming metadata, and a recording schedule;

obtaining, at a digital video recorder controller associated with said digital video recorder control database, an indication that a given one of said set-top boxes has updated its cache with an action; and

updating said digital video recorder control database to reflect said action; and

pushing, from said digital video recorder control database to said plurality of set-top boxes, a subset of said digital video recorder control database for local caching on said plurality of set-top boxes, said subset comprising at least a portion of said recording schedule,

wherein said pushing is carried out in response to said obtaining of said indication and wherein said subset includes an update to reflect said action.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said maintaining step comprises maintaining said digital video recorder control database on said digital video recorder, wherein said digital video recorder is collocated in a premises with said plurality of set-top boxes, and wherein said communication with said plurality of set-top boxes is via a premises network.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said maintaining step comprises maintaining said digital video recorder control database on said digital video recorder in a network node remote from a premises in which said plurality of set-top boxes are located.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said maintaining step comprises maintaining said digital video recorder control database in a network node remote from a premises in which said plurality of set-top boxes are located, said digital video recorder controlled based on information in said digital video recorder control database being collocated in said premises with said plurality of set-top boxes.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said pushing is carried out on a periodic schedule.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said digital video recorder control database includes information which controls a multi-tuner digital video recorder and wherein said subset of said digital video recorder control database pushed in said pushing step comprises instructions regarding which tuner of said multi-tuner digital video recorder to use for a recording.

7. A method comprising the steps of:

maintaining, on a first set-top box in communication with a digital video recorder control database which in turn is in communication with a plurality of set-top boxes including said first set-top box, a cache comprising a subset of said digital video recorder control database, said digital video recorder control database comprising program content, associated programming metadata, and a recording schedule, said cache comprising at least a portion of said recording schedule;

updating said cache on said first set-top box to reflect an action;

sending, from said first set-top box to said digital video recorder control database, an indication of said action; and

obtaining, at a second set-top box, a message pushed from said digital video recorder control database at least to all of said plurality of set-top boxes other than said first set-top box, said message indicating that said digital video recorder control database has been updated to reflect said action and that caches of at least said plurality of set-top boxes other than said first set-top box should accordingly be updated, said second set-top box being one of said plurality of set-top boxes.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said maintaining step comprises maintaining said cache and said first set-top box in a premises with said plurality of set-top boxes and a digital video recorder on which said digital video recorder control database is maintained.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein said maintaining step comprises maintaining said cache and said first set-top box in a premises with said plurality of set-top boxes, collocated with a digital video recorder controlled using information in said digital video recorder control database, said premises being remote from a network node in which said digital video recorder control database is located.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein said maintaining step comprises maintaining said cache and said first set-top box in a premises with said plurality of set-top boxes, said premises being remote from a network node in which said digital video recorder control database is located on a digital video recorder.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

obtaining, at said first set-top box, a user input;

obtaining, from said cache on said first set-top box, first information pertinent to said user input;

dispatching, from said first set-top box, to a remote cloud-based service, a message requesting second information, said message including said cached first information pertinent to said user input; and

obtaining, at said first set-top box, a response to said message from said remote cloud-based service, said response being formulated, at least in part, based on said cached first information pertinent to said user input included in said message.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein:

said user input comprises a user request for details of a television series; and

said cached first information pertinent to said user request comprises recording status for episodes of said series.

13. An apparatus comprising:

a memory; and

at least one processor, coupled to said memory, said at least one processor being operable to;

maintain, for a digital video recorder in communication with a plurality of set-top boxes, a digital video recorder control database comprising program content, associated programming metadata, and a recording schedule;

obtain, at said digital video recorder controller associated with said digital video recorder control database, an indication that a given one of said set-top boxes has updated its cache with an action;

update said digital video recorder control database to reflect said action; and

push, from said digital video recorder control database to said plurality of set-top boxes, a subset of said digital video recorder control database for local caching on said plurality of set-top boxes, said subset comprising at least a portion of said recording schedule,

wherein said pushing is carried out in response to said obtaining of said indication and wherein said subset includes an update to reflect said action.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said at least one processor is operative to carry out said pushing on a periodic schedule.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said digital video recorder control database includes information which controls a multi-tuner digital video recorder and wherein said subset of said digital video recorder control database pushed in said pushing step comprises instructions regarding which tuner of said multi-tuner digital video recorder to use for a recording.

16. An apparatus comprising:

a memory; and

at least one processor, coupled to said memory, said at least one processor being operable to;

maintain, on a first set-top box in communication with a digital video recorder control database which in turn is in communication with a plurality of set-top boxes including said first set-top box, a cache comprising a subset of said digital video recorder control database, said digital video recorder control database comprising program content, associated programming metadata, and a recording schedule, said cache comprising at least a portion of said recording schedule;

update said cache on said first set-top box to reflect an action;

send, from said first set-top box to said digital video recorder control database, an indication of said action; and

obtain, at a second set-top box, a message pushed from said digital video recorder control database at least to all of said plurality of set-top boxes other than said first set-top box, said message indicating that said digital video recorder control database has been updated to reflect said action and that caches of at least said plurality of set-top boxes other than said first set-top box should accordingly be updated, said second set-top box being one of said plurality of set-top boxes.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said at least one processor is further operative to:

obtain, at said first set-top box, a user input;

obtain, from said cache on said first set-top box, first information pertinent to said user input;

dispatch, from said first set-top box, to a remote cloud-based service, a message requesting second information, said message including said cached first information pertinent to said user input; and

obtain, at said first set-top box, a response to said message from said remote cloud-based service, said response being formulated, at least in part, based on said cached first information pertinent to said user input included in said message.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein:

said user input comprises a user request for details of a television series; and

said cached first information pertinent to said user request comprises recording status for episodes of said series.