Digital video recorder as a content delivery server

• US 9,930,399 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2015
• Issued: 03/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Howard, Daren
• Primary Examiner(s): Gee, Alexander
• Application Number:
  US14/976,223
• Publication Number:
  US 20170180790A1
• Time in Patent Office: 827 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/568 Storing data temporarily at an intermediate stage, e.g. caching
• 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 21/43615 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 21/43622 Interfacing an external recording device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/437 Interfacing the upstream path of the transmission network, e.g. for transmitting client requests to a VOD server flow control in data networks H04L47/10; streaming protocols, e.g. RTP or RTCP, H04L65/65; scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests in data packet switching networks H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services

Abstract

A system for enabling a digital video recorder to serve as a content delivery server is disclosed. In particular, the system may include deploying a content delivery server at a cell site, which may be provided a content package from a satellite or fiber network. Additionally, the system may include deploying, at a customer premises, a digital video recorder that may serve as a content delivery server and may be equipped for wireless communication. The content package may be transmitted from the content delivery server of the cell site to the digital video recorder. Upon receiving a request for content from a user device, the digital video recorder may transmit the requested content to the user device if the digital video recorder is in range of the user device. Otherwise, the content delivery server at the cell site may transmit the requested content to the user device.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a memory that stores instructions; and

a processor that executes the instructions to perform operations, the operations comprising;

receiving, at a first content delivery server integrated directly into a cell site, a first content package comprising a plurality of content, wherein the first content package is received from a satellite network;

delivering, to a first digital video recorder of a first user serving as a second content delivery server, the first content package comprising the plurality of the content, wherein the first digital video recorder is equipped for wireless communication;

receiving, from a first user device, a first request for first content;

determining if the first content is included in the first content package;

transmitting, in response to the first request and if the first content is determined to be included in the first content package, the first content from the first digital video recorder to the first user device via a local wireless network associated with the first user device and via a transceiver of the first digital video recorder;

receiving, at the first digital video recorder and directly from a second digital video recorder of a second user, a second request for the first content originating from a second user device communicatively linked to the second digital video recorder, wherein the first digital video recorder is located at a first customer premises that is different from a second customer premises at which the second digital video recorder is located;

forming, after receiving the second request for the first content, a content delivery network directly between the first digital video recorder of the first user and the second digital video recorder of the second user;

transmitting, directly via the transceiver of the first digital video recorder of the first user and via the content delivery network, the first content to the second digital video recorder of the second user; and

sharing the first content with other digital video recorders in communication range of the transceiver of the first digital video recorder and a transceiver of the second digital video recorder.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise determining if the first digital video recorder is in range of the local wireless network associated with the first user device.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the operations further comprise transmitting, to the first user device, the first content from the first content delivery server positioned at the cell site if the first digital video recorder is not in range of the local wireless network.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise transmitting, in response to the first request, the first content to the first user device without transmitting the first content over a backhaul network.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise delivering the first content package to the first digital video recorder via a broadcast made by the first content delivery server positioned at the cell site.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise obtaining, if the first content is determined to not be included in the first content package, a second content package comprising the first content, wherein the second content package is obtained by the first content delivery server from the satellite network.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise identifying second content that is trending among a plurality of users.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the operations further comprise receiving, at the first content delivery server positioned at the cell site, a second content package comprising the second content.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise delivering, to the first digital video recorder serving as the second content delivery server, the second content package comprising the second content via a broadcast.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise receiving, from a third user device communicatively linked to the first digital video recorder, a third request for the first content from a third user.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the operations further comprise transmitting, in response to the third request, the first content from the first digital video recorder to the third user device.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise delivering, to the first digital video recorder, a software update for updating software of the first user device, wherein the software update is delivered to the first digital video recorder from the first content delivery server positioned at the cell site.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the operations further comprise transmitting, from the first digital video recorder, the software update to the first user device via the local wireless network.

14. A method, comprising:

receiving, at a first content delivery server integrated directly into a cell site, a first content package comprising a plurality of content, wherein the first content package is received from a satellite network;

transmitting, to a first digital video recorder of a first user serving as a second content delivery server, the first content package comprising the plurality of the content;

receiving, from a first user device, a request for first content;

determining, by utilizing instructions from a memory that are executed by a processor, if the first content is included in the first content package;

transmitting, in response to the request and if the first content is determined to be included in the first content package, the first content from the first digital video recorder to the first user device via a local wireless network and via a transceiver of the first digital video recorder;

receiving, at the first digital video recorder and directly from a second digital video recorder of a second user, a second request for the first content originating from a second user device communicatively linked to the second digital video recorder, wherein the first digital video recorder is located at a first customer premises that is different from a second customer premises at which the second digital video recorder is located;

forming, after receiving the second request for the first content, a content delivery network directly between the first digital video recorder of the first user and the second digital video recorder of the second user;

transmitting, directly via the transceiver of the first digital video recorder of the first user and via the content delivery network, the first content to the second digital video recorder of the second user; and

sharing the first content with other digital video recorders in communication range of the transceiver of the first digital video recorder and a transceiver of the second digital video recorder.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising determining if the first digital video recorder is in range of the local wireless network associated with the first user device.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising transmitting, to the first user device, the first content from the first content delivery server positioned at the cell site if the first digital video recorder is not in range of the local wireless network.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising enabling the first digital video recorder serving as the second content delivery server to serve as an aggregation point for an internet of things data file.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising receiving, at the first content delivery server positioned at the cell site, a second content package, wherein the second content package is received from a fiber network.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising delivering the first content package to the first digital video recorder via a broadcast made by the first content delivery server positioned at the cell site.

20. A computer-readable device comprising instructions, which when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

receiving, at a first content delivery server integrated directly into a cell site, a first content package comprising a plurality of content, wherein the first content package is received from a satellite network;

delivering, to a first digital video recorder of a first user serving as a second content delivery server, the first content package comprising the plurality of the content;

receiving, from a first user device, a request for first content;

determining if the first content is included in the first content package; and

transmitting, in response to the request and if the first content is determined to be included in the first content package, the first content from the first digital video recorder to the first user device via a local wireless network and via a transceiver of the first digital video recorder;

receiving, at the first digital video recorder and directly from a second digital video recorder of a second user, a second request for the first content originating from a second user device communicatively linked to the second digital video recorder, wherein the first digital video recorder is located at a first customer premises that is different from a second customer premises at which the second digital video recorder is located;

forming, after receiving the second request for the first content, a content delivery network directly between the first digital video recorder of the first user and the second digital video recorder of the second user;

transmitting, directly via the transceiver of the first digital video recorder of the first user and via the content delivery network, the first content to the second digital video recorder of the second user; and

sharing the first content with other digital video recorders in communication range of the transceiver of the first digital video recorder and a transceiver of the second digital video recorder.