Digital video recording with remote storage

• US 10,178,425 B1
• Filed: 11/08/2017
• Issued: 01/08/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CSC Holdings LLC (Altice USA, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: CSC Holdings LLC (Altice USA, Inc.)
• Inventors: Neill, Richard W., Mitchko, Stephanie, Caramanica, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Hai V
• Application Number:
  US15/807,328
• Time in Patent Office: 426 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23109 by placing content in organized collections, e.g. EPG data repository details of retrieval of video data and associated meta data in video databases G06F16/739
• 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 21/25816 involving client authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25875 involving end-user authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; arrangements for secret or secure communication including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• 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 21/6118 involving cable transmission, e.g. using a cable modem
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection

Abstract

Centralized storage and playback of user-recorded television programming eliminates the need for expensive DVR devices to be deployed in the field. Further, the methods used to initiate storage and provide playback of stored media respect copyright principles.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of distributing telecast video content to a user, requiring a computer comprising a memory and a processor at a multi-system operator (MSO), wherein pursuant to copyright laws, the MSO does not direct copying of a desired telecast video content on behalf of the user or direct creation of a back-up copy of a copy of the desired telecast video content on behalf of the user, and wherein the user is operating at least one of an individual set-top box, an individual conditional-access device, a collection of set-top boxes, or a collection of conditional-access devices, the computer-implemented method comprising:

providing a user interface to facilitate input and receipt of an initial command and a playback command from the user;

receiving the initial command to store the desired telecast video content;

allocating, by the computer at the MSO, remote storage space dedicated to the user for the desired telecast video content in response to the initial command, wherein the allocated remote storage space is configured to be under exclusive control of the user and dedicated to the user, and wherein the desired telecast video content is made available only to the user;

receiving the desired telecast video content in a primary buffer, wherein, at any given time, only a de minimis portion of the desired telecast video content is stored in the primary buffer;

transferring the desired telecast video content, from the primary buffer to a secondary buffer at the MSO and at a packet level in response to the initial command from the user;

creating in response to the initial command from the user, and under control, and not under direction, of the MSO, a copy of the desired telecast video content that is unique to the user by transferring the desired telecast video content from the secondary buffer to the allocated remote storage space pursuant to the copyright laws;

providing, via the user interface, a menu of stored programs that include the copy of the desired telecast video content that is unique to the user and under the exclusive control of the user in the allocated remote storage space;

receiving, via the user interface, the playback command to transmit the copy of the desired telecast video content from the allocated remote storage space; and

transmitting only to the user, in response to the playback command, the copy of the desired telecast video content from the allocated remote storage space for display.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein allocating remote storage space to the user comprises:

determining whether the user is authorized to receive the desired telecast video content;

determining whether the initial command has been received from the user; and

determining whether an allocated storage quota for the user has been met.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein allocating remote storage space to the user comprises:

associating a user identifier with the user and a content identifier with the desired telecast video content; and

creating a unique command to store the desired telecast video content based on the user identifier and content identifier.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein transmitting to the user the copy of the desired telecast video content from the allocated remote storage space in response to the playback command further comprises:

transmitting the copy of the desired telecast video content associated with the content identifier only to the user associated with the user identifier.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein allocating remote storage space includes allocating, by the computer, a storage quota to the user.

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

receiving a third command from the user to alter playback of the copy of the desired telecast video content;

in response to the third command, creating a third buffer to facilitate the altered playback, wherein the altered playback comprises one of fast forwarding the copy of the desired telecast video content, rewinding the copy of the desired telecast video content, and pausing the copy of the desired telecast content; and

deleting contents of the third buffer upon completing the altered playback in response to the third command.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising preventing other users from receiving the copy of the desired telecast video content that has been stored in the allocated remote storage space.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising enabling the user to select discrete portions of the desired telecast video content for storage.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein transferring the desired telecast video content from the primary buffer to the secondary buffer and transferring the desired telecast video content from the secondary buffer to the allocated remote storage space includes simultaneously transferring a plurality of requested telecast video content to associated allocated remote storage space.

10. A multi-system operator (MSO) media distribution system for storing media content, wherein pursuant to copyright laws, the MSO media distributor system does not direct copying of a desired telecast video content on behalf of a user of the MSO media distributor system or direct creation of a back-up copy of a copy of the desired telecast video content on behalf of the user, the MSO media distributor system comprising:

a memory located at the MSO media distribution system and remotely from the user;

a primary buffer, at the MSO media distribution system, configured to receive media content transmitted from the memory by a content provider and for storing at any given time only a de minimis portion of the media content;

a secondary buffer, at the MSO media distribution system, configured to temporarily store the received media content from the primary buffer prior to storage in a segment of the memory that is allocated exclusively to the user and is under exclusive control of the user; and

a processor, at the MSO media distributor system, configured to;

receive an initial command corresponding to a desired media content from the user;

in response to the initial command from the user, and not from the MSO media distributor system, create a copy of the desired media content that is unique to the user and is under the exclusive control of the user by transferring and storing the desired media content from the primary buffer via the secondary buffer into the segment of the memory that is allocated exclusively to the user and is under the exclusive control of the user pursuant to the copyright laws; and

in response to a playback command from the user, distribute the copy of the desired media content to the user from the segment of the memory that is allocated exclusively to the user and is under the exclusive control of the user.

11. The MSO media distribution system of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to associate a user identifier with the user and a content identifier with the desired media content, and to create a unique command from the initial command based on the user identifier and the content identifier.

12. The MSO media distribution system of claim 10, wherein the user is a set-top box and the processor is further configured to receive the initial command and the playback command from the set-top box.

13. The MSO media distribution system of claim 10, wherein the user is a collection of set-top boxes located in an individual household and the processor is further configured to receive the initial command and the playback command from the collection of set-top boxes.

14. The MSO media distribution system of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to associate a unique user identifier with a predetermined group of users or set-top boxes and receives the initial command and the playback command from the predetermined group of users or set-top boxes.

15. The MSO media distribution system of claim 10, wherein the user is a conditional-access device, and the initial command and the playback command are received from the same conditional-access device or from a device comprising the conditional-access device.

16. The MSO media distribution system of claim 10, wherein the primary buffer is further configured to transfer the media content to the secondary buffer at a packet level.

17. The MSO media distribution system of claim 10, wherein the de minimis portion of the media content stored in the primary buffer comprises no more than 0.05% of a play time of the media content.

18. The MSO media distribution system of claim 10, wherein the de minimis portion of the media content stored in the primary buffer comprises no more than 0.1 second of a play time of the media content.

19. The MSO media distribution system of claim 10, further comprising application code provided to the user, wherein the application code causes, upon execution, receipt of the initial command and creation of a unique command to store the desired media content on behalf of the user.

20. A multi-system operator (MSO) media distribution system, wherein pursuant to copyright laws, the MSO media distribution system does not direct copying of a desired telecast video content on behalf of a user or direct creation of a back-up copy of a copy of the desired telecast video content on behalf of the user, comprising:

a first server, at the MSO media distribution system, configured to receive media from a content provider;

a first buffer, at the MSO media distribution system, coupled to the first server,

configured to receive the media and store at any given time only a de minimis percentage of the media;

a second server including a plurality of storage areas;

a plurality of second buffers, coupled to the first buffer and the second server, configured to temporarily store the media from the first buffer prior to storage in a storage area of the plurality of storage areas in the second server that is allocated exclusively to the user and is under exclusive control of the user;

wherein the second server is configured to receive a first command from the user, and not from the MSO media distribution system, to store a copy of the media that is unique to the user into the storage area that is allocated to the user and is under the exclusive control of the user by transferring the media from the primary buffer via one or more of the plurality of second buffers into the storage area that is allocated to the user and is under the exclusive control of the user pursuant to the copyright laws; and

a third server, coupled to the second server, configured to only distribute the copy of the media from the second server to the user that issued the first command, in response to a second command from the user.