Apparatus and methods for use in a content distribution network
First Claim
1. A method of delivering digital content over a digital content delivery network, the method comprising:
- receiving data indicative of a request for one or more digital content elements from a first Internet Protocol (IP)-enabled end user device on behalf of a second IP-enabled end user device in data communication with the first IP-enabled end user device, at least the first IP-enabled end user device disposed at a user premises;
based at least in part on the data indicative of the request received from the first IP-enabled end user device, determining at least one access privilege of at least the second IP-enabled end user device, the at least one access privilege configured to access the one or more digital content elements;
based at least in part on the determined at least one access privilege of at least the second IP-enabled end user device, causing delivery of the one or more digital content elements to the first IP-enabled end user device using at least an IP-based packetization protocol; and
enabling both (i) automatic delivery of the one or more digital content elements from the first IP-enabled end user device to the second IP-enabled end user device disposed at the user premises, and (ii) automatic forwarding of the one or more digital content elements to a third end user device disposed at the user premises, the one or more digital content elements being obtained from one or more personal content storage devices of the digital content delivery network.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and methods for premises gateway functions that integrate or unify functions typically distributed across multiple devices within a content-based network. In one embodiment, the out-of-band (OOB) signaling functionality normally provided in each of a set-top-box (STB) and digital video recorder (DVR) are unified into a common OOB (e.g., DOCSIS) capable premises gateway device, thereby obviating OOB tuners and related components from each device. In another variant, the premises gateway is adapted for all-IP operation, such as for use with IP-based computers and IP set-top boxes, etc. Fully unified variants are also disclosed, wherein the DVR and/or STB functions are physically integrated within the premises gateway.
126 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of delivering digital content over a digital content delivery network, the method comprising:
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receiving data indicative of a request for one or more digital content elements from a first Internet Protocol (IP)-enabled end user device on behalf of a second IP-enabled end user device in data communication with the first IP-enabled end user device, at least the first IP-enabled end user device disposed at a user premises; based at least in part on the data indicative of the request received from the first IP-enabled end user device, determining at least one access privilege of at least the second IP-enabled end user device, the at least one access privilege configured to access the one or more digital content elements; based at least in part on the determined at least one access privilege of at least the second IP-enabled end user device, causing delivery of the one or more digital content elements to the first IP-enabled end user device using at least an IP-based packetization protocol; and enabling both (i) automatic delivery of the one or more digital content elements from the first IP-enabled end user device to the second IP-enabled end user device disposed at the user premises, and (ii) automatic forwarding of the one or more digital content elements to a third end user device disposed at the user premises, the one or more digital content elements being obtained from one or more personal content storage devices of the digital content delivery network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of delivering digital content via a digital content delivery network, the method comprising:
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transmitting, from a first Internet Protocol (IP)-enabled end user device to a computerized network entity, data indicative of a request for digital content on behalf of a second IP-enabled end user device in data communication with the first IP-enabled end user device, at least the first IP-enabled end user device disposed at a user premises; based at least in part on the data indicative of the request transmitted from the first IP-enabled end user device, enabling determination of at least one access privilege of at least the second IP-enabled end user device, the at least one access privilege configured for accessing the requested digital content; based at least in part on the determined at least one access privilege of at least the second IP-enabled end user device, receiving the requested digital content at the first IP-enabled end user device using at least a network layer packetization protocol, the requested digital content obtained from one or more personal content storage devices of the digital content delivery network; based at least in part on the receiving of the requested digital content at the first IP-enabled end user device, both (i) automatically delivering the requested digital content from the first IP-enabled end user device to the second IP-enabled end user device, and (ii) automatically forwarding a processed version of the requested digital content to a third end user device; and wherein the second IP-enabled end user device and the third end user device are disposed at the user premises. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of delivering digital content over a digital content delivery network, the method comprising:
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transmitting, from a first Internet Protocol (IP)-enabled end user device to a computerized network entity, data indicative of a request for digital content on behalf of a second IP-enabled end user device in data communication with the first IP-enabled end user device, at least the first IP-enabled end user device disposed at a user premises; based at least in part on the data indicative of the request transmitted from the first IP-enabled end user device, enabling determination of at least one access privilege of at least the second IP-enabled end user device, the at least one access privilege configured for accessing the requested digital content; and based at least in part on the determined at least one access privilege of at least the second IP-enabled end user device, receiving the requested digital content at the first IP-enabled end user device using at least an IP-based packetization protocol, the requested digital content being obtained from one or more personal content storage devices of the digital content delivery network, the receiving of the requested digital content at the first IP-enabled end user device enabling;
(i) delivery of the requested digital content from the first IP-enabled end user device to the second IP-enabled end user device disposed at the user premises without user intervention, (ii) identification of data indicative of a user command to deliver the requested digital content to a third IP-enabled end user device disposed at the user premises, and (iii) forward of the requested digital content to the third IP-enabled end user device without user intervention using at least the IP-based packetization protocol based on the identification. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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Specification