Cloud-enabled network-based digital video recorder

• US 10,652,596 B2
• Filed: 11/11/2015
• Issued: 05/12/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cox Communications Incorporated (Cox Enterprises Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Cox Communications Incorporated (Cox Enterprises Incorporated)
• Inventors: Rothschild, Keith Alan, Karach, Slavisha
• Primary Examiner(s): Bantamoi, Anthony
• Application Number:
  US14/938,336
• Publication Number:
  US 20160066009A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,644 Days
• Field of Search: 725 58, 386291-299
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/10 Indexing; Addressing; Timing or synchronising; Measuring tape travel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2187 Live feed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/231 Content storage operation, e.g. caching movies for short term storage, replicating data over plural servers, prioritizing data for deletion
• 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 21/2347 involving video stream encryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/236 Assembling of a multiplex stream, e.g. transport stream, by combining a video stream with other content or additional data, e.g. inserting a URL [Uniform Resource Locator] into a video stream, multiplexing software data into a video stream; Remultiplexing of multiplex streams; Insertion of stuffing bits into the multiplex stream, e.g. to obtain a constant bit-rate; Assembling of a packetised elementary stream multiplexing of data packets for data networks, e.g. RTP/UDP H04L65/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23805 Controlling the feeding rate to the network, e.g. by controlling the video pump
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/242 Synchronization processes, e.g. processing of PCR [Program Clock References] arrangements for synchronising broadcast or distribution via plural systems in broadcast distribution systems H04H20/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26613 for generating or managing keys in general key distribution for secret or secure communication involving central third party, e.g. key distribution center [KDC] or trusted third party [TTP] H04L9/083; network support of key management H04L63/06; key management for network security in communication control or processing H04W12/04
• 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 21/4334 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 21/43622 Interfacing an external recording device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8456 by decomposing the content in the time domain, e.g. in time segments

Abstract

This disclosure describes systems and methods related to a cloud-enabled network-based digital video recorder. In some embodiments, a request to record an asset may be received from a client device. An asset record associated with the request may be created. A first record event for generation of a manifest file may be created. A second record event for entitlement validation of an asset may be created. A third record event for quality control for the asset may be created based at least in part on the asset record. A manifest file associated with the asset may be generated based at least in part on the asset record.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

generating, by a network-based digital video recording (nDVR) system comprising one or more computers, a first time-shift buffer and a second time-shift buffer;

receiving, from a user account via a client device by the nDVR system, a first group of content segments associated with first live content of a first content asset in the first time-shift buffer, wherein the nDVR system is in communication with the user account via a network;

receiving, by the nDVR system, a first request to record the first live content;

transforming, by the nDVR system, the first live content to a first recorded content asset based at least in part on the first group of content segments, wherein the first recorded content asset is recorded in storage that has a storage quota associated with the user account;

receiving, by the nDVR system, a second group of content segments associated with second live content in the second time-shift buffer;

receiving, by the nDVR system, while continuing to receive the first group of content segments, a second request to record the second live content;

transforming, by the nDVR system, the second live content to a second recorded content asset based at least in part on the second group of content segments, wherein the second recorded content asset is recorded in the storage;

creating, by the nDVR system, a first asset record associated with the first recorded content asset and a second asset record associated with the second recorded content asset;

determining, by the nDVR system, that the first recorded content asset corresponds to a first content asset and a first portion of the first content asset is modified in the first recorded content asset;

retrieving, by the nDVR system, the first content asset from a source;

replacing, by the nDVR system, the first recorded content asset using the first content asset;

generating, by the nDVR system, a first manifest file based at least in part on determining that the first portion of the first content asset was modified; and

generating, by the nDVR system, based at least in part on the second asset record, a second manifest file associated with the second recorded content asset.

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

storing, by the nDVR system, the first manifest file in a directory associated with the user account; and

storing, by the nDVR system, the second manifest file in the directory associated with the user account.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the first time-shift buffer is a user-based rolling recording for a predetermined duration.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the second time-shift buffer is a user-based rolling recording for a predetermined duration.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein a duration associated with the first time-shift buffer is set as a subscription option associated with the user account.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein a duration associated with the second time-shift buffer is set as a subscription option associated with the user account.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the first content segments are retrieved from the first time-shift buffer and stored in a directory associated with the user account.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the second content segments are retrieved from the second time-shift buffer and stored in a directory associated with the user account.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the modification comprises a removal of the first portion of the first content asset.

10. A system comprising:

at least one memory storing computer-executable instructions; and

at least one processor, wherein the at least one processor is configured to access the at least one memory and to execute the computer-executable instructions to;

generate a first time-shift buffer and a second time-shift buffer;

receive, from a client device on behalf of a user account, a first group of content segments associated with first live content of a first content asset in the first time-shift buffer, wherein the system is in communication with the user account via a network;

receive a first request to record the first live content;

transform the first live content to a first recorded content asset based at least in part on the first group of content segments, wherein the first recorded content asset is recorded in storage that has a storage quota associated with the user account;

receive, from the client device on behalf of the user account, a second group of content segments associated with second live content in the second time-shift buffer;

receive, while continuing to receive the first group of content segments, a second request to record the second live content;

transform the second live content to a second recorded content asset based at least in part on the second group of content segments, wherein the second recorded content asset is recorded in the storage;

create a first asset record associated with the first recorded content asset and a second asset record associated with the second recorded content asset;

determine that the first recorded content asset corresponds to a first content asset and a first portion of the first content asset is modified in the first recorded content asset;

retrieve the first content asset from a source;

replace the first recorded content asset using the first content asset;

generate a first manifest file, based at least in part on determining that the first portion of the first content asset was modified; and

generate, based at least in part on the second asset record, a second manifest file associated with the second recorded content asset.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to:

store the first manifest file in a directory associated with the user account; and

store the second manifest file in the directory associated with the user account.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the first time-shift buffer is a user-based rolling recording for a predetermined duration.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the second time-shift buffer is a user-based rolling recording for a predetermined duration.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein a duration associated with the first time-shift buffer is set as a subscription option associated with the user account.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein a duration associated with the second time-shift buffer is set as a subscription option associated with the user account.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the first content segments are retrieved from the first time-shift buffer and stored in a directory associated with the user account.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the second content segments are retrieved from the second time-shift buffer and stored in a directory associated with the user account.

18. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

generating, by a network-based digital video recording (nDVR) system comprising one or more computers, a first time-shift buffer and a second time-shift buffer;

receiving, from a user account via a client device by the nDVR system, a first group of content segments associated with first live content of a first content asset in the first time-shift buffer, wherein the nDVR system is in communication with the user account via a network;

receiving, by the nDVR system, a first request to record the first live content;

transforming, by the nDVR system, the first live content to a first recorded content asset based at least in part on the first group of content segments, wherein the first recorded content asset is recorded in storage that has a storage quota associated with the user account;

receiving, by the nDVR system, a second group of content segments associated with second live content in the second time-shift buffer;

receiving, by the nDVR system, while continuing to receive the first group of content segments, a second request to record the second live content;

transforming, by the nDVR system, the second live content to a second recorded content asset based at least in part on the second group of content segments, wherein the second recorded content asset is recorded in the storage;

creating, by the nDVR system, a first asset record associated with the first recorded content asset and a second asset record associated with the second recorded content asset;

determining, by the nDVR system, that the first recorded content asset corresponds to a first content asset and a first portion of the first content asset is modified in the first recorded content asset;

retrieving, by the nDVR system, the first content asset from a source;

replacing, by the nDVR system, the first recorded content asset using the first content asset;

generating, by the nDVR system, a first manifest file based at least in part on determining that the first portion of the first content asset was modified, a first manifest file;

generating, by the nDVR system, based at least in part on the second asset record, a second manifest file associated with the second recorded content asset;

storing, by the nDVR system, the first manifest file in a directory associated with the user account; and

storing, by the nDVR system, the second manifest file in the directory associated with the user account.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 18, wherein at least one of the first time-shift buffer and the second time-shift buffer is a user-based rolling recording for a predetermined duration.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 18, wherein a duration associated with at least one of the first time-shift buffer and the second time-shift buffer is set as a subscription option associated with the user account.