Premises gateway apparatus and methods for use in a content-based network
First Claim
1. A gateway device configured to provide content and upstream communication proxy services to at least one user device in communication therewith, said gateway device comprising:
- a transceiver configured to receive and transmit signals from individual ones of said at least one user device for delivery to a network entity, thereby enabling said gateway device to act as a communications proxy for said individual ones of said one or more user devices;
a storage apparatus; and
a processor in data communication with said storage apparatus and configured to execute at least one computer program, said at least one computer program comprising a plurality of instructions configured to, when executed, cause said gateway device to;
receive at least one request for one or more content elements from said one or more user devices;
based at least in part on said at least one request, cause said one or more content elements to be received from a content source and disposed at said storage apparatus; and
create a trusted domain of authorized ones of said one or more user devices disposed within a premises network created by said gateway device for delivery of said one or more content elements thereto, said trusted domain comprising at least said gateway device and said one or more user devices.
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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.
78 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A gateway device configured to provide content and upstream communication proxy services to at least one user device in communication therewith, said gateway device comprising:
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a transceiver configured to receive and transmit signals from individual ones of said at least one user device for delivery to a network entity, thereby enabling said gateway device to act as a communications proxy for said individual ones of said one or more user devices; a storage apparatus; and a processor in data communication with said storage apparatus and configured to execute at least one computer program, said at least one computer program comprising a plurality of instructions configured to, when executed, cause said gateway device to; receive at least one request for one or more content elements from said one or more user devices; based at least in part on said at least one request, cause said one or more content elements to be received from a content source and disposed at said storage apparatus; and create a trusted domain of authorized ones of said one or more user devices disposed within a premises network created by said gateway device for delivery of said one or more content elements thereto, said trusted domain comprising at least said gateway device and said one or more user devices. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A premises gateway device for use in a content distribution network, comprising:
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a first apparatus configured to; receive first Internet Protocol (IP)-encapsulated video content signals and second non-IP encapsulated video content signals from said network; create a trusted domain of authorized ones of a plurality of consumer devices disposed within a premises network created by said premises gateway device for delivery of said first or second video content signals thereto, said trusted domain comprising at least said premises gateway device and said plurality of consumer devices; and transmit said first and said second video content signals to at least one of said authorized ones of said plurality of consumer devices in said trusted domain; and a second apparatus configured to; receive via at least one interface thereof third data signals from said at least one of said authorized ones of said plurality of consumer devices; and transmit said third data signals to one or more entities of said network, thereby enabling said premises gateway device to act as a communications proxy for said authorized ones of said plurality of consumer devices. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of delivering video services over a network via a gateway device, comprising:
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receiving signals from and transmitting signals to a network entity on behalf of individual ones of a plurality of client devices, thereby enabling said gateway device to act as a communications proxy for said individual ones of said plurality of client devices; receiving at least one request for one or more content elements from said individual ones of said client devices; based at least in part on said at least one request, receiving said one or more content elements from a content source; creating a trusted domain of authorized ones of said plurality of client devices disposed within a premises network created by said gateway device, said trusted domain comprising at least said gateway device and said plurality of client devices; and delivering of said one or more content elements to said authorized ones of said plurality of client devices. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification