Cloud-enabled network-based digital video recorder

• US 9,226,007 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2013
• Issued: 12/29/2015
• 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): Kumar, Pankaj
• Assistant Examiner(s): BROWN, RUEBEN M
• Application Number:
  US13/801,093
• Publication Number:
  US 20140237522A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,021 Days
• Field of Search: 725/58, 725/115
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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:

receiving, by a network-based digital video recording (nDVR) system comprising one or more computers, from a user via a client device, a request to record a content asset;

creating, by the nDVR system, an asset record associated with the request;

creating, by the nDVR system, a first record event for generation of a manifest file, a second record event for entitlement validation of the content asset, and a third record event for quality control for the content asset based at least in part on the manifest file, wherein each record event is based at least in part on the asset record;

determining, by the nDVR system, that a condition is met for generating the manifest file;

generating, by the nDVR system, the manifest file based at least in part on the asset record;

storing, by the nDVR system, the manifest file; and

removing, by the nDVR system, the first record event.

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

determining, by the nDVR system, that the request to record the content asset does not include a user identifier of a record associated with the user; and

generating, by the nDVR system, the record associated with the user.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the asset record comprises one or more of:

i) identification of a source associated with the content asset;

ii) a recording state;

or

iii) an indication of an allocation of a portion of a quota associated with the user.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein generating the manifest file comprises generating a plurality of uniform resource identifiers based at least in part on identification information associated with the content asset, timing information for the content asset, and information associated with a device profile associated with the client device.

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

completing, by the nDVR system, the entitlement validation associated with the content asset based at least in part on the asset record;

completing, by the nDVR system, the quality control for the content asset based at least in part on the asset record; and

removing, by the nDVR system, the second record event and the third record event.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, further comprising:

determining, by the nDVR system, the content asset is a live event; and

modifying, by the nDVR system, the end time associated with the content asset.

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

determining, by the nDVR system, that the client device is not capable of receiving one or more bit-rate versions of the content asset;

determining, by the nDVR system, an optimal set of bit-rates associated with a device class associated with the client device;

retrieving, by the nDVR system, a plurality of content segments based upon, at least in part, the request and the optimal set of bit-rates;

generating, by the nDVR system, a data stream based upon, at least in part, the plurality of content segments; and

transmitting, by the nDVR system, the data stream to the client device.

8. 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;

receive from a client device on behalf of a user, a request to record a content asset;

create an asset record associated with the request;

create a first record event for generation of a manifest file, a second record event for entitlement validation of the content asset, and a third record event for quality control for the content asset based at least in part on the manifest file, wherein each record event is based at least in part on the asset record;

determine that a condition is met for generating the manifest file;

generate the manifest file based at least in part on the asset record;

store the manifest file; and

remove the first record event.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to:

determine that the request to record the content asset does not include a user identifier of a record associated with the user; and

generate the record associated with the user.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the asset record comprises one or more of:

i) identification of a source associated with the content asset;

ii) a recording state;

or

iii) an indication of an allocation of a portion of a quota associated with the user.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least one processor is configured to generate the manifest file at least in part by executing the computer-executable instructions to generate a plurality of uniform resource identifiers based at least in part on identification information associated with the content asset, timing information for the content asset, and information associated with a device profile associated with a user device.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to:

complete the entitlement validation associated with the content asset based at least in part on the asset record;

complete the quality control for the content asset based at least in part on the asset record; and

remove the second record event and the third record event.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to:

determine the content asset is a live event; and

modify the end time associated with the content asset.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to:

determine that the client device is not capable of receiving one or more bit-rate versions of the content asset;

determine an optimal set of bit-rates associated with a device class associated with the client device;

retrieve a plurality of content segments based upon, at least in part, the request and the optimal set of bit-rates;

generate a data stream based upon, at least in part, the plurality of content segments; and

transmit the data stream to the client device.