Service entry device
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method comprising:
- receiving, by a computing device and from a requesting device, a request for a content item;
receiving, by the computing device and from a first source device associated with a first external access network, a first portion of the content item;
transmitting, by the computing device and to the requesting device, the first portion of the content item in response to the request for the content item; and
responsive to a change in a bitrate associated with the requesting device;
transmitting, by the computing device and to each of the first source device associated with the first external access network and a second source device associated with a second external access network, an instruction indicating a switch from the first external access network and to the second external access network for supplying a second portion of the content item, wherein the instruction comprises a current playback time of the content item and a time at which the switch is to occur, and wherein the second external access network is different from the first external access network;
buffering the second portion of the content item received from the second external network; and
transmitting, by the computing device and to the requesting device, the buffered second portion of the content item when the switch from the first portion to the second portion is to occur.
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Abstract
A system is described in which, in some embodiments, a centralized service entry device may be used to coordinate communications going into and out of a home or premises. The service entry device may be physically connected to a plurality of external access networks, such as a cable television coaxial or fiber connection and a twisted-pair wire connection, and may coordinate access to those networks by a plurality of in-home devices. Within the home, the system may include a plurality of client devices to assist in the coordination of communications with devices in different rooms within the home.
34 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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receiving, by a computing device and from a requesting device, a request for a content item; receiving, by the computing device and from a first source device associated with a first external access network, a first portion of the content item; transmitting, by the computing device and to the requesting device, the first portion of the content item in response to the request for the content item; and responsive to a change in a bitrate associated with the requesting device; transmitting, by the computing device and to each of the first source device associated with the first external access network and a second source device associated with a second external access network, an instruction indicating a switch from the first external access network and to the second external access network for supplying a second portion of the content item, wherein the instruction comprises a current playback time of the content item and a time at which the switch is to occur, and wherein the second external access network is different from the first external access network; buffering the second portion of the content item received from the second external network; and transmitting, by the computing device and to the requesting device, the buffered second portion of the content item when the switch from the first portion to the second portion is to occur. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 12, 13)
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7. A method comprising:
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receiving, by a computing device and from a requesting device, a request for a content item; transmitting the content item from a first source device associated with a first network, to the requesting device via a first network interface of the computing device that is associated with the first network; and in response to determining that a network change condition associated with a bitrate has been satisfied by the requesting device, transmitting, by the computing device and to each of the first source device associated with the first network and a second source device associated with a second network, an instruction indicating a switch from the first source device and to the second source device for supplying the content item, wherein the instruction comprises a current playback time and a time at which the switch is to occur, and wherein the second network is different from the first network; buffering, by the computing device, a portion of the content item received from the second network; responsive to a determination that the time at which the switch is to occur has occurred, stopping the buffering of the portion of the content item; and switching from transmitting the content item from the first source device to transmitting the buffered portion of the content item from the second source device associated with the second network, to the requesting device, and via a second network interface of the computing device that is associated with the second network, wherein the switching occurs during playback of the content item by the requesting device. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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14. An apparatus comprising:
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one or more processors; and memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to; receive, from a requesting device, a request for a content item; receive, from a first source device associated with a first external access network, a first portion of the content item; transmit, to the requesting device, the first portion of the content item in response to the request for the content item; and responsive to a change in a bitrate associated with the requesting device; transmit, to each of the first source device associated with the first external access network and a second source device associated with a second external access network, an instruction indicating a switch from the first external access network and to the second external access network for supplying a second portion of the content item, wherein the instruction comprises a current playback time of the content item and a time at which the switch is to occur, and wherein the second external access network is different from the first external access network; buffer the second portion of the content item received from the second external network; and transmit, to the requesting device, the buffered second portion of the content item when the switch from the first portion to the second portion is to occur. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification