| Time Warner Cable Inc. Patent applications |
| Patent application number | Title | Published |
|---|
| 20120137319 | TECHNIQUE FOR USAGE FORECASTING IN A SWITCHED DIGITAL VIDEO SYSTEM - A plurality of digital video recorders are polled to extract data indicative of recordings scheduled thereon. The polling is carried out over a video content network by a component at a node in the video content network that is remote from the plurality of digital video recorders. At least a portion of the data is used to obtain a prediction of future switched digital video channel usage for the video content network. At least one network management activity is carried out on the video content network in response to the prediction of future switched digital video channel usage for the video content network | 05-31-2012 |
| 20120076015 | DYNAMIC CHANGING TIER SERVICE ON TEST DEVICE - A test device is located within a broadband communications network. The test device is interconnected with a policy enforcement point of the broadband communications network. Responsive to commencement of a test to be conducted with the test device, the policy enforcement point is signaled, from a policy server of the broadband communications network, so as to set a bandwidth tier for the test to be conducted with the test device. The test is conducted with the test device in accordance with the bandwidth tier. One or more additional tests can be conducted for additional, different, bandwidth tier(s). Related methods, systems, apparatuses, and computer program products are also disclosed. | 03-29-2012 |
| 20120072910 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR MANAGING A VIRTUAL DATA CENTER WITH EMBEDDED ROLES BASED ACCESS CONTROL - Embodiments provide techniques for customers to easily, quickly and remotely manage their virtual data centers. Using, for example, a “single pane of glass” GUI view which shows all of the components (including e.g., machines (cpu and RAM), network services (load balancers, firewalls, network address translation, IP management) and storage) of their virtual data centers, provides a complete overview and a starting point for system or component management. According to embodiments, a Roles Based Access Control (RBAC) system is provided which simulates the organizational structure and workflow of a typical IT department to enable workflow management via the GUI for any component or function of a customer's virtual data center. | 03-22-2012 |
| 20120044914 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR WI-FI ROAMING - Systems and methods for Wi-Fi roaming. A gateway supports both a local access point (AP) and a virtual AP. The local AP is accessible only to an “owner” of the gateway. The virtual AP (VAP) is accessible to devices associated with the owner of the gateway and to roaming Wi-Fi devices. A datastore conveys information about the roaming Wi-Fi devices to the VAP to permit them to access the VAP without the need for manual configuration of the VAP. A roaming Wi-Fi device may communicate with a gateway via a tunnel to maintain session connectivity during roaming. A session may be initiated on one network, such as a Wi-Fi network or a cellular network, handed off to another network, such as a cellular network or a Wi-Fi network, and then returned to network on which the session was initiated. | 02-23-2012 |
| 20120044862 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MAINTAINING A COMMUNICATION SESSION - Systems and methods for maintaining a communication session. A gateway supports both a local access point (AP) and a virtual AP. The local AP is accessible only to an “owner” of the gateway. The virtual AP (VAP) is accessible to devices associated with the owner of the gateway and to roaming Wi-Fi devices. A datastore conveys information about the roaming Wi-Fi devices to the VAP to permit them to access the VAP without the need for manual configuration of the VAP. A roaming Wi-Fi/cellular device may communicate with a gateway via a tunnel to maintain session connectivity during roaming. A session may be initiated on one network, such as a Wi-Fi network or a cellular network, handed off to another network, such as a cellular network or a Wi-Fi network, and then returned to network on which the session was initiated. | 02-23-2012 |
| 20110302600 | Multicast Video Advertisement Insertion Using Routing Protocols - First video material is transmitted from a video source, over a video content network, to consumer premises equipment, via a hub router. The video source has a source address and there is a first path length between the hub router and the video source. Upon occurrence of a first triggering condition, a short route metric is announced from a supplemental video material server coupled to the hub router. The short route metric causes the hub router to perceive a second path length, between the hub router and the supplemental video material server, as shorter than the first path length. The supplemental video material server has a source address identical to the source address of the video source. Thus, the consumer premises equipment obtains supplemental video material from the supplemental video material server instead of first video material from the video source. Aspects of a system and a supplemental video material server are also disclosed. | 12-08-2011 |
| 20110277008 | TECHNIQUE FOR PROVIDING UNINTERRUPTED SWITCHED DIGITAL VIDEO SERVICE - A request is received from a subscriber of a video content network offering a switched digital video service. The request is to establish a new switched digital video session within a service group of the video content network. The service group includes both preferred and standard subscribers and has a plurality of existing sessions. It is determined whether adequate bandwidth is available to establish the new switched digital video session without tearing down any of the existing sessions. Responsive to the determination indicating that adequate bandwidth is not available without tearing down any of the existing sessions, at least one of the existing sessions is torn down. In this step, those of the existing sessions corresponding to the preferred subscribers are exempted from teardown. The new switched digital video session is established in accordance with the request. A switched digital video control apparatus, a set-top terminal, and a system are also disclosed. | 11-10-2011 |
| 20110255452 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR INCREASING UPSTREAM CAPACITY IN A BROADBAND COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM - A method for providing enhanced broadband services over a communications network includes the steps of: receiving from the communications network at least first signals in a first frequency band, the first signals comprising programming material that has been converted from a second frequency band and/or material originally generated in the first frequency band to be converted to the second frequency band, the first and second frequency bands being non-overlapping; translating one or more first signals from the first frequency band to the second frequency band; and combining the one or more first signals translated to the second frequency band with the first signals in the first frequency band to generate combined programming material comprising one or more signals in the first frequency band and one or more signals in the second frequency band for reception by receiving location equipment. | 10-20-2011 |
| 20110239266 | Fiber to the Premise Service Disconnect Via Macro-Bending Loss - It is determined that service is to be disconnected for at least a first subscriber of a video content network employing at least one fiber optic cable. The service to the at least first subscriber is provided from a cross-connect cabinet, over the at least one fiber optic cable, to a premises of the at least first subscriber. Sufficient macro-bending loss is induced in the at least one fiber optic cable so as to cause a signal-to-noise ratio at the premises to degrade such that the service is disconnected. The macro-bending loss is induced in a portion of the at least one fiber optic cable which services only the first subscriber. The macro-bending loss can be induced, for example, by winding about a single mandrel, two mandrels in a figure eight pattern, in a tortuous groove in a tray, and so on. | 09-29-2011 |
| 20110219411 | BANDWIDTH CONSERVATION - A request to establish a switched digital video session with high-definition content is received from a subscriber of a video content network offering a switched digital video service. A determination is made that the subscriber only has capability of viewing standard definition content. Responsive to the request and the determination, the subscriber, in the session, is provided a signal with a standard definition version of the requested high-definition content. An exemplary switched digital video control apparatus and an exemplary system are also disclosed. | 09-08-2011 |
| 20110185045 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ESTABLISHING AND ENFORCING SERVICE RULES IN A SERVICE PROVIDER NETWORK - A system and method for establishing a rule for an end device connected to a subscriber network. The subscriber network is connected to a service provider network via a local gateway. The subscriber network receives services from a remote operations center via a service provider network. Capability information indicative of a service that the end device is capable of receiving is acquired by the local gateway from the end device. The capability information is sent to the remote operations center via the service provider network. The remote operations center uses the capability information to identify a subscriber service that is supported by the end device. The remote operations center uses the capability information to determine if the end device requires an application to provide a service and, if so, provides the application to the end device. | 07-28-2011 |
| 20110126244 | POLICY MANAGEMENT ARBITRATION BY SERVICE GROUP - A request is received from one of a plurality of terminals in a service group of a video content network. The request is to establish a session with a head end of the network. The video content network provides at least first and second different categories of sessions to the service group. The request is evaluated against a policy. The policy specifies a maximum utilization threshold for sessions of the first category and a maximum utilization threshold for sessions of the second category. The request is granted if it is in conformance with the policy. The method may be carried out, for example, with a session resource manager apparatus. | 05-26-2011 |
| 20110116419 | Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem Voice-Video Mail Service Over a Home Network - At least one voice server uses a voice protocol requiring both a server component and a client component. At least one client device lacks the client component. The at least one client device is located in a premises remote from the voice server. A translator device is located in the premises, and a video content network, configured for communication in accordance with the voice protocol, interconnects the voice server and the translator device. A premises network interconnects the translator device and the at least one client device. The premises network is configured in accordance with a premises network protocol. The translator is provided with the client component of the voice protocol and is configured to translate between the voice protocol and the premises network protocol. In some instances, the voice server is a voice mail server and the voice protocol is a voice mail protocol. In other cases, the voice server is a session initiation protocol (SIP) server and the voice protocol is SIP. | 05-19-2011 |
| 20110007752 | DESTINATION BASED METHODOLOGY FOR MANAGING NETWORK RESOURCES - A replicator is configured to be coupled to a first packet-based network, and a packet analysis module and a router are coupled to the replicator. The router is configured to be coupled to a second packet-based network. The replicator receives packets from the first packet-based network, passes the packets to the router, and passes a copy of the packets to the packet analysis module. The packet analysis module identifies, in a set of customers of the second packet-based network, a top usage subset. The top usage subset includes those of the customers who are using more bandwidth of the second packet-based network than other ones of the customers. The top usage subset includes at least two of the customers. The packet analysis module identifies, at an entry point of the second packet-based network, routes of packets destined for the top usage subset. The router discards a predetermined percentage of the packets destined for the top usage subset. The predetermined percentage is determined in order to reduce bandwidth utilization of the second packet-based network by a desired amount. The predetermined percentage is identical for all of the customers in the top usage subset. | 01-13-2011 |
| 20100313236 | TECHNIQUES FOR UNGRADING SOFTWARE IN A VIDEO CONTENT NETWORK - It is determined that a substantial portion of set-top terminals connected to a video content network require a software upgrade. In-band video bandwidth (e.g., video-on-demand or switched digital video) is allocated for the software upgrade. The software upgrade is broadcast to the set-top terminals from a carousel in a first remote node of the video content network, via the allocated in-band video bandwidth, until a predetermined number of the set-top terminals have received the software upgrade. Subsequent to the predetermined number of set-top terminals receiving the software upgrade, the in-band video bandwidth is de-allocated and the software upgrade is made available out-of-band to the remaining portion of the set-top terminals, via individual sessions with an application server in a second remote node of the video content network. An exemplary system, which can implement the method, includes a controller, a dynamic bandwidth allocation device, the carousel, and the application server. | 12-09-2010 |
| 20100313235 | PROVIDING SYNDICATION FEED CONTENT ON A TELEVISION SET-TOP BOX WITH LIMITED DECODER CAPABILITY - Techniques are afforded for providing syndication feed content on a television STB with limited decoder capability. A request is initiated for syndication feed content from a networked content source through the STB. The syndication feed content is obtained through a proxy device in communication with the networked content source. When the syndication feed content is in a first format usable by the STB, the proxy device passes the syndication feed content in the first format to the STB. When the syndication feed content is in a second format unusable by the STB, the syndication feed content is first converted from the second format to the first format usable by the STB and then the syndication feed content is passed, in the first format, to the STB. | 12-09-2010 |
| 20100313223 | User Selection of Software Components in a Television Set-Top Box - A method for allowing user selection of interactive video software components in a television STB operatively coupled to a video content network includes the steps of: affording the user a selection of interactive video software components to run on the set-top box; and loading selected interactive video software components onto the set-top box. The selected interactive video software components are delivered from a remote node over the video content network to which the STB is coupled. | 12-09-2010 |
| 20100306810 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR FORMAT SELECTION FOR NETWORK OPTIMIZATION - Method and apparatus for optimizing network bandwidth utilization by delivering to users only the minimum number of programs required by service provider policies. In one embodiment, the method comprises switching some users from lower quality versions of programs to higher quality versions of the same programs, and removing those lower quality versions of programs from a given service group. In another embodiment, some users are switched from higher quality versions of programs to lower quality versions of those same programs, and the higher quality versions of programs removed from a given service group. | 12-02-2010 |
| 20100122282 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ENHANCED ADVERTISING IN A VIDEO CONTENT NETWORK - A video content network having a plurality of program channels is operated, and a target time slot for an enhanced advertisement is identified. At least some of the plurality of program channels have programs scheduled during the target time slot. The target time slot is signaled to a plurality of terminals connected to the video content network. Each of the terminals is viewing a given one of the program channels prior to the signaling. Responsive to the signaling, the programs scheduled during the target time slot are effectively paused at a program time corresponding to a beginning of the time slot, and the enhanced advertisement is caused to be displayed on the terminals. Responsive to an end of the enhanced advertisement, the programs scheduled during the target time slot are resumed at the program time corresponding to the beginning of the time slot. Thus, substantially all viewers of the video content network during the target time slot are exposed to the enhanced advertisement regardless of which of the plurality of program channels the viewers were watching during the target time slot. | 05-13-2010 |
| 20100095323 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTENT DELIVERY WITH MULTIPLE EMBEDDED MESSAGES - A digital video program is obtained. The program includes: (i) at least one broadcast segmentation message specifying at least one location for at least one broadcast advertisement, and (ii) at least one time-shifted segmentation message specifying at least one location for at least one time-shifted advertisement. The program is broadcast with at least one broadcast advertisement in accordance with the at least one broadcast segmentation message, and is made available to a subscriber at a time after the broadcasting, with at least one time-shifted advertisement in accordance with the at least one time-shifted segmentation message. | 04-15-2010 |
| 20100058402 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TAILORED VIDEO-ON-DEMAND CATALOGS - A video-on-demand server, having a plurality of audiovisual assets stored in association therewith, and an application server module, are interconnected with a first group of consumer premises equipment associated with a first group of subscribers and a second group of consumer premises equipment associated with a second group of subscribers, different than the first group of subscribers, via a video content network. The application server module, the first group of consumer premises equipment, and the second group of consumer premises equipment are cooperatively configured to prepare a first video-on-demand catalog comprising a first group of the audiovisual assets and a second video-on-demand catalog comprising a second group of the audiovisual assets, different than the first group of the audiovisual assets. The application server module, the first group of consumer premises equipment, and the second group of consumer premises equipment are further cooperatively configured to make the first video-on-demand catalog available to the first group of subscribers and to make the second video-on-demand catalog available to the second group of subscribers. | 03-04-2010 |
| 20100023979 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SHARING DIGITAL IMAGES OVER A CONTENT-BASED NETWORK - A head end application server is coupled to a photo-sharing server having an Internet interface. A video content network is coupled to the head end application server, and a terminal is coupled to the video content network at a location remote from the head end application server and the photo-sharing server. The photo-sharing server is configured to accept upload of digital still images via the Internet interface, and the digital still images are in a format other than MPEG I-frames. The head end application server is configured to receive a request from the terminal and, responsive to the request, to fetch the digital still images from the photo-sharing server, transcode the digital still images into MPEG I-frames, and make the MPEG I-frames available, over the video content network, for selective display via the terminal. The system can advantageously function without use of a video-on-demand server. | 01-28-2010 |
| 20090319596 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR BILLING SYSTEM INTERFACE FAILOVER RESOLUTION - A determination is made whether a first application server of a group of N application servers, N being at least two, is a coordinator of the group. Responsive to determining that the first application server is the coordinator of the group, a connection to a billing system is established, via a terminal server, by the first application server. A determination is made whether a second application server of the group of N application servers is the coordinator of the group. Responsive to determining that the second application server is not the coordinator of the group, a periodic check is made whether the second application server of the group of N application servers is the coordinator of the group. The second application server may later be determined to be the coordinator of the group, when the first server experiences difficulty. Once it is determined that the second application server now is the coordinator of the group, a connection is established to the billing system, via the terminal server, by the second application server. | 12-24-2009 |
| 20090248794 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTENT SHARING - A video content system includes a head end server module and a content-sharing server coupled to a video content network. Also included is a converged premises gateway module coupled to the video content network at a location remote from the head end server module and the content-sharing server. The converged premises gateway module includes a processor and a video content network interface coupled to the processor and the video content network and configured for communication with the head end server module over the video content network. The gateway module also includes a memory module having a predetermined storage location for content to be shared with the content-sharing server and a local area network configured at least for distribution of video content within the remote location. The system further includes an upload module configured to cause the content in the predetermined storage location to be uploaded to the content-sharing server. | 10-01-2009 |
| 20090220216 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONFLICT RESOLUTION IN REMOTE CONTROL OF DIGITAL VIDEO RECORDERS AND THE LIKE - At least one server is queried to obtain program data. DVR data is obtained from a digital video recorder, substantially in real time, over a content-based network. The program data and/or the DVR data are displayed on a separate remote device, in communication with the content-based network. A request to record a given program on the at least one digital video recorder is received at the separate remote device. A conflict associated with the request to record the given program is detected, and the conflict is resolved based at least on a user input received at the separate remote device. | 09-03-2009 |
| 20090210916 | TECHNIQUE FOR PROVIDING SECURITY MEASURES FOR COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE CONNECTABLE TO A COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK - A user may purchase in a retail outlet a host device for receiving cable services. The cable operator needs to provide a point-of-deployment (POD) module for insertion into the host device to realize out-of-band communications, and provide conditional access to premium subscription channels. Security measures are implemented to detect removal of the host device from its connection to a broadband communications system. If its removal is unauthorized, the service area in which the host device is located may be identified when it is reconnected to the system. In addition, a transmission device in the host device may be activated to transmit detectable signals to help recover the host device. | 08-20-2009 |
| 20090193486 | DIGITAL SET-TOP TERMINAL WITH PARTITIONED HARD DISK AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEM AND METHOD - A video content system includes a server module, a video content network coupled to the server module, and a digital set-top terminal coupled to the video content network. The digital set-top terminal in turn includes a processor; an interface coupled to the processor and the video content network; and a memory module. The memory module has at least a partitioned hard disk with a first partition containing digital video programming received over the video content network, and a second partition containing supplemental resources. | 07-30-2009 |
| 20090150941 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR VIDEO-ON-DEMAND PLAYLIST - A method of providing programming content from a video server to a client coupled to the video server by a video content network includes the steps of sending, to the client, a playlist describing an interrelationship between at least one program segment and at least one related segment; sending, from the video server to the client over the video content network, video content comprising the at least one program segment and the at least one related segment; and modifying the playlist via communication to the client. The steps of sending the playlist, sending the content, and modifying the playlist are all accomplished within a single video-on-demand session per user. | 06-11-2009 |
| 20090133084 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING VIDEO CONTENT AND SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION TO A CLIENT OVER A SWITCHED DIGITAL VIDEO CONTENT-BASED NETWORK - Video content is transmitted from a head end, over a switched digital video content-based network, to a client. The head end obtains a first group of program streams and sends to the client only a subset of the program streams selected by subscribers in a neighborhood of the client. The video content is contained in a given one of the subset of the program streams and the client is tuned to a channel corresponding to the given one of the subset of the streams. The supplemental information is transmitted from the head end, over the switched digital video content-based network, to the client, based upon the channel to which the client is tuned. The video content and the supplemental information can both be sent on an identical carrier frequency corresponding to the channel; they may employ an identical quadrature amplitude modulation scheme, and the video content can be broken into packets identified via a first packet identifier, with the supplemental information broken into packets identified via a second packet identifier. | 05-21-2009 |
| 20090052870 | Apparatus And Method For Remote Control Of Digital Video Recorders And The Like - A system stores a first permission parameter associated with a first user of a set of digital video recorders (DVRs) and at least a second permission parameter associated with a second user of the set. The second permission parameter defines a different level of permission for controlling the set than the first permission parameter. At least one server receives a first request to control the set from the first user and a second request to control the set from the second user. The set is controlled in accordance with: (i) the first request, based on the first permission parameter, and (ii) the second request, based on the second permission parameter. The controlling includes at least communicating with the set over a network. Techniques are also provided for directly obtaining information on a DVR in real time over a content network | 02-26-2009 |
| 20090052863 | Apparatus And Method For Remote Wireless Control Of Digital Video Recorders And The Like - At least one server is queried from a wireless device to obtain program data, and to obtain DVR data from a digital video recorder. The program data is received from the server and the DVR data is received from the digital video recorder The program data and/or the DVR data are displayed on the wireless device. The at least one digital video recorder is controlled by selecting a user-operable function from the program data and/or the DVR data on the wireless device. | 02-26-2009 |
| 20090046873 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DETERMINING AUDIO LOUDNESS LEVELS IN PROGRAMMING - An example of a method of correcting an audio level of a stored program asset comprises retrieving a stored program asset having audio encoded at a first loudness setting. Dialog of the audio of the asset is identified, a loudness of the dialog is determined and the determined loudness is compared to the first loudness setting. The asset is re-encoded at a second loudness setting corresponding to the determined loudness, if the first loudness setting and the second loudness are different by more than a predetermined amount. The determined loudness is preferably a DIALNORM of the dialog. The asset may be stored with the re-encoded loudness setting. The method may be applied to programs as they are being received from a source, as well. Aspects of the method may also be applied to programs to be provided by a source. Systems are also disclosed. | 02-19-2009 |
| 20080253406 | TRANSPORT STREAM ENCAPSULATED TRICK MODES - A representation of an audiovisual asset is obtained and is processed to obtain at least one normal playback video elementary stream, (optionally, at least one audio elementary stream), and at least one trick mode video elementary stream. A transport stream is formed from the at least one normal playback video elementary stream, the at least one audio elementary stream (where present), and the at least one trick mode video elementary stream, with the at least one trick mode video elementary stream encapsulated in the transport stream. Streaming of the transport stream within a network is facilitated, for example, to a VOD server (for de-encapsulation), and in some approaches, to a set-top box. | 10-16-2008 |
