Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090094656 | System, method, and apparatus for connecting non-co-located video content viewers in virtual TV rooms for a shared participatory viewing experience - System, method and apparatus for connecting non-co-located video content viewers in Virtual TV Rooms for a shared participatory viewing experience. A multi-platform communication system allows viewers to connect across a plurality of video content delivery services in self-organized viewing communities to interact with each other as they enjoy the content as if they were in the same physical viewing location. A mechanism is provided to allow users to quickly see what their friends are currently watching and join them. In addition to exchanging text-based messages, viewers also share their impressions of the current video program via a defined set of single-key-click impressions called Buzz Tags™. A database and calculation process aggregates this information in to Buzz Profiles as a resource for users to find interesting content and fellow viewers with similar interests. | 04-09-2009 |
20100050218 | Technique for effectively providing various entertainment services through a communications network - A switched broadcast service and a network personal video recorder (NPVR) service are provided synergistically in a cable TV system having limited resources. For example, in providing the switched broadcast service, a resource manager allocates network bandwidth for broadcast of materials from selected program channels on an as needed basis. Such allocation is conducive to an effective provision of the NPVR service which requires dedicated bandwidth for transmitting recorded broadcast program material in a headend to each set-top terminal requesting the NPVR service. Thus, unlike the switched broadcast service where a program stream containing program material is shared by one or more set-top terminals, the NPVR service provides a dedicated program stream to each set-top terminal so that a user at the terminal may manipulate (e.g., rewind, pause and/or fast-forward) a presentation of program material at will. | 02-25-2010 |
20100095325 | USE OF MULTIPLE EMBEDDED MESSAGES IN PROGRAM SIGNAL STREAMS - A method of generating a program signal stream comprises creating a sequence of serial programs that include a first event and a second, later occurring event and inserting a plurality of messages in the sequence of serial programs, between the first event and the 5 second event. The messages may be indicative of a time to the second event, as measured from each respective message of an elapsed time since the first event, to each respective message. Alternatively or in addition, the messages may be at equal time intervals between the first event and second events. The first and second events may be the start and end of a program or a program portion, such as a chapter, an advertisement, unscheduled content or an 10 entire program, for example. At least one message indicative of the time to the second event may be inserted in the sequence of serial programs prior to the first event. | 04-15-2010 |
20120079514 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR NETWORK CONTENT DOWNLOAD AND RECORDING - Methods and apparatus for providing content to users of a network that can be selectively recorded via the user's equipment. In an exemplary embodiment, the network comprises a hybrid fiber coax (HFC) network, and on-demand (OD) sessions are used to provide high-speed download of the requested content to the users. The user's equipment (e.g., set-top box) is equipped with a high-density recording device which can both record the content onto a selected medium (e.g., DVD) and optionally provide copyright protection via one or more means such as limiting the number of copies that can be made, and/or digital watermarking. The network operator can also restrict the establishment of the on-demand sessions and/or release of the content to subscribers based on parameters including prior purchase of the content by the user, and the timing of the release of the same content via other distribution channels such as rental and retail. | 03-29-2012 |
20120131603 | Network based digital information and entertainment storage and delivery system - Live television broadcast and other information and entertainment programs, e.g., videos-on-demand (VOD), are provided to a user through a communications network, e.g., a cable network. A processing unit is employed at an headend of the communications network to respond to user requests for PVR-like functions, e.g., pausing, rewinding and fast-forwarding, to be performed on the program content being viewed. The processing unit in accordance with the invention causes a delivery of an appropriate version of the program content to meet such user requests. | 05-24-2012 |
20130074113 | Program Storage, Retrieval and Management Based on Segmentation Messages - Segmentation messages indicative of locations of upcoming events, such as the start and end of programs and program portions, and/or rights related to the programs and program portions, are used by cable systems and the like to store programs and program portions for later retrieval and transmission to customers on request. Storage, retrieval and management of programming is thereby facilitated. Methods and systems are disclosed. | 03-21-2013 |
20130104162 | TECHNIQUE FOR SECURELY COMMUNICATING PROGRAMMING CONTENT - A technique is provided for securely transferring programming content from a first device in a first layer, e.g., a trusted domain, to a second device in a second layer, e.g., outside the trusted domain. When a user requests that the first device transfer protected content to the second device, the first device needs to authenticate the second device. After the second device is authenticated, the first device may transfer to the second device the protected content, together with a rights file associated therewith. The rights file specifies the rights of the second device to use the protected content, according to its security level indicative of its security. These rights may concern, e.g., the number of times that the second device may subsequently transfer the protected content to other devices, the time period within which the second device may play the protected content, etc. The higher the security level of the second device is, the more rights accorded thereto. Indeed, the second device may need to meet a minimum security level requirement in order for it to receive or keep the protected content. | 04-25-2013 |
20130179932 | Programming Content Processing and Management System and Method - In accordance with aspects of the present invention, a technique is implemented to effectively receive streaming multimedia content in digital form, parse and segment the received transport stream and process the segmented content. Such treatment of received programming content provides for efficient storage of such programming content, and effectively provides for access to such content by administrators of a broadband system as well as users of such systems. In accordance with the invention, a technique enables, among other things: the creation of reference frames for, e.g., effective segmentation of programming content; encapsulation of programming content data as a UDP/IP datagram; associating programming content with provider and dedicated resource attributes; monitoring staging processor activity; effectively segmenting programming content that is scrambled; developing a unicast and multicast; compensating for missing or delayed programming content; and propagating video servers of varying manufacturers. | 07-11-2013 |
20130205329 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR CENTRALIZED CONTENT AND DATA DELIVERY - Methods and apparatus for centralized content, media and data delivery and access within a premises such as, e.g., a residence. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a remotely manageable premises device that acts as a centralized client networking platform, providing gateway services such as network management as well as traditional content and high-speed data delivery functions. The device also acts as the shared interne connection for all devices in the premises via a cable modem, sharing personal and DVR content such as video, music and photos (and any associated metadata) throughout the premises, and providing both a wired and wireless network in the home. Telephony services utilizing e.g., embedded multimedia terminal adapter (eMTA) and/or Wi-Fi architectures may also be provided via the device. The device can also provide a trusted domain for content or data, as well as allowing a subscriber total mobility in the home. | 08-08-2013 |
20130254799 | USE OF MESSAGES IN OR ASSOCIATED WITH PROGRAM SIGNAL STREAMS BY SET-TOP TERMINALS - Methods of operating a communications system comprise, in one example, inserting advertising in a program stream by a receiving device based, at least in part, on an encrypted segmentation message embedded in the program steam. The at least one segmentation message defines an expanse of the program stream to receive the advertising. At least one embedded decoy message is included in the program stream, as well. In one example the receiving device, which may be a set-top terminal, for example, is coupled to a display device, such as a television, at a user location. A method of operating a receiving device coupled to a display device at a user location is also disclosed, comprising programming the receiving device to record a program and recording the program based, at least in part, on at least one segmentation message in a program stream. Systems are disclosed, as well. | 09-26-2013 |
20130254800 | USE OF MESSAGES IN OR ASSOCIATED WITH PROGRAM SIGNAL STREAMS BY SET-TOP TERMINALS - Methods of operating a communications system comprise, in one example, inserting advertising in a program stream by a receiving device based, at least in part, on an encrypted segmentation message embedded in the program steam. The at least one segmentation message defines an expanse of the program stream to receive the advertising. At least one embedded decoy message is included in the program stream, as well. In one example, the receiving device, which may be a set-top terminal, for example, is coupled to a display device, such as a television, at a user location. A method of operating a receiving device coupled to a display device at a user location is also disclosed, comprising programming the receiving device to record a program and recording the program based, at least in part, on at least one segmentation message in a program stream. Systems are disclosed, as well. | 09-26-2013 |
20140177833 | DOWNLOADABLE SECURITY AND PROTECTION METHODS AND APPARATUS - Methods and apparatus for control of data and content protection mechanisms across a network using a download delivery paradigm. In one embodiment, conditional access (CA), digital rights management (DRM), and trusted domain (TD) security policies are delivered, configured and enforced with respect to consumer premises equipment (CPE) within a cable television network. A trusted domain is established within the user's premises within which content access, distribution, and reproduction can be controlled remotely by the network operator. The content may be distributed to secure or non-secure “output” domains consistent with the security policies enforced by secure CA, DRM, and TD clients running within the trusted domain. Legacy and retail CPE models are also supported. A network security architecture comprising an authentication proxy (AP), provisioning system (MPS), and conditional access system (CAS) is also disclosed, which can interface with a trusted authority (TA) for cryptographic element management and CPE/user device authentication. | 06-26-2014 |
20140189353 | APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR PROVISIONING IN A DOWNLOAD-ENABLED SYSTEM - Apparatus and methods for provisioning of customer premise equipment (CPE) equipped with a secure microprocessor to receive e.g., digital video content by entering unique identification of the CPE at one or more servers located at the headend or other location of a content-based network. In one embodiment, the CPE comprises a download-enabled (e.g., DCAS) host with embedded cable modem and embedded set-top box functionality, and the provisioning includes enabling DOCSIS functionality of the CPE, assigning an IP address to the CPE and providing the CPE with a client image for the conditional access system chosen by the network operator. In one variant, the network operator can deactivate a provisioned device while connected to the network, as well when disconnected from the network. The network operator can also add, delete or replace conditional access client image in a provisioned device. | 07-03-2014 |
20140344897 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR PREMISES CONTENT DISTRIBUTION - Apparatus and methods for protected content access, browsing and transfer over a network. In one embodiment, the network comprises a premises (e.g., residential) LAN, and the apparatus comprises a server and renderer consumer premise equipment (CPE). The renderer CPE scans the network to search for a server CPE that implement a compatible security framework. The renderer authenticates itself with the server, and the server allows content browsing and selection access only to an authorized and authenticated renderer. A negotiation and exchange protocol comprises messages exchanged between the renderer and the server that include one or more of device identification, encryption key exchange, digital certificates and information regarding security package used by each CPE. | 11-20-2014 |
20140359670 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR NETWORK CONTENT DOWNLOAD AND RECORDING - Methods and apparatus for providing content to users of a network that can be selectively recorded via the user's equipment. In an exemplary embodiment, the network comprises a hybrid fiber coax (HFC) network, and on-demand (OD) sessions are used to provide high-speed download of the requested content to the users. The user's equipment (e.g., set-top box) is equipped with a high-density recording device which can both record the content onto a selected medium (e.g., DVD) and optionally provide copyright protection via one or more means such as limiting the number of copies that can be made, and/or digital watermarking. The network operator can also restrict the establishment of the on-demand sessions and/or release of the content to subscribers based on parameters including prior purchase of the content by the user, and the timing of the release of the same content via other distribution channels such as rental and retail. | 12-04-2014 |
20150040151 | PROGRAM STORAGE, RETRIEVAL AND MANAGEMENT BASED ON SEGMENTATION MESSAGES - Segmentation messages indicative of locations of upcoming events, such as the start and end of programs and program portions, and/or rights related to the programs and program portions, are used by cable systems and the like to store programs and program portions for later retrieval and transmission to customers on request. Storage, retrieval and management of programming is thereby facilitated. Methods and systems are disclosed. | 02-05-2015 |
20150074712 | PROGRAM STORAGE, RETRIEVAL AND MANAGEMENT BASED ON SEGMENTATION MESSAGES - Segmentation messages indicative of locations of upcoming events, such as the start and end of programs and program portions, and/or rights related to the programs and program portions, are used by cable systems and the like to store programs and program portions for later retrieval and transmission to customers on request. Storage, retrieval and management of programming is thereby facilitated. Methods and systems are disclosed. | 03-12-2015 |