Content archive model

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12423352-B2
Application number	US-202117533737-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 23, 2021
Priority date	Feb 10, 2011
Publication date	Sep 23, 2025
Grant date	Sep 23, 2025

Abstract

An archive model can be used for managing networked storage of recorded content, such as network DVR (digital video recorder) content. Content may be initially recorded to an active storage device, with individual duplicate copies recorded for each requesting user, and subsequently archived to an archive storage device. For playback, the content can be reconstituted into the active storage device prior to delivery to the requesting user. Content can be predictively reconstituted in anticipation of user needs, and the reconstitution capacity of the system can be dynamically reallocated for load balancing.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
receiving a first request for playback of a first content item;
retrieving, based on the first request:
a common portion of the first content item; and
a unique portion of the first content item corresponding to a user, wherein the common portion and the unique portion together form an entirety of an onscreen image of the first content item,

reconstituting, based on the common portion of the first content item and the unique portion of the first content item, and based on an initial playback point of the first content item, a first portion of the first content item;
streaming the first portion of the first content item;
receiving a second request for playback of a second content item;
while streaming the first portion of the first content item and based on a remaining duration associated with the first request being shorter than a remaining duration associated with the second request:
reconstituting a second portion of the first content item, wherein the second portion comprises a portion of the first content item that is subsequent to the first portion of the first content item; and
reconstituting a beginning portion of a third content item associated with the first content item.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the first content item comprises the initial playback point of the first content item.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving an indication of an adjustment to a presentation rate of the playback of the first content item; and
streaming, based on the received indication, the beginning portion of the third content item.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the first portion and the second portion comprises a predetermined amount of time of the first content item.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving an indication of the initial playback point of the first content item, wherein the initial playback point of the first content item is selected by the user.

6. The method claim 1 , wherein the first content item is an episode and the third content item is a next episode of the episode.

7. The method claim 1 , wherein the first content item is associated with a television show and the second content item is associated with a different television show.

8. An apparatus comprising:
one or more processors; and
memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to:
receive a first request for playback of a first content item;
retrieve, based on the first request:
a common portion of the first content item; and
a unique portion of the first content item corresponding to a user, wherein the common portion and the unique portion together form an entirety of an onscreen image of the first content item,

reconstitute, based on the common portion of the first content item and the unique portion of the first content item, and based on an initial playback point of the first content item, a first portion of the first content item;
stream the first portion of the first content item;
receive a second request for playback of a second content item;
while streaming the first portion of the first content item and based on a remaining duration associated with the first request being shorter than a remaining duration associated with the second request:
reconstitute a second portion of the first content item, wherein the second portion comprises a portion of the first content item that is subsequent to the first portion of the first content item; and
reconstitute a beginning portion of a third content item associated with the first content item.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the first portion of the first content item comprises the initial playback point of the first content item.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to:
receive an indication of an adjustment to a presentation rate of the playback of the first content item; and
stream, based on the received indication, the beginning portion of the third content item.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein each of the first portion and the second portion comprises a predetermined amount of time of the first content item.

12. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to:
receive an indication of the initial playback point of the first content item, wherein the initial playback point of the first content item is selected by the user.

13. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the first content item is an episode and the third content item is a next episode of the episode.

14. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the first content item is associated with a television show and the second content item is associated with a different television show.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed, cause:
receiving a first request for playback of a first content item;
retrieving, based on the first request:
a common portion of the first content item; and
a unique portion of the first content item corresponding to a user, wherein the common portion and the unique portion together form an entirety of an onscreen image of the first content item,

reconstituting, based on the common portion of the first content item and the unique portion of the first content item, and based on an initial playback point of the first content item, a first portion of the first content item;
streaming the first portion of the first content item;
receiving a second request for playback of a second content item;
while streaming the first portion of the first content item and based on a remaining duration associated with the first request being shorter than a remaining duration associated with the second request:
reconstituting a second portion of the first content item, wherein the second portion comprises a portion of the first content item that is subsequent to the first portion of the first content item; and
reconstituting a beginning portion of a third content item associated with the first content item.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the first portion of the first content item comprises the initial playback point of the first content item.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause:
receiving an indication of an adjustment to a presentation rate of the playback of the first content item; and
streaming, based on the received indication, the beginning portion of the third content item.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein each of the first portion and the second portion comprises a predetermined amount of time of the first content item.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause:
receiving an indication of the initial playback point of the first content item, wherein the initial playback point of the first content item is selected by the user.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the first content item is an episode and the third content item is a next episode of the episode.

Assignees

• Comcast Cable Comm Llc

Inventors

• Walker Todd
• Bradley Bruce
• Day Thomas
• Gaydos Robert
• Leddy John
• Mao Weidong

Classifications

• H04N21/274

  Storing end-user {multimedia} data in response to end-user request {, e.g. network recorder} · CPC title

• H04N7/17336

  Handling of requests in head-ends · CPC title

• H04N21/2393

  involving handling client requests (scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60) · CPC title

• H04N21/25891

  being end-user preferences (retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18) · CPC title

• H04N21/23103

  using load balancing strategies, e.g. by placing or distributing content on different disks, different memories or different servers (storage management G06F3/0604; allocation of resources considering the load in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/505; techniques for rebalancing the load in a distributed system G06F9/5083; access to distributed or replicated servers, e.g. load balancing, in data networks H04L67/1001) · CPC title