Packaging Content for Delivery

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025055900-A1
Application number	US-202418929142-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 28, 2024
Priority date	Aug 25, 2016
Publication date	Feb 13, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

Systems and methods for delivering content to user equipment are described. The content may be delivered using Internet Protocol (IP) delivery, Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM) delivery, or another delivery format. For example, the system may receive content including a plurality of segments. The system may use manifest data to identify each of the plurality of segments. The system may also use the manifest data to generate index data for the plurality of segments, and the index data may be delivered to user devices with the plurality of segments. In some aspects, the system may use location information (e.g., timestamps, such as program clock references) for one or more data packet of the one of the plurality of segments to generate location information for other data packets.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method comprising:
sending, by a computing device, a first request for content in a first format in which a first content segment, of a plurality of content segments of the content, comprises first position information for the plurality of content segments; receiving, by the computing device based on the first request, the plurality of content segments of the content in the first format; sending, by the computing device, a second request for content in a second format in which each content segment, of a plurality of content segments of the content in the second format, comprises corresponding position information that is based on the first position information; and receiving, by the computing device based on the second request, the plurality of content segments of the content in the second format.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein position information is comprised in less than all of the plurality of content segments of the content in the first format.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of content segments of the content in the second format are generated based upon the content stored in the first format.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the position information that is comprised in each of the plurality of content segments of the content in the second format is generated by interpolation or extrapolation of the first position information.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first format is an Internet Protocol format and the second format is a Quadrature Amplitude Modulation format.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first position information for the plurality of content segments of the content in the first format and the position information that is comprised in each of the plurality of content segments of the content in the second format comprise at least one of offset information, timing information, a timestamp, or a program clock reference.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first position information for the plurality of content segments of the content in the first format comprises a timestamp, and
wherein the first position information and the position information that is comprised in each of the plurality of content segments of the content in the second format comprise a plurality of program clock references.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the computing device is located a first distance from a location at which the content is stored, which is less than a second distance between a content source and the computing device.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving the plurality of content segments of the content in the second format comprises:
receiving, based on a manifest file, audio in a first audio format of a plurality of audio formats associated with the content in the second format.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of content segments of the content in the first format and the plurality of content segments of the content in the second format are received by the computing device based upon capabilities of the computing device to play content.

11 . An apparatus comprising:
at least one processor; and memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to:
send, to a computing device, a first request for content in a first format in which a first content segment, of a plurality of content segments of the content, comprises first position information for the plurality of content segments;
receive, from the computing device based on the first request, the plurality of content segments of the content in the first format;
send, to the computing device, a second request for content in a second format in which each content segment, of a plurality of content segments of the content in the second format, comprises corresponding position information that is based on the first position information; and
receive, from the computing device based on the second request, the plurality of content segments of the content in the second format.

12 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein position information is comprised in less than all of the plurality of content segments of the content in the first format.

13 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of content segments of the content in the second format are generated based upon the content stored in the first format.

14 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the position information that is comprised in each of the plurality of content segments of the content in the second format is generated by interpolation or extrapolation of the first position information.

15 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the first format is an Internet Protocol format and the second format is a Quadrature Amplitude Modulation format.

16 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the first position information for the plurality of content segments of the content in the first format and the position information that is comprised in each of the plurality of content segments of the content in the second format comprise at least one of offset information, timing information, a timestamp, or a program clock reference.

17 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the first position information for the plurality of content segments of the content in the first format comprises a timestamp, and
wherein the first position information and the position information that is comprised in each of the plurality of content segments of the content in the second format comprise a plurality of program clock references.

18 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the apparatus is located a first distance from a location at which the content is stored, which is less than a second distance between a content source and the computing device.

19 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the apparatus to receive the plurality of content segments of the content in the second format by:
receiving, based on a manifest file, audio in a first audio format of a plurality of audio formats associated with the content in the second format.

20 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of content segments of the content in the first format and the plurality of content segments of the content in the second format are received based upon capabilities of the apparatus to play content.

21 . One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing instructions that, when executed, cause:
sending, by a computing device, a first request for content in a first format in which a first content segment, of a plurality of content segments of the content, comprises first position information for the plurality of content segments; receiving, by the computing device based on the first request, the plurality of content segments of the content in the first format; sending, by the computing device, a second request for content in a second format in which each content segment, of a plurality of content segments of the content in the second format, comprises corresponding position information that is based on the first position information; and receiving, by the computing device based on the second request, the plurality of content segments of the content in the second format.

22 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 21 , wherein position information is comprised in less than all of the plurality of content segments of the content in the first

Assignees

• Comcast Cable Comm Llc

Inventors

• Barkley James
• Mao Weidong

Classifications

• H04L65/762

  at the source  (reformatting of additional data in video distribution servers H04N21/2355) · CPC title

• H04L65/612

  for unicast · CPC title

• H04N21/2368

  Multiplexing of audio and video streams · CPC title

• H04L12/2887

  characterised by the offered subscriber services · CPC title

• H04L12/2878 Primary

  Access multiplexer, e.g. DSLAM (generic distributed time multiplexers, e.g. TDM/TDMA H04J3/1694) · CPC title