Configurable digital content storage

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9438942-B2
Application number	US-201414196478-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 4, 2014
Priority date	Mar 4, 2014
Publication date	Sep 6, 2016
Grant date	Sep 6, 2016

Abstract

A routing device is coupled to a storage device to function as a digital video recorder (DVR) to store digital content. The routing device may include a client function to receive and store the digital content, and a server function to provide the stored digital content to a user device. Digital content directed to the client function may be recorded by the storage device, while other digital content may be passed by server function to the user device. The digital content may be received by the routing device in an encoded and/or encrypted format, and the digital content may be recorded by the storage device in the encoded and/or encrypted format.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
initiating, by a routing device, a client/server function within the routing device, wherein the client/server function defines a first network address;
receiving, by the routing device, a first request related to acquiring first digital content and a second request related to acquiring second digital content, wherein the first request indicates that the first digital content is to be stored by a storage device coupled to a data port included in the routing device, wherein the second request indicates that the second digital content is to be forwarded to a user device external to the routing device, and wherein the user device is associated with a second network address that differs from the first network address;
modifying, by the routing device, the first request to include the first network address;
forwarding, by the routing device, the modified first request to a multicast device, wherein the first digital content is multicast to a group of network addresses, and wherein the modified first request causes the multicast device to include the first network address in the group of network addresses;
receiving, by the routing device, the first digital content and the second digital content, wherein the routing device and storage device are located at a customer premises, and wherein the first digital content and the second digital content are sent from at least one source that is external to the customer premises;
establishing, by the routing device and based on receiving the first request and the second request, a first path toward the first network address and a second path toward the second network address;
forwarding, by the routing device, the first digital content to the storage device via the first path;
forwarding, by the routing device, the second digital content toward the user device via the second path;
receiving, by the routing device and from the user device, a third request related to accessing the first digital content from the storage device;
establishing, by the routing device and based on receiving the third request, a third path between the first network address and the second network address; and
forwarding, by the routing device, the first digital content from the storage device to the user device via the third path, wherein forwarding the first digital content from the storage device to the user device includes:
forwarding, by the routing device, a portion of the first digital content to the user device; and
storing, by the routing device, metadata identifying the portion of the first digital content forwarded to the user device.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
providing a program guide to the user device; and
receiving, as one or more of the first request or the second request, at least one selection from the program guide.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises:
identifying a time when a bandwidth between the routing device and the at least one source exceeds a threshold value; and
scheduling the at least one source to deliver the first digital content to the client/server function during the time.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the portion of the first digital content is forwarded to the user device during a first time period, and wherein forwarding the first digital content from the storage device to the user device further includes:
forwarding, based on the metadata, another portion of the first digital content to the user device during a second time period that is after the first time period.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the data port includes a physical connector configured to receive a wire, and wherein the first path includes the wire.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the client/server function is included in a network file system (NFS) or a server message block (SMB).

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the client/server function is configured to modify the first digital content to include digital rights management (DRM) information, and wherein the modified first digital content is forwarded via the first path to the storage device.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein initiating the client/server function within the routing device includes:
detecting when the storage device is coupled to the routing device; and
initiating the client/server function based on detecting the storage device being coupled to the routing device.

9. An apparatus comprising:
a memory configured to store instructions;
a data port; and
a processor configured to execute one or more of the instructions to:
initiate a client/server function within the apparatus, wherein the client/server function defines a first network address,
receive a first request for acquiring first digital content and a second request for acquiring second digital content, wherein the first request indicates that the first digital content is to be stored on a storage device coupled to the data port and the second request indicates that the second digital content is to be forwarded to a user device external to the apparatus, and wherein the user device is associated with a second network address that differs from the first network address,
modify the first request to include the first network address,
forward the modified first request to a multicast device, wherein the first digital content is multicast to a group of network addresses, and wherein the modified first request causes the multicast device to include the first network address in the group of network addresses,
receive the first digital content and the second digital content, wherein the apparatus and storage device are located at a customer premises, and wherein at least one of the first digital content and the second digital content are sent from a source that is external to the customer premises,
establish, based on receiving the first request and the second request, a first path toward the first network address and a second path toward the second network address,
forward the first digital content to the storage device via the first path,
forward the second digital content toward the user device via the second path,
receive, from the user device, a third request for accessing the first digital content from the storage device,
establish, based on receiving the third request, a third path between the first network address and the second network address, and
forward the first digital content from the storage device to the user device via the third path, wherein the processor, when forwarding the first digital content from the storage device to the user device, is further configured to:
forward a portion of the first digital content to the user device; and
store metadata identifying the portion of the first digital content forwarded to the user device.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the apparatus further comprises:
an input port configured to receive the first digital content and the second digital content;
an output port configured to direct traffic to the user device; and
a switch fabric, and
wherein the processor, when establishing the first path toward the first network address and the second path toward the second network address, is further configured to execute one or more of the instructions to:
configure the switch fabric to provide at least a portion of the first path between the input port and the data port, and
configure the switch fabric to provide at least a portion of the second path between the input port and the output port.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the first digital content is received in an encoded format, and wherein the storage device stores the first digital content

Assignees

• Verizon Patent & Licensing Inc

Inventors

• Fragale Joseph G
• Subramanian Sankar
• O'Callaghan Daniel J
• Ruffini Michael P

Classifications

• H04N21/2747

  Remote storage of video programmes received via the downstream path, e.g. from the server · CPC title

• H04N21/2393

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

• H04N21/4147

  PVR [Personal Video Recorder] (H04N5/76 takes precedence {; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40}) · CPC title

• H04N21/2347

  involving video stream encryption · CPC title

• H04N21/2353

  specifically adapted to content descriptors, e.g. coding, compressing or processing of metadata · CPC title