Comcast Cable Communications, LLC

Tivo Corporation

Derik Yarnell

Ross Gilson

Yasser Fouad Syed

Jeffrey Ronald Wannamaker

Benny Pruden

Stephen Allinson

Patrick G Ladd

Christopher Lintz

Jiang Xu

A first server device may store a first copy of a content item, and a second server device may store a second copy of the content item. A computing device may receive a request for the content item from a user device. The computing device may determine a user identifier associated with the user device and send, to the first and second server devices, the user identifier and an indication of the content item. The computing device may determine, based on a response by the first server device, at least one of a quality score or a recording score associated with the first copy of the content item, and the computing device may send, to the user device and based on the at least one of the first quality score or the first recording score, a portion of the first copy of the content item.

Systems and methods for improving video playback quality

A media device and methods that identify playback states reachable from a current content playback state and identify a reachable state that is likely to occur, are disclosed. A memory associated with the media device may receive frames that enable a smooth transition between the playback state and the reachable state. The media device may receive frames that correspond to points in the content that are separated by an amount of time that is proportional to the playback rate of the likely state. The frames may be frames corresponding to an image that may be played back at the playback rate of the likely state.

Local cache maintenance for media content

Methods, systems, and computing devices are described herein for request and transmission, to a computing device, of media content based on the importance of a portion of the media content. Media content may comprise baseline media content and enhancement data. Based on determining that an importance of a portion of the media content meets a threshold, the computing device may receive the enhancement data. The computing device may receive the enhancement data via a separate interface than the baseline media content. Information about baseline media content, enhancement data, and the importance of a portion of the media content may be contained in a manifest. The threshold for importance may be based on the media content, the enhancement data, an interface to be used, and/or user preferences.

Media content enhancement based on content importance

Methods and systems for managing data and/or operations on data are disclosed. A method can comprise receiving content from a first storage medium for playback. The received content can comprise a stored first portion of a transport stream. At least a portion of the received content can be caused to playback. A playback position of the at least a portion of the received content can be determined relative to a live position of the transport stream. If the determined playback position of the at least a portion of the received content is outside a predetermined threshold proximity to the live position, a second portion of the transport stream can be stored to the first storage medium. If the determined playback position of the received content is within the predetermined threshold proximity to the live position, the second portion of the transport stream can be stored to a second storage medium.

Time shift buffer via flash memory

Methods, systems, and computing devices are described herein for request and transmission, to a computing device, of media content based on the importance of a portion of the media content. Media content may comprise baseline media content and enhancement data. Based on determining that an importance of a portion of the media content meets a threshold, the computing device may retrieve the enhancement data. The computing device may retrieve the enhancement data via a separate interface than the baseline media content. Information about baseline media content, enhancement data, and the importance of a portion of the media content may be contained in a manifest. The threshold for importance may be based on the media content and/or user preferences.

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Montrose, CO, United States of America

Derik Yarnell