Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC

Charter Communications Operating, LLC

James Panagos

Jeremy Spencer

Jason Forbes

Justin Slaughter

Reuben Patterson

Apparatus and methods for managing content delivery in a packetized network. In one embodiment, the network provide content to a plurality of clients via a plurality of nodes and origin points, and resources are discreetly represented (e.g., with IP addresses, such as those afforded under the IPv6 protocol) to allows for direct advertisement of resources. Exemplary solutions described herein further advantageously leverage extant architectures and protocols (such as BGP), and make use of a common control plane, which can be utilized for example by different content delivery network (CDN) operators and different delivery components to advertise resources. Internally within a given CDN, increased granularity of resource addressing and advertisement may provide benefits including: (i) resource affinity; (ii) resource-level balancing; (iii) dynamic resource scoping; and (iv) 'zero-touch' provisioning and resource relocation.

Apparatus and methods for packetized content routing and delivery

Multicast video program switching architecture. In one embodiment, a user makes a request for service. A controller determines whether the channel is currently broadcast. When the channel is currently broadcast, redirect the user to an address of the channel. When the channel is not currently broadcast, query a storage apparatus to find a currently broadcast channel that has no current viewership, send, a request to a multicast network address translation (MNAT) router comprising a multicast address of the currently broadcast channel and an identifier of the requested channel to modify MNAT settings on the MNAT router and redirect the user to the multicast address, the multicast address associated with the requested channel.

Multicast video program switching architecture

Apparatus and methods for delivery of content in a packetized network. In one embodiment, content and/or services can be associated with an IP address. The IP address may be assigned to multiple server devices disposed at geographically diverse locations. Delivery caches may advertise, via a routing protocol, one or more addresses to clients of the network. Route selection may be configured based on one or more rules such as geographical proximity, available bandwidth, server availability, server load, delivery cost, client subscription level, licensing rules, and/or other metric. Delivery caches may be configured to control their availability and/or load through IP address withdrawals and announcements. When the 'closest' delivery cache may become unavailable (e.g., it is not announcing the IP address for the content the client is trying to obtain, a route to the next 'closest' available delivery cache may be utilized.

Packetized content delivery apparatus and methods

Apparatus and methods for managing content delivery in a packetized network. The network provide content to a plurality of clients via a plurality of nodes. A security threat associated with one of the nodes is detected and in response the host uses border gateway protocol to communicate non-forwarding table information informing one or more nodes of the network of the threat. In another variant, communication allows the nodes to take local action to protect themselves. This same local action occurs on the host, allowing it to continue serving content. The host utilizes BGP to dynamically inform nodes of changes in the network traffic delivery rules, such as causing traffic to different clients having different levels of reliability and/or provided on a best-effort basis. The BGP may be utilized to add/remove routes or nodes and to identify and respond to potentially malicious activities, changes in network configuration, and/or delivery requirements.

A multi-tier content distribution system includes a first repository, a second repository, and a third repository from which to distribute content. The first repository serves as a first choice from which to distribute requested content to a requesting party. If the requested content is not available from the first repository, the multi-tier content distribution system attempts retrieval and distribution of the requested content from the second repository, which serves as a backup resource to the first repository. If the requested content is not available from the second repository, the multi-tier content distribution system attempts retrieval and distribution of the requested content from the third repository, which serves as a backup resource to the second repository. The multi-tier content distribution system includes a content management resource operable to selectively populate the second repository with pre-formatted content retrieved from the third repository.

Growing community of inventors

Arvada, CO, United States of America

James Panagos