Comcast Cable Communications, LLC

Tivo Corporation

Comcast Cable Holdings, LLC

Adeia Media Holdings LLC

John G Leddy

Brian Field

Jan Van Doorn

Jim Hall

Mark Torluemke

Daniel Groustra

John Jason Brzozowski

Weidong Mao

Joseph Kiok

Bruce Bradley

Robert Gaydos

Todd A Walker

Thomas Day

Allen Broome

Ross Gilson

Amit Garg

Michael Sallas

Richard Woundy

Chris Bastian

Slade Mitchell

Charles L Compton

David De Andrade

Patrick G Ladd

Michael A Chen

James W Fahrny

Richard M Woundy

Sree Kotay

Richard Hertz

Eric Scott Rosenfeld

David I Casti

Methods and systems are disclosed for tailoring related episode content within an episode, thereby improving a user's experience. In response to receiving a request for an episode, several factors may be considered when determining how much of the related episode content to provide. These factors may include information such as whether the user has already viewed a previous episode, the elapsed time since viewing the previous episode and a user preference. Related episode content may be modified to remove portions previously viewed by a user, depending on factors such as the elapsed time and a user preference.

Providing related episode content

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.

Content archive model

Aspects discussed herein relate to systems, apparatuses, and methods to determine when a user remains engaged or stops paying attention to a content item. In response, a snapshot of the user's activity and environment may be obtained to ascertain the reason the user stopped paying attention. If the user stopped paying attention as a result of being uninterested in the content item, the system may replace the content item, such as an advertisement, with a different content item to regain the user's attention. Further, demographic information and the user's interests may be updated for use in scheduling future content items.

Collection analysis and use of viewer behavior

Systems and methods for providing one or more secure services are disclosed. One method can comprise authenticating and/or authorizing a user device to receive a security token. A request for information can be processed using the security token to facilitate the secure provision of services to the user device.

Systems and methods for providing secure services

Systems and methods for managing a network are disclosed. One method can comprise determining presence of a first network device associated with a network. If the first network device is not present, a second network device can be configured to assume authority of the network. If the first network device is present, the second network device can be configured to join the network. Other aspects relate to providing services in an environment having multiple service providers.

Dynamic network awareness

Aspects of the disclosure relate to transmitting content throughout a distribution network. For example, a computing device may generate data packets and attribute packets, and transmit the data packets and attribute packets to one or more user devices. The attribute packets may comprise information that enables validation and storage after the data packet is reassembled by the receiving device.

Systems and methods for content transmission

A network digital video recording (nDVR) system may take into account the capabilities of a requesting user's local DVR when managing network recordings. The user's local DVR may include a temporary buffer that is normally used to record what the DVR is tuned to, and may be used for local trickplay functionality such as pausing live television. The nDVR features described herein may track the usage of the user's temporary DVR buffer, and use that in determining what to stream in response to a user's playback request. The nDVR system can also determine if the user's local DVR has an unused tuner at a time of a program recording, and can instruct the user's local DVR to also tune to the program.

Network recorder buffer

Aspects of the disclosure relate to monitoring and using telemetry information in various ways. For example, a system that monitors telemetry information may include a user that gathers telemetry information of a device and transmits the information to a monitored room. A manager may join a monitored room and monitor the monitored room for particular types of telemetry information. In one example, a manager may determine whether a downstream device is experiencing a network problem, such as a low bitrate. A manager may also transmit commands to the player via the monitored room, which causes the downstream device to operate in accordance with the transmitted command. In one example, a manager may transmit a command that causes a player to decode a particular service.

Monitoring and using telemetry data

Systems and methods relating to fragmenting content based on metadata are disclosed. In one embodiment, metadata is obtained from data that is accessible from an interface. A content descriptor, based on at least a portion of the metadata, may be utilized to determine fragment size. The content descriptor value may be derived from multiple forms of metadata, such as for example, genre, sub-genre, presence of live media, and combinations thereof. The fragments may be either virtual or physically discrete segments or files. In one aspect, the value may be the sole basis for determining the fragment lengths. In another aspect of the embodiment, the division of the content is conducted such that each resultant fragment comprises a single frame type.

Fragmenting media content

Growing community of inventors

Philadelphia, PA, United States of America

John G Leddy