Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC

Robert D Taylor

Thomas Harrison Reed

Eric D Hybertson

Edward P Galt, Iii

Ernest Joseph Biancarelli

Milash James

Edmund Knufinke

In accordance with one configuration, a server resource forwards map information to a client device. The map information maps a respective title of available content to a corresponding network address from which the respective title of available content is assigned to be retrievable from a server resource. In response to receiving a content request directed from the client device to the corresponding network address of the server resource: the server resource tunes to a corresponding channel to obtain and buffer requested content as specified by the content request and delivers the buffered requested content to the client device.

Tuning efficiency and delivery of content

Methods and apparatus for providing playback devices with trick play functionality are described. The system includes a playback device, e.g., without recording capability, and a gateway device with multiple tuner-demodulators and/or a cable modem and recording capability. During normal playback, in some embodiments, both the playback device and gateway receive content in parallel with the gateway recording content at the request of the playback device and supplying the content over the local network when a user of the playback device requests a trick play operation. A single gateway, with multiple tuner demodulator pairs and/or a cable modem, supports trick play functions. In some embodiments if the number of playback devices exceeds the number of tuner-demodulator pairs in the gateway, the playback device can stream content to the gateway for recording and to be returned via the local network in the event of a request for a trick play operation.

Methods and apparatus for supporting trick play functions in devices without local storage

In accordance with one configuration, in response to receiving a request from a client device, a server resource tunes to a corresponding channel to retrieve content conveyed on the corresponding channel. While tuning, the server resource obtains a network address of the server resource from which content in the corresponding channel will be available for retrieval by the client device subsequent to the server resource successfully tuning to the corresponding channel and buffering a portion of the content. The server resource forwards the network address to the client device for subsequent retrieval of the content.

Growing community of inventors

Boulder, CO, United States of America

Robert D Taylor