Apparatus and methods for network video recording

摘要

Apparatus and methods for the capture and delivery of content over a network. In one embodiment, the network comprises a cable television network, and the apparatus comprises a local server which stores, processes and assembles content prior to its delivery to a VOD server, thus obviating the need for superfluous VOD storage. This approach also facilitates various pre-streaming processing in a video recording (e.g., nPVR) system, and gives a network operator dynamic control over local playlists. In another embodiment, the local server of the improved system obviates the need for a VOD server in the nPVR system. One or more content libraries adapted to facilitate nPVR content access across one or more regions of a broadcast network are also disclosed. Secondary content (e.g., promotions, advertisements, etc.) can also be selectively inserted into nPVR content. Various access, business or operational rules and methods implementing the foregoing are also described.

主权项

1. A method for delivery of content via a network personal video recorder in a content delivery network, said method comprising:
ingesting said content via a network-initiated determination, in real-time; processing said content, said processing comprising:
segmenting said content into a plurality of elements, each of said segmented plurality of elements comprising at least one splice point;creating a virtual file comprising a plurality of pointers, each associated to a physical location of a storage block for storing respective ones of said plurality of elements of said content, said virtual file stored with said content; andremoving one or more discontinuity artifacts between one or more of said segmented plurality of elements in real-time by transcoding only data near said at least one splice point in said segmented plurality of elements;storing said segmented content elements;receiving a request for at least a portion of said content;generating a content stream using at least a portion of said content elements;sending said content stream to one or more users;during said act of sending said content stream to said one or more users, monitoring a transmission rate of said act of sending and a number of retransmission requests by said one or more users;determining a transmission efficiency based, at least in part, on said transmission rate and said number of retransmission requests by said one or more users; andadjusting said transmission rate when said determined transmission efficiency is less than a threshold level.