Apparatus and methods for network video recording

Abstract

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.

1 - 60 . (canceled) 
     
     
         61 . A method for preparing content for delivery via a personal video recorder function of a packet-switched Internet protocol (IP)-based network, the method comprising:
 ingesting the content;   processing the ingested content, the processing comprising at least one step for segmenting the content;   storing the segmented content at one or more decentralized storage locations within the packet-switched IP-based network;   receiving, from a client device via the packet-switched IP-based network, a request for at least a portion of the content; and   generating a content stream using at least a portion of the stored segmented content.   
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 61 , wherein the segmenting comprises cutting the content at one or more I-frame boundaries; and
 wherein the method further comprises generating metadata regarding the stored segmented content.   
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 62 , wherein one or more advertisement segments are selected for insertion based at least in part on a comparison of metadata associated with the advertisement segments and the metadata regarding the stored segmented content. 
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 61 , further comprising sending the content stream to the client device by sending the content stream via a server within the packet-switched IP-based network. 
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 61 , further comprising sending the content stream to the client device by sending the content stream from one or more content libraries within the packet-switched IP-based network. 
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 61 , wherein the ingesting of the content is performed substantially in response to the receipt of at least one user request. 
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 61 , wherein the storing comprises storing the segmented content on one or more commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) storage devices, the COTS devices configured for data communication with other packet network devices. 
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 61 , wherein the storing comprises:
 storing a first portion of the plurality of content elements at a first decentralized storage location within the packet-switched IP-based network; and   storing a second portion of the plurality of content elements at a second decentralized storage location within the packet-switched IP-based network.   
     
     
         69 . Apparatus for the acquisition and distribution of content in an Internet data services delivery network, the apparatus comprising:
 at least one processing entity, the processing entity configured to:
 acquire digitally rendered content from one or more content sources; and 
 segment the acquired content based on one or more frame boundaries; 
   at least one storage entity, the at least one storage entity in data communication with the processing entity and configured to store the segmented content;   at least one local server entity, the server entity configured to:
 generate a content stream using at least portions of the stored content; and 
 distribute the content stream via the Internet data services delivery network. 
   
     
     
         70 . The apparatus of  claim 69 , further comprising one or more Internet protocol (IP)-enabled servers, the IP-enabled servers configured to receive data and transmit the content stream to at least one client device associated with the network. 
     
     
         71 . The apparatus of  claim 69 , further comprising at least one content library, the content library configured to:
 receive a request for content from at least one client device in data communication with the network; and   establish a mechanism for delivery of the requested content to the at least one client device.   
     
     
         72 . The apparatus of  claim 71 , wherein the mechanism for the delivery of the requested content comprises the content library requesting the requested content from the at least one local server entity, and delivering the requested content to the at least one client device. 
     
     
         73 . The apparatus of  claim 71 , wherein the mechanism for the delivery of the requested content comprises the content library forwarding the request to at least one local IP-enabled server entity, and enabling the at least one local IP-enabled server entity to communicate with the at least one client device over the Internet data services delivery network. 
     
     
         74 . The apparatus of  claim 69 , wherein
 the at least one storage entity comprises a first storage entity configured to store a first portion of the segmented content, and a second storage entity configured to store a second portion of the segmented content; and   the at least one local server entity is configured to generate the content stream using at least a portion of the first portion and at least a portion of the second portion of the segmented content.   
     
     
         75 . An apparatus for storage and distribution of content in a nPVR system of an Internet protocol (IP)-based network, the apparatus comprising:
 a network interface, the interface configured to enable the apparatus to receive and distribute the content via the IP-based network;   a storage entity, the storage entity in data communication with the network interface and configured to store the content; and   a processing entity, the processing entity in data communication with the network interface and the storage entity and configured to run at least one computer program thereon, the computer program configured to, when executed, enable the apparatus to generate a content stream based at least in part on the content;   wherein the storage entity comprises one or more commodity-based storage entities, the one or more commodity-based storage entities comprise hardware-assisted Flash memory-based storage devices; and   wherein the content comprises content segments which have been cut at I-frame boundaries.   
     
     
         76 . The apparatus of  claim 75 , wherein the generating of the content stream comprises joining the content segments to one or more advertisement segments; and
 the processing entity is further configured to run at least one software application configured to generate metadata regarding the stored content; and   the one or more advertisement segments are selected based at least in part on a comparison of metadata associated with the one or more advertisement segments and metadata regarding the stored content.   
     
     
         77 . The apparatus of  claim 75 , wherein the apparatus is further configured to:
 acquire a single network content stream for service of multiple advertising zones within the network;   store content acquired via the single content stream;   mark the stored content with at least one pointer; and   create a new file that has descriptors that identify:
 (i) content elements within the stored content; and 
 (ii) one or more advertisement files. 
   
     
     
         78 . The apparatus of  claim 75 , wherein the descriptors comprise pointers to content storage elements provided from a supplier of the content. 
     
     
         79 . The apparatus of  claim 75 , wherein the one or more advertisement files comprise: (i) linear broadcast for a designated advertising zone, or (ii) a set of targeted advertisements. 
     
     
         80 . The apparatus of  claim 75 , wherein the apparatus is enabled to:
 distribute a first portion of the content segments to a first storage entity for storage of the first portion therein; and   distribute a second portion of the content segments to a second storage entity for storage of the second portion therein.