Hybrid storage of program recordings in a service provider network

A method of managing, by a service provider, a program stored within a service provider network. Multiple multimedia devices are in communication with the service provider network. In accordance with one embodiment, a method for managing, by a service provider, a program stored within a service provider network includes determining a first number of subscriptions for the program. If the first number of subscriptions is less than a first threshold, at least a portion of the program is transmitted to at least a first multimedia device having a subscription for the program and the program is removed from the service provider network.

Restricting use of a direct-to-home digital broadcast satellite signal

A method and device for authentication of subscription based digital media receivers, SB DMRs are disclosed. According to one aspect, an SB DMR includes a memory, a radio, and a processor. The memory is configured to store an identification of each of at least one other SB DMR sharing a common subscription to a digital media service. The radio is configured to receive the identification of each of the at least one other SB DMR. The processor is configured to authenticate the SB DMR based on the received identifications to determine if the SB DMR is part of a group of SB DMRs sharing a common subscription.

SYSTEM & METHOD FOR ENABLING OR RESTRICTING FEATURES BASED ON AN ATTENTION CHALLENGE

An attention challenge is provided to a user to ensure that while a mobile device is in motion, the user is not operating a vehicle. Failure at the attention challenge results in a restricted set of features so that the user is not able to interact with the mobile device in a manner that would impair driving.

ENHANCED RESTART TV

Systems and methods are disclosed herein for providing an enhanced Restart Television (TV) service. In some embodiments, a playout device receives a restart TV request for a linear TV content item, where the restart TV request is a request to restart playout of the linear TV content item in an enhanced playout mode of operation. The playout device is further operable to obtain the linear TV content item from a server system, obtain metadata for enhanced playout of the linear TV content item where the metadata defines required playout segments of the linear TV content item, and provide enhanced playout of the linear TV content item. Enhanced playout includes starting playout at a beginning of the linear TV content item and automatically beginning fast-forwarding playout to a first required playout segment defined by the metadata. 1. A playout device enabled to provide an enhanced restart Television , TV , feature for playout of a linear TV content item from a TV service provider , comprising:a network interface operable to communicatively couple the playout device to a network;at least one processor; and receive a restart TV request for a linear TV content item, the restart TV request being a request to restart playout of the linear TV content item in an enhanced playout mode of operation;', 'obtain the linear TV content item from a server system via the network interface;', 'obtain metadata for enhanced playout of the linear TV content item, the metadata defining a plurality of required playout segments of the linear TV content item; and', 'provide enhanced playout of the linear TV content item, wherein, in order to provide the enhanced playout of the linear TV content item, the playout device is operable to start playout of the linear TV content item at a beginning of the linear TV content item and automatically begin fast-forwarding playout of the linear TV content item to a first required playout segment of the linear TV content item of the plurality of required ...

BANDWIDTH MANAGEMENT IN A HOME NETWORK

A node in home network serves as a coordinator to coordinate the use of bandwidth by clients that voluntarily cooperate with one another to share bandwidth on different network connections. Specifically, the coordinator maintains information for these network connections that logically represents the different connections as independent pools of usable bandwidth. This bandwidth information also indicates the amount of bandwidth available for use from each pool. The coordinator receives advertisements from clients advertising tentative use of a specified amount of bandwidth drawn from each of one or more pools. Responsive to these advertisements, the coordinator notifies clients regarding whether or not, according to the bandwidth information, the one or more pools from which their respective advertised uses would draw from each have the specified amount of bandwidth available. Finally, the coordinator independently updates each pool to indicate that any bandwidth notified as being available from that pool is now unavailable. 1. A method within a home network for coordinating the self-imposed cooperation amongst clients for sharing different network connections , comprising:maintaining information for said connections that logically represents the different connections as independent pools of usable bandwidth and that indicates the amount of bandwidth available for use from each pool;receiving advertisements from clients advertising tentative use of a specified amount of bandwidth drawn from each of one or more pools;notifying clients regarding whether or not, according to said information, the one or more pools from which their respective advertised uses would draw from each have the specified amount of bandwidth available; andindependently updating each pool to indicate that any bandwidth notified as being available from that pool is now unavailable.2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said information represents each pool as having a number of tokens corresponding ...

REQUEST-AGNOSTIC CACHING FOR A DATA RESOURCE COLLECTION

Embodiments herein include a method performed by an intermediate proxy node via which client devices request data resources from a data resource server. The data resources are organized into different data resource collections. The method includes receiving a request for a subset of a data resource collection and, responsive to receiving such a request, determining that the collection is not stored in a request-agnostic cache maintained by the proxy node. Responsive to this determination, the method further entails retrieving the collection from the data resource server. The method then includes extracting the requested subset from the retrieved data resource collection and selectively returning that subset as a response to the request. Finally, the method entails storing the data resource collection in the request-agnostic cache for serving other requests for data resources in the data resource collection, including a request for a different subset of the data resource collection. 1. A method implemented by an intermediate proxy node via which client devices request data resources from a data resource server , the data resources organized into different data resource collections , comprising:receiving a request for a subset of a data resource collection;responsive to receiving the request, determining that the data resource collection is not stored in a request-agnostic cache maintained by the intermediate proxy node;responsive to said determination, retrieving the data resource collection from the data resource server;extracting the requested subset from the retrieved data resource collection and selectively returning that subset as a response to the request; andstoring the data resource collection in the request-agnostic cache for serving other requests for data resources in the data resource collection, including a request for a different subset of the data resource collection.2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:receiving a different request for a ...

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR THE HANDLING OF REDUNDANT LONG POLL

A server for handling long poll requests receives requests containing both a client identifier and an indication of a last long poll execution time. These parameters allow the server to determine if resources dedicated to previous long polls from the client have been released. If there may still be resourced dedicated, they are released so that the new poll can be established and no redundant long polls are maintained. 1. A method for handling redundant long poll requests from a client , the method for execution at a server and comprising:identifying that a request received over a network interface is a request to establish a first long poll in a new session with the client;determining, in accordance with parameters of the received request, that a long poll from a previous session with the client could still be active;responsive to the determination, clearing any connection associated with the previous session with the client; andestablishing the requested long poll in the new session.2. The method of wherein the step of identifying includes determining that the received long poll request includes a last execution time.3. The method of wherein the step of determining that a long poll from a previous session could still be active includes determining that the difference between a current time and the last execution time is below a threshold.4. The method of wherein the threshold is a long poll timeout value included in the received request.5. The method of wherein the step of clearing any connection associated with the previous session includes clearing any connection for a long poll on the server associated with a client identifier included in the received request.6. The method of wherein the step of clearing any connection associated with the previous session includes transmitting a notification to peer servers in a cluster to clear any connection associated with a client identifier included in the received request.7. The method of wherein the step of transmitting ...

RESTRICTING USE OF A DIRECT-TO-HOME DIGITAL BROADCAST SATELLITE SIGNAL

A method and device for authentication of subscription based digital media receivers, SB DMRs are disclosed. According to one aspect, an SB DMR includes a memory, a radio, and a processor. The memory is configured to store an identification of each of at least one other SB DMR sharing a common subscription to a digital media service. The radio is configured to receive the identification of each of the at least one other SB DMR. The processor is configured to authenticate the SB DMR based on the received identifications to determine if the SB DMR is part of a group of SB DMRs sharing a common subscription. 1. A subscription-based digital media receiver , SB DMR , comprising:a memory configured to store an identification of each of at least one other SB DMR sharing a common subscription to a digital media service, the identified at least one other SB DMR being pre-determined to be within a proximity to the SB DMR when the SB DMR is within a specified area; 'receive an identification of one of the at least one other SB DMR; and', 'a communication interface configured to 'authenticate the SB DMR, the SB DMR being authenticated only if a received identification is of the at least one other SB DMR pre-determined to be within the proximity to the SB DMR when the SB DMR is within the specified area, the authentication indicating that the SB DMR is within the specified area and is therefore allowed to receive content.', 'a processor configured to2. The SB DMR of claim 1 , wherein the communication interface is a radio claim 1 , and a range of transmission of the radio is attenuated by an amount to prevent transmission of the identification of the SB DMR to other SB DMRs not sharing the common subscription.3. The SB DMR of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to deny viewer access to the content associated with the subscription when it cannot be determined that the SB DMR is part of the group of SB DMRs sharing the common subscription.4. The SB DMR of claim 1 ...

MEDIA CONTENT DELIVERY USING AN OBFUSCATED MANIFEST

A node () for a content delivery network (), CDN is provided. The CDN () is configured to store a plurality of first media segments and a plurality of second media segments different from the first media segments. The node () interacts with a device (), the node () includes a reception module () configured to receive a manifest request, from the device (), for media content corresponding to the plurality of first media segments (S). The node includes a manifest module () configured to generate a manifest () for the requested media content. The manifest () indicates a plurality of modified media segments () including the plurality of first media segments and at least one of the plurality of second media segments (S). The plurality of modified media segments () have uniform segment lengths with respect to each other. The node includes a transmission module () configured to transmit the manifest to the device for media playout (S). 18-. (canceled)9. A method for a content delivery network , CDN , the CDN configured to store a plurality of first media segments and a plurality of second media segments different from the first media segments , the method comprising:accepting a manifest request, from a device, for media content corresponding to the plurality of first media segments;generating a manifest for requested media content, the manifest indicating a plurality of modified media segments including the plurality of first media segments and at least one of the plurality of second media segments, the plurality of modified media segments having uniform segment lengths with respect to each other; andtransmitting the manifest to the device for media playout.10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:accepting a request, from the device, for a modified media segment;causing retrieval of at least one first media segment and at least one second media segment corresponding to the requested modified media segment from a media node in the CDN; andtransmitting the at least ...

Hybrid storage of program recordings in a service provider network

A method of managing, by a service provider, a program stored within a service provider network. Multiple multimedia devices are in communication with the service provider network. In accordance with one embodiment, a method for managing, by a service provider, a program stored within a service provider network includes determining a first number of subscriptions for the program. If the first number of subscriptions is less than a first threshold, at least a portion of the program is transmitted to at least a first multimedia device having a subscription for the program and the program is removed from the service provider network.

Synchronized multi-channel communication enabling accessibility for collecting data

A method performed by a first network node (18) that is in communication with a support node (30). The support node (30) is configured to communicate with a first user node (14a) using a first communication channel of a logical communication session. The method comprises receiving user account data associated with a user of the first user node (14a), receiving, from the support node (30), a session request to initiate a second communication channel of the logical communication session, and configuring the second communication channel between the first network node (18) and at least one of the first user node (14a) and a second user node (14b), based on the session request and the user account data.

Controlling user interface (ui) transitions based on business process model and notation (bpmn) ui flows

Controlling user interface (UI) transitions based on Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN) UI flows is disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a controller application receives, from a UI application, a first request for a UI page, the first request comprising a flow identifier. The controller application transmits an instruction to a BPMN engine to initiate a BPMN UI flow corresponding to the flow identifier. The controller application receives a process identifier corresponding to the BPMN UI flow from the BPMN engine, and retrieves a current task identifier from the BPMN engine using the process identifier. The controller application then returns, to the UI application, a first response based on the current task identifier. The first response includes current UI page information that indicates a current UI page of a plurality of predefined UI pages to be rendered by the UI application.

[UNK]

A node in home network serves as a coordinator to coordinate the use of bandwidth by clients that voluntarily cooperate with one another to share bandwidth on different network connections. Specifically the coordinator maintains information for these network connections that logically represents the different connections as independent pools of usable bandwidth. This bandwidth information also indicates the amount of bandwidth available for use from each pool. The coordinator receives advertisements from clients advertising tentative use of a specified amount of bandwidth drawn from each of one or more pools. Responsive to these advertisements the coordinator notifies clients regarding whether or not according to the bandwidth information the one or more pools from which their respective advertised uses would draw from each have the specified amount of bandwidth available. Finally the coordinator independently updates each pool to indicate that any bandwidth notified as being available from that pool is now unavailable.

Request-agnostic caching for a data resource collection

Embodiments herein include a method performed by an intermediate proxy node via which client devices request data resources from a data resource server. The data resources are organized into different data resource collections. The method includes receiving a request for a subset of a data resource collection and, responsive to receiving such a request, determining that the collection is not stored in a request-agnostic cache maintained by the proxy node. Responsive to this determination, the method further entails retrieving the collection from the data resource server. The method then includes extracting the requested subset from the retrieved data resource collection and selectively returning that subset as a response to the request. Finally, the method entails storing the data resource collection in the request-agnostic cache for serving other requests for data resources in the data resource collection, including a request for a different subset of the data resource collection.

Bandwidth management in a home network

Controlling user interface (ui) transitions based on business process model and notation (bpmn) ui flows

Controlling user interface (UI) transitions based on Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN) UI flows is disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a controller application receives, from a UI application, a first request for a UI page, the first request comprising a flow identifier. The controller application transmits an instruction to a BPMN engine to initiate a BPMN UI flow corresponding to the flow identifier. The controller application receives a process identifier corresponding to the BPMN UI flow from the BPMN engine, and retrieves a current task identifier from the BPMN engine using the process identifier. The controller application then returns, to the UI application, a first response based on the current task identifier. The first response includes current UI page information that indicates a current UI page of a plurality of predefined UI pages to be rendered by the UI application.

Controlling user interface (ui) transitions based on business process model and notation (bpmn) ui flows

Controlling user interface (UI) transitions based on Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN) UI flows is disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a controller application receives, from a UI application, a first request for a UI page, the first request comprising a flow identifier. The controller application transmits an instruction to a BPMN engine to initiate a BPMN UI flow corresponding to the flow identifier. The controller application receives a process identifier corresponding to the BPMN UI flow from the BPMN engine, and retrieves a current task identifier from the BPMN engine using the process identifier. The controller application then returns, to the UI application, a first response based on the current task identifier. The first response includes current UI page information that indicates a current UI page of a plurality of predefined UI pages to be rendered by the UI application.

Method and system for the handling of redundant long poll

A server for handling long poll requests receives requests containing both a client identifier and an indication of a last long poll execution time. These parameters allow the server to determine if resources dedicated to previous long polls from the client have been released. If there may still be resourced dedicated, they are released so that the new poll can be established and no redundant long polls are maintained.

Request-agnostic caching for a data resource collection

Embodiments herein include a method performed by an intermediate proxy node via which client devices request data resources from a data resource server. The data resources are organized into different data resource collections. The method includes receiving a request for a subset of a data resource collection and, responsive to receiving such a request, determining that the collection is not stored in a request-agnostic cache maintained by the proxy node. Responsive to this determination, the method further entails retrieving the collection from the data resource server. The method then includes extracting the requested subset from the retrieved data resource collection and selectively returning that subset as a response to the request. Finally, the method entails storing the data resource collection in the request-agnostic cache for serving other requests for data resources in the data resource collection, including a request for a different subset of the data resource collection.