Abstract: Disclosed herein is content delivery system that delivers content to one or more remote devices. In some cases, the content that is provided by the content delivery system is protected content. As such, prior to accessing the content, the one or more remote devices may need to register or otherwise be associated with the content delivery system. The content delivery system utilizes a first communication path to allow the one or more remote devices to register with the content delivery system and/or verify that it is authorized to access the content. The content delivery system also utilizes a second communication path to deliver the content to the authorized remote devices.

Abstract: A digital video recorder apparatus, system and method for recording programming material and removing limitations of a storage medium by pulling adaptive bt rate segments from a content delivery network.

Abstract: A request is received from one of a plurality of terminals in a service group of a video content network. The request is to establish a session with a head end of the network. The video content network provides at least first and second different categories of sessions to the service group. The request is evaluated against a policy. The policy specifies a maximum utilization threshold for sessions of the first category and a maximum utilization threshold for sessions of the second category. The request is granted if it is in conformance with the policy. The method may be carried out, for example, with a session resource manager apparatus.

Abstract: A system for location verification and enforcement receives an authorization request to access content from a content access device. The authorization request includes and/or is associated with location information obtained from a gateway device via a local area network and determined using multiple communication networks. The location information is compared to a record indicating that the content access device and the gateway device were both present at a location. When the location information matches the record, an authorization is transmitted to the content access device. The content access device may be operative to access the content upon receiving the authorization.

Abstract: A storage controller of a network controlled content recording system that uses a combination of network and local storage determines to record content for a user. The storage controller performs an evaluation to determine whether to store the content in network or local storage. The evaluation may include evaluating a set of rules and/or characteristics of the user, characteristics of the content, characteristics of a request to record the content, and so on. The storage controller then arranges for the content to be recorded accordingly. Subsequently, the storage controller may reevaluate storage locations and direct transfer accordingly. This reevaluation may include determining that various characteristics related to the user, the content, and so on have changed and that transfer is appropriate due to that change.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is content delivery system that delivers content to one or more remote devices. In some cases, the content that is provided by the content delivery system is protected content. As such, prior to accessing the content, the one or more remote devices may need to register or otherwise be associated with the content delivery system. The content delivery system utilizes a first communication path to allow the one or more remote devices to register with the content delivery system and/or verify that it is authorized to access the content. The content delivery system also utilizes a second communication path to deliver the content to the authorized remote devices.

Abstract: A system for location verification and enforcement receives an authorization request to access content from a content access device. The authorization request includes and/or is associated with location information obtained from a gateway device via a local area network and determined using multiple communication networks. The location information is compared to a record indicating that the content access device and the gateway device were both present at a location. When the location information matches the record, an authorization is transmitted to the content access device. The content access device may be operative to access the content upon receiving the authorization.

Abstract: A content delivery network uses blockchain to manage content. In various implementations, the content delivery network may specify access rights to content in a blockchain network and allow a content access device to access content when the blockchain network is unavailable using a local copy of the blockchain and reconciling upon reconnection. In some implementations, the content delivery network may track storage of available content in a blockchain and use the blockchain to provide different copies of requested items when the different copies can be provided faster, more efficiently, at a lower cost, and so on. In yet other implementations, the content delivery network may record changes to properties of content in a blockchain and evaluate received disputes by using the blockchain to determine whether a change to the properties of the content occurred prior to the dispute.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing an alternate content delivery mechanism available to content-based network users. In one embodiment, the network comprises a cable television network, and subscribers are able to retrieve requested content from one or more other subscriber's storage medium and without going outside the cable network (or accessing the network core in any significant capacity) using a peer-to-peer (P2P) network protocol. Using this approach, bandwidth consumption is advantageously pushed out to the edge of the network from the core, also obviating content requests outside the network (e.g., to third-party servers on the Internet). Methods of operating the aforementioned P2P network, and various business paradigms relating thereto, are also disclosed.

Abstract: A system for location verification and enforcement receives an authorization request to access content from a content access device. The authorization request includes and/or is associated with location information obtained from a gateway device via a local area network and determined using multiple communication networks. The location information is compared to a record indicating that the content access device and the gateway device were both present at a location. When the location information matches the record, an authorization is transmitted to the content access device. The content access device may be operative to access the content upon receiving the authorization.

Abstract: A content provider device adaptively selects content resolution. The content provider device receives a request for content and obtains resolution information for a device associated with the request from a profile. Based at least on the obtained resolution information, the content provider device selects among available resolution versions of the content and provides access to the selected version of the content. The resolution information may be derived from a High Definition Multimedia Interface handshake, such as from Extended Display Identification Data stored by the device, and recorded in the profile during a registration process identifying the device.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a non-transitory storage medium storing instructions and a processing unit that executes the instructions to present a group of selectable elements. Each of the selectable elements in the group corresponds to content assets accessed by a user. The group is ordered according to chronological access. Selection of a selectable element from the group provides access to content determined based on the respective content asset, an application used to access the respective content asset, and information regarding previous user behavior. The electronic device may be a content access device, such as a set top box, a digital video recorder, and so on.

Abstract: A digital video recorder records first content from a channel broadcast that includes second content adjacent to the first content in response to a user request and stores a border around the first content that includes a portion of the second content and metadata related to the second content. The border may be previous and/or subsequent to the first content. In some implementations, the digital video recorder may obtain the metadata from a source other than from which the digital video recorder receives the content. The first content and the metadata may be recorded at the same and/or different times.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for selecting digital access technology for programming and data delivery over, e.g., a network. In one embodiment, the network comprises an HFC cable or satellite network that includes a server process interfacing with a plurality of customer premises equipment (CPE), and/or associated client devices, each having different capabilities profiles. The server determines one or more capabilities possessed by the CPE, and evaluates one or more program or content choices for possible delivery to that CPE based on its profile. The server generates a list of programs or content based on this evaluation, and transmits this list to the CPE, which displays the list for viewing by a user. The user is therefore offered a list of available content that is compatible with their specific configuration. A business and operational rules engine is also optionally employed to control the operation of the foregoing processes to accomplish particular business, or operational goals.

Abstract: A content access device ranks content that is available to be accessed based at least on previous user content selection behavior information compared to a current situation. The content access device generates and presents a content access (or navigation) menu that indicates content selected based on the ranking. The menu may include a primary menu element that corresponds to and presents a highest ranked of the content, a secondary menu element that corresponds to and presents still images of a secondary ranked group of the content that are all smaller than the primary menu element, and a tertiary menu element that corresponds to and presents text descriptions of a tertiary ranked group of the content that are all smaller than the still images.

Abstract: An electronic device for providing geolocation independent content rights management includes a non-transitory storage medium and a processing unit. The processing unit executes instructions stored in the non-transitory storage medium to receive a request for content from a content access device and, if the content access device is registered to an account associated with a geolocation, provides access to the content. In some implementations, the processing unit may determine if the content access device is registered using a token corresponding to the request. In various implementations, the processing unit may verify that one or more digital rights management and/or persistence policies allow the access, such as where access may be provided to one copy of the content at a time.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for ensuring delivery of geographically relevant content to IP-enabled user devices associated with a content distribution network. In one embodiment, the network (or designated content source) determines a geographic context or location of the user device, and uses this information to manage the packaging and delivery of content thereto so as to obey blackout restrictions and/or provide content which is relevant to the geographic context/location. In one variant, the user device comprises a mobile device such as a tablet computer or smartphone, and the content is delivered thereto over either a managed or unmanaged network infrastructure.

Abstract: A digital video recorder records first content from a channel broadcast that includes second content adjacent to the first content in response to a user request and stores a border around the first content that includes a portion of the second content and metadata related to the second content. The border may be previous and/or subsequent to the first content. In some implementations, the digital video recorder may obtain the metadata from a source other than from which the digital video recorder receives the content. The first content and the metadata may be recorded at the same and/or different times.

Abstract: An electronic device for providing geolocation independent content rights management includes a non-transitory storage medium and a processing unit. The processing unit executes instructions stored in the non-transitory storage medium to receive a request for content from a content access device and, if the content access device is registered to an account associated with a geolocation, provides access to the content. In some implementations, the processing unit may determine if the content access device is registered using a token corresponding to the request. In various implementations, the processing unit may verify that one or more digital rights management and/or persistence policies allow the access, such as where access may be provided to one copy of the content at a time.

Abstract: A content provider device adaptively selects content resolution. The content provider device receives a request for content and obtains resolution information for a device associated with the request from a profile. Based at least on the obtained resolution information, the content provider device selects among available resolution versions of the content and provides access to the selected version of the content. The resolution information may be derived from a High Definition Multimedia Interface handshake, such as from Extended Display Identification Data stored by the device, and recorded in the profile during a registration process identifying the device.