IP Library › Granted Patent US 12677035
Granted Patent B2
US 12677035 · App. 18/644,994 · Granted Jul 7, 2026

Network time-shift buffering, recording conversion, and content management

Inventor: Jeffrey Ronald Wannamaker (London, CA)
Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications, LLC
H04N21/4532G11B27/10H04N7/17336H04N21/231H04N21/2408H04N21/252H04N21/4147H04N21/44222H04N21/472H04N21/47202H04N21/6543H04N21/8456
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12677035
App. No.
18/644,994
Granted
Jul 7, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods and systems for managing content are disclosed. An example method can comprise monitoring a number of users accessing content, and recording a first segment of the content if the number of users accessing the content reaches a threshold value. A second segment of the content can be recorded based on a request to record the second segment of the content, and at least a portion of the recording of the first segment of the content can be associated with the recording of the second segment of the content.

Claims (48)

1 . A method comprising:

receiving, by a computing device, a request for content;

determining, based on a type of content associated with the request for content, a storage location associated with the type of content;

determining a quantity of user devices currently accessing the type of content; and

causing, based on the quantity of user devices currently accessing the type of content satisfying a threshold, a portion of the content associated with the request to be stored in the storage location associated with the type of content.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the type of content comprises a content stream, an interactive content service, content on demand, or a file transfer.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the portion of the content comprises one or more segments of the content.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the request comprises a request to record the portion of the content.

5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising causing output of the portion of the content.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the request causes a counter to increment, wherein the counter indicates the quantity of user devices currently accessing the content.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the request causes a network device to determine the quantity of user devices currently accessing the content.

8 . An apparatus comprising:

one or more processors; and

a memory storing processor-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to:

receive a request for content;

determine, based on a type of content associated with the request for content, a storage location associated with the type of content;

determine a quantity of user devices currently accessing the type of content; and

cause, based on the quantity of user devices currently accessing the type of content satisfying a threshold, a portion of the content associated with the request to be stored in the storage location associated with the type of content.

9 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the type of content comprises a content stream, an interactive content service, content on demand, or a file transfer.

10 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the portion of the content comprises one or more segments of the content.

11 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the request comprises a request to record the portion of the content.

12 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the processor-executable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the apparatus to cause output of the portion of the content.

13 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the request causes a counter to increment, wherein the counter indicates the quantity of user devices currently accessing the content.

14 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the request causes a network device to determine the quantity of user devices currently accessing the content.

15 . One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing processor-executable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:

receive, by a computing device, a request for content;

determine, based on a type of content associated with the request for content, a storage location associated with the type of content;

determine a quantity of user devices currently accessing the type of content; and

cause, based on the quantity of user devices currently accessing the type of content satisfying a threshold, a portion of the content associated with the request to be stored in the storage location associated with the type of content.

16 . The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 15 , wherein the type of content comprises a content stream, an interactive content service, content on demand, or a file transfer.

17 . The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 15 , wherein the portion of the content comprises one or more segments of the content.

18 . The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 15 , wherein the request comprises a request to record the portion of the content.

19 . The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 15 , wherein the processor-executable instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the at least one processor to cause output of the portion of the content.

20 . The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 15 , wherein the request causes a counter to increment, wherein the counter indicates the quantity of user devices currently accessing the content.

21 . The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 15 , wherein the request causes a network device to determine the quantity of user devices currently accessing the content.

22 . A system comprising:

a first computing device configured to send a request for content; and

a second computing device configured to:

receive the request for the content;

determine, based on a type of content associated with the request for content, a storage location associated with the type of content;

determine a quantity of user devices currently accessing the type of content; and

cause, based on the quantity of user devices currently accessing the type of content satisfying a threshold, a portion of the content associated with the request to be stored in the storage location associated with the type of content.

23 . The system of claim 22 , wherein the type of content comprises a content stream, an interactive content service, content on demand, or a file transfer.

24 . The system of claim 22 , wherein the portion of the content comprises one or more segments of the content.

25 . The system of claim 22 , wherein the request comprises a request to record the portion of the content.

26 . The system of claim 22 , wherein the second computing device is further configured to cause output of the portion of the content.

27 . The system of claim 22 , wherein the request causes a counter to increment, wherein the counter indicates the quantity of user devices currently accessing the content.

28 . The system of claim 22 , wherein the request causes a network device to determine the quantity of user devices currently accessing the content.