Apparatus and methods for use in a content distribution network
Apparatus and methods for premises gateway functions that integrate or unify functions typically distributed across multiple devices within a content-based network. In one embodiment, the out-of-band (OOB) signaling functionality normally provided in each of a set-top-box (STB) and digital video recorder (DVR) are unified into a common OOB (e.g., DOCSIS) capable premises gateway device, thereby obviating OOB tuners and related components from each device. In another variant, the premises gateway is adapted for all-IP operation, such as for use with IP-based computers and IP set-top boxes, etc. Fully unified variants are also disclosed, wherein the DVR and/or STB functions are physically integrated within the premises gateway.
1. A method of delivering digital content over a digital content delivery network, the method comprising:
receiving data indicative of a request for one or more digital content elements from a first Internet Protocol (IP)-enabled end user device on behalf of a second IP-enabled end user device in data communication with the first IP-enabled end user device, at least the first IP-enabled end user device disposed at a user premises;
based at least in part on the data indicative of the request received from the first IP-enabled end user device, determining at least one access privilege of at least the second IP-enabled end user device, the at least one access privilege configured to access the one or more digital content elements;
based at least in part on the determined at least one access privilege of at least the second IP-enabled end user device, causing delivery of the one or more digital content elements to the first IP-enabled end user device using at least an IP-based packetization protocol; and
enabling both (i) automatic delivery of the one or more digital content elements from the first IP-enabled end user device to the second IP-enabled end user device disposed at the user premises, and (ii) automatic forwarding of the one or more digital content elements to a third end user device disposed at the user premises, the one or more digital content elements being obtained from one or more personal content storage devices of the digital content delivery network.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the receiving of the data indicative of the request comprises receiving data indicative of a message via a unified interface of the first IP-enabled end user device, the message comprising: (i) the request for the one or more digital content elements on behalf of the second IP-enabled end user device; and (ii) a request for another one or more digital content elements from at least one of the third end user device or a fourth end user device, the data indicative of the message generated at least in part by the first IP-enabled end user device.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
each of the first IP-enabled end user device and the second IP-enabled end user device comprises a respective wireless interface for communicating at least the request and the one or more digital content elements, the respective wireless interface using a common wireless local area networking (LAN) protocol; and
the method further comprising causing download, via the wireless LAN protocol, of a downloadable access software module to the second IP-enabled end user device, the downloadable access software module configured to enable the second IP-enabled end user device to communicate with a network entity in order to establish one or more content access privileges for the second IP-enabled end user device directly without having to establish content access privileges for the first IP-enabled end user device.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first IP-enabled end user device comprises a Data Over Cable Services Interface Specification (DOCSIS)-compliant cable modem, and the automatic delivery of the one or more digital content elements comprises automatic delivery of the one or more digital content elements over DOCSIS frequencies.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining the at least one access privilege of at least the second IP-enabled end user device comprises determining that:
(i) the second IP-enabled end user device has one or more sufficient access privileges to access the one or more digital content elements; and
(ii) the first IP-enabled end user device is within a trusted or authorized content domain which includes the second IP-enabled end user device.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the digital content delivery network comprises a managed network having a network operator, and one or more users of the second IP-enabled end user device comprise one or more subscribers who are bound to the network operator pursuant to one or more respective subscription agreements.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein enabling automatic forwarding of the one or more digital content elements to the third end user device comprises enabling automatic delivery to a non-IP-enabled end user device.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first IP-enabled end user device comprises an out-of-band (OOB) data communication proxy for communication between the digital content delivery network and one or more of the second IP-enabled end user device and the third end user device.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the enabling automatic forward of the one or more digital content elements to the third end user device at least in part comprises:
causing processing of a digital signal, the digital signal (i) received at the first IP-enabled end user device using at least the IP-based packetization protocol, and (ii) comprising at least the requested one or more digital content elements; and
causing delivery of the processed digital signal to the third end user device, the third end user device being unable to receive the one or more digital content elements without the processing of the digital signal.
10. A method of delivering digital content via a digital content delivery network, the method comprising:
transmitting, from a first Internet Protocol (IP)-enabled end user device to a computerized network entity, data indicative of a request for digital content on behalf of a second IP-enabled end user device in data communication with the first IP-enabled end user device, at least the first IP-enabled end user device disposed at a user premises;
based at least in part on the data indicative of the request transmitted from the first IP-enabled end user device, enabling determination of at least one access privilege of at least the second IP-enabled end user device, the at least one access privilege configured for accessing the requested digital content;
based at least in part on the determined at least one access privilege of at least the second IP-enabled end user device, receiving the requested digital content at the first IP-enabled end user device using at least a network layer packetization protocol, the requested digital content obtained from one or more personal content storage devices of the digital content delivery network;
based at least in part on the receiving of the requested digital content at the first IP-enabled end user device, both (i) automatically delivering the requested digital content from the first IP-enabled end user device to the second IP-enabled end user device, and (ii) automatically forwarding a processed version of the requested digital content to a third end user device; and
wherein the second IP-enabled end user device and the third end user device are disposed at the user premises.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein automatically forwarding the processed version of the requested digital content to the third end user device at least in part comprises:
enabling processing of a digital signal, the digital signal (i) received at the first IP-enabled end user device using at least the network layer packetization protocol, and (ii) comprising at least the requested digital content; and
enabling delivery of the processed digital signal to the third end user device, the third end user device being unable to receive the requested digital content without the processing of the digital signal.
12. The method of claim 10 , wherein automatically forwarding the processed version of the requested digital content to the third end user device at least in part comprises:
enabling identification of data indicative of a user command to automatically deliver the requested digital content to the third end user device.
13. The method of claim 10 , further comprising enabling decoding the requested digital content; and
enabling re-encoding the requested digital content into a format compatible with the third end user device;
wherein enabling automatic delivery of the requested digital content to the second IP-enabled end user device comprises enabling automatic delivery of the requested digital content in an undecoded format to the second IP-enabled end user device; and
the automatically forwarding the processed version of the requested digital content to the third end user device comprises automatically delivering the requested digital content in the first format compatible with the third end user device to the third end user device.
14. The method of claim 10 , wherein automatically forwarding the processed version of the requested digital content to the third end user device comprises automatically delivering the requested digital content to a non-IP-enabled end user device.
15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first IP-enabled end user device comprises an out-of-band (OOB) data communication proxy for communication between the digital content delivery network and one or more of the second IP-enabled end user device and the third end user device.
16. A method of delivering digital content over a digital content delivery network, the method comprising:
transmitting, from a first Internet Protocol (IP)-enabled end user device to a computerized network entity, data indicative of a request for digital content on behalf of a second IP-enabled end user device in data communication with the first IP-enabled end user device, at least the first IP-enabled end user device disposed at a user premises;
based at least in part on the data indicative of the request transmitted from the first IP-enabled end user device, enabling determination of at least one access privilege of at least the second IP-enabled end user device, the at least one access privilege configured for accessing the requested digital content; and
based at least in part on the determined at least one access privilege of at least the second IP-enabled end user device, receiving the requested digital content at the first IP-enabled end user device using at least an IP-based packetization protocol, the requested digital content being obtained from one or more personal content storage devices of the digital content delivery network, the receiving of the requested digital content at the first IP-enabled end user device enabling: (i) delivery of the requested digital content from the first IP-enabled end user device to the second IP-enabled end user device disposed at the user premises without user intervention, (ii) identification of data indicative of a user command to deliver the requested digital content to a third IP-enabled end user device disposed at the user premises, and (iii) forward of the requested digital content to the third IP-enabled end user device without user intervention using at least the IP-based packetization protocol based on the identification.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the enabling forward of the requested digital content to the third IP-enabled end user device is at least partly based on the at least one access privilege of at least the second IP-enabled end user device.
18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the first IP-enabled end user client device comprises an OOB data communication proxy for communication between the digital content delivery network and one or more of the second IP-enabled end user device and the third IP-enabled end user device.