Apparatus and methods for packetized data management and delivery in a digital content distribution network
Apparatus and methods for managing provision of digital content within a content distribution network. In one embodiment, a content application manager (CAM) process is used to provide one or more centralized redirection functions for network client processes such as just-in-time (JIT) packagers and cloud digital video recorders (cDVRs). A local database accessible to the CAM is updated with “live” or other content storage locations within the network, and accordingly each of the client processes can be made simpler and not require any intrinsic knowledge of content asset storage locations. This simplifies the client process configuration, enhances performance in terms of reduced end-user request servicing latency, and allows for single-point automated database updates versus having to provide updates to each client process as under the prior art.
1. A digital content manager apparatus, comprising:
a first interface configured to at least communicate with a plurality of network-based client processes;
a processor apparatus in data communication with the first interface; and
a storage apparatus in data communication with the processor apparatus and comprising at least one computer program, the at least one computer program comprising a plurality of instructions which are configured to, when executed by the processor apparatus, cause the digital content manager apparatus to:
receive data representative of a request for live digitally rendered content element from one of the plurality of network-based client processes, the request comprising at least a network-specific identifier (ID) value associated with a network address, the network-specific ID value comprising a truncated value of the network address that is shorter in character or bit length than the network address;
wherein the receipt of the data representative of the request comprises utilization of a security mechanism which restricts receipt of requests to requests of one or more prescribed protocols only, the restriction of the receipt of the requests to the requests of the one or more prescribed protocols only comprising allowing only receipt of HTTP GET requests;
based at least on the network-specific ID value, access a database to obtain location data associated with at least a first portion of the live requested digitally rendered content element, the location data indicative of at least one network storage location of at least the first portion of the live digitally rendered content element, the access of the database comprising access of a central database configured to (i) act as a single point of contact for each of the plurality of network-based client processes, and (ii) relate the network-specific ID value to the network address where at least the first portion of the requested live digitally rendered content element can be accessed by the one of the plurality of network-based client processes;
based at least on the accessed location data, generate a protocol-based message for transmission to the requesting one network-based client process;
cause the transmission of the protocol-based message to the requesting one of the plurality of network-based client processes, the protocol-based message configured to enable the one of the plurality of network-based client processes to access at least the first portion of the requested live digitally rendered content element at the at least one network storage location;
monitor for at least one event relating to the live digitally rendered content element; and
based at least on an occurrence of the at least one event, cause update of the central database only, the update of the central database enabling each of the plurality of network-based client processes to individually access at least a second portion of the live digitally rendered content element via respective accesses of the central database.
2. The digital content manager apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a protocol associated with the protocol-based message comprises an extant protocol used within a content distribution network for other functions, the extant protocol comprising a stateless protocol.
3. The digital content manager apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the protocol-based message comprises a hypertext transport protocol (HTTP) 301 message.
4. The digital content manager apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the one of the plurality of network-based client processes comprises a just-in-time (JIT) packaging process having prescribed timing requirements, and the transmission of the protocol-based message is configured to be conducted to meet said prescribed timing requirements.
5. The digital content manager apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of network-based client processes comprise: (i) at least one a just-in-time (JIT) packaging process; and (ii) at least one cloud Digital Video Recorder (cDVR) apparatus.
6. The digital content manager apparatus of claim 1 , wherein
the network address comprises a universal resource locators (URL) associated with the network storage location, the network storage location accessible via one or more origin servers.
7. The digital content manager apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the request comprises second data relating to one or more path parameters associated with the requested live digitally rendered content element; and
the generation of the protocol-based message comprises inclusion of at least a portion of the second data in the protocol-based message.
8. The digital content manager apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the digital content manager apparatus is disposed within a first topological zone of a content distribution network;
the plurality of network-based client processes are disposed in a second, different topological zone;
the plurality of instructions are further configured to, when executed by the processor apparatus, cause the digital content manager apparatus to: maintain a topologically local database, the database at least correlating first data with location data for a plurality of digitally rendered content elements each accessible by each of the plurality of network-based client processes; and
the disposition of the digital content manager apparatus in the first zone allows a single instance of the digital content manager apparatus to service content element requests from the plurality of network-based client processes using at least the local database.
9. The digital content manager apparatus of claim 8 , wherein:
the first topological zone of the content distribution network comprises a headend portion of a managed content distribution network;
the second, different topological zone comprises an edge or hub portion of the managed content distribution network; and
the plurality of network-based client processes are each configured to receive respective requests for delivery of digitally rendered content elements from a plurality of end-user devices, the plurality of end-user devices each disposed in a third portion of the content distribution network.
10. The digital content manager apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the third portion of the content distribution network comprises an untrusted internetwork not part of the managed content distribution network.
11. The digital content manager apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of instructions are further configured to, when executed by the processor apparatus, cause the digital content manager apparatus to:
determine that an update of at least the first portion of the requested live digitally rendered content element from the at least one network storage location to at least one second network storage location is required;
wherein the central database configured to act as the single point of contact for each of the plurality of network-based client processes (i) enables the update to be effected via an update of data in the central database, and (ii) obviates at least updates of each of the plurality of network-based client processes individually.