IP Library Granted Patent US 11,350,184
Granted Patent B2
US 11,350,184 · App. 17/147,138 · Granted May 31, 2022

Providing advanced playback and control functionality to video client

Inventors: Jeremy Lacivita (Seattle, WA); Daniel Niland (Seattle, WA); Curtis Fulton (Vashon, WA)
Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications Management, LLC
H04N21/8456H04L67/06H04N7/165H04N21/26258H04N21/26606H04N21/4307H04N21/4325H04N21/4623H04N21/812H04N21/8133H04N21/8402H04N21/8547
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,350,184
App. No.
17/147,138
Granted
May 31, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems and methods for providing playback features to a device are disclosed. A manifest may be generated, which may comprise data associated with a content asset. A state file may be generated, which may comprise data associated with the manifest. Using one or more of the manifest and the state file, a device may modify segments of the content asset or may playback segments of the content asset.

Claims (34)

1. A method comprising:

receiving a manifest of a plurality of manifests associated with a content asset, wherein each manifest is associated with a different version of the content asset and comprises: an indication of one or more content segments of the version of the content asset, an identifier associated with the version of the content asset, and one or more storage locations of the one or more content segments;

determining, using the manifest, at least one of the one or more content segments;

receiving a state file comprising an identifier associated with the version identifier of the received manifest and one or more playback features, wherein the identifier facilitates use of the state file with the manifest; and

using the state file to facilitate modifying, based on the one or more playback features, output of content associated with the at least one of the one or more content segments retrieved using the manifest.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the content comprises at least one of video on demand content, linear content, or network digital video recorder content.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the different versions of the content asset differ in relation to at least one of a bit rate of the at least one content segment, a language of the at least one content segment, an image size of the at least one content segment, a limitation of the at least one content segment, or a combination thereof.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more playback features comprise one or more of an advertising cue, language information, content format, content manipulation, or entitlement information.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving the state file comprises receiving the state file by a media player that is not configured to decode, from the content, data indicating the one or more playback features.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the state file is generated, by a transcoder, as part of a transcoding process associated with the content.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the state file is time synchronized, based on one or more time codes in the state file, with the manifest.

8. A device comprising:

one or more processors; and

memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the device to:

receive a manifest of a plurality of manifests associated with a content asset, wherein each manifest is associated with a different version of the content asset and comprises: an indication of one or more content segments of the version of the content asset, an identifier associated with the version of the content asset, and one or more storage locations of the one or more content segments;

determine, using the manifest, at least one of the one or more content segments;

receive a state file comprising an identifier associated with the version identifier of the received manifest and one or more playback features, wherein the identifier facilitates use of the state file with the manifest; and

use the state file to facilitate modifying, based on the one or more playback features, output of content associated with the at least one of the one or more content segments retrieved using the manifest.

9. The device of claim 8 , wherein the content comprises at least one of video on demand content, linear content, or network digital video recorder content.

10. The device of claim 8 , wherein the different versions of the content asset differ in relation to at least one of a bit rate of the at least one content segment, a language of the at least one content segment, an image size of the at least one content segment, a limitation of the at least one content segment, or a combination thereof.

11. The device of claim 8 , wherein the one or more playback features comprise one or more of an advertising cue, language information, content format, content manipulation, or entitlement information.

12. The device of claim 8 , wherein the instructions that cause the device to receive the state file cause the device to receive the state file by a media player that is not configured to decode, from the content, data indicating the one or more playback features.

13. The device of claim 8 , wherein the state file is generated, by a transcoder, as part of a transcoding process associated with the content.

14. The device of claim 8 , wherein the state file is time synchronized, based on one or more time codes in the state file, with the manifest.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed, cause:

receiving a manifest of a plurality of manifests associated with a content asset, wherein each manifest is associated with a different version of the content asset and comprises: an indication of one or more content segments of the version of the content asset, an identifier associated with the version of the content asset, and one or more storage locations of the one or more content segments;

determining, using the manifest, at least one of the one or more content segments;

receiving a state file comprising an identifier associated with the version identifier of the received manifest and one or more playback features, wherein the identifier facilitates use of the state file with the manifest; and

using the state file to facilitate modifying, based on the one or more playback features, output of content associated with the at least one of the one or more content segments retrieved using the manifest.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the content comprises at least one of video on demand content, linear content, or network digital video recorder content.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the different versions of the content asset differ in relation to at least one of a bit rate of the at least one content segment, a language of the at least one content segment, an image size of the at least one content segment, a limitation of the at least one content segment, or a combination thereof.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the one or more playback features comprise one or more of an advertising cue, language information, content format, content manipulation, or entitlement information.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the receiving the state file comprises receiving the state file by a media player that is not configured to decode, from the content, data indicating the one or more playback features.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the state file is generated, by a transcoder, as part of a transcoding process associated with the content.

Assignments (3)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE THE NATURE OF CONVEYANCE PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 054895 FRAME: 0571. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Jan 16, 2021
From: THEPLATFORM, LLC
To: COMCAST CABLE COMMUNICATIONS MANAGEMENT, LLC
Reel/Frame 055761/0054 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 12, 2021
From: LACIVITA, JEREMY; NILAND, DANIEL; FULTON, CURTIS
To: THEPLATFORM, LLC
Reel/Frame 054895/0402 →
MERGER AND CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 12, 2021
From: THEPLATFORM, LLC; COMCAST CABLE COMMUNICATIONS MANAGEMENT, LLC
To: COMCAST CABLE COMMUNICATIONS MANAGEMENT, LLC
Reel/Frame 054895/0571 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 15829355 · Dec 1, 2017
Continuation 14976535 · Dec 21, 2015
Related Publication 20210136464A1 · May 6, 2021