Granted Patent B2

US 12,639,404 · App. 18/591,911 · Granted May 26, 2026

Inventor: Walter Sturm (Far Hills, NJ)

Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications, LLC

G06F21/105G06F21/10G06F21/604G06F21/6218G06F2221/2137G06F2221/2141

Abstract

Claims (102)

1 . A method comprising:

predicting, responsive to a triggering event associated with a user device, a first content item that will be requested, wherein the triggering event comprises a starting of a video session associated with the user device;

determining a start time at which the first content item will be available for output;

determining, based on the predicted first content item, an access rights license that permits output of the first content item;

determining, based on a second content item, an additional access rights license that permits output of the second content item;

causing, prior to the start time, and prior to a first request associated with the user device, for the first content item, sending of the access rights license from one or more first computing devices to the user device;

causing, prior to a second request of the user device for the second content item, storing of the additional access rights license at a second computing device at a second location, wherein the second location is located closer to the user device than a first location of the one or more first computing devices; and

providing, to the user device, and based on the start time and receiving the first request, the first content item.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the starting of the video session comprises a display device associated with the user device being turned on.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

causing, prior to receiving the first request and based on the predicted first content item, sending of a first manifest to the user device, wherein the first manifest indicates a first content segment of the first content item.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the predicting the first content item comprises predicting the first content item based on one or more of:

one or more content items viewed via the user device;

a user profile associated with the user device;

demographics associated with the user device; or

one or more social media posts associated with the user device.

5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

causing sending of the additional access rights license from the second computing device to the user device; and

providing, to the user device, and based on receiving the second request, the second content item.

6 . A method comprising:

predicting, responsive to a triggering event associated with a user device:

a first content item that will be requested, and

a time period during which the first content item will be output via the user device;

determining, based on the predicted first content item, an access rights license that permits output of the first content item;

determining, based on a second content item, an additional access rights license that permits output of the second content item;

determining that an expiration time of the access rights license is after the time period;

causing, prior to a first request associated with the user device, for the first content item and based on the expiration time being after the time period, sending of the access rights license from one or more first computing devices to the user device;

causing, prior to a second request of the user device for the second content item, storing of the additional access rights license at a second computing device at a second location, wherein the second location is located closer to the user device than a first location of the one or more first computing devices; and

providing, to the user device, and based on receiving the first request, the first content item.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the triggering event comprises one or more of:

a display device, associated with the user device, being turned on or turned off;

a video session associated with the user device;

accessing a service via the user device; or

interaction, via the user device, with one or more of content or an application.

8 . The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

causing, prior to receiving the first request and based on the predicted first content item, sending of a first manifest to the user device, wherein the first manifest indicates a first content segment of the first content item.

9 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the predicting the first content item comprises predicting the first content item based on one or more of: one or more content items viewed via the user device; a user profile associated with the user device; demographics associated with the user device; or one or more social media posts associated with the user device.

10 . The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

after determining the access rights license that permits output of the first content item, determining the expiration time of the access rights license.

11 . The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

causing sending of the additional access rights license from the second computing device to the user device; and

providing, to the user device, and based on receiving the second request, the second content item.

12 . A system comprising:

a first computing device; and

a user device;

wherein the first computing devices comprises:

one or more first processors; and

memory storing first instructions that, when executed by the one or more first processors of the first computing device, configure the first computing device to:

predict, responsive to a triggering event associated with the user device, a first content item that will be requested, wherein the triggering event comprises a starting of a video session associated with the user device;

determine a start time at which the first content item will be available for output;

determine, based on the predicted first content item, an access rights license that permits output of the first content item;

determine, based on a second content item, an additional access rights license that permits output of the second content item;

cause, prior to the start time, and prior to a first request associated with the user device, for the first content item, sending of the access rights license from one or more second computing devices to the user device;

cause, prior to a second request of the user device for the second content item, storing of the additional access rights license at a third computing device at a second location, wherein the second location is located closer to the user device than a first location of the one or more second computing devices; and

provide, to the user device, and based on the start time and receiving the first request, the first content item; and

wherein the user device comprises:

one or more second processors; and

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

receive the access rights license from the one or more second computing devices; and

receive the first content item.

13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the starting of the video session comprises a display device associated with the user device being turned on.

14 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the first instructions, when executed by the one or more first processors of the first computing device, further configure the first computing device to:

cause, prior to the first request and based on the predicted first content item, sending of a first manifest to the user device, wherein the first manifest indicates a first content segment of the first content item.

15 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the predicting the first content item comprises predicting the first content item based on one or more of:

one or more content items viewed via the user device;

a user profile associated with the user device;

demographics associated with the user device; or

one or more social media posts associated with the user device.

16 . A system comprising:

a first computing device; and

a user device;

wherein the first computing devices comprises:

one or more first processors; and

memory storing first instructions that, when executed by the one or more first processors of the first computing device, configure the first computing device to:

predict, responsive to a triggering event associated with the user device:

a first content item that will be requested, and

a time period during which the first content item will be output via the user device;

determine, based on the predicted first content item, an access rights license that permits output of the first content item;

determinine, based on a second content item, an additional access rights license that permits output of the second content item;

determine that an expiration time of the access rights license is after the time period;

cause, prior to a first request, associated with the user device, for the first content item and based on the expiration time being after the time period, sending of the access rights license from one or more second computing devices to the user device;

cause, prior to a second request of the user device for the second content item, storing of the additional access rights license at a third computing device at a second location, wherein the second location is located closer to the user device than a first location of the one or more second computing devices; and

provide, to the user device, and based on receiving the first request, the first content item; and

wherein the user device comprises:

one or more second processors; and

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

receive the access rights license from the one or more second computing devices; and

receive the first content item.

17 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the triggering event comprises one or more of:

a display device, associated with the user device, being turned on or turned off;

a video session associated with the user device;

accessing a service via the user device; or

interaction, via the user device, with one or more of content or an application.

18 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the first instructions, when executed by the one or more first processors of the first computing device, further configure the first computing device to:

cause, prior to receiving the first request and based on the predicted first content item, sending of a first manifest to the user device, wherein the first manifest indicates a first content segment of the first content item.

19 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the predicting the first content item comprises predicting the first content item based on one or more of:

one or more content items viewed via the user device;

a user profile associated with the user device;

demographics associated with the user device; or

one or more social media posts associated with the user device.

20 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the first instructions, when executed by the one or more first processors of the first computing device, further configure the first computing device to:

after determining the access rights license that permits output of the first content item, determine the expiration time of the access rights license.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (2)

References Cited (37)