Apparatus and methods for personalized content synchronization and delivery in a content distribution network
Apparatus and methods for providing an enriched content services over a network. In one embodiment, the exemplary apparatus and methods leverage extant high-bandwidth capabilities of a managed network for delivering content downstream, as well as standards-compliant ultra-low latency and high data rate services (e.g., 5G NR services) for uploading content. In one embodiment, the exemplary apparatus and methods are implemented to synchronize content delivered of extant HFC architectures and DOCSIS protocols with user-generated or other content uploaded to a network entity (e.g., server apparatus) via an IP connection established utilized 5G NR services. Additional features include, among other, enhancements which enable user participation individually, or with other subscribers, in live or recorded content-based activities (such as e.g., auctioning, broadcasting, interactive commentary/gaming, exercising, etc.).
1. A computerized network server apparatus configured to provide an enhanced content stream to one or more users of a content delivery network, said computerized network server apparatus comprising:
a storage entity;
at least one network interface; and
a digital processor apparatus in data communication with the storage entity and the at least one network interface, the digital processor apparatus configured to run at least one computer program thereon, said computer program comprising a plurality of instructions which are configured to, when executed:
receive first digital content via a first transport mechanism;
receive second digital content via a second transport mechanism;
transmit one or more signals to a first computerized client device, the first computerized client device configured to transmit the one or more signals to a second computerized client device;
receive control signaling from the second computerized client device based on receipt of the one or more signals thereat;
wherein (i) the transmission of the one or more signals to the first computerized client device, (ii) the transmission of the one or more signals to the second computerized client device, and (iii) the receipt of the control signaling, create a feedback loop for the computerized network server apparatus to dynamically estimate a delay factor;
generate the enhanced content stream, the enhanced content stream comprising the first and second digital content, the first and second digital content of the enhanced content stream being synchronized based on the delay factor; and
provide the enhanced content stream to the one or more users of the content delivery network.
2. The computerized network server apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of instructions are further configured to, when executed:
estimate delay parameter based on the control signaling; and
wherein the generation of the enhanced content stream comprises an adjustment, based on the delay parameter, of a time of playback associated with the first or second digital content, the adjustment causing the synchronization of the first and second digital content.
3. The computerized network server apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of instructions are further configured to, when executed:
generate a composite content stream, the composite content stream comprising both the first and second digital content, wherein respective time references associated with the first and second digital content of the composite content stream are not synchronized; and
transmit the composite content stream to a first computerized client device; and
wherein:
the receipt of the control signaling is based on a display of the composite content stream by the first computerized client device to a user of the second computerized client device;
the control signaling comprises data representative of the delay parameter;
the generation of the enhanced content stream comprises an adjustment, based on the delay parameter, of a time of playback associated with the first or second digital content, the adjustment causing the synchronization of the first and second digital content.
4. A computerized method of providing enhanced digitally rendered content to one or more users of a content distribution network, the computerized method comprising:
receiving first digital content via a first transport, the first transport comprising a fixed transport mechanism of the content distribution network;
receiving second digital content via a second transport, the second transport being an ad hoc transport mechanism operating independent of the content distribution network and having a prescribed minimum performance characteristic;
causing transmission of test data to a first computerized user device served by the content distribution network, the test data configured to generate a test pattern, the test pattern configured to be detectable by a second computerized user device and transmitted to a computerized network entity for determining a delay parameter associated with a time that the first digital content is displayed at the first computerized user device and a time of a receipt of the second digital content at the computerized network server apparatus from the second computerized user device via the second transport;
generating an enhanced digitally rendered content stream, the enhanced digitally rendered content stream comprising at least a portion of the first digital content and at least a portion of the second digital content, the at least portions of the first digital content and the second digital content having a temporal relationship based at least in part on the prescribed minimum performance characteristic and the delay parameter; and
distributing the enhanced digitally rendered content stream to the one or more users of the content distribution network via the content distribution network.
5. The computerized method of claim 4 , wherein the generating of the enhanced digitally rendered content stream comprises generating the enhanced digital content stream using a digital encoder apparatus of the content distribution network.
6. The computerized method of claim 5 , wherein the first transport comprises a downstream radio frequency (RF) channel of a hybrid fiber coaxial (HFC) content distribution network, and the second transport comprises a wireless 5G NR (Fifth Generation New Radio) bearer compliant with at least 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project) Release 15, the second transport established ad hoc between the second computerized user device and the digital encoder apparatus of the content distribution network, the second computerized user device configured to generate the second digital content.
7. The computerized method of claim 6 , further comprising:
receiving control signaling data at the digital encoder apparatus of the content distribution network, the control signaling data based on the test pattern; and
utilizing the received control signaling data to synchronize the at least portions of the first digital content and the second digital content.
8. The computerized method of claim 7 , wherein the utilizing the received control signaling data to synchronize comprises using the received control signaling data to determine a latency associated with at least (i) the downstream radio frequency (RF) channel, and (ii) the second computerized user device.
9. The computerized method of claim 4 , wherein the generating of the enhanced digitally rendered content stream is based at least in part on the prescribed minimum performance characteristic comprising a 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project) 5G NR (Fifth Generation New Radio) maximum latency value.
10. The computerized method of claim 4 , wherein the generating of the enhanced digitally rendered content stream further comprises generating a composite digitally rendered content stream comprising the at least second digital content overlaid onto the first digital content.
11. The computerized method of claim 4 , wherein the generating of the enhanced digitally rendered content stream further comprises generating a composite digitally rendered content stream comprising at least some frames of the at least second digital content interleaved with frames of the first digital content.
12. A computerized method of synchronizing first digitally rendered content and second digitally rendered content so as to enable delivery of a synchronized composite digital content stream to one or more users of a content distribution network, the computerized method comprising:
causing transmission of test data to a first computerized user device served by the content distribution network, the test data configured to generate a test pattern, the test pattern configured to be detectable by a second computerized user device served by at least a wireless bearer having prescribed performance characteristics;
receiving data from the second computerized user device relating to reception of the generation of the test pattern by the first computerized user device; and
utilizing at least the data received from the second computerized user device to determine a synchronization correction or offset to be applied to at least one of the first digitally rendered content and the second digitally rendered content to enable generation of the synchronized composite digital content stream.
13. The computerized method of claim 12 , further comprising transmitting the synchronized composite digital content stream to the first computerized user device served via the content distribution network concurrent with receiving the second digitally rendered content from the second computerized user device.
14. The computerized method of claim 12 , wherein the causing transmission of the test data to the first computerized user device comprises transmitting audio test data having a prescribed tonal pattern or sequence, the prescribed tonal pattern or sequence configured to facilitate delay estimation by a delay estimation processing process.
15. The computerized method of claim 14 , wherein the utilizing at least the data received from the second computerized user device to determine the synchronization correction or offset comprises using data related to the prescribed tonal pattern or sequence received by the second computerized user device as an input to a delay estimation processing process operative to run on the second computerized user device.
16. The computerized method of claim 14 , wherein:
at least the receiving and utilizing are performed by a network encoding server process, and
the utilizing at least the test data received from the second computerized user device to determine a synchronization correction or offset further comprises transmitting data related to the prescribed tonal pattern or sequence received by the second computerized user device to a delay estimation processing process operative to run on the network encoding server process.
17. The computerized method of claim 14 , further comprising:
receiving adjustment data transmitted from the second computerized user device, the adjustment data based at least on a user input via a user interface of the second computerized user device, the user input relating to at least one of: (i) an advancement of timing of the second digitally rendered content relative to the first digitally rendered content; and/or (ii) a retarding of timing of the second digitally rendered content relative to the first digitally rendered content; and
utilizing the received adjustment data as part of the determination of the synchronization.
18. The computerized method of claim 4 , wherein the causing of the transmission of the test data to the first computerized user device, the test data configured to generate the test pattern, comprises transmitting to the first computerized user device data configured to generate a short range near-field-communication (NFC)-based signal which can be detected by the second computerized user device when disposed in a range proximate of a transmitter of the first computerized user device.
19. The computerized method of claim 4 , further comprising:
receiving third digital content from a third computerized user device; and
determining that the second digital content is more appropriate to combine with a first portion of the first digital content than the third digital content;
wherein:
the first digital content comprises network-based digital content;
the second digital content and third digital content each comprise user-generated digital content generated from the second and third computerized user devices, respectively; and
the generating of the enhanced digitally rendered content stream comprises, based on the determining, (i) combining the first portion of the first digital content with the second digital content, (ii) combining a second portion of the first digital content with the third digital content.
20. The computerized method of claim 4 , further comprising enabling a user of the first or second computerized user device to review or edit the enhanced digitally rendered content stream via use of a client application.