Apparatus and methods for recording a media stream

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for recording a media stream for use by a rendering device. In one embodiment, a client device records live, unbound streaming media content from a Content Delivery Network (CDN) in “chunks” according to a data structure such as a manifest file. The live media content stream chunks are compressed and stored for later playback. The client device uses information regarding the chunks to generate a local manifest file, which it then uses to reconstruct the media stream. A video client may also dynamically insert and account for updated secondary content (such as advertisements) during each playback instance, thus enabling the service provider to realize commercial opportunities which were previously not possible. Various operational/business rules are also disclosed for e.g., enabling and disabling functions with respect to playback of the content.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for recording a live media stream, comprising:
 receiving a network data structure associated with the live media stream, the live media stream generated at a first time within substantial proximity to a second time of reception;   downloading one or more content portions from a service provider based at least in part on the data structure;   generating a local data structure;   storing each of the one or more content portions in a corresponding location in a local memory; and   updating the local data structure with the corresponding location of each of the one or more content chunks.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the network data structure comprises a stream manifest that includes one or more metadata elements and a listing of locations where the one or more content portions can be downloaded. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more content portions are downloaded from a subset of the listing of locations determined based at least in part on the one or more metadata elements. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least a first portion of the one or more content portions comprises video content and at least a second portion of the one or more content portions comprises secondary content. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least a first portion of the one or more content portions comprises video content according to a first resolution and at least a second portion of the one or more content portion comprises video content according to a second resolution. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least a first portion of the one or more content portions comprises content that has a first access control restriction and at least a second portion of the one or more content portions comprises content that has a second access control restriction. 
     
     
         7 . A method for playing a media stream from a local stream manifest, comprising:
 retrieving a local stream manifest associated with the media stream;   retrieving one or more content chunks from a local memory based at least in part on the local stream manifest; and   reconstructing the media stream from the retrieved one or more content chunks based on the local stream manifest.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the local stream manifest comprises one or more metadata elements, and a listing of locations where the one or more content chunks are stored in the local memory. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more content chunks are retrieved from a subset of the listing of locations based at least in part on the one or more metadata elements. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more metadata elements comprises at least one of resolution and codec type. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the local stream manifest comprises at least one indication of an advertisement insertion time stamp. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein one or more advertisement chunks are dynamically replaced at the advertisement insertion time stamp. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the one or more advertisement chunks are selected according to one or more user preferences. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising reporting to the service provider when one or more advertisement chunks has been played. 
     
     
         15 . A consumer premises equipment (CPE), comprising:
 a network interface, configured to communicate with a service provider network;   a user interface;   a processor in data communication with the network interface and user interface; and   a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising one or more instructions, which when executed by the processor, are configured to cause the CPE to:
 download one or more content chunks from the service provider network in accordance with a network stream manifest, the network stream manifest comprising a dynamically changing manifest configured to deliver live media content comprising the one or more content chunks; 
 generate a local stream manifest based at least in part on the network stream manifest; and 
 store each of the one or more content chunks in a local storage device. 
   
     
     
         16 . The CPE of  claim 15 , further comprising one or more instructions, which when executed by the processor, are configured to cause the CPE to verify that a subscriber associated to the CPE is entitled to download the one or more content chunks. 
     
     
         17 . The CPE of  claim 16 , wherein at least a first portion of the one or more content chunks comprises video content and at least a second portion of the one or more content chunks comprises advertisement content. 
     
     
         18 . A consumer premises equipment (CPE), comprising:
 a display;   a processor; and   a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising one or more instructions, which when executed by the processor, are configured to cause the CPE to:
 retrieve a local stream manifest; 
 retrieve one or more content chunks from a local memory in accordance with the local stream manifest; 
 reconstruct a media content stream based at least in part on the retrieved one or more content chunks; and 
 display the media content stream. 
   
     
     
         19 . The CPE of  claim 18 , further comprising one or more instructions, which when executed by the processor, are configured to cause the CPE to verify that the subscriber is entitled to display the media content stream. 
     
     
         20 . The CPE of  claim 18 , wherein the one or more content chunks are selected from a subset of content chunks associated with the media content stream, based at least in part on metadata configured to identify at least one resolution and codec type.