Multi-format distribution of content

Abstract

A content delivery resource in a cable network receives a request for specified content. The content delivery resource retrieves profile information assigned to the subscriber domain. The profile information indicates multiple different playback formats assigned to the subscriber domain. To service the request, the content delivery resource utilizes the profile information associated with the subscriber domain to select versions of the specified content encoded in accordance with the multiple different playback formats. The content delivery resource then initiates transmission of the versions of the specified content in the multiple different playback formats to the subscriber domain for playback on multiple types of playback devices.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 via computer processor hardware, executing operations of:
 receiving a request for content, the request originated from a first playback device operated in a subscriber domain; 
 identifying multiple different playback formats associated with multiple devices operated in the subscriber domain, the multiple devices including the first playback device; and 
 to satisfy the request, transmitting versions of the content encoded in accordance with the multiple different playback formats to the subscriber domain. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method as in  claim 1 , wherein identifying the multiple different playback formats includes:
 identifying a first playback format assigned to the first playback device; and   identifying a second playback format assigned to a second playback device operated of the multiple playback devices operated in the subscriber domain.   
     
     
         3 . The method as in  claim 2  further comprising:
 to satisfy the request for content:
 i) transmitting a first version of the specified content encoded in accordance with the first playback format over a first channel of a shared communication link to the first playback device in the subscriber domain; and 
 ii) transmitting a second version of the specified content encoded in accordance with the second playback format over a second channel of the shared communication link to the second playback device in the subscriber domain. 
 
 
     
     
         4 . The method as in  claim 2  further comprising:
 to satisfy the request for content:
 i) transmitting a first version of the specified content encoded in accordance with the first playback format to a repository in the subscriber domain; and 
 ii) transmitting a second version of the specified content encoded in accordance with the second playback format to the repository, the repository accessible by the first playback device and the second playback device. 
 
 
     
     
         5 . The method as in  claim 1 , wherein identifying the multiple different playback formats includes:
 mapping the first playback device to a first playback format;   identifying a second playback format assigned to a second playback device operated in the subscriber domain.   
     
     
         6 . The method as in  claim 1  further comprising:
 providing a notification to a user of the first playback device, the notification querying the user whether to transmit the requested content in a format supported by a second playback device in the subscriber domain. 
 
     
     
         7 . The method as in  claim 1 , wherein the multiple different playback formats includes a first playback format and a second playback format, the method further comprising:
 responsive to the request, streaming the requested content in the first encoding format in accordance with a first playback bit rate and streaming the requested content in the second encoding format in accordance with a second playback bit rate, the second playback bit rate different than the first playback bit rate.   
     
     
         8 . The method as in  claim 1 , wherein transmitting the versions of the requested content includes:
 controlling delivery of communications to multiple subscriber domains over a shared communication link including DOCSIS (Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification) channels and non-DOCSIS channels, the shared communication link conveying a first version of the requested content to the subscriber domain over a DOCSIS channel, the shared communication link conveying a second version of the requested content to the subscriber domain over a non-DOCSIS channel.   
     
     
         9 . The method as in  claim 1 , wherein transmitting the versions of the requested content includes:
 controlling channels in a shared communication link to multiple subscriber domains including the subscriber domain in which the first playback device is operated, the channels in the shared communication link including a first channel and a second channel, the method further comprising:   to satisfy the request: i) transmitting a first encoded version of the requested content to the subscriber domain over the first channel, and ii) transmitting a second encoded version of the requested content to the subscriber domain over the second channel.   
     
     
         10 . The method as in  claim 3 , wherein the subscriber domain is a first subscriber domain of the multiple subscriber domains;
 wherein the first channel supports a predetermined bandwidth; and   wherein the second channel supports a varying amount of bandwidth.   
     
     
         11 . The method as in  claim 1  further comprising:
 streaming a first version of the content over a broadcast channel of a shared cable network to a repository in the subscriber domain, the first version of the content encoded for playback by a first playback device in the subscriber domain; 
 providing notification to a second playback device in the subscriber domain that the content has been requested for retrieval; 
 detecting input provided from the second playback device to stream a second version of the specified content directly to the second playback device; and 
 initiating transmission of the second version of the specified content over a portion of bandwidth of the shared cable network dedicated to transmission of IP (Internet Protocol) data traffic. 
 
     
     
         12 . The method as in  claim 11  further comprising:
 to satisfy the request, streaming a first version of the content and a second version of the content over a shared communication link to a repository in the subscriber domain, the first version and second version of content transmitted over bandwidth of the shared communication link supporting QAM modulation, the first version of the content encoded for playback by a first playback device in the subscriber domain, the second version of the content encoded for playback by a second playback device in the subscriber domain. 
 
     
     
         13 . A computer system comprising:
 computer processor hardware; and   a hardware storage resource coupled to the computer processor hardware, the hardware storage resource storing instructions that, when executed by the at computer processor hardware, cause the computer processor hardware to:
 receive a request for content, the request originated from a first playback device operated in a subscriber domain; 
 identify multiple different playback formats associated with multiple devices operated in the subscriber domain, the multiple devices including the first playback device; and 
 to satisfy the request, transmit versions of the specified content encoded in accordance with the multiple different playback formats to the subscriber domain. 
   
     
     
         14 . The computer system as in  claim 13 , wherein the instructions executed by the computer processor hardware cause the computer processor hardware to:
 identify a first playback format assigned to the first playback device; and   identify a second playback format assigned to a second playback device of the multiple playback devices operated in the subscriber domain.   
     
     
         15 . The computer system as in  claim 14 , wherein the instructions executed by the computer processor hardware cause the computer processor hardware to:
 to satisfy the request for content:
 i) transmit a first version of the specified content encoded in accordance with the first playback format over a first channel of a shared communication link to the first playback device in the subscriber domain; and 
 ii) transmit a second version of the specified content encoded in accordance with the second playback format over a second channel of the shared communication link to the second playback device in the subscriber domain. 
   
     
     
         16 . The computer system as in  claim 13 , wherein the instructions executed by the computer processor hardware cause the computer processor hardware to:
 map the first playback device to a first playback format;   identify a second playback format assigned to a second playback device operated in the subscriber domain.   
     
     
         17 . The computer system as in  claim 13 , wherein the instructions executed by the computer processor hardware cause the computer processor hardware to:
 provide a notification to a user of the first playback device, the notification querying the user whether to transmit the requested content in a format supported by a second playback device in the subscriber domain.   
     
     
         18 . The computer system as in  claim 13 , wherein the multiple different playback formats includes a first playback format and a second playback format; and
 wherein the instructions executed by the computer processor hardware cause the computer processor hardware to: responsive to the request, streaming the requested content in the first encoding format in accordance with a first playback bit rate and streaming the requested content in the second encoding format in accordance with a second playback bit rate, the second playback bit rate different than the first playback bit rate.   
     
     
         19 . The computer system as in  claim 13 , wherein the instructions executed by the computer processor hardware cause the computer processor hardware to:
 control delivery of communications to multiple subscriber domains over a shared communication link including DOCSIS (Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification) channels and non-DOCSIS channels, the shared communication link conveying a first version of the requested content to the subscriber domain over a DOCSIS channel, the shared communication link conveying a second version of the requested content to the subscriber domain over a non-DOCSIS channel.   
     
     
         20 . The computer system as in  claim 13 , wherein the instructions executed by the computer processor hardware cause the computer processor hardware to:
 control channels in a shared communication link to multiple subscriber domains including the subscriber domain in which the first playback device is operated, the channels in the shared communication link including a first channel and a second channel, the method further comprising:   to satisfy the request: i) transmit a first encoded version of the requested content to the subscriber domain over the first channel, and ii) transmit a second encoded version of the requested content to the subscriber domain over the second channel.   
     
     
         21 . Computer-readable storage hardware having instructions stored thereon, the instructions, when carried out by computer processor hardware, cause the computer processor hardware to:
 receive a request for content, the request originated from a first playback device operated in a subscriber domain;   identify multiple different playback formats of multiple devices operated in the subscriber domain, the multiple devices including the first playback device; and   to satisfy the request, transmit versions of the specified content encoded in accordance with the multiple different playback formats to the subscriber domain.