Content management in a network environment

Abstract

An analyzer resource monitors content access information indicating availability of different types of content available to multiple subscribers over a shared communication link. To facilitate selection of content by respective subscribers, the analyzer resource sorts the available content into different classes (genres) based on a respective subject matter of the corresponding available content. The analyzer resource produces a listing of the different classes (genres) of available content. Subscribers select and/or customize genre-based feeds to store content in a repository for later retrieval.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 monitoring an availability of content to multiple subscribers, the content available over a shared communication link in a network;   sorting the available content into different classes based on a respective subject matter of the content; and   producing a respective accessible content feed for each of the different classes of available content, each respective content feed indicating availability of content falling within a corresponding class to which the respective content feed pertains.   
     
     
         2 . The method as in  claim 1  further comprising:
 as specified by input from a subscriber selecting a particular content feed amongst multiple content feeds, initiating storage of content as specified by the particular content feed in storage hardware for later retrieval. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method as in  claim 2 , wherein the storage hardware is remotely located with respect to a subscriber domain of a cable network environment in which the subscriber resides. 
     
     
         4 . The method as in  claim 1  further comprising:
 displaying a first content feed, the first content feed displaying an identity of first content and an identity of second content falling within a first class to which the first content feed pertains; and 
 displaying a second content feed, the second content feed displaying an identity of third content and an identity of fourth content falling within a second class to which the second content feed pertains. 
 
     
     
         5 . The method as in  claim 4  further comprising:
 receiving selection of the first content in the first content feed; 
 providing an indication that the first content has been selected for recording; 
 receiving selection of the second content in the first content feed; and 
 providing an indication that the second content has been selected for recording. 
 
     
     
         6 . The method as in  claim 5  further comprising:
 displaying an indication that at least one identity of content in the first content feed has not been selected for recording. 
 
     
     
         7 . The method as in  claim 1 , wherein monitoring the availability of content in the network includes: identifying different types of content available to multiple subscriber domains over the shared communication link; and
 wherein sorting the available content includes: sorting the different types of content into the different classes.   
     
     
         8 . The method as in  claim 1 , wherein monitoring availability of the content in the network includes: analyzing content guide information indicating content available for selective retrieval by each of the subscribers over the shared communication link. 
     
     
         9 . The method as in  claim 1  further comprising:
 creating multiple levels of content feeds for a given class of the different classes in accordance with multiple available subscription levels, each of the multiple levels of content feeds providing notification of different content available to subscribers over the shared communication link. 
 
     
     
         10 . The method as in  claim 1  further comprising:
 displaying attributes of a first content feed, the first content feed displaying a first set of symbols indicating identities of multiple different content available in a first genre; and 
 displaying attributes of a second content feed, the second content feed displaying a second set of symbols indicating identities of multiple different content available in a second genre. 
 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus comprising:
 a content management resource including computer processor hardware, the content management resource operable to:
 monitor an availability of content to multiple subscribers, the content available over a shared communication link in a network; 
 sort the available content into different classes based on a respective subject matter of the content; and 
 produce a respective accessible content feed for each of the different classes of available content, each respective content feed indicating availability of content falling within a corresponding class to which the respective content feed pertains. 
   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus as in  claim 11 , wherein the content management resource is further operable to:
 as specified by input from a subscriber selecting a particular content feed amongst multiple content feeds, initiate storage of content as specified by the particular content feed in storage hardware for later retrieval.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus as in  claim 12 , wherein the storage hardware is remotely located with respect to a subscriber domain of a cable network environment in which the subscriber resides. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus as in  claim 11 , wherein the content management resource is further operable to:
 display a first content feed, the first content feed displaying an identity of first content and an identity of second content falling within a first class to which the first content feed pertains; and   display a second content feed, the second content feed displaying an identity of third content and an identity of fourth content falling within a second class to which the second content feed pertains.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus as in  claim 14 , wherein the content management resource is further operable to:
 receive selection of the first content in the first content feed;   provide an indication that the first content has been selected for recording;   receive selection of the second content in the first content feed;   provide an indication that the second content has been selected for recording.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus as in  claim 15 , wherein the content management resource is further operable to:
 display an indication that at least one identity of content in the first content feed has not been selected for recording.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus as in  claim 11 , wherein the content management resource is further operable to:
 identify different types of content available to multiple subscriber domains over the shared communication link; and   sort the different types of content into the different classes.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus as in  claim 11 , wherein the content management resource is further operable to:
 analyze content guide information indicating content available for selective retrieval by each of the subscribers over the shared communication link.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus as in  claim 11 , wherein the content management resource is further operable to:
 create multiple levels of content feeds for a given class of the different classes in accordance with multiple available subscription levels, each of the multiple levels of content feeds providing notification of different content available to subscribers over the shared communication link.   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus as in  claim 11 , wherein the content management resource is further operable to:
 display attributes of a first content feed, the first content feed displaying a first set of symbols indicating identities of multiple different content available in a first genre; and   display attributes of a second content feed, the second content feed displaying a second set of symbols indicating identities of multiple different content available in a second genre.   
     
     
         21 . Computer-readable hardware storage having instructions stored thereon, the instructions, when carried out by computer processor hardware, cause the computer processor hardware to:
 monitor an availability of content to multiple subscribers, the content available over a shared communication link in a network;   sort the available content into different classes based on a respective subject matter of the content; and   produce a respective accessible content feed for each of the different classes of available content, each respective content feed indicating availability of content falling within a corresponding class to which the respective content feed pertains.