Digital domain content processing and distribution apparatus and methods

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for distributing content using a spectrum generation device. In one embodiment, digital content is received via a time-multiplexed network transport (such as Gigabit Ethernet), and converted to frequency channels suitable for transmission over a content distribution (e.g., Hybrid Fiber Coaxial (HFC)) network. In one variant, the conversion is performed using digital domain processing performed by a full spectrum generation device. Additionally, methods and apparatus for selectively adding, removing, and/or changing digital content from the full spectrum device are also disclosed. Various aspects of the present invention enable physical (infrastructure) consolidation, and software-implemented remote management of content distribution.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of providing a plurality of content elements to a plurality of users of a content distribution network, said method comprising:
 receiving a plurality of digital content elements which are accessed from a plurality of digital content sources having different content types, said plurality of digital content elements received as part of a multi-program transport stream (MPTS) at a transformation device; 
 including or removing one or more of said plurality of digital content elements from said plurality of digital content elements based on serviced user requests for said plurality of digital content elements; 
 transforming, at said transformation device, said received plurality of digital content elements to one or more frequency time domain signals using digital domain processing; 
 assigning one or more radio frequency carriers to channel allocations for respective ones of said transformed signals; and 
 transmitting said transformed signals to said plurality of users over said assigned one or more radio frequency carriers; 
 wherein said act of transforming comprises performing digital domain processing that aggregates respective ones of said transformed signals together according to at least one of said content types by dynamically reprogramming said channel allocations. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said transformation device comprises a demultiplexer function configured to demultiplex said MPTS to recover individual program streams associated with said plurality of digital content elements. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said one or more frequency carriers comprise quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM)-modulated channels each having a frequency bandwidth of approximately 6 MHz. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said digital domain processing comprises an inverse Fast Fourier Transform (IFFT). 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of users are associated with a common service group within said network. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said transformation device is substantially remotely reprogrammable, and said method further comprises dynamically changing an allocation of said transformed digital content elements to said one or more frequency carriers remotely. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising dynamically inserting secondary content elements into said plurality of digital content elements before said transforming. 
     
     
       8. A network apparatus configured to deliver content from a plurality of content sources to a plurality of users associated with a content distribution network, said network apparatus comprising:
 at least one first interface configured to access at least one of a plurality of digital content sources in communication with said content distribution network; 
 a storage apparatus configured to at least temporarily store a plurality of accessed digital content elements from said plurality of digital content sources; 
 a transformation device configured to: 
 receive said accessed at least one of said plurality of digital content elements as part of a multi-program transport stream (MPTS); 
 include or remove one or more of said at least one of said plurality of digital content elements from said plurality of digital content elements based on serviced user requests for said plurality of digital content elements; and 
 transform said plurality of digital content elements from one or more time frequency domain signals to one or more frequency time domain signals via digital domain processing; and 
 dynamically reprogram one or more channel allocations so as to aggregate respective ones of said transformed signals together by a content type; and 
 at least one second interface configured to transmit said transformed one or more frequency time domain signals to said plurality of users over respective ones of a plurality of radio frequency carriers. 
 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein said plurality of radio frequency carriers comprise quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM)-modulated channels. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein said digital domain processing comprises an inverse Fast Fourier Transform (IFFT) apparatus. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein said at least one first interface comprises a gigabit Ethernet network, and said at least one second interface comprises a substantially circuit switched frequency distribution network. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein said transformation device is disposed at a hubsite of a content distribution network and away from a core of said content distribution network. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising a radio frequency (RF) combiner adapted to combine said one or more frequency time domain signals output from said transformation device with that of another transformation device in said network. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein said transformation device is remotely programmable.