Methods and apparatus for hardware registration in a network device

Apparatus for operation within a content distribution network, said apparatus comprising:

• a processor;
• a storage device operatively coupled to said processor;
• first software running on said processor and adapted to control at least one function within said apparatus via a first software interface;
• and
• at least one second software application running on said processor;
• wherein said first software is configured to:
• (a) maintain a registry of hardware options within said apparatus, wherein said registry comprises a plurality of records relating said hardware options to individual ones of a plurality of second software interfaces which may be used to access each;
• and
• (b) provide access to said hardware options to said at least one second software application via said plurality of second software interfaces.

A method of operating a content distribution network having a plurality of client devices operatively coupled thereto, the method comprising:

• distributing at least one software application to each of said plurality of client devices;
• providing at least one hardware registry within each of said client devices, said hardware registry containing a plurality of records, each record relating individual ones of a plurality of optional hardware associated with respective ones of said client devices to one or more of a plurality of first software interfaces;
• providing said plurality of first software interfaces, wherein said plurality of first software interfaces being configured to interface between said at least one software application and at least one of said plurality of optional hardware;
• running said at least one software application;
• discovering said at least one hardware registry and said at least one software interface of said plurality of first software interfaces with a second software interface associated to said at least one software application;
• and
• responsive to said discovering, controlling said at least one hardware option using said at least one software application and said at least one of said plurality of first software interfaces.

Digital video recorder (DVR)-enabled consumer premises equipment (CPE) for use in a content-based network, wherein said DVR functionality is provided according to the method comprising:

• providing at least one hardware registry within said CPE, wherein said hardware registry contains at least one record, wherein said record associates said DVR hardware to at least one of a plurality of first software interfaces;
• providing said at least one of plurality of software interfaces within said CPE, said at least one of plurality of software interfaces being configured to interface between at least one software application running on said CPE and said DVR hardware;
• running said at least one software application;
• discovering said at least one hardware registry, said at least one record and associated said at least one of said plurality of software interfaces using a second software interface associated with said at least software application;
• and
• responsive to said discovering, controlling said DVR hardware using said software application and said at least one software interface;
• wherein said act of controlling comprises implementing one or more user-specified rules provided to said application relating to the playback of content from said DVR hardware.

A method of operating a consumer electronics device having middleware and a hard drive in data communication with said middleware, comprising:

• providing two or more applications adapted to run on said device and in conjunction with said middleware;
• disposing a hardware registry having at least one digital video recorder (DVR) functionality record disposed therein, said at least one record further identifying a first Application programming interface (API) for interface with said DVR functionality;
• receiving contending requests for accessing said hardware registry from said two or more applications;
• resolving said contending requests, thereby enabling one of said two or more applications to access said registry at a time via a second API;
• and
• controlling said DVR functionality via said first API to record at least a portion of content streamed to said device from an external source on said hard drive.

In a cable network, a method of operating a consumer premises device having middleware, a hardware registry having a digital video recorder (DVR) functionality record identifying first application programming interface (API) for interface with said DVR functionality, and a hard drive in data communication with said middleware, the method comprising:

• providing, from said cable network, a DVR-based application adapted to run on said device and in conjunction with said middleware;
• accessing said registry using a second API associated with said DVR-based application to identify said first API from said record identifying said first API as associated with said DVR functionality;
• and
• selectively controlling said DVR functionality via said first API to store at least a portion of first entertainment content provided to said device on said hard drive for subsequent use by a consumer;
• wherein said consumer premises device comprises a device not associated with said cable network, and said act of controlling is performed by said DVR-based application.