Apparatus and methods for monitoring and optimizing delivery of content in a network

Apparatus for use in a content delivery network, said apparatus comprising:

• a network interface configured to communicate with a plurality of network entities;
• a storage apparatus;
• and
• a digital processor, said processor in data communication with said interface and said storage apparatus and comprising at least one computer program configured to run thereon, said at least one computer program comprising a plurality of instructions which are configured to, when executed, cause the apparatus to:
• monitor content requests from a plurality of user devices, each content request comprising identification information of an individual one of said plurality of user devices;
• identify a subscriber account associated with said individual user device;
• identify a plurality of additional user devices also associated with said identified subscriber account;
• and
• generate a notification message to send to said individual user device, said notification message comprising a presentation to a user of said individual user device with one or more options for delivery of said requested content to said plurality of identified additional devices, wherein said plurality of identified additional devices are listed in said notification message according to a hierarchy, said hierarchy being determined based on one or more criteria, said criteria comprising at least one of:
• (i) device capabilities;
• and/or (ii) one or more user preferences.

A method of providing content to a plurality of client devices each registered to a subscriber account, said method comprising:

• receiving a request for content from a first one of said plurality of client devices;
• determining a subscriber account to which said requesting client device is registered;
• identifying a second one of said plurality of client devices also registered to said subscriber account;
• providing a protocol translation engine, said engine enabling interoperability between said plurality of client devices and said requesting client device;
• and
• generating a notification for display on said first and said second client devices, said notification enabling a user of said first and said second client devices to select delivery of content at one or more of said first and said second client devices.

A non-transitory computer readable apparatus comprising a medium configured to store a computer program for the optimized delivery of content in a network, said computer program comprising a plurality of instructions which are configured to, when executed:

• determine an association between a plurality of client devices to a single subscriber account;
• obtain content requests, one of said content requests relating to a request for content at a first one of said plurality of client devices;
• evaluate one or more aspects of said plurality of client devices, the one or more aspects comprising at least a device bandwidth requirement;
• evaluate one or more of a requested content bandwidth requirements or an available bandwidth constraint;
• based on said evaluations, select one or more of said plurality client devices which comprises an optimized delivery platform for said requested content;
• and
• present information regarding only said selected one or more client devices to a user of said first client device.

A headend apparatus for use in a content delivery network comprising at least one content server and a database comprising a plurality of records which associate each of a plurality of user devices to subscriber accounts, said apparatus comprising:

• a network interface configured to receive content requests directly or indirectly from said plurality of user devices;
• a storage apparatus;
• and
• a digital processor, said processor comprising at least one computer program configure to run thereon, said at least one computer program comprising a plurality of instructions which are configured to, when executed, cause said headend apparatus to:
• examine said content requests to identify subscriber accounts associated with each request;
• query said database to identify a plurality of user devices associated with a particular one of said subscriber accounts of a particular one of said content requests;
• evaluate one or more aspects of said identified plurality of user devices;
• based at least in part on said evaluation, select one or more of said plurality of identified user devices as an optimized delivery platform for said requested content;
• and
• present a list of said selected one or more of said plurality of identified user devices to a user, said list being sorted by hierarchy based on said evaluation.

A method of operating a content delivery apparatus, comprising:

• establishing a communication session between a content source and a first recipient device using a session-based protocol adapted for use on a packet-switched network;
• identifying a subscriber account associated with said first recipient device;
• transferring packetized content to said first recipient device within said session;
• determining a second recipient device associated to the subscriber account associated with said first recipient device which comprises at least one characteristic optimized for at least one of receipt, processing, or display of said packetized content;
• establishing a communication session between said content source and said second recipient device;
• based at least in part on said determination, identifying at least one future time period to switch delivery of said packetized content to said second recipient device;
• and
• switching delivery of said packetized content to said second recipient device during said future time period.