System and method for distributing media content associated with an event

• US 10,116,976 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2015
• Issued: 10/30/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Shaw, Venson, He, Jin
• Primary Examiner(s): Flynn, Randy A
• Application Number:
  US14/884,229
• Publication Number:
  US 20170111667A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,111 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/21805 enabling multiple viewpoints, e.g. using a plurality of cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2187 Live feed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2387 Stream processing in response to a playback request from an end-user, e.g. for trick-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25435 involving characteristics of content or additional data, e.g. video resolution or the amount of advertising
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6581 Reference data, e.g. a movie identifier for ordering a movie or a product identifier in a home shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8352 involving content or source identification data, e.g. Unique Material Identifier [UMID]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8456 by decomposing the content in the time domain, e.g. in time segments
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8547 involving timestamps for synchronizing content

Abstract

A device includes a processor and a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations including receiving, via a transmission, a first set of video segments. Each video segment of the first set of video segments includes multiple video frames of a video stream associated with an event. The operations also include sending a replay request for data associated with a particular video stream associated with the event. The replay request is associated with a replay duration. A communication session with a media server is established via a unicast transmission based on the replay request. The operations also include receiving, via the communication session, a second set of video segments associated with the particular video stream and automatically terminating the communication session based on the replay duration.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a processor; and

a memory accessible to the processor, the memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising;

receiving, via a transmission, a first video stream of a plurality of video streams associated with an event;

during display of the first video stream at a display device coupled to the processor, sending a replay request for the event, the replay request associated with a particular video stream of the plurality of video streams, wherein the replay request includes an offset time and a replay duration, and wherein a communication session with a media server is established via a unicast transmission based on the replay request;

receiving, via the communication session, a set of video segments associated with the particular video stream responsive to the replay request; and

displaying the set of video segments at the display device, wherein a display of the set of video segments includes information overlaying a portion of the video segments, the information including a first indicator of a channel associated with the particular video stream, a second indicator that the set of video segments is a replay, and a numeric indicator of time remaining in the replay.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the event comprises a live event at a venue, and wherein the device is located at the venue.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the first video stream comprises a first feed of the event from a first camera at a first position, and wherein the particular video stream comprises a second feed of the event from a second camera at a second position.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise generating a user interface display that includes an option to specify the offset time and the replay duration.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the offset time, the replay duration, or both, are default values.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein during display of the first video stream to the display device, the display device displays a selectable request replay option.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein in response to receipt of selection of the selectable request replay option, the operations further comprise sending a replay configuration interface to the display device, wherein the replay configuration interface enables entry of the offset time and the replay duration.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein during display of the first video stream to the display device, the display device displays a selectable option to select another video stream of the plurality of video streams.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein in response to receipt of selection of the selectable option to select another media stream, the operations further comprise sending an available media stream interface, wherein the available media stream interface displays thumbnail views of the video streams of the plurality of video streams.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the display of the set of video segments includes a selectable option to cancel the replay.

11. A method comprising:

receiving, at a portable communication device, a first video stream of a plurality of video streams associated with an event from a media server;

during display of the first video stream at a display device of the portable communication device, sending a replay request for the event from the portable communication device to the media server, the replay request associated with a particular video stream of the plurality of video streams, wherein the replay request includes an offset time and a replay duration, and wherein a communication session with the media server is established via a unicast transmission based on the replay request;

receiving, at the portable communication device via the communication session from the media server, a set of video segments associated with the particular video stream responsive to the replay request; and

displaying the set of video segments at the display device, wherein a display of the set of video segments includes information overlaying a portion of the video segments, the information including a first indicator of a channel associated with the particular video stream, a second indicator that the set of video segments is a replay, and a numeric indicator of time remaining in the replay.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising, in response to an initial request for a video stream of the video streams, receiving an event media access interface.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the event media access interface enables entry of a ticket identifier in response to a ticket purchase including event broadcast access.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the event media access interface enables purchase of different durations of event access, different types of event access, or both.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the types of event access include live feeds of the event, replays of the event, or both.

16. A computer-readable storage device storing instructions executable by a processor to cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

receiving a first video stream of a plurality of video streams associated with an event from a media server;

during display of the first video stream to a display device coupled to the processor, sending a replay request for the event to the media server, the replay request associated with a particular video stream of the plurality of video streams, wherein the replay request includes an offset time and a replay duration, and wherein a communication session with the media server is established via a unicast transmission based on the replay request;

receiving, via the communication session from the media server and responsive to the replay request, a set of video segments associated with the particular video stream; and

displaying the set of video segments at the display device, wherein a display of the set of video segments includes information overlaying a portion of the video segments, the information including a first indicator of a channel associated with the particular video stream, a second indicator that the set of video segments is a replay, and a numeric indicator of time remaining in the replay.

17. The computer-readable storage device of claim 16, wherein during display of the first video stream to the display device, the display device displays a selectable request replay option.

18. The computer-readable storage device of claim 17, wherein in response to receipt of selection of the selectable request replay option, the operations further comprise sending a replay configuration interface to the display device, wherein the replay configuration interface enables entry of the offset time and entry of the replay duration.

19. The computer-readable storage device of claim 16, wherein the first video stream is received via a multicast transmission.

20. The computer-readable storage device of claim 16, wherein the particular video stream is distinct from the first video stream.