Apparatus and method for delivering media content

• US 10,425,676 B2
• Filed: 03/21/2017
• Issued: 09/24/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2008
• 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: Mehta, Neerav, Bajpay, Paritosh, Macauda, Michele
• Primary Examiner(s): Biagini, Christopher
• Application Number:
  US15/464,755
• Publication Number:
  US 20170195707A1
• Time in Patent Office: 917 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/10 Multimedia information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/611 for multicast or broadcast systems for broadcast or conference H04L12/18; arrangements for broadcast or distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/00; arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time H04H60/00; selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS], H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2343 involving reformatting operations of video signals for distribution or compliance with end-user requests or end-user device requirements video transcoding H04N19/40; media packet handling at the source H04L65/762
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25808 Management of client data terminal profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/303
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6131 involving transmission via a mobile phone network wireless downlink channel access H04W74/006
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6137 involving transmission via a telephone network, e.g. POTS
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements

Abstract

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a mobile communication device, having a controller to capture media content and transmit the media content to a media server with a request for distribution of the media content to one or more targeted recipients according to a user profile associated with the mobile communication device that is stored in the media server, where a format of the media content is adjusted by the media server based at least in part on the user profile. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium, comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processing system including a processor, cause performance of operations comprising:

selecting, from a plurality of communication devices, a targeted device of a targeted recipient responsive to receiving media content forwarded from a first communication device, wherein the first communication device forwards the media content without storing the media content at the first communication device, wherein the selecting of the targeted device is according to a user profile associated with the first communication device;

transmitting a message identifying the media content to the targeted device according to the user profile to offer delivery of the media content to the targeted device, the message prompting one of an opt-in reply or an opt-out reply;

determining whether the targeted device has accepted delivery of the media content;

responsive to receiving the opt-out reply to the message, thereby determining that the targeted device has not accepted delivery;

transmitting a notification regarding availability of the media content to a second communication device of the plurality of communication devices, wherein the second communication device is associated with the targeted recipient and is different from the targeted device; and

providing the second communication device access to the media content; and

responsive to receiving the opt-in reply to the message, thereby determining that the targeted device has accepted delivery;

determining, based on the user profile, a delivery format of the media content for delivery to the targeted device;

adjusting a format of the media content according to the delivery format; and

providing the media content to the targeted device.

2. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the first communication device obtains the media content via a network.

3. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the targeted recipient is selected from a list of potential target recipients.

4. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the message comprises a text message.

5. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the user profile comprises a delivery format associated with each of the plurality of communication devices.

6. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise updating the delivery format based upon an input to the first communication device.

7. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise authenticating a request from the first communication device to distribute the media content.

8. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise facilitating a communication link with the targeted device according to the user profile.

9. A device comprising:

a processing system including a processor; and

a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, cause performance of operations comprising;

receiving media content from a first communication device, wherein the media content is transmitted by the first communication device responsive to selection of a function of the first communication device, wherein the first communication device transmits the media content without storing the media content at the first communication device;

receiving a request from the first communication device to distribute the media content;

transmitting a message offering delivery of the media content to a target device associated with a target recipient of the media content, the message prompting one of an opt-in reply or an opt-out reply, wherein the target device is selected from a plurality of communication devices according to a user profile associated with the first communication device, wherein the user profile specifies the target device;

determining whether the target recipient has accepted delivery of the media content;

responsive to receiving the opt-in reply to the message, thereby determining that the target recipient has accepted delivery;

determining, based on the user profile, a delivery format of the media content for delivery to the targeted device;

adjusting a format of the media content according to the delivery format; and

providing to the target device a hyperlink to the media content; and

responsive to receiving the opt-out reply to the message, thereby determining that the target recipient has not accepted delivery;

transmitting a notification regarding availability of the media content to a second communication device of the plurality of communication devices, wherein the second communication device is associated with the target recipient and is different from the target device; and

providing the second communication device access to the media content.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the message comprises a text message, and wherein the text message comprises a title of the media content.

11. The device of claim 9, wherein responsive to determining that the target recipient has not accepted delivery, the notification is transmitted according to the user profile.

12. The device of claim 9, wherein the hyperlink is provided on a web page of the target recipient.

13. The device of claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise facilitating communication between the target device and the first communication device.

14. The device of claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise authenticating the request to distribute the media content.

15. The device of claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise:

responsive to determining that the target recipient has accepted delivery;

storing the media content; and

providing access to the media content according to the user profile.

16. A method comprising:

receiving, by a processing system including a processor, media content forwarded from a first communication device, wherein the first communication device forwards the media content without storing the media content at the first communication device;

selecting, by a processing system from a plurality of communication devices, a targeted device of a targeted recipient responsive to the receiving of the media content, wherein the selecting of the targeted device is according to a user profile associated with the first communication device;

transmitting, by the processing system, a message identifying the media content to the targeted device according to the user profile to offer delivery of the media content to the targeted device, the message prompting one of an opt-in reply or an opt-out reply;

determining, by the processing system, whether the targeted device has accepted delivery of the media content;

responsive to receiving the opt-out reply, thereby determining that the targeted device has not accepted delivery;

transmitting, by the processing system, a notification regarding availability of the media content to a second communication device of the plurality of communication devices, wherein the second communication device is associated with the targeted recipient and is different from the targeted device; and

providing, by the processing system, the second communication device access to the media content; and

responsive to receiving the opt-in reply, thereby determining that the targeted device has accepted delivery;

determining, based on the user profile, a delivery format of the media content for delivery to the targeted device;

adjusting a format of the media content according to the delivery format; and

providing, by the processing system, the media content to the targeted device.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the user profile comprises a delivery format associated with each of the plurality of communication devices.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising updating, by the processing system, the delivery format based upon an input to the first communication device.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein providing the media content to the targeted device comprises providing a hyperlink to the media content.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the user profile is a group profile associated with the first communication device.