Providing streamed content responsive to request

• US 10,567,822 B2
• Filed: 06/15/2016
• Issued: 02/18/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PRJ Holding Company LLC
• Original Assignee: Piksel Incorporated
• Inventors: Shaw, Philip, Heiland, Peter, Everett, Sean, Tilmann, Ralf Wilhelm, Maas, Hans-Jurgen, Weaver, Miles
• Primary Examiner(s): Pierorazio, Michael B.
• Application Number:
  US15/736,943
• Publication Number:
  US 20180184133A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,343 Days
• Field of Search: 725 9
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/46 for recognising users' preferences
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/70 Media network packetisation
• 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 21/23106 involving caching operations prefetching while addressing of a memory level in which the access to the desired data or data block requires associative addressing means within memory systems or architectures G06F12/0862; caching at an intermediate stage in a data network H04L67/568
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/232 Content retrieval operation locally within server, e.g. reading video streams from disk arrays storage management G06F3/0604; details of querying and searching of video data from a database G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23418 involving operations for analysing video streams, e.g. detecting features or characteristics television picture signal circuitry for scene change detection H04N5/147; filtering for image enhancement G06T5/00; methods or arrangements for recognising scenes G06V20/00; arrangements characterised by components specially adapted for monitoring, identification or recognition of video in broadcast systems H04H60/59
• 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 21/234336 by media transcoding, e.g. video is transformed into a slideshow of still pictures or audio is converted into text
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23439 for generating different versions
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2353 specifically adapted to content descriptors, e.g. coding, compressing or processing of metadata
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2358 for generating different versions, e.g. for different recipient devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2402 Monitoring of the downstream path of the transmission network, e.g. bandwidth available traffic monitoring in data switching networks H04L43/00; monitoring data switching networks utilization H04L43/0876
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2407 Monitoring of transmitted content, e.g. distribution time, number of downloads arrangements for monitoring programmes for broadcast or for distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/242 Synchronization processes, e.g. processing of PCR [Program Clock References] arrangements for synchronising broadcast or distribution via plural systems in broadcast distribution systems H04H20/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2541 Rights Management protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10; security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25866 Management of end-user data customer care in data networks H04L41/5077
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26208 the scheduling operation being performed under constraints
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26233 involving content or additional data duration or size, e.g. length of a movie, size of an executable file
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26613 : for generating or managing keys in general key distribution for secret or secure communication involving central third party, e.g. key distribution center [KDC] or trusted third party [TTP] H04L9/083; network support of key management H04L63/06; key management for network security in communication control or processing H04W12/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2665 : Gathering content from different sources, e.g. Internet and satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2668 : Creating a channel for a dedicated end-user group, e.g. insertion of targeted commercials based on end-user profiles information retrieval from the Internet by querying with filtering and personalisation G06F16/9535; arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast H04H20/10; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; adaptation of message content in packet-switching networks H04L51/063
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/414 : Specialised client platforms, e.g. receiver in car or embedded in a mobile appliance
• 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 21/4223 : Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4305 : Synchronising client clock from received content stream, e.g. locking decoder clock with encoder clock, extraction of the PCR packets arrangements for synchronising receiver with transmitter by comparing receiver clock with transmitter clock H04L7/0012; arrangements for synchronising receiver with transmitter wherein the receiver takes measures against momentary loss of synchronisation H04L7/0083
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4307 : Synchronising the rendering of multiple content streams or additional data on devices, e.g. synchronisation of audio on a mobile phone with the video output on the TV screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43072 : of multiple content streams on the same device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/433 : Content storage operation, e.g. storage operation in response to a pause request, caching operations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4331 : Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 : Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/440236 : by media transcoding, e.g. video is transformed into a slideshow of still pictures, audio is converted into text
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/440263 : by altering the spatial resolution, e.g. for displaying on a connected PDA
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44029 : for generating different versions
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44204 : Monitoring of content usage, e.g. the number of times a movie has been viewed, copied or the amount which has been watched monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; protecting generic digital content where the protection is independent of the precise nature of the content G06F21/10; arrangements for monitoring the use made of the broadcast services in broadcast systems H04H60/31
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4431 : characterized by the use of Application Program Interface [API] libraries
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4828 : for searching program descriptors retrieval of video data G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/633 : Control signals issued by server directed to the network components or client management of faults, events, alarms in data networks H04L41/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6332 : directed to client
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8186 : specially adapted to be executed by a peripheral of the client device, e.g. by a reprogrammable remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8358 : involving watermark protecting executable software by watermarking G06F21/16; image watermarking in general G06T1/0021; watermarks inserted in still images for transmission purposes H04N1/32144; inserting watermarks during video coding H04N19/467
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 : Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8547 : involving timestamps for synchronizing content

Abstract

There is disclosed a server for providing content, the server being configured to: receive a request defining one or more characteristics of content; access content from a plurality of content sources; and determine content responsive to the request in dependence on the accessed content.

Claims

1. A server for providing content, the server being configured to:

receive a viewing request for desired content from a content viewing device, the viewing request for desired content defining one or more characteristics of the desired content;

identify a plurality of capture devices which are likely candidates for fulfilling the viewing request for the desired content based on the characteristics of the desired content;

transmit a capture request for captured content to the identified plurality of capture devices;

receive captured content from at least one of the plurality of capture devices;

determine content to be delivered responsive to the viewing request in dependence on the received captured content, by comparing the received captured content to the one or more characteristics of the desired content; and

transmit the content to be delivered to the content viewing device.

2. The server of claim 1 further configured to receive feedback relating to the content to be delivered from the viewing device in receipt of the content to be delivered.

3. The server of claim 2 further configured to determine the content to be delivered additionally in dependence on the feedback.

4. The server of claim 2 wherein the feedback provides an evaluation of a capture device contributing to the content to be delivered to the content viewing device.

5. The server of claim 1, wherein the received captured content is streamed content and the content to be delivered is configured to be transmitted as a single stream.

6. The server of claim 1 wherein the server determines the plurality of capture devices most likely to be associated with the characteristics of the viewing request.

7. The server of claim 6 wherein the server determines the plurality of content sources further in dependence on previous content received at the server from the plurality of content sources.

8. The server of claim 1 wherein the viewing request defines a time period for which the desired content is requested.

9. The server of claim 1 wherein the viewing request defines an event for which the desired content is requested.

10. The server of claim 1 wherein the viewing request is received from a rights holder, the determined content to be delivered to the viewing device being rights holder content.

11. The server of claim 1 wherein the server maintains the viewing request as pending if the viewing request cannot be fulfilled.

12. The server of claim 1 wherein the server maintains the viewing request as pending if the request is fulfilled, to further deliver content from additional capture devices based on the viewing request.

13. The server of claim 1 wherein the plurality of capture devices are a plurality of user devices.

14. The server of claim 1 further configured to, responsive to receipt of a viewing request for desired content from a content viewing device:

access stored content; and

further determine content to be delivered responsive to the viewing request in dependence on the stored content, by comparing the stored content to the one or more characteristics of the desired content.

15. The server of claim 1 further configured to, responsive to receipt of a viewing request for desired content from a content viewing device:

access live streams of content; and

further determine content to be delivered responsive to the viewing request in dependence on the accessed live streams of content, by comparing the accessed live streams of content to the one or more characteristics of the desired content.

16. A method for providing content, the method comprising:

receiving a viewing request for desired content from a content viewing device, the viewing request for desired content defining one or more characteristics of the desired content;

identifying a plurality of capture devices which are likely candidates for fulfilling the viewing request for the desired content based on the characteristics of the desired content;

transmitting a capture request for captured content to the identified plurality of capture devices;

receiving captured content from at least one of the plurality of content capture devices;

determining content to be delivered responsive to the viewing request in dependence on the received captured content, by comparing the received captured content to the one or more characteristics of the desired content; and

transmitting the content to be delivered to the content viewing device.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

receiving feedback relating to the content to be delivered from the viewing device in receipt of the content to be delivered.

18. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

determining the plurality of capture devices most likely to be associated with characteristics of the viewing request in dependence on previous content received at the server from the plurality of capture devices, wherein the capture request is transmitted to the determined capture devices.

19. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a program causing a computer to provide content, the providing of content comprising:

receiving a viewing request for desired content from a content viewing device, the viewing request for desired content defining one or more characteristics of the desired content;

identifying a plurality of capture devices which are likely candidates for fulfilling the viewing require for the desired content based on the characteristics of the desired content;

transmitting a capture request for captured content to the identified plurality of capture devices;

receiving the captured content from at least one of the plurality of capture devices;

determining content to be delivered responsive to the viewing request in dependence on the received captured content, by comparing the received captured content to the one or more characteristics of the desired content; and

transmitting the content to be delivered to the content viewing device.