Method and apparatus for providing streaming media in a communication network

• US 20020054134A1
• Filed: 12/22/2000
• Published: 05/09/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hillcrest Laboratories Incorporated (CEVA Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Hillcrest Laboratories Incorporated (CEVA Incorporated)
• Inventors: Kelts, Brett R.
• Application Number:
  US09/747,075
• Publication Number:
  US 20020054134A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/788
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/904 Browsing; Visualisation therefor for navigating the web G06F16/954; browsing optimisation for the web G06F16/957
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/954 Navigation, e.g. using categorised browsing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance

Abstract

A navigation interface display system generates a navigation map that organizes a plurality of information sources in an easy-to-use manner. In practical embodiments, the information sources are online music, video, or other streaming media content providers. The navigation map employs a hierarchical display protocol for a plurality of map items that serve as links to the various content sources. In addition, the map items are displayed on distinctive areas or features of the map, where such features represent different programming/content genres, categories, subgenres, or subcategories. The navigation interface display system is deployed in a layered architecture with centralized servers, centralized databases related to the map data and the content data, and different presentation layer interfaces associated with different presentation or display devices. The layered architecture allows a single deployment of the display system to service multiple users, where each user can utilize any number of different presentation devices.

Claims

1. A system for displaying a number of interactive navigation maps, said system comprising:

a map server configured to process map data for a navigation map having a number of map items representing content, files, or data available to an end user;

a processor configured to determine a number of display capabilities associated with a presentation device utilized by said end user; and

a plurality of end user display interfaces in communication with said map server, each of said end user display interfaces being configured to process said navigation map in a manner that is responsive to said number of display capabilities;

said processor being further configured to select one of said end user display interfaces for rendering of said navigation map.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein said processor is further configured to format said navigation map for compatibility with said end user display interface.

3. A system according to claim 1, further comprising a database in communication with said map server, said database containing navigation map data corresponding to said navigation map.

4. A system according to claim 1, further comprising a monitoring server configured to determine the current status of a number of streaming media stations that provide streaming media content represented by said number of map items.

5. A system according to claim 4, further comprising a database in communication with said monitoring server, wherein said monitoring server is further configured to update said map data in response to a status change of any of said number of streaming media stations.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein said end user display interfaces are associated with at least one web server in communication with said map server.

7. A system according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of presentation layers in communication with said map server, each of said presentation layers being configured to transform said map data into displayable map data formatted in accordance with a number of display capabilities of a respective end user presentation device.

8. A system according to claim 1, wherein:

said map items represent streaming media content; and

said presentation device is compatible with at least one streaming media player format.

9. A method for providing an interactive navigation display to an end user comprising:

generating a navigation map for display to an end user, said navigation map comprising a number of map items representing content, files, or data available to said end user;

determining a number of display capabilities associated with a presentation device utilized by said end user; and

selecting an end user display interface to process said navigation map, said selecting step being responsive to said number of display capabilities.

10. A method according to claim 9, further comprising the step of transmitting a streaming media file to said end user in response to a map item selection by said end user.

11. A method according to claim 9, further comprising the step of formatting said navigation map for compatibility with said end user display interface.

12. A method according to claim 9, further comprising the step of retrieving navigation map data from a database, said navigation map data corresponding to said navigation map.

13. A method according to claim 12, further comprising the steps of:

determining the current status of a number of streaming media stations that provide streaming media content represented by said number of map items; and

updating said navigation map data in response to a status change of any of said number of streaming media stations.

14. A method according to claim 12, wherein said navigation map data comprises streaming media station information.

15. A method according to claim 12, wherein said navigation map data comprises streaming media content information.

18. An interface according to claim 17, further comprising:

a second graphic region rendered with said navigation map, said second graphic region representing a second programming genre; and

a third number of map items displayed in said second graphic region, each of said third number of map items representing a different streaming media file related to said second programming genre.

20. An interactive navigation interface according to claim 19, wherein said station data element contains a bandwidth indicator that represents the effective transmission bandwidth of streaming media content accessed via said currently selected map item.

21. An interactive navigation interface according to claim 19, wherein said station data element contains a broadcast technology indicator associated with a number of available content delivery formats for streaming media content accessed via said currently selected map item.

22. An interactive navigation interface according to claim 19, wherein said station data element contains a quality of service indicator associated with streaming media content accessed via said currently selected map item.

23. An interactive navigation interface according to claim 19, wherein said navigation map is rendered in connection with a map display window accessible from a web page.

24. An interactive navigation interface accor ding to claim 23, further comprising a directory listing window accessible from said web page, said directory listing window containing information related to a number of content sources or content providers.

25. An interactive navigation interface according to claim 23, further comprising a second navigation map rendered in connection with a world map display window accessible from said web page, said second navigation map comprising a number of map items representing traditional radio or television stations.

26. An interactive navigation interface according to claim 23, further comprising a search window accessible from said web page, said search window facilitating end user searching for streaming media content according to specified criteria.

27. An interactive navigation interface according to claim 23, further comprising a preferences window accessible from said web page, said preferences window enabling end user filtering of streaming media content according to specified criteria.

28. An interactive navigation interface according to claim 19, further comprising an information bar comprising a number of panes associated with different features related to end user interaction with said interface.

16. A method for accessing a streaming media file comprising:

accessing a target web site with an end user presentation device;

interacting with a navigation map displayed on a web page associated with said web site, said navigation map comprising a graphic region representing a programming genre and a number of map items located on said graphic region, each of said map items representing streaming media content related to said programming genre;

selecting an active map item rendered on said navigation map; and

playing, at said end user presentation device, a streaming media file corresponding to said active map item.

17. An interactive navigation interface for providing access to streaming media files, said interface comprising:

a navigation map comprising a graphic region representing a programming genre;

a first number of map items displayed in a first area of said graphic region, each of said first number of map items representing a different streaming media file related to a first sub-genre of said programming genre; and

a second number of map items displayed in a second area of said graphic region, each of said second number of map items representing a different streaming media file related to a second sub-genre of said programming genre.

19. An interactive navigation interface for streaming media access, said interface comprising:

a navigation map comprising a graphic region representing a programming genre;

a number of map items associated with said graphic region, each of said map items representing streaming media content related to said programming genre; and

a station data element containing information related to a currently selected map item.