Streaming content

• US 20020083184A1
• Filed: 12/22/2000
• Published: 06/27/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: BBN Technologies Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Elliott, Brig Barnum
• Granted Patent: US 7,277,955 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/232
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/70 Media network packetisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

The disclosure describes techniques that enable a server to receive content submitted for delivery to a user and stream the submitted content to a receiver associated with the user. Such content may streamed along with generic, shared content.

To handle streaming of received content, the server may modify a play list associated with a user to include the submitted content. The timing of content streaming may be affected by play scheduling information specified by a submitter such as a specific streaming time or a number of times to stream the content.

Claims

1. A method for use by a network server that streams content over a network to a network receiver, the method comprising:

receiving information from a remote network node, the information including content and identification of a user; and

causing streaming of the content to a network receiver associated with the identified user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the content comprises at least one of audio data and video data.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the audio data comprises a voice mail message.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the content comprises a reminder.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein causing streaming of the content comprises streaming the content to the network receiver associated with the identified user.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

modifying a play list associated with the identified user to include a reference to the identified content, the play list identifying content for streaming delivery to the network receiver associated with the identified user.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the play list identifies generic, shared content in addition to the received content.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising determining whether a submitter of the content is authorized to submit content.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

receiving play scheduling information for the content; and

modifying the play list based on the received play scheduling information.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein receiving play scheduling information comprises receiving a number of times to stream the content.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein receiving play scheduling information comprises receiving a specified time to stream the content.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein receiving play scheduling information comprises receiving a priority for streaming the content.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising

based on the received priority of the streaming content, terminating streaming of currently streaming content and initiating streaming of the identified content.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing user interface instructions for submitting content; and

transmitting the user interface instructions to the remote network node;

wherein receiving the information comprises receiving the information via the transmitted user interface instructions.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising a stream generator for streaming content to the identified user based on the play list associated with the user.

17. The system of claim 15, further comprising instructions for causing a processor to transmit user interface instructions to a remote network node, the user interface instructions receiving identification of content designated by a content submitter and transmitting the identification to the network server.

19. The computer program of claim 18, further comprising instructions for causing the processor to stream content to the network receiver associated with the identified user in accordance with the play list.

20. The computer program of claim 18, wherein the play list includes at least one reference to content not designated for delivery to a specified user.

21. The computer program of claim 18, further comprising instructions for causing the processor to determine whether a submitter of the identification of the content is authorized to submit content for the user.

22. The computer program of claim 18, further comprising instructions for causing the processor to:

receive play scheduling information for the identified content; and

modify the play list based on the received play scheduling information.

23. The computer program of claim 18, further comprising instructions for causing the processor to:

provide user interface instructions for submitting content; and

transmit the user interface instructions to the remote network node.

25. The graphical user interface of claim 24, further comprising instructions for causing a processor to receive user input identifying play scheduling information for the content.

26. The graphical user interface of claim 24, wherein the graphical user interface comprises a graphical user interface defined by markup language instructions.

27. The graphical user interface of claim 24, further comprising instructions for causing a processor to transmit the identified content.

15. A system for use by a network server that streams content over a network to a network receiver, the system comprising:

play lists associated with different respective users, the play lists identifying content for streaming delivery to network receivers associated with the respective users;

instructions for causing a processor to receive information from a remote network node, the information including content and identification of a user of the different respective users; and

instructions for causing a processor to modify a play list associated with the identified user to include a reference to the received content.

18. A computer program, disposed on a computer readable medium, for use by a network server that streams content over a network to a network receiver, the computer program including instructions for causing the server processor to:

receive information from a remote network node, the information including content and identification of a specific user; and

modify a play list associated with the identified user to include a reference to the content, the play list identifying content for streaming delivery to a network receiver associated with the identified user.

24. A graphical user interface for receiving input from a user, the graphical user interface including instructions for causing a processor to:

receive input identifying content;

receive input identifying a user to receive streaming delivery of the identified content; and

transmitting the received input identifying content and the received input identifying the user to a network server.