Streaming media client system and method

• US 20020116707A1
• Filed: 09/18/2001
• Published: 08/22/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Stellar One Corp.
• Original Assignee: Stellar One Corp.
• Inventors: Morris, Richard M., Greenwalt, Todd
• Application Number:
  US09/956,481
• Publication Number:
  US 20020116707A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/37
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23614 Multiplexing of additional data and video streams arrangements for simultaneous broadcast of plural pieces of information H04H20/28
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2381 Adapting the multiplex stream to a specific network, e.g. an Internet Protocol [IP] network transmission of MPEG streams over ATM H04L12/5601
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4314 for fitting data in a restricted space on the screen, e.g. EPG data in a rectangular grid
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4348 Demultiplexing of additional data and video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4381 Recovering the multiplex stream from a specific network, e.g. recovering MPEG packets from ATM cells transmission of MPEG streams over ATM H04L12/5601
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/443 OS processes, e.g. booting an STB, implementing a Java virtual machine in an STB or power management in an STB
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64322 IP

Abstract

A client system and method for real-time rendering of digital content from a network. The invention includes a digital media engine configured to receive and process the digital content, and a media gateway that hosts a user interface web page. The web page includes user-selectable controls, preferably associated with one or more client-side scripts or control programs. The user-selectable controls enable navigation of the network, and control of the digital media engine. The system further includes a media control interface connecting the digital media engine and the media gateway, via the user interface web page and control programs provided thereby.

Claims

1. A client system for real-time rendering of digital content from a network, comprising:

a digital media engine configured to receive and process the digital content;

a media gateway that hosts a user interface web page which includes user-selectable controls for navigating the network and for controlling the digital media engine; and

a media control interface configured to receive user input signals based on the user-selectable controls, and to send control signals to the digital media engine according to the user input signals.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the digital media engine includes a decoder for decoding an encoded digital content signal.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the digital media engine includes a demultiplexer for demultiplexing a multiplexed digital content signal.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the digital media engine includes one or more CODECs for decompressing one or more types of compressed digital content signals.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the digital media engine includes a filter graph manager for retrieving and managing one or more filters in a filter graph.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the one or more filters in the filter graph are configured to process the digital content.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the media gateway provides a top-level web browser that hosts the user interface web page.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the user-selectable controls form a graphical user interface.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the user-selectable controls are generated by markup language tags served with the user interface web page.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the markup language tags are associated with one or more control programs, and wherein each control program is configured to execute a control function.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the control programs are ActiveX controls.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the control programs are Java™

scripts.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the user interface web page includes a graphical user interface.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the graphical user interface is provided by one or more client-side scripts included with the user interface web page.

15. The system of claim 1, further comprising an audio rendering and mixing module, configured to combine audio signals from the digital media engine and the media gateway, and render the combined audio signals to a user display.

16. The system of claim 1, further comprising an overlay mixer filter, configured to overlay the user interface web page onto the processed digital content, and render the overlaid image to a user display.

17. The system of claim 1, further comprising a conditional access module that provides secure access to the system by a user.

18. The system of claim 1, further comprising a network interface, connected to the digital media engine and the media gateway, for communicating with the network.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the media gateway includes one or more control programs associated with the user-selectable controls.

20. The system of claim 1, further comprising a local storage medium connected with the digital media engine, for storing digital content control programs for controlling the processing of the digital content.

21. A client system for real-time rendering of digital content from a network, comprising:

a video subsystem including a rendering engine configured to receive and process the digital content, and to render the processed digital content for a user display;

a network subsystem including a media gateway that hosts a user interface web page which includes user-selectable controls for navigating the network and for controlling the video subsystem; and

a media control interface having a first interface for receiving user input signals based on the user-selectable control programs, and a second interface for sending control signals to the video subsystem according to the user input signals.

22. The system of claim 21, further comprising a network interface configured to communicate internet data between the network and the network subsystem.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the network interface is further configured to communicate digital content signals between the network and the video subsystem.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein the digital media engine further includes:

a plurality of filters, each configured to perform a digital content processing function; and

a filter graph manager, configured to assemble one or more filters into a filter graph for a particular digital content type, and to manage the filter graph for processing digital content base on the digital content type.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the plurality of filters include at least one decoder filter.

26. The system of claim 24, wherein the plurality of filters include at least one demultiplexer filter.

27. The system of claim 24, wherein the plurality of filters include at least one CODEC program.

28. The system of claim 21, wherein the media gateway provides a top-level web browser that hosts the user interface web page.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the user interface web page provides a graphical user interface, and wherein the user-selectable controls include web-browser type controls.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the graphical user interface is superimposed on the rendered digital content on the user display.