Method and device for providing/receiving media content over digital network

• US 20040030798A1
• Filed: 08/07/2003
• Published: 02/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Handmark Incorporated (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Handmark Incorporated (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Zervas, Konstantin, Carlsson, Magnus, Andersson, Per Johan, Pompili, Carlo
• Granted Patent: US 7,424,708 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/232
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9574 of access to content, e.g. by caching
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1859 adapted to provide push services, e.g. data channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1895 for short real-time information, e.g. alarms, notifications, alerts, updates
• 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 21/2402 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 21/25808 Management of client data terminal profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/303
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25833 involving client hardware characteristics, e.g. manufacturer, processing or storage capabilities allocation of resources considering hardware capabilities in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/5044; allocation of resources considering software capabilities in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/5055
• 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 21/2662 Controlling the complexity of the video stream, e.g. by scaling the resolution or bitrate of the video stream based on the client capabilities
• 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 21/44224 Monitoring of user activity on external systems, e.g. Internet browsing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4424 Monitoring of the internal components or processes of the client device, e.g. CPU or memory load, processing speed, timer, counter or percentage of the hard disk space used error monitoring in general G06F11/30; arrangements for monitoring conditions of receiving stations in broadcast systems H04H60/32; diagnosis, testing or measuring for television receivers H04N17/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6131 involving transmission via a mobile phone network wireless downlink channel access H04W74/006
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6582 Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8543 using a description language, e.g. Multimedia and Hypermedia information coding Expert Group [MHEG], eXtensible Markup Language [XML] information retrieval of semistructured data, the underlying structure being taken into account, e.g. mark-up language structure data G06F16/80
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for providing media content to a user over a digital network, which media content is provided by a media content server, organized and selected by an intermediate node in accordance to previously stored user preferences, and delivered to a client operated by the user. The method is characterized by the steps of defining a personalized media package structure, communicating a first package having said personalized media package structure to the client, receiving status information from the client, said status information describing a user action, adapting said personalized media package structure in response to said user action, and communicating a second package having said adapted personalized media package structure to the client. According to the invention, the user can experience a highly personalized media playback, with a minium of costs related to network transmission. By the implementation of the status information communication to the personalization server, the media package structure is continually updated in accordance with the user'"'"'s consumer pattern.

Claims

1. Method for providing media content to a user over a digital network, which media content is provided by a media content server, organized and selected by an intermediate node in accordance to previously stored user preferences, and delivered to a client operated by the user,

characterized by the steps of

defining a personalized media package structure,

communicating a first package having said personalized media package structure to the client,

receiving status information from the client, said status information describing a user action,

adapting said personalized media package structure in response to said user action, and

communicating a second package having said adapted personalized media package structure to the client.

3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said second package, in response to said user action, includes playable media subjects, organized according to said adapted personalized package structure.

4. Method according to claim 3, wherein said status information further includes an indication of the currently available network transmission speed, and wherein media subjects unsuitable for the available transmission speed are replaced or excluded from said package.

5. Method according to claim 3 or 4, wherein said status information further includes an indication of the media formats supported by the client media player, and wherein media subjects having a format not supported by said media player are replaced or excluded from said package.

6. Method according to any one of claims 3-5, wherein said status information further includes an indication of the type of situation the user is currently in.

9. Computer program product, comprising software code portions for performing the steps of claim 1, when said product is run on a computer.

2. Method for receiving media contents to a client from an intermediate node in a digital network, which media content is provided by a media content server, organized and selected by said intermediate node in accordance to previously stored user preferences,

characterized by the steps of

receiving a first package having a personalized media package structure,

communicating status information to the intermediate node, said status information describing a user action, and

receiving a second package having an adapted personalized package structure.

10. Computer program product, comprising software code portions for performing the steps of claim 2, when said product is run on a computer.

7. Device for providing media content to a user over a digital network, which media content is provided by a media content server, organized and selected by an intermediate node in accordance to previously stored user preferences, and delivered to a client operated by the user,

characterized by means for

defining a personalized media package structure,

communicating a first package having said personalized media package structure to the client,

receiving status information from the client, said status information describing a user action,

adapting said personalized media package structure in response to said consumption behavior, and

communicating a second package having said adapted personalized media package structure to the client.

8. Device for receiving media contents to a client from an intermediate node in a digital network, which media content is provided by a media content server, organized and selected by said intermediate node in accordance to previously stored user preferences,

characterized by means for

receiving a first package having a personalized media package structure,

communicating status information to the intermediate node, said status information describing a user action, and

receiving a second package having an adapted personalized package structure.