Fast selection of media streams
First Claim
1. A method for accessing multiple multi-media data streams for selection by a user at a data stream receiver device, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) acquiring a selected number of streams broadcast from one or more server devices via a network connection;
(b) providing an interface having multiple stream selecting positions for enabling fast switching between stream selections; and
, (c) upon a user fast selection, providing immediate audible or visual reproduction of said stream at said receiver device.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for permitting an end user to select a media stream and immediately experience the audio and video of that stream, in order to evaluate whether the stream is appropriate to the user'"'"'s interests and needs. The invention implements a multi-channel receiver that is actively receiving multiple streams, simultaneously. In a preferred aspect, the bandwidth requirements necessary to convey multiple streams, e.g., those communicated on the same network branch, is reduced. Further, the resource requirements of the multi-channel receiver device are reduced for enabling a user to select from among the received multiple streams. A novel user interface is provided that enables fast selection of a pre-acquired stream and, playback of the stream content immediately upon selection.
110 Citations
25 Claims
-
1. A method for accessing multiple multi-media data streams for selection by a user at a data stream receiver device, said method comprising the steps of:
-
(a) acquiring a selected number of streams broadcast from one or more server devices via a network connection;
(b) providing an interface having multiple stream selecting positions for enabling fast switching between stream selections; and
,(c) upon a user fast selection, providing immediate audible or visual reproduction of said stream at said receiver device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 16)
-
-
11. A system for accessing multiple multi-media data streams for selection by a user, said system comprising:
-
multi-channel receiver device for receiving selected number of data streams broadcast from one or more server devices via a network connection;
user interface device having multiple stream selecting positions for enabling fast switching between stream selections; and
,means for providing immediate audible or visual reproduction of a stream at said multi-channel receiver device in response to the fast selecting. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 17)
-
-
18. A system for communicating multiple multi-media data streams over a public network comprising:
-
one or more user computing devices interconnected over a local area network means equipped with a multi-channel receiver device for receiving a selected number of data streams from one or more server devices over a public network, each user computing device including an interface means for initiating fast selection of said data streams to be received and enabling immediate viewing or listening to stream content upon fast selecting via said interface means;
a proxy server device connected to said local area network including means for receiving requests for streaming data from said user computing devices and forwarding the stream requests to one or more content server device capable of providing said requested data streams content over a public communications network and back to said proxy server via a gateway, said proxy server device including means for eliminating redundancy when communicating a data stream requested by multiple users, and thereby optimizing bandwidth of said local area network and said gateway when simultaneously transmitting requested data streams. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
-
-
21. A method for communicating multi-media data streams over a public network to one or more user computing devices interconnected by a local area network means, a user computing device having a multi-channel receiver device capable of receiving a selected number of data streams, said method comprising steps of:
-
(a) receiving requests for streaming data from said user computing devices and forwarding the stream requests to one or more content server devices capable of providing said requested data stream content over a public communications network via a gateway;
(b) initiating simultaneous streaming of one or more said multiple streams from a content server device via said gateway for receipt by a requesting user computing device, said simultaneous streaming including optimizing said bandwidth of said local area network and said gateway for communicating requested multiple data streams simultaneously to a multi-channel receiver device; and
,(c) enabling a user to sample a data stream from said multiple streams by viewing or listening to stream content immediately upon fast selecting of a data stream via said interface. - View Dependent Claims (22)
-
-
23. A computer program device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by a machine to perform method steps for accessing multiple multi-media data streams for selection by a user at a multi-channel data stream receiver device, said method steps comprising:
-
(a) acquiring a selected number of streams broadcast from one or more server devices via a network connection;
(b) providing an interface having multiple stream selecting positions for enabling fast switching between stream selections; and
,(d) upon a user fast selection, providing immediate audible or visual reproduction of said stream at said receiver device. - View Dependent Claims (24)
-
-
25. A computer program device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by a machine to perform method steps for communicating multi-media data streams over a public network to one or more user computing devices interconnected by a local area network means, a user computing device having a multi-channel receiver device capable of receiving a selected number of data streams, said method steps comprising:
-
(a) receiving requests for streaming data from said user computing devices and forwarding the stream requests to one or more content server devices capable of providing said requested data stream content over a public communications network via a gateway;
(b) initiating simultaneous streaming of said multiple streams from a content server device in response to a request via said gateway for receipt by a requesting user computing device, said simultaneous streaming including optimizing said bandwidth of said local area network and said gateway for communicating requested multiple data streams simultaneously to a multi-channel receiver device; and
,(c) enabling a user to sample a data stream from said multiple streams bye viewing or listening to stream content immediately upon fast selecting of a data stream via said interface.
-
Specification