Media processing system supporting different media formats via server-based transcoding

• US 20040139233A1
• Filed: 09/30/2003
• Published: 07/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kellerman, Marcus, Bennett, James D., Karaoguz, Jeyhan
• Granted Patent: US 7,296,295 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/246
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2834 Switching of information between an external network and a home network access arrangements H04L12/2856
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1073 Registration or de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/611 for multicast or broadcast systems for broadcast or conference H04L12/18; arrangements for broadcast or distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/00; arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time H04H60/00; selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS], H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/765 intermediate
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/565 Conversion or adaptation of application format or content adding application control or application functional data H04L67/561
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/62 Establishing a time schedule for servicing the requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/63 Routing a service request depending on the request content or context
• 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 21/234363 by altering the spatial resolution, e.g. for clients with a lower screen resolution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2408 Monitoring of the upstream path of the transmission network, e.g. client requests monitoring data switching networks utilization H04L43/0876; scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/254 Management at additional data server, e.g. shopping server, rights management server arrangements for maintenance or administration in data networks H04L41/00; network services using third party service providers H04L67/53
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2541 Rights Management protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10; security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2543 : Billing , e.g. for subscription services payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; e-commerce G06Q30/00; arrangements for billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/21
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25435 : involving characteristics of content or additional data, e.g. video resolution or the amount of advertising
• 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 21/25875 : involving end-user authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; arrangements for secret or secure communication including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26266 : for determining content or additional data repetition rate, e.g. of a file in a DVB carousel according to its importance arrangements for broadcast or for distribution of identical information repeatedly in broadcast distribution systems H04H20/16
• 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 21/2743 : Video hosting of uploaded data from client
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 : having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41422 : located in transportation means, e.g. personal vehicle arrangements specially adapted for transportation systems in broadcast systems H04H20/62
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4227 : Providing Remote input by a user located remotely from the client device, e.g. at work
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42684 : Client identification by a unique number or address, e.g. serial number, MAC address, socket ID network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming H04L61/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 : for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4331 : Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 : Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 : involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44222 : Analytics of user selections, e.g. selection of programs or purchase activity monitoring of user selections in data processing systems G06F11/34; arrangements for monitoring the user's behaviour or opinions in broadcast systems H04H60/33
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 : involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; 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 21/458 : Scheduling content for creating a personalised stream, e.g. by combining a locally stored advertisement with an incoming stream; Updating operations, e.g. for OS modules ; time-related management operations arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast or during the distribution H04H20/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 : Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4627 : Rights management associated to the content security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4668 : for recommending content, e.g. movies
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47214 : for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4751 : for defining user accounts, e.g. accounts for children
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4755 : for defining user preferences, e.g. favourite actors or genre retrieval personalisation and generation of user profiles for the retrieval of video data G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4788 : communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 : End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4821 : using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4826 : using recommendation lists, e.g. of programs or channels sorted out according to their score
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4882 : for displaying messages, e.g. warnings, reminders arrangements for providing short real-time information to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 : involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6187 : involving transmission via a telephone network, e.g. POTS
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/632 : using a connection between clients on a wide area network, e.g. setting up a peer-to-peer communication via Internet for retrieving video segments from the hard-disk of other client devices broadcast-related systems characterised by transmission among terminal devices H04H60/80; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• 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 21/6583 : Acknowledgement
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/814 : comprising emergency warnings arrangements specially adapted for emergency or urgency in broadcast systems H04H20/59; arrangements for providing alarms, notifications, alerts to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8146 : involving graphical data, e.g. 3D object, 2D graphics
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/141 : between two video terminals, e.g. videophone telephonic communication systems combined with television receiver for reception of entertainment or information matter H04M11/085
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 : by receiver means only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 : Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

Systems and methods that reformat media are described. In one embodiment, a system may include, for example, a server, a first communications device and a second communications device. The server, the first communications device and the second communications device may be operatively coupled to a network. The second communications device may receive, from the first communications device, a device profile relating to the first communications device and may send the device profile and media content to the server. The server may reformat the media content based on the device

Claims

1. A system for reformatting media content, comprising:

a server operatively coupled to a network;

a first communications device operatively coupled to the network; and

a second communications device operatively coupled to the network, the second communications device receiving, from the first communications device, a device profile relating to the first communications device and sending the device profile and media content to the server,

the server reformatting the media content based on the device profile.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the server sends the reformatted media content to the first communications device.

3. The system according to claim 1,

wherein the server transcodes the media content from a first type of format to a second type of format,

wherein the second type of format is compatible with the first communications device.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the server comprises a dedicated format conversion server.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first communications device requests the media content from the second communications device.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first communications device can update the device profile.

7. The system according to claim 1,

wherein the first communications device is coupled to the network via a first headend, and

wherein the second communications device is coupled to the network via a second headend.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first communications device, the second communications device and the server comprises a software platform that can provide at least one of a user-interface functionality, a distributed storage functionality and a networking functionality.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first communications device, the second communications device and the server comprises a software platform that can provide at least one of device registration, channel setup, program setup, management and security.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first communications device, the second communications device and the server is adapted to provide at least one of a distributed networking capability, an archival functionality, a temporary storage capability, a storage manager and a digital rights manager.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein the device profile comprises information related to media capabilities of the first communications device.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first communications device and the second communications device comprises a television screen that facilitates viewing and interacting with at least one of a user interface, media, data and services available on the network.

13. A system for reformatting media content, comprising:

a server operatively coupled to a network;

a first communications device operatively coupled to the network, the first communications device sending a device profile of the first communications device to the server; and

a second communications device operatively coupled to the network, the second communications device sending media content to the server,

the server reformatting the media content based on the device profile.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein the server reformats the media content to be compatible with the first communications device.

15. The system according to claim 13, wherein the server stores the device profile of the first communications device for use in reformatting other media content destined for the first communications device.

16. A system for reformatting media content, comprising:

a server operatively coupled to a network; and

a communications device operatively coupled to the network, the communications device receiving media content of a format that is not supported by the communications device and sending a device profile of the communications device and the received media content to the server,

the server reformatting the media content from the communications device into a format that is supported by the communications device based on the device profile.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein the server stores the device profile of the communications device for use in reformatting other media content destined for the communications device.

18. A system for reformatting media content, comprising:

a communications device operatively coupled to a network, the communications device storing a revisable device profile of the communications device, sending the revisable device profile to the network, and receiving media content, from the network, that has been reformatted based on the device profile.

19. The system according to claim 18, further comprising:

a server operatively coupled to the network,

wherein the server reformats the media content destined for the communications device based on the revisable device profile.

20. The system according to claim 19, wherein the server stores the revisable profile for use in reformatting other media content destined for the communications device.

21. A method for reformatting media content, comprising:

receiving, by a server, a device profile of a communications device and media content destined for the communications device, the server being operatively coupled to the communications device via a network; and

reformatting, by the server, the media content based on the device profile.

22. The method according to claim 21, further comprising:

sending, by a second communications device, the device profile and the media content to the server, the second communications device being operatively coupled to the server via the network.

23. The method according to claim 21, further comprising:

sending, by the communications device, the device profile of the communications device to the server; and

sending, by a second communications device, the media content to the server, the second communications device being operatively coupled to the server via the network.

24. The method according to claim 21, wherein the reformatted media content is supported by the communications device.

25. The method according to claim 21, further comprising:

requesting, by the communications device, the media content from a second communications device.

26. The method according to claim 21, further comprising:

sending the reformatted media content to the communications device via the network.

27. The method according to claim 21, further comprising:

storing the device profile at the server for use in reformatting other media content destined for the communications device.

28. The method according to claim 21, further comprising:

sending, by the communications device, the device profile and the media content to the server.