Transcoding media content from a personal video recorder for a portable device

• US 20040250291A1
• Filed: 05/12/2004
• Published: 12/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tahoe Research Limited (f/k/a Learndale Limited) (Vector Capital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Daniel R. Wagner, Gary A. Martz Jr, Jeffrey S. Mcveigh, Kenneth M. Salzberg, Ram R. Rao, Sudheer Sirivara, Vaughn S. Iverson
• Inventors: Sirivara, Sudheer, Rao, Ram R., Wagner, Daniel R., Martz, Gary A. Jr., Salzberg, Kenneth M., McVeigh, Jeffrey S., Iverson, Vaughn S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,365,655 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/131
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/40 using video transcoding, i.e. partial or full decoding of a coded input stream followed by re-encoding of the decoded output stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/46 Embedding additional information in the video signal during the compression process H04N19/517, H04N19/68, H04N19/70 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25808 Management of client data terminal profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/303
• 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 21/41265 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 21/4147 PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/436 Interfacing a local distribution network, e.g. communicating with another STB or one or more peripheral devices inside the home
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4402 involving reformatting operations of video signals for household redistribution, storage or real-time display details of conversion of video standards at pixel level H04N7/01; video transcoding H04N19/40; adapting incoming signals to the display format of the display terminal G09G5/005; media handling at the source in data packet switching networks H04L65/764
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4621 Controlling the complexity of the content stream or additional data, e.g. lowering the resolution or bit-rate of the video stream for a mobile client with a small screen arrangements for using the results of monitoring on user's side in broadcast systems H04H60/65; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6433 Digital Storage Media - Command and Control Protocol [DSM-CC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8042 involving data reduction

Abstract

A media signal is controlled using a portable media content device. The media signal is received and encoded into an encoded media signal for a portable media content device. The encoded media signal is stored for playback on the portable media content device.

Claims

1-44. -44. (Cancelled)

45. A method, comprising:

retrieving from a personal video recorder media content and format metadata, and program metadata, the format metadata comprising bit rate, frame rate, and/or resolution associated with the media content, the program metadata comprising title of media content, time of broadcast of media content, and/or type of media content; and

transcoding the media content and program metadata into a format compatible with a handheld display device using the format metadata.

46. The method of claim 45, further comprising initiating a first request to begin transfer of media content from the personal video recorder and a second request to end transfer of media content from the personal video recorder.

47. The method of claim 46, further comprising issuing a query to the personal video recorder, the query to determine whether there is new media content to retrieve from the personal video recorder.

48. The method of claim 45, further comprising receiving a first request to begin transfer of media content from the personal video recorder and a second request to end transfer of media content from the personal video recorder.

49. The method of claim 48, further comprising receiving the first request and the second request from the handheld display device.

50. The method of claim 48, further comprising receiving the first request and the second request from the personal video recorder.

51. The method of claim 48, further comprising:

decoding media content video based on a video format used by the personal video recorder;

encoding the media content video based on the video format used by the handheld display device; and

transferring the encoded media content video to the personal video recorder.

52. An apparatus, comprising:

first circuitry to retrieve from a personal video recorder media content and format metadata, and program metadata, the format metadata comprising bit rate, frame rate, and/or resolution associated with the media content, the program metadata comprising title of media content, time of broadcast of media content, and/or type of media content; and

second circuitry to transcode the media content and program metadata into a format compatible with a handheld display device using the format metadata.

53. The apparatus of claim 52, further comprising third circuitry to initiate a first request to begin transfer of media content from the personal video recorder and a second request to end transfer of media content from the personal video recorder.

54. The apparatus of claim 53, further comprising fourth circuitry to issue a query to the personal video recorder, the query to determine whether there is new media content to retrieve from the personal video recorder.

55. The apparatus of claim 52, further comprising third circuitry to receive a first request to begin transfer of media content from the personal video recorder and a second request to end transfer of media content from the personal video recorder.

56. The apparatus of claim 55, further comprising fourth circuitry to receive the first request and the second request from the handheld display device.

57. The apparatus of claim 55, further comprising receiving the first request and the second request from the personal video recorder.

58. The apparatus of claim 55, further comprising:

decoding media content video based on a video format of the personal video recorder;

encoding the media content video based on the video format used by the handheld display device; and

transferring the encoded media content video to the personal video recorder.

59. An article of manufacture comprising:

a machine-accessible medium including data that, when accessed by a machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising;

retrieving from a personal video recorder media content, format metadata, and program metadata, the format metadata comprising bit rate, frame rate, and/or resolution associated with the media content, the program metadata comprising title of media content, time of broadcast of media content, and/or type of media content; and

transcoding the media content and program metadata into a format compatible with a handheld display device using the format metadata.

60. The article of manufacture of claim 59, wherein the machine-accessible medium further includes data that cause the machine to perform operations comprising initiating a first request to begin transfer of media content from the personal video recorder and a second request to end transfer of media content from the personal video recorder.

61. The article of manufacture of claim 60, wherein the machine-accessible medium further includes data that cause the machine to perform operations comprising issuing a query to the personal video recorder, the query to determine whether there is new media content to retrieve from the personal video recorder.

62. The article of manufacture of claim 59, wherein the machine-accessible medium further includes data that cause the machine to perform operations comprising receiving a first request to begin transfer of media content from the personal video recorder and a second request to end transfer of media content from the personal video recorder.

63. The article of manufacture of claim 62, further comprising receiving the first request and the second request from the handheld display device.

64. The article of manufacture of claim 62, further comprising receiving the first request and the second request from the personal video recorder.

65. The article of manufacture of claim 62, further comprising:

decoding media content video based on a video format used by the personal video recorder;

encoding the media content video based on the video format used by the handheld display device; and

transferring the encoded media content video to the personal video recorder.