Network-extensible reconfigurable media appliance

• US 20040260669A1
• Filed: 05/28/2003
• Published: 12/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dennis Fernandez
• Inventors: Fernandez, Dennis S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,577,636 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/40 of multimedia data, e.g. slideshows comprising image and additional audio data retrieval of still image data G06F16/50; retrieval of audio data G06F16/60; retrieval of video data G06F16/70
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/74 Browsing; Visualisation therefor end-user interfaces for requesting or interacting with video content, e.g. video on demand interfaces or electronic program guides, H04N21/472
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/034 on discs G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• 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 21/64784 Data processing by the network data processing in packet switching systems H04L12/56; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10; intermediate storage or scheduling H04L49/90; provisioning of proxy services in data packet switching networks H04L67/56
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/617 Upgrading or updating of programs or applications for camera control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/262 Studio circuits, e.g. for mixing, switching-over, change of character of image, other special effects ; Cameras specially adapted for the electronic generation of special effects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/2621 Cameras specially adapted for the electronic generation of special effects during image pickup, e.g. digital cameras, camcorders, video cameras having integrated special effects capability
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/913 Multimedia
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99948 Application of database or data structure, e.g. distributed, multimedia, or image

Abstract

Extensible reconfigurable media appliance for security and entertainment captures images digitally for storage. Digital effects and filters are applied to incoming video stream on-the-fly or to video data stored in memory. Digital effects and filters are dynamically stored, modified, updated or deleted, providing extensible reconfigurable effects studio. Digital media appliance communicates wirelessly with other media appliances, computers, security systems, video storage, email, chat, cellular services or PDAs to provide seamless integration of captured video stream.

Claims

1. A digital media appliance, comprising:

a video sensor for producing video data; and

a controller comprising a reconfigurable software having one or more instructions for post-producing the video data.

2. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the reconfigurable software further comprises one or more instructions for managing digital rights.

3. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the reconfigurable software further comprises one or more instructions for biometric identity recognition.

4. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the reconfigurable software further comprises one or more instructions for associating a meta-datum with the video data, wherein the meta-datum comprises a language attribute, a location attribute, a biometric attribute, a billing or distribution attribute, an attribute describing author or genre or background information, or an authentication attribute.

5. A digital media appliance, comprising:

a video sensor for producing video data; and

a controller comprising a reconfigurable hardware for post-producing the video data.

6. A content production method, comprising:

delegating production of one or more audio or video data to one or more media appliances; and

receiving the one or more audio or video data from the one or more media appliances.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the delegating step proceeds according to a script or according to a digital template.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the delegating step or the receiving step proceed over a network.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the content comprises a news program or a sports program.

10. A distribution method, comprising:

producing video data using a media appliance; and

sending the video data from the media appliance to a renderer;

wherein the renderer comprises a movie theater, a satellite broadcaster, or a mobile video display device.

11. A method for associating meta-data with video data, comprising:

producing video data using a media appliance; and

associating a data structure with the video data;

wherein the data structure comprises a meta-datum.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the meta-datum comprises a geographical location of the media appliance at the time of the producing step.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the meta-datum comprises a spatial orientation of the media appliance at the time of the producing step.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the meta-datum comprises a DRM tag.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the meta-datum comprises a language tag.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the meta-datum comprises a biometric tag.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the meta-datum comprises an authentication tag.

18. A method of displaying a user interface, comprising:

providing a view for selecting one or more video data; and

receiving a selection designating one of the one or more video data for inclusion into a news program or a sports program;

wherein the one or more video data originate at one or more media appliances.

19. A method of displaying a user interface, comprising

providing a view for selecting one or more video data;

and

receiving a selection designating one of the one or more video data for transmission to a news server or a sports server;

wherein the one or more video data originate at one or more media appliances.