Method and apparatus providing process independence within a heterogeneous information distribution system
First Claim
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1. Apparatus for adapting asset delivery within a heterogeneous multimedia video-on-demand distribution system having service provider equipment and at least one set top terminal, comprising:
- means for determining at the service provider equipment, for each set top terminal (STT) requesting a session for video content in the heterogeneous multimedia video-on-demand distribution system, a capability level of said STT and a capability level of the distribution network;
means for selecting, from a plurality of available video content and navigational asset versions stored on said service provider equipment, one of said versions of video content and navigational assets appropriate to said capability level of said STT; and
means for providing, via at least one of a plurality of transmission channels, said selected video content and navigational assets in response to STT communications indicative of a need for said video content and assets, said navigational assets comprising a plurality of applets, said applets being stored at said service provider equipment, where each applet comprises video information, graphics information, and control information.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for adapting the delivery of assets and/or content to set top terminals within a heterogeneous information distribution system based on graphics and/or processing capability of set top terminals receiving the assets and/or content.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. Apparatus for adapting asset delivery within a heterogeneous multimedia video-on-demand distribution system having service provider equipment and at least one set top terminal, comprising:
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means for determining at the service provider equipment, for each set top terminal (STT) requesting a session for video content in the heterogeneous multimedia video-on-demand distribution system, a capability level of said STT and a capability level of the distribution network;
means for selecting, from a plurality of available video content and navigational asset versions stored on said service provider equipment, one of said versions of video content and navigational assets appropriate to said capability level of said STT; and
means for providing, via at least one of a plurality of transmission channels, said selected video content and navigational assets in response to STT communications indicative of a need for said video content and assets, said navigational assets comprising a plurality of applets, said applets being stored at said service provider equipment, where each applet comprises video information, graphics information, and control information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. In an interactive multimedia video-on-demand distribution system including video-on-demand provider equipment coupled to subscriber equipment via a communications network, apparatus for adapting provided information to a set top terminal (STT) comprising:
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means for storing a plurality of versions of multimedia video-on-demand (VOD) information at the provider equipment, said versions of VOD information corresponding to differing capability levels associated with various types of STTs;
means for determining at the service provider equipment, during a video-on-demand session initiation, a capability level of said STT, said determination being made by comparing STT configuration information to a data base of STT capability information;
means for providing, to said STT in response to an STT request for information via at least one of a plurality of transmission channels, information comprising navigator assets adapted to said determined capability level of said STT, wherein said navigation assets comprise a plurality of applets stored at said service provider equipment, said applets comprising video information, graphics information, and control information; and
each of said set top terminals having a common video information processing architecture, one of a plurality of control architectures, and one of a plurality of graphics processing architectures, wherein said navigator assets are optimized to each of the possible STT capability levels to provide a plurality of respective navigator assets, each of said respective navigator assets having associated with it a respective STT capability level. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification