Methods, systems, and computer program products for providing multi-viewpoint media content services

• US 20060195882A1
• Filed: 04/28/2006
• Published: 08/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Tischer, Steven, Liu, Jerry Chieh
• Granted Patent: US 8,065,709 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/116
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/21805 enabling multiple viewpoints, e.g. using a plurality of cameras
• 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 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4751 for defining user accounts, e.g. accounts for children
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4753 for user identification, e.g. by entering a PIN or password cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08
• 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 7/16 Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A method, system, and computer program product for providing multi-viewpoint media content services is provided. The method includes receiving a feed of content from at least one communications device that is observing an event from a specified viewpoint and/or relaying the feed of content received from another communications device. The method also includes classifying the content according to a viewpoint identifier and a content identifier. The content identifier specifies a defined portion of the event. The method further includes providing access to user-selectable viewpoints of the content via a corresponding viewpoint identifier and content identifier. Content of selected viewpoints is modifiable for creating customized content.

Claims

1. A method for providing multi-viewpoint media content services, comprising:

receiving a feed of content from at least one communications device that is performing at least one of;

observing an event from a specified viewpoint; and

relaying the feed of content received from another communications device;

classifying the content according to a viewpoint identifier and a content identifier, the content identifier specifying a defined portion of the event; and

providing access to user-selectable viewpoints of the content via a corresponding viewpoint identifier and content identifier;

wherein content of selected viewpoints is modifiable for creating customized content.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the feed of content is a live media feed, the method further comprising:

identifying a source location of the specified viewpoint;

assigning the viewpoint identifier in response to the identifying;

receiving a time signal from the communications device specifying a time of transmission of the feed of content; and

mapping the viewpoint identifier to the content identifier via the time signal;

wherein the providing access to user-selectable viewpoints of the content includes providing access to live media.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing classified content in a database including begin and end times and duration of the classified content; and

mapping the viewpoint identifier to the content identifier via the begin and end times;

wherein the providing access to user-selectable viewpoints of the content includes providing access to post-production media.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a device identifier of the communications device;

wherein the classifying the content includes classifying the content according to the device identifier; and

wherein the providing access to user-selectable viewpoints of the content includes providing access to a viewpoint of the content that corresponds to a data feed provided by a user of the communications device via the device identifier.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein portions of the event are defined by:

parsing data received from the feed of content;

identifying logical content segments;

applying time-based parameters to each of the content segments; and

associating a content descriptor with the content identifier.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one communications device is at least one of a portable communications device and a production system.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing content enhancements for creating customized content, the content enhancements including at least one of:

user comments;

sound;

audio;

music;

visual effects;

branding;

advertising;

promotional information;

logos;

text;

figures;

overlays;

banners; and

subtitles; and

wherein the feed of content includes at least one of;

a video stream;

a digital image;

voice data;

audio data;

altitude;

speed;

physical coordinates;

temperature;

movement;

biometric data; and

sound.

8. A system for providing multi-viewpoint media content services, comprising:

a computer processing device in communication with at least one communications device over a network; and

a multi-viewpoint media access application executing on the computer processing device, performing;

receiving a feed of content from at least one communications device that is performing at least one of;

observing an event from a specified viewpoint; and

relaying the feed of content received from another communications device;

classifying the content according to a viewpoint identifier and a content identifier, the content identifier specifying a defined portion of the event; and

providing access to user-selectable viewpoints of the content via a corresponding viewpoint identifier and content identifier;

wherein content of selected viewpoints is modifiable for creating customized content.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the feed of content is a live media feed, the method further comprising:

identifying a source location of the specified viewpoint;

assigning the viewpoint identifier in response to the identifying;

receiving a time signal from the communications device specifying a time of transmission of the feed of content; and

mapping the viewpoint identifier to the content identifier via the time signal;

wherein the providing access to user-selectable viewpoints of the content includes providing access to live media.

10. The system of claim 8, further comprising a database in communication with the computer processing device, the multi-viewpoint media access application further performing:

storing classified content in the database including begin and end times and duration of the classified content; and

mapping the viewpoint identifier to the content identifier via the begin and end times;

wherein the providing access to user-selectable viewpoints of the content includes providing access to post-production media.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the multi-viewpoint media access application further performs:

receiving a device identifier of the communications device;

wherein the classifying the content includes classifying the content according to the device identifier; and

wherein the providing access to user-selectable viewpoints of the content includes providing access to a viewpoint of the content that corresponds to a data feed provided by a user of the communications device via the device identifier.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein portions of the event are defined by:

parsing data received from the feed of content;

identifying logical content segments;

applying time-based parameters to each of the content segments; and

associating a content descriptor with the content identifier.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least one communications device is at least one of a portable communications device and a production system.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the multi-viewpoint media access application further performs:

providing content enhancements for creating customized content, the content enhancements including at least one of;

user comments;

sound;

audio;

music;

visual effects;

branding;

advertising;

promotional information;

logos;

text;

figures;

overlays;

banners; and

subtitles; and

wherein the feed of content includes at least one of;

a video stream;

a digital image;

voice data;

audio data;

altitude;

speed;

physical coordinates;

temperature;

movement;

biometric data; and

sound.

15. A computer program product for providing multi-viewpoint media content services, the computer program product including instructions for implementing a method, the method comprising:

receiving a feed of content from at least one communications device that is performing at least one of;

observing an event from a specified viewpoint; and

relaying the feed of content received from another communications device;

classifying the content according to a viewpoint identifier and a content identifier, the content identifier specifying a defined portion of the event; and

providing access to user-selectable viewpoints of the content via a corresponding viewpoint identifier and content identifier;

wherein content of selected viewpoints is modifiable for creating customized content.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the feed of content is a live media feed, the method further comprising:

identifying a source location of the specified viewpoint;

assigning the viewpoint identifier in response to the identifying;

receiving a time signal from the communications device specifying a time of transmission of the feed of content; and

mapping the viewpoint identifier to the content identifier via the time signal;

wherein the providing access to user-selectable viewpoints of the content includes providing access to live media.

17. The computer program product of claim 15, further comprising instructions for implementing:

storing classified content in a database including begin and end times and duration of the classified content; and

mapping the viewpoint identifier to the content identifier via the begin and end times;

wherein the providing access to user-selectable viewpoints of the content includes providing access to post-production media.

18. The computer program product of claim 15, further comprising instructions for implementing:

receiving a device identifier of the communications device;

wherein the classifying the content includes classifying the content according to the device identifier; and

wherein the providing access to user-selectable viewpoints of the content includes providing access to a viewpoint of the content that corresponds to a data feed provided by a user of the communications device via the device identifier.

19. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein portions of the event are defined by:

parsing data received from the feed of content;

identifying logical content segments;

applying time-based parameters to each of the content segments; and

associating a content descriptor with the content identifier.

20. The computer program product of claim 15, further comprising instructions for providing content enhancements for creating customized content, the content enhancements including at least one of:

user comments;

sound;

audio;

music;

visual effects;

branding;

advertising;

promotional information;

logos;

text;

figures;

overlays;

banners; and

subtitles; and

wherein the feed of content includes at least one of;

a video stream;

a digital image;

voice data;

audio data;

altitude;

speed;

physical coordinates;

temperature;

movement;

biometric data; and

sound.