System and method for real-time processing and distribution of media content in a network of media devices
First Claim
1. A method of managing media content in a network, the network having a plurality of media devices connected to the network by a plurality of communication paths, the method comprising:
- storing information at each of the media devices, the information at least including content processing functionality and throughput capacity for each of the media devices, wherein content processing comprises converting media content;
receiving a request for delivery of media content at a requesting media device;
determining from the information which one or more media devices are capable of providing the requested media content;
sending instructions from the requesting media device to the determined media devices to configure the content processing of the requested media content;
content processing the requested media content using the content processing functionality at least one of the determined media devices; and
sending the processed media content to the requesting media device.
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Abstract
A system and method for managing media content between media devices is disclosed. In a centralized embodiment, a server monitors the media devices actively connected to the network and maintains information on each of the active media devices. The information includes the functions of each of the active media devices for processing media content. The server receives a request for media content and determines functions required to process the media content. The server then determines which of the active media devices have the required functions to process the media content and sends instructions to the determined media devices to configure processing of the media content. In response, the determined media devices process the media content, and the processed media content is delivered at the requesting media device. In a decentralized embodiment, the functions performed by the server are distributed among the various devices of the network.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method of managing media content in a network, the network having a plurality of media devices connected to the network by a plurality of communication paths, the method comprising:
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storing information at each of the media devices, the information at least including content processing functionality and throughput capacity for each of the media devices, wherein content processing comprises converting media content;
receiving a request for delivery of media content at a requesting media device;
determining from the information which one or more media devices are capable of providing the requested media content;
sending instructions from the requesting media device to the determined media devices to configure the content processing of the requested media content;
content processing the requested media content using the content processing functionality at least one of the determined media devices; and
sending the processed media content to the requesting media device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of managing media content in a network, the network having a server and a plurality of media devices connected to the network by a plurality of communication paths, the method comprising:
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storing information at the server, the information at least including content processing functionality and throughput capacity for each of the media devices on the network, wherein content processing comprises converting media content;
receiving a request at the server from a requesting media device for delivery of media content;
determining from the information at the server which one or more media devices are capable of providing the requested media content;
sending instructions from the server to the determined media devices to configure the content processing of the requested media content;
content processing the requested media content using the content processing functionality at least one of the determined media devices; and
sending the processed media content to the requesting media device. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A media managing system, comprising:
a server communicatively connected to a network of media devices, the server configured to;
store information at least including content processing functionality and throughput capacity for each of the media devices on the network, wherein content processing comprises converting media content;
receive a request from a requesting media device for delivery of media content;
determine from the information which one or more media devices are capable of providing the requested media content;
send first instructions to the determined media devices to configure the content processing of the requested media content, whereby the content processing functionality at least one of the determined media devices performs the content processing of the requested media; and
send second instructions to the determined media devices to configure sending of the processed media content to the requesting media device. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
Specification