Network-based format conversion

• US 20070121651A1
• Filed: 11/30/2005
• Published: 05/31/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TiVo Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Cook, Charles, Casey, Steven, Selvadurai, Gnanasegeran, Sprenger, Michael, Goeringer, Steve
• Granted Patent: US 8,583,758 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/401
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/258 Data format conversion from or to a database
• 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: H04L 67/303 Terminal profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/565 Conversion or adaptation of application format or content adding application control or application functional data H04L67/561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/440218 by transcoding between formats or standards, e.g. from MPEG-2 to MPEG-4 conversion of standards in analogue television systems H04N7/01
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4516 involving client characteristics, e.g. Set-Top-Box type, software version or amount of memory available
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/454 Content or additional data filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements

Abstract

Various embodiments of the invention provide solutions for converting content, such as audio files and/or streams, video files and/or streams, other data files and/or the like. In an aspect, embodiments of the invention thus provide novel solutions to facilitate the provision of media services to one or more subscribers. In a set of embodiments, for example, media conversion services might be performed according to a subscriber'"'"'s profile, such that the conversion services can be provided, in some cases, on the fly while providing the media to the subscriber, allowing the subscriber to obtain content in the necessary format without having to specify in each instance the formats in which various content should be provided.

Claims

1. A method of providing content to a subscriber, the method comprising:

providing at a media conversion server a format definition for at least one device, the format definition being configured to describe a capability of the device to provide downloadable content to a user;

identifying a set of downloadable content to be provided to the subscriber;

identifying a device to receive the set of downloadable content;

retrieving from a storage location the set of downloadable content to be provided to the subscriber; and

based on a format definition for the identified device, automatically converting the set of downloadable content from a first format to a second format, wherein the second format is compatible with the identified device.

2. A method of providing downloadable content to a subscriber as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting, in the second format, the set of downloadable content for reception by the identified device.

3. A method of providing downloadable content to a subscriber as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

encrypting the set of content in the second format.

4. A method of providing downloadable content to a subscriber as recited in claim 2, further comprising:

providing, with the identified device, the downloadable content for use by the subscriber.

5. A method of providing downloadable content to a subscriber as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

charging the subscriber a fee for converting the set of downloadable content.

6. A method of providing downloadable content to a subscriber as recited in claim 5, wherein charging the subscriber a fee comprises charging the subscriber a monthly fee for conversion services.

7. A method of providing downloadable content to a subscriber as recited in claim 5, wherein charging the subscriber a fee comprises charging the subscriber per-conversion fee.

8. A method of providing downloadable content to a subscriber as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

inserting into the set of content an advertisement.

9. A method of providing downloadable content to a subscriber as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

storing, in the second format, the set of downloadable content for later access by the subscriber.

10. A method of providing downloadable content to a subscriber as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

providing to the subscriber a notification of a status of a conversion.

11. A method of providing downloadable content to a subscriber as recited in claim 1, wherein the set of downloadable content comprises an audio file.

12. A method of providing downloadable content to a subscriber as recited in claim 11, wherein the second format comprises a ringtone that may be used on a wireless telephone.

13. A method of providing downloadable content to a subscriber as recited in claim 1, wherein the set of downloadable content comprises a video file.

14. A method of providing downloadable content to a subscriber as recited in claim 1, wherein the set of downloadable content comprises at least one web page.

15. A method of providing downloadable content to a subscriber as recited in claim 1, wherein the set of downloadable content comprises at least one digital photo.

16. A method of providing downloadable content to a subscriber as recited in claim 1, wherein identifying a set of downloadable content to be provided to the subscriber comprises receiving a content request from the subscriber.

17. A method of providing downloadable content to a subscriber as recited in claim 16, wherein receiving a content request from the subscriber comprises receiving an email message from the subscriber, wherein the email message comprises the content request.

18. A method of providing downloadable content to a subscriber as recited in claim 16, wherein receiving a selection from the subscriber comprises:

providing a web form; and

receiving a response to the web form, wherein the response comprises the content request.

19. A method of providing downloadable content to a subscriber as recited in claim 16, wherein receiving a content request from the subscriber comprises receiving, at a set top box, a command from a remote control, wherein the command from the remote control comprises the content request.

20. A method of providing downloadable content to a subscriber as recited in claim 16, wherein receiving a content request comprises receiving a telephone call from the subscriber, wherein the telephone call comprises the content request.

21. A method of providing downloadable content to a subscriber as recited in claim 1, wherein identifying a device to receive the downloadable content comprises receiving a content request from the subscriber.

22. A method of providing downloadable content to a subscriber as recited in claim 1, wherein retrieving the set of downloadable content comprises uploading the set of downloadable content from a personal content recorder to a network-based content recorder.

23. A method of providing downloadable content to a subscriber as recited in claim 22, the method further comprising:

providing the set of downloadable content for reception by a plurality of devices.

24. A method of providing downloadable content to a subscriber as recited in claim 23, wherein each of the plurality of devices have capabilities similar to the capabilities of the identified device, such that the second format is compatible with each of the plurality of devices, and wherein providing the set of downloadable content for reception by a plurality of devices comprises providing the set of downloadable content in the second format.

25. A method of providing downloadable content to a subscriber as recited in claim 22, the plurality of devices comprises a first device, and wherein providing the set of downloadable content comprises converting the downloadable content to a third format compatible with the first device.

26. A method of providing downloadable content to a subscriber as recited in claim 22, wherein providing the set of downloadable content comprises providing a web page at which users of the plurality of devices can download the set of downloadable content.

27. A method of providing downloadable content to a subscriber as recited in claim 22, wherein providing the set of downloadable content comprises transmitting the set of downloadable content to users of the plurality of devices.

28. A method of providing downloadable content to a subscriber as recited in claim 27, wherein transmitting the set of downloadable content comprises transmitting the set of downloadable content via email.

29. A method of providing downloadable content to a subscriber as recited in claim 23, wherein the plurality of devices comprises a second device and a third device, wherein the second device is associated with a second subscriber and the third device is associated with a third subscriber, and wherein the second subscriber is not associated with the third subscriber.

30. A method of providing downloadable content to a subscriber as recited in claim 1, wherein retrieving the set of downloadable content comprises accessing the set of downloadable content on a personal content recorder.

31. A method of providing downloadable content to a subscriber as recited in claim 30, wherein the personal content recorder converts the set of downloadable content.

32. A method of providing downloadable content to a subscriber as recited in claim 30, wherein the personal content recorder transmits the set of downloadable content for reception by the identified device.

33. A software program comprising a set of instructions executable by one or more processors, the set of instructions comprising:

instructions to provide a format definition for at least one device, the format definition being configured to describe a capability of the device to provide downloadable content to a user;

instructions to identify a set of downloadable content to be provided to the subscriber;

instructions to identify a device to receive the set of downloadable content;

instructions to retrieve from a storage location the set of downloadable content to be provided to the subscriber; and

instructions to automatically convert, based on a format definition for the identified device, the set of downloadable content from a first format to a second format, wherein the second format is compatible with the identified device.

34. A system for providing content to a subscriber, the system comprising one or more processors and a computer readable medium having a set of instructions executable by the one or more processors, the set of instructions comprising:

instructions to provide a format definition for at least one device, the format definition being configured to describe a capability of the device to provide downloadable content to a user;

instructions to identify a set of downloadable content to be provided to the subscriber;

instructions to identify a device to receive the set of downloadable content;

instructions to retrieve from a storage location the set of downloadable content to be provided to the subscriber; and

instructions to automatically convert, based on a format definition for the identified device, the set of downloadable content from a first format to a second format, wherein the second format is compatible with the identified device.