System and method for routing content

• US 20070162945A1
• Filed: 01/10/2006
• Published: 07/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Imagine Communications Limited (Gores Broadcast Holdings LLC)
• Original Assignee: Imagine Communications Limited (Gores Broadcast Holdings LLC)
• Inventors: Mills, Brendon
• Granted Patent: US 9,294,728 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/119
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2225 Local VOD servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2343 involving reformatting operations of video signals for distribution or compliance with end-user requests or end-user device requirements video transcoding H04N19/40; media packet handling at the source H04L65/762
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2665 Gathering content from different sources, e.g. Internet and satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4821 using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A system for transmitting information to a display includes one or more content sources, a network, a content processor, and a display device. The content sources are each capable of transmitting content to a content router in first formats according to packet-based communication protocol. The network selectively couples content sources to the content processor. The content processor requests and receives content from a selected content source. The content processor then modifies the first formats and generates a video stream based on the received content and transmits the video stream to the display device. The display device then displays the video stream.

Claims

1. A system for processing packet-based content over a communication network for delivery to a display comprising:

a processor for receiving requests from users for information from a plurality of packet-based content sources, the content sources each generating information with different format characteristics, said information having incompatible format characteristics for transmission over the communication network and for viewing on a display;

said processor operable to request and receive said information from different ones of said content sources;

said processor operable to identify an algorithm suitable to modify said information to be compatible for transmission over the communication network and for viewing on the display; and

said processor operable to modify said information based on said identified algorithm.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said processor is operable to modify said information by translating said information to one of a Moving Picture Experts Group-2 (MPEG-2) format and a Moving Picture Experts Group-4 (MPEG-4) format.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said processor is operable to:

request and receive said information from said content sources by requesting and receiving still digital images from said content sources; and

modifying said information by rendering said still digital images into a video stream.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said processor is further operable to authenticate a user with one of the content sources from which content is requested.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said processor is further operable to request information from a plurality of control sources and to combine said information for simultaneous viewing on the display.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said processor is further operable to receive source data from each of the content sources describing content provided by that content source, and wherein said processor is further operable to identify the algorithm suitable to modify said information based on source data associated with the content source from which processor received said information.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said processor is further operable to add an advertisement to the modified information.

8. A method for processing packet-based content over a communication network to a display comprising:

receiving requests from users for information from a plurality of packet-based content sources, said information each having different characteristics incompatible for transmission over the communication network and for viewing on a display;

requesting said information from said content sources;

receiving said requested information from said content sources; and

modifying said requested information to be compatible for transmission over the communication network and for viewing on the display.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein modifying said requested information comprises translating said requested information to one of a Moving Picture Experts Group-2 (MPEG-2) format and a Moving Picture Experts Group-4 (MPEG-4) format.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein:

receiving said information from said content sources comprises receiving still digital images from said content sources; and

modifying said requested information comprises rendering said still digital images into a video stream.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising authenticating a user with one of the content sources from which the requested content is requested.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein said information is requested via an electronic program guide associated with a display.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising receiving source data from each of the content sources describing content provided by that content source, and wherein modifying said requested information comprises modifying said requested information based on source data associated with the content source from which said requested information was received.

14. The method of claim 8, further comprising adding an advertisement to said requested information.

15. A system for processing packet-based content over a communication network to a display comprising:

means for receiving requests from users for information from a plurality of packet-based content sources, said information from at least one of the content sources being different from at least one other and having incompatible characteristics for transmission over the communication network and for viewing on a display;

means for requesting said information from said content sources;

means for identifying and receiving said requested information from said content sources; and

means for modifying said requested information to be compatible for transmission over the communication network and for viewing on the display.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said means for modifying said requested information comprises means for translating said requested information to one of a Moving Picture Experts Group-2 (MPEG-2) format and a Moving Picture Experts Group-4 (MPEG-4) format.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein:

means for receiving said information from said content sources comprises means for receiving still digital images from said content sources; and

means for modifying said requested information comprises means for rendering said still digital images into a video stream.

18. The system of claim 15, and further comprising means for authenticating a user with one of the content sources from which the requested content is requested.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein said information is requested via an electronic program guide associated with a display.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein said means for modifying the information comprises at least one of means for transcoding, transrating, encoding, decoding, or rendering said information.

21. The system of claim 15, further comprising means for receiving source data from each of the content sources describing content provided by that content source, and wherein said means for modifying said requested information comprises means for modifying said requested information based on source data associated with the content source from which said requested information was received.

22. The system of claim 15, further comprising means for adding an advertisement to the modified information.

23. A system for enabling video content from a plurality of Internet content sources to be viewed by displays incompatible for receiving the Internet content comprising:

a video translator connectable between the Internet and a plurality of the displays;

said translator operable to receive and identify packet-based Internet protocol formatted information from the plurality of Internet content sources;

said translator having circuitry for modifying the Internet protocol formatted information to be compatible with viewing by the displays, wherein the displays can display the video content.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein said translator is operable to translate and route the Internet protocol formatted information.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein said translator interacts with middleware to receive request for video content and to route modified information through the middleware to the displays.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the middleware operates to receive requests from and to transmit requested video content to set top boxes associated with the displays.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the display users request video content via an electronic program guide.

28. The system of claim 23, wherein said translator is further operable to request video content from a plurality of content sources and to combine said video content for simultaneous viewing on the displays.

29. The system of claim 23, wherein the translator is further operable too receive source data from each of the Internet content sources describing content provided by that Internet content source, and wherein said means for modifying said requested information comprises means for modifying said requested information based on source data associated with the content source from which said requested information was received.

30. The system of claim 23, further comprising means for adding an advertisement to the modified information.

31. A system for transmitting video content received from a plurality of content sources to a streaming server comprising:

a video processor interposed between a plurality of Internet-based content sources and the streaming server;

said video processor operable to;

receive and identify requested video content from a selected one or more of the Internet-based content sources; and

said video processor including a translator for modifying the requested video content from a first format to a second format;

said video processing further including a router for routing said translated-formatted video content to the streaming server;

wherein the streaming server transmits the translated-format video content to a plurality of locations for viewing; and

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the video content received from said selected one of the Internet-based content sources comprises video content in a Really Simple Syndication (RSS) format.

33. The system of claim 31, wherein the streaming server is associated with a middleware system that provides video content to a plurality of user video displays.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the streaming server sends video content to television sets.

35. The system of claim 33, wherein the streaming server sends video content to video-enabled mobile telephones.

36. The system of claim 33, wherein the streaming server sends video content to handheld media players.

37. The system of claim 31, wherein the streaming server is further operable to provide video content to the plurality of viewing locations through a cable television system.

38. The system of claim 31, wherein the streaming server is further operable to provide video content to the plurality of viewing locations through a satellite television system.

39. The system of claim 31, wherein the streaming server is further operable to provide video content to the plurality of viewing locations through an Internet Protocol television (IPTV) system.

40. The system of claim 31, wherein the video processor is further operable to receive source data from each of the content sources describing content provided by that content source, and wherein the translator is operable to modify the requested video content from the first format to the second format based on source data associated with the content source from which said requested video content was received.

41. The system of claim 31, wherein the translator is further operable to add an advertisement to said translated-formatted video content.

42. A method for transmitting video content received from a plurality of content sources to a streaming server, the Internet-based content sources generating information having differing characteristics, the method comprising:

requesting video content from a selected one of a plurality of Internet-based content sources, wherein at least one of the content sources is capable of transmitting information having different transmission characteristics;

receiving the requested video content at a video processor interposed between the Internet-based content sources and a streaming server;

identifying and modifying the requested video content from a first format to a second format;

routing the modified-format video content to the streaming server; and

transmitting the modified-format video content from the streaming server to a plurality of locations for viewing.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein receiving the requested video content comprises video content in a Really Simple Syndication (RSS) format.

44. The method of claim 42, wherein said user video displays comprise television sets.

45. The method of claim 42, wherein the streaming server sends video content in said second format to video-enabled mobile telephones.

46. The method of claim 42, wherein the streaming server sends video content in said second format to handheld media players.

47. The method of claim 42, wherein the modified-format video content is transmitted through a cable television system to displays.

48. The method of claim 42, wherein the modified-format video content is transmitted to the plurality of viewing locations through a satellite television system.

49. The method of claim 42, wherein the modified-format video content is transmitted to the plurality of viewing locations through an Internet Protocol television (IPTV) system.

50. The method of claim 42, further comprising receiving source data from each of the content sources describing content provided by that content source, and wherein modifying the requested video content comprises modifying the requested video content from the first format to the second format based on source data associated with the content source from which said requested video content was received.

51. The method of claim 42, further comprising adding an advertisement to said modified-format video content.

52. A system for modifying video content received from a plurality of Internet-based content sources and transmitting the received video content to a content service provider, the content service provider utilizing a streaming server to transmit video content to a plurality of displays serviced by the content service provider, the system comprising:

a routing module operable to request and receive selected video content from a plurality of Internet-based content sources having differing characteristics; and

a translating module operable to dynamically modify the selected video content to be compatible for transmission to a display.

53. The system of claim 52, further comprising an authenticating module operable to receive a request for video content and, in response to receiving the request for video content, send authentication signals to selected ones of the Internet-based content sources in order to receive the requested video content.

54. The system of claim 52, further comprising a buffering module operable to store the requested video content prior to the requested video content being translated by the translating module.

55. The system of claim 52, wherein the routing module is further operable to request and receive selected still-image content from a plurality of Internet-based content sources;

and further comprising a rendering module operable to render the still-image content to generate video content for transmission to the display.

56. The system of claim 52, further comprising a source monitoring module operable to identify new Internet-based content sources accessible by the routing module.

57. The system of claim 56, wherein the source monitoring module is operable to identify the new Internet-based content source by receiving information identifying an address associated with the new Internet-based content source from a user.

58. The system of claim 56, wherein the source monitoring module is operable to identify the new Internet-based content source by periodically polling one or more remote devices coupled to the Internet.

59. The system of claim 52, wherein the translating module is operable to modify the selected content by transcoding the selected content.

60. The system of claim 52, wherein the translating module is operable to modify the selected content by transrating the selected content.

61. The system of claim 52, wherein the translating module is operable to receive the selected content by receiving content in a Really Simple Syndication (RSS) format.

62. The system of claim 52, wherein the translating module is operable to modify the selected content to be compatible for transmission by translating the selected content into one of a Moving Picture Experts Group-2 (MPEG-2) or a Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG-4) format.

63. A method for transmitting video content, comprising:

requesting video content from a plurality of Internet-based content sources, ones of the content sources generating content with differing characteristics,

receiving and identifying video content from the plurality of Internet-based content sources, each operable to transmit content having different transmission characteristics,

dynamically modifying the received video content to be compatible for transmission to a display,

transmitting the modified video content to a streaming server operated by a content service provider, and

streaming the video content from the streaming server to a plurality of displays serviced by the content service provider.

64. The method of claim 63, and further comprising sending authentication signals to selected ones of the Internet-based content sources in order to receive the requested video content.

65. The method of claim 63, and further comprising buffering the requested video content prior to the requested video content being translated by the translating module.

66. The method of claim 63, and further comprising requesting and receiving selected still-image content from a plurality of Internet-based content sources and rendering the still-image content to generate video content for transmission to the display.

67. The method of claim 63, and further comprising identifying new Internet-based content sources available to provide requested video content.

68. The method of claim 67, wherein identifying the new Internet-based content source comprises receiving information identifying an address associated with the new Internet-based content source from a user.

69. The method of claim 67, wherein identifying the new Internet-based content sources comprises periodically polling one or more remote devices coupled to the Internet.

70. The method of claim 63, wherein modifying the requested content comprises transcoding the selected content.

71. The method of claim 63, wherein modifying the requested content comprises transrating the selected content.

72. The method of claim 63, wherein receiving the requested content comprises receiving content in a Really Simple Syndication (RSS) format.

73. The method of claim 63, wherein modifying the requested content to be compatible for transmission comprises translating the requested content into one of a Moving Picture Experts Group-2 (MPEG-2) and a Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG-4) format.

74. A system for processing packet-based content transmitted over a communication network to a display comprising:

a processor operable to

receive configuration information from a user, wherein the configuration information identifies a packet-based content source;

request and receive video content from the identified packet-based content source;

receive a video stream from a content provider;

transmit the video content requested from the identified packet-based content source and the video stream received from the content provider to a display in a manner so that the video content requested from the packet-based content source and the video stream received from the content provider can be displayed simultaneously by the display.

75. The system of claim 74, wherein the processor is operable to receive the video stream from the content provider by:

receiving a plurality of video streams from the content provider; and

selecting one of the plurality of video streams based on the configuration information;

wherein the processor is operable to transmit the selected video stream in a manner so that the video content requested from the identified packet-based content source and the selected video stream can be displayed simultaneously by the display.

76. The system of claim 74, wherein the processor is operable to:

receive video content from the identified packet-based content source in a format that is incompatible for transmission to the display; and

modify the video content received from the identified packet-based content source to a format compatible for transmission to the display.

77. The system of claim 76, wherein the processor is operable to receive video content received in a Really Simple Syndicated (RSS) format.

78. The system of claim 76, wherein the processor is operable to modify the video content by translating the video content to one of a Moving Picture Experts Group-2 (MPEG-2) and a Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG-4) format.

79. The system of claim 74, wherein the processor includes a module for transmitting the video content requested from the identified packet-based content source and the video stream received from the content provider to the display in a manner so that the video content requested from the identified packet-based content source is displayed by a first portion of the display and the video stream received from the content provider is simultaneously displayed by a second portion of the display.

80. A method for transmitting content to a display comprising:

receiving configuration information from a user, wherein the configuration information identifies a packet-based content source;

requesting and receive video content from the identified packet-based content source;

receiving a video stream from a content provider;

transmitting the video content requested from the identified packet-based content source and the video stream received from the content provider to a display in a manner so that the video content requested from the packet-based content source and the video stream received from the content provider can be displayed simultaneously by the display.

81. The method of claim 80, wherein receiving the video stream from the content provider comprises:

receiving a plurality of video streams from the content provider; and

selecting one of the plurality of video streams based on the configuration information; and

further comprising transmitting the selected video stream in a manner so that the video content requested from the identified packet-based content source and the selected video stream can be displayed simultaneously by the display.

82. The method of claim 80, wherein receiving video content from the identified packet-based content source comprises:

receiving video content from the identified packet-based content source in a format that is incompatible for transmission to the display; and

modifying the video content received from the identified packet-based content source to a format compatible for transmission to the display.

83. The method of claim 82, wherein receiving video content from the identified packet-based content source comprises receiving video content received in a Really Simple Syndicated (RSS) format.

84. The method of claim 82, wherein modifying the video content comprises translating the video content to one of a Moving Picture Experts Group-2 (MPEG-2) and a Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG-4) format.

85. The method of claim 80, and further comprising transmitting the video content requested from the identified packet-based content source and the video stream received from the content provider to the display in a manner so that the video content requested from the identified packet-based content source is displayed by a first portion of the display and the video stream received from the content provider is simultaneously displayed by a second portion of the display.