Systems and methods for offline access to video content of a web-site

• US 20070204011A1
• Filed: 06/29/2006
• Published: 08/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Maven Networks, Inc. (theMaven, Inc.)
• Inventors: Shaver, Robert, Clogston, William
• Application Number:
  US11/478,496
• Publication Number:
  US 20070204011A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6543 for forcing some client operations, e.g. recording remote booting in general G06F9/4416

Abstract

The present invention provides a comprehensive development platform and client-side technology for intelligent and cost-effective delivery of video, audio and broadband content over a network, such as the Internet, to desktop, mobile computing, and network connected devices. In one embodiment of the present invention, an intelligent delivery system (IDS) automatically provides a user with offline access to video content from a web-site. A user may display online content via a browser the first time visiting a content provider, such as a web-site, and from thereafter, the IDS automatically provides a second application to display offline content downloaded from the content provider. For example, a user may select via a web browser to view a video displayed in high-definition or in another desired video characteristic. In response to the request, the IDS may transparently download the video in high-definition to storage of the client and have the high-definition video seamlessly displayed from storage by a second application on the client. As such, the IDS provides local access to video content of web-site, such as high-definition video that may otherwise be limited or constrained when transmitted over a network.

Claims

1. A method for providing to a client local access to video content communicated via a network, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing, by a browser on a client, a first user interface displaying a video media communicated via the network from a content source;

(b) requesting, by a user via the first user interface, to display the video media in a form having a desired video characteristic;

(c) while displaying the video media on the first user interface, downloading to a storage of the client from the content source a content comprising the video media having the desired video characteristic; and

(d) invoking, by the browser in response to the request, an application providing a second user interface displaying from the storage the video media having the desired video characteristic.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the desired video characteristic is selected from the following:

a resolution, an aspect ratio, a size, a quality, a bit depth per pixel, a compression, a frame rate, and a bit rate.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the video media of the downloaded content comprises a higher resolution of the video media communicated via the network.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein step (c) further comprises downloading the content as a background process transparent to the user.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein step (c) further comprises downloading the content in response to the request.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein step (c) further comprises downloading the content prior to the request.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein step (c) comprising automatically downloading the content upon providing the first user interface.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein step (d) further comprises invoking the application in one of a transparent or seamless manner to the user of the browser.

9. The method of claim 7, comprising displaying the second user interface of the application to appear as one of related to or a portion of the first user interface of the browser.

10. The method of claim 8, comprising displaying the second user interface of the application as a borderless window.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the second user interface comprises a second set of user interface elements having one of an appearance and a behavior substantially similar to a corresponding first set of user interface elements of the first user interface.

12. The method of claim 1, comprising displaying, by the application, one or more user interface elements for the second user interface from the storage.

13. The method of claim 12, comprising displaying, by the application, for the second user interface at least one user interface element communicated via the network.

14. A client for providing local access to video content communicated via a network, the client comprising:

a browser displaying via a first user interface a video media communicated via the network from a content source, the first user interface comprising an element for a user to request displaying the video media in a form having a desired video characteristic;

a download manager downloading to a storage of the client from the content source a content comprising the video media having the desired video characteristic, the download manager downloading while the first user interface displays the video media; and

an application invoked by the browser in response to the request to provide a second user interface displaying from the storage the video media having the desired video characteristic.

15. The client of claim 14, wherein the desired video characteristic comprises one or more of the following:

a resolution, an aspect ratio, a size, a quality, a bit depth per pixel, a compression, a frame rate, and a bit rate.

16. The client of claim 14, wherein the video media of the downloaded content comprises a higher resolution of the video media communicated via the network.

17. The client of claim 14, wherein the download manager executes as a background process transparent to the user.

18. The client of claim 14, wherein the download manager downloads the content in response to the request.

19. The client of claim 14, wherein the download manager downloads the content prior to the request.

20. The client of claim 14, wherein the download manager automatically downloads the content upon displaying the first user interface.

21. The client of claim 14, wherein the browser invokes the application in one of a transparent or seamless manner to the user of the browser.

22. The client of claim 14, the application displays the second user interface to appear as one of related to or a portion of the first user interface of the browser.

23. The client of claim 21, wherein the second user interface of the application is displayed as a borderless window.

24. The client of claim 14, wherein the second user interface comprises a second set of user interface elements having one of an appearance and a behavior substantially similar to a corresponding first set of user interface elements of the first user interface.

25. The client of claim 14, wherein the downloaded content in the storage provides one or more user interface elements for the second user interface displayed by the application.

26. The client of claim 14, wherein the application displays one or more user interface elements for the second user interface from the storage.

27. The client of claim 14, wherein the application displays for the second user interface at least one user interface element communicated via the network.