Methods, apparatus, and systems for providing media content over a communications network

• US 20070204321A1
• Filed: 02/09/2007
• Published: 08/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TVU Networks Corporation
• Original Assignee: TVU Networks Corporation
• Inventors: Shen, Paul, Shen, Jay
• Granted Patent: US 8,904,456 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/135
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2225 Local VOD servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23106 involving caching operations prefetching while addressing of a memory level in which the access to the desired data or data block requires associative addressing means within memory systems or architectures G06F12/0862; caching at an intermediate stage in a data network H04L67/568
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23109 by placing content in organized collections, e.g. EPG data repository details of retrieval of video data and associated meta data in video databases G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23424 involving splicing one content stream with another content stream, e.g. for inserting or substituting an advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2393 involving handling client requests scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2407 Monitoring of transmitted content, e.g. distribution time, number of downloads arrangements for monitoring programmes for broadcast or for distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2665 Gathering content from different sources, e.g. Internet and satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2668 Creating a channel for a dedicated end-user group, e.g. insertion of targeted commercials based on end-user profiles information retrieval from the Internet by querying with filtering and personalisation G06F16/9535; arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast H04H20/10; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; adaptation of message content in packet-switching networks H04L51/063
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4331 Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• 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 21/632 using a connection between clients on a wide area network, e.g. setting up a peer-to-peer communication via Internet for retrieving video segments from the hard-disk of other client devices broadcast-related systems characterised by transmission among terminal devices H04H60/80; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6581 Reference data, e.g. a movie identifier for ordering a movie or a product identifier in a home shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 999/99 dummy group

Abstract

The present invention relates to broadcasting/multicasting of media content over a communication network using shared bandwidth available from peer-to-peer networking. The system of the present invention includes a plurality of broadcast devices, a plurality of receiving devices, a plurality of databases, and a control center. The control center is the central nerve of the network, and provides a number of services, including but not limited to channel control, ad insertion, conditional access, program guide services, and the like. The broadcast device converts media content, which can be television, radio, and other data, received from various content providers, into digital data packets, having a suitable format for transmission over the Internet. Each receiving device will request the relevant packets, decode the received packets, and display or present the media content contained in the packets via an associated device. Packets may be received directly from the broadcast devices or from peers (other receiving devices) on the network.

Claims

1. A system for delivering media content over a communications network, comprising:

one or more servers for delivering media content over the network for one or more media content programs, said media content comprising data packets;

a control center for controlling delivery of said media content over the network via said one or more servers; and

a plurality of receiving devices for receiving said media content;

wherein at least a portion of said receiving devices are configured to share resources via the network, enabling a transfer of said data packets from one receiving device to another.

2. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

the media content is reconstructed at the receiving device in real time with data packets received from at least one of;

(a) one of said servers;

(b) one or more peers on the network; and

(c) local memory.

3. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

a first receiving device is receiving data packets for a first media content program; and

said first receiving device is enabled to switch to a second media content program by receiving data packets for said second media content program from at least one of;

(a) one of said one or more servers; and

(b) at least one other of said receiving devices currently receiving data packets for said second media content program.

4. A system in accordance with claim 3, wherein:

said data packets initially received for said second media content program comprise one or more anchor frames for said second media content program.

5. A system in accordance with claim 4, wherein:

said one or more anchor frames are received for said second media content program until said first receiving device has sufficient bandwidth to receive data packets containing additional anchor frames and other types of frames.

6. A system in accordance with claim 3, wherein:

said data packets initially received for said second media content program comprise one or more anchor frames and corresponding audio data for said second media content program.

7. A system in accordance with claim 6, wherein:

said one or more anchor frames are received for said second media content program until said first receiving device has sufficient bandwidth to receive data packets containing additional anchor frames and other types of frames.

8. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

said one or more servers comprise at least one of;

(a) one or more dedicated broadcasting devices; and

(b) one or more of said receiving devices.

9. A system in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

a peer service associated with said control center for defining a subset of said receiving devices that comprise peers on the network;

wherein said transfer of said data packets is enabled from one peer to another peer.

10. A system in accordance with claim 9, wherein:

a first receiving device is receiving said data packets for a first media content program;

said first receiving device processes a program switch from said first media content program to a second media content program; and

data packets for said second media content program are provided to said first receiving device from at least one of;

(a) one of said one or more servers; and

(b) at least one of said peers on the network.

11. A system in accordance with claim 10, wherein:

a request for said program switch is communicated from said first receiving device to said peer service; and

said peer service provides to said first receiving device a list of available peers on the network currently receiving said data packets for said second media content program.

12. A system in accordance with claim 11, wherein:

said first receiving device communicates a request for said data packets for said second media content program to one or more of said available peers from said list.

13. A system in accordance with claim 12, wherein:

said request for data packets comprises a request for anchor frames from said second media content program.

14. A system in accordance with claim 13, wherein:

a number of anchor frames are stored at each receiving device for enabling said program switch.

15. A system in accordance with claim 13, wherein:

said request includes a request for an initial anchor frame closest to a display time of said receiving device.

16. A system in accordance with claim 15, wherein:

said initial anchor frame is an anchor frame with a time-stamp closest to a time t plus a current time;

said time t comprises one of a positive number, a negative number, and zero.

17. A system in accordance with claim 15, wherein:

said initial anchor frame is received, decoded, and displayed regardless of a time stamp for the initial anchor frame;

said first receiving device begins receiving additional anchor frames after said initial anchor frame is received; and

said additional anchor frames are received from said one or more of said peers until said first receiving device has sufficient bandwidth to accept data packets containing additional anchor frames and other types of frame.

18. A system in accordance with claim 10, wherein:

said first receiving device communicates a stop command to the server providing said data packets for said first media content program after said program switch is processed.

19. A system in accordance with claim 10, wherein:

said one or more servers segregates said media content into groups of data packets according to priority, including at least a high priority group of data packets and a low priority group of data packets.

20. A system in accordance with claim 19, wherein:

said high priority group of data packets for said second media content program are provided to said first receiving device to enable said program switch.

21. A system in accordance with claim 20, wherein:

said high priority group of data packets comprise anchor frames and associated audio packets; and

said lower priority group of data packets comprise non-anchor frames and associated audio packets.

22. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

said media content comprises at least one of prerecorded media content or real-time media content.

23. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

said media content comprises at least one of television programs, news programs, movies, concerts, sports programs, radio programs, advertising content, television commercials, and radio commercials.

24. A method for delivering media content over a communications network, comprising:

delivering media content provided by one or more servers over the network for one or more media content programs, said media content comprising data packets;

controlling from a control center delivery of said media content over the network via said one or more servers; and

receiving said media content at a plurality of receiving devices;

wherein at least a portion of said receiving devices are configured to share resources via the network, enabling a transfer of said data packets from one receiving device to another.

25. A method in accordance with claim 24, wherein:

the media content is reconstructed at the receiving device in real time with data packets received from at least one of;

(a) one of said services;

(b) one or more peers on the network; and

(c) local memory.

26. A method in accordance with claim 24, wherein:

a first receiving device is receiving data packets for a first media content program; and

said first receiving device is enabled to switch to a second media content program by receiving data packets for said second media content program from at least one of;

(a) one of said one or more servers; and

(b) at least one other of said receiving devices currently receiving data packets for said second media content program.

27. A method in accordance with claim 26, wherein:

said data packets initially received for said second media content program comprise one or more anchor frames for said second media content program.

28. A method in accordance with claim 27, wherein:

said one or more anchor frames are received for said second media content program until said first receiving device has sufficient bandwidth to receive data packets containing additional anchor frames and other types of frames.

29. A method in accordance with claim 26, wherein:

said data packets initially received for said second media content program comprise one or more anchor frame and corresponding audio data for said second media content program.

30. A method in accordance with claim 29, wherein:

said one or more anchor frames are received for said second media content program until said first receiving device has sufficient bandwidth to receive data packets containing additional anchor frames and other types of frames.

31. A method in accordance with claim 24, wherein:

said one or more servers comprise at least one of;

(a) one or more dedicated broadcasting devices; and

(b) one or more of said receiving devices.

32. A method in accordance with claim 24, further comprising:

providing a peer service associated with said control center for defining a subset of said receiving devices that comprise peers on the network;

wherein said transfer of said data packets is enabled from one peer to another peer.

33. A method in accordance with claim 32, wherein:

a first receiving device is receiving said data packets for a first media content program;

said first receiving device processes a program switch from said first media content program to a second media content program; and

data packets for said second media content program are provided to said first receiving device from at least one of;

(a) one of said one or more servers; and

(b) at least one of said peers on the network.

34. A method in accordance with claim 33, wherein:

a request for said program switch is communicated from said first receiving device to said peer service; and

said peer service provides to said first communication device a list of available peers on the network currently receiving said data packets for said second media content program.

35. A method in accordance with claim 34, wherein:

said first receiving device communicates a request for said data packets for said second media content program to one or more of said available peers from said list.

36. A method in accordance with claim 35, wherein:

said request for data packets comprises a request for anchor frames from said second media content program.

37. A method in accordance with claim 36, wherein:

a number of anchor frames are stored at each receiving device for enabling said program switch.

38. A method in accordance with claim 36, wherein:

said request includes a request for an initial anchor frame closest to a display time of said receiving device.

39. A method in accordance with claim 38, wherein:

said initial anchor frame is an anchor frame with a time-stamp closest to a time t plus a current time;

said time t comprises one of a positive number, a negative number, and zero.

40. A method in accordance with claim 38, wherein:

said initial anchor frame is received, decoded, and displayed regardless of a time stamp for the initial anchor frame;

said first receiving device begins receiving additional anchor frames after said initial anchor frame is received; and

said additional anchor frames are received from said one or more of said peers until said first receiving device has sufficient bandwidth to accept data packets containing additional anchor frames and other types of frame.

41. A method in accordance with claim 33, further comprising:

communicating a stop command from said first receiving device to the server providing said data packets for said first media content program after said program switch is requested.

42. A method in accordance with claim 33, wherein:

said one or more servers segregates said media content into groups of data packets according to priority, including at least a high priority group of data packets and a low priority group of data packets.

43. A method in accordance with claim 42, wherein:

said high priority group of data packets for said second media content program are provided to said first receiving device to enable said program switch.

44. A method in accordance with claim 43, wherein:

said high priority group of data packets comprise anchor frames and associated audio packets; and

said lower priority group of data packets comprise non-anchor frames and associated audio packets.

45. A method in accordance with claim 24, wherein:

said media content comprises at least one of prerecorded media content or real-time media content.

46. A method in accordance with claim 24, wherein:

said media content comprises at least one of television programs, news programs, movies, concerts, sports programs, radio programs, advertising content, television commercials, and radio commercials.