Aggregation of Multiple Media Streams to a User

• US 20080126109A1
• Filed: 11/28/2006
• Published: 05/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Garbow, Zachary Adam, Paterson, Kevin Glynn, Cragun, Brian John, Pederson, Candace Trielle
• Granted Patent: US 8,812,637 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0603 Catalogue ordering
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0621 Item configuration or customization
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23418 involving operations for analysing video streams, e.g. detecting features or characteristics television picture signal circuitry for scene change detection H04N5/147; filtering for image enhancement G06T5/00; methods or arrangements for recognising scenes G06V20/00; arrangements characterised by components specially adapted for monitoring, identification or recognition of video in broadcast systems H04H60/59
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25808 Management of client data terminal profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/303
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• 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 21/8405 represented by keywords
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus

Abstract

A media stream aggregation mechanism receives and analyzes multiple media streams and creates an aggregate media stream output based on user preferences. In this manner a media provider that uses the media stream aggregation mechanism potentially may provide a customized presentation to each user based on user preferences. By providing the aggregation of multiple media streams to a user, the user'"'"'s experience is customized according to user preferences.

Claims

1. A method for a media source provider that has a portable media source to do business, the method comprising the steps of:

agreeing with an aggregation provider to provide media streams that satisfy a media content specification;

supplying a media stream of an event based on the media content specification; and

receiving compensation from the aggregation provider for the supplied media stream of the event.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the media content specification specifies how the media source provider provides the media stream of the event.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the media content specification comprises device type, data type, and media quality.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the media content specification comprises event type.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the media content specification comprises a plurality of views.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the compensation comprises monetary compensation.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the compensation comprises non-monetary compensation.

8. A method for a media aggregation provider to do business, the method comprising the steps of:

agreeing with a plurality of media source providers to receive a plurality of media streams from a plurality of media sources controlled by the plurality of media source providers;

receiving a request from a user for an aggregate media stream of an event based on user preferences specified by the user;

receiving at least two media streams for the event from at least two of the plurality of media sources;

processing the at least two media streams for the event and generating therefrom an output media stream to the user according to media stream characteristics that include information regarding each of the plurality of media streams and according to the user preferences; and

compensating at least one media source provider for at least one media stream of the event.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein further comprising the step of receiving payment from the user for the event.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the compensation comprises monetary compensation.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein the compensation comprises non-monetary compensation.

12. A method for a user to play a customized media stream of an event on a media player, the method comprising the steps of:

the user specifying user preferences in the media player;

the media player sending the user preferences to an aggregation provider;

the media player requesting the customized media stream of the event from the aggregation provider, which generates the customized media stream of the event from a plurality of media streams according to the user preferences;

the media player receiving the customized media stream of the event from the aggregation provider; and

the media player playing the customized media stream of the event.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of the user paying the aggregation provider for the customized media stream of the event.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of the user paying at least one media source provider that provided a portion of the customized media stream.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the amount the user pays a media source provider depends on how much of a media stream provided by the media source provider was delivered to the user in the customized media stream.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the amount the user pays a media source provider depends on popularity of the media source provider.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein the amount the user pays a media source provider depends on bandwidth capability of the media source provider.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein the amount the user pays a media source provider depends on quality of a media stream provided by the media source provider.