SYSTEMS, METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING SEQUENCES OF MEDIA SEGMENTS AND CORRESPONDING INTERACTIVE DATA ON A CHANNEL IN A MEDIA DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

• US 20080134260A1
• Filed: 12/04/2006
• Published: 06/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Glassman, Nicholas A., Mikkelsen, Tom O., Boyd, Michael G., Bailey, Michael K.
• Granted Patent: US 8,819,724 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/10 Arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast or the distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/93 which locates resources of other pieces of information, e.g. URL [Uniform Resource Locator]
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/46 for recognising users' preferences
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23614 Multiplexing of additional data and video streams arrangements for simultaneous broadcast of plural pieces of information H04H20/28
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2365 Multiplexing of several video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2368 Multiplexing of audio and video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4438 Window management, e.g. event handling following interaction with the user interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; 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 21/4627 Rights management associated to the content security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4722 for requesting additional data associated with the content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8133 specifically related to the content, e.g. biography of the actors in a movie, detailed information about an article seen in a video program
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

Systems, methods and apparatus for producing, distributing and presenting media presentations include identifying, providing and generating a sequence of media segments from a plurality of media presentations, optionally in combination with associated interactive services, so as to define a media channel.

Claims

1. A method of distributing a media channel, comprising:

receiving a sequence of selected media segments from at least two of a plurality of media presentations;

receiving at least one interactive service associated with each of the selected media segments;

generating a channel comprising a base service and an auxiliary-service, wherein the base service comprises the sequence of selected media segments from at least two of the plurality of media presentations, and wherein the auxiliary service comprises the at least one interactive service associated with each of the selected media segments; and

transmitting the channel.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary service comprises at least one of a universal resource locator, an Internet Protocol address, a datacast service, a text file, a graphics file, an audio file, and a video file.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary service comprises at least one of a secondary audio service, and a secondary video service.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving from a wireless device a user request based on the auxiliary service, and transmitting additional information to the wireless device based on the user request.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of media presentations comprise events occurring substantially simultaneously in real-time, wherein receiving a sequence of selected media segments further comprises receiving substantially in real-time, and wherein transmitting the channel further comprises transmitting each one of the sequence of selected media segments substantially in real-time.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a sequence of selected media segments further comprises receiving at least one real-time media segment and at least one non-real-time media segment, and wherein transmitting the channel further comprises transmitting the sequence of selected media segments including the real-time media segment and the non real-time media segment.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of media presentations comprise presentations of simultaneously-occurring events, further comprising determining each of the selected media segments based on a moment of interest occurring in each of the simultaneously-occurring events.

41. A wireless device operable to receive and display the channel distributed according to the method of claim 1.

8. At least one processor configured to perform the actions of:

receiving a sequence of selected media segments from at least two of a plurality of media presentations;

receiving at least one interactive service associated with each of the selected media segments;

generating a channel comprising a base service and an auxiliary service, wherein the base service comprises the sequence of selected media segments from at least two of the plurality of media presentations, and wherein the auxiliary service comprises the at least one interactive service associated with each of the selected media segments; and

transmitting the channel.

9. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer-readable medium comprising;

a first set of codes for causing a computer to receive a sequence of selected media segments from at least two of a plurality of media presentations;

a second set of codes for causing a computer to receive at least one interactive service associated with each of the selected media segments;

a third set of codes for causing a computer to generate a channel comprising a base service and an auxiliary service, wherein the base service comprises the sequence of selected media segments from at least two of the plurality of media presentations, and wherein the auxiliary service comprises the at least one interactive service associated with each of the selected media segments; and

a fourth set of codes for causing a computer to transmit the channel.

10. A media distribution system, comprising:

means for receiving a sequence of selected media segments from at least two of a plurality of media presentations;

means for receiving at least one interactive service associated with each of the selected media segments;

means for generating a channel comprising a base service and an auxiliary service, wherein the base service comprises the sequence of selected media segments from at least two of the plurality of media presentations, and wherein the auxiliary service comprises the at least one interactive service associated with each of the selected media segments; and

means for transmitting the channel.

42. A wireless device operable to receive and display the channel distributed according to the method of claim 10.

11. A method of distributing content, comprising:

transmitting content on a channel to a wireless device, the content comprising a first segment of a first media presentation and an associated interactive service;

identifying a second segment in a second media presentation, the second media presentation occurring substantially simultaneous to the first media presentation; and

switching the content on the channel from the first segment to the second segment.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the first segment comprises first audio data, wherein the second segment comprises second audio data, and further comprising overriding at least one of the first audio data and the second audio data with commentator audio data.

13. The method of claim 11, receiving a user request from the wireless device, wherein the user request is in response to the interactive service, and transmitting additional information to the wireless device based on the user request.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the first segment comprises first audio data, wherein the second segment comprises second audio data, and wherein transmitting further comprises overriding at least one of the first audio data and the second audio data with a third audio data unrelated to the first audio data and the second audio data.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein switching further comprises changing the interactive service to another interactive service associated with the second media presentation.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the interactive service comprises a plurality of sets of interactive data, further comprising defining a first set to be presented with the first media presentation and a second set to be presented with the second media presentation.

17. At least one processor configured to perform the actions of:

transmitting content on a channel to a wireless device, the content comprising a first segment of a first media presentation and an associated interactive service;

identifying a second segment in a second media presentation, the second media presentation occurring substantially simultaneous to the first media presentation; and

switching the content on the channel from the first segment to the second segment.

18. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer-readable medium comprising;

a first set of codes for causing a computer to transmit content on a channel to a wireless device, the content comprising a first segment of a first media presentation and an associated interactive service;

a second set of codes for causing a computer to identify a second segment in a second media presentation, the second media presentation occurring substantially simultaneous to the first media presentation; and

a third set of codes for causing a computer to switch the content on the channel from the first segment to the second segment.

19. A media distribution system, comprising:

means for transmitting content on a channel to a wireless device, the content comprising a first segment of a first media presentation and an associated interactive service;

means for identifying a second segment in a second media presentation, the second media presentation occurring substantially simultaneous to the first media presentation; and

means for switching the content on the channel from the first segment to the second segment.

20. A media distribution device, comprising:

a communications module operable to receive a sequence of selected media segments from at least two of a plurality of media presentations, wherein the communications module is further operable to receive at least one interactive service associated with the plurality of media presentations;

a manager module operable to define a channel comprising a base service and an auxiliary service, wherein the base service comprises the sequence of selected media segments, and wherein the auxiliary service comprises at least one interactive service associated with each of the at least two of the plurality of media presentations in the sequence of selected media segments; and

a distribution manager module comprising a distribution mechanism operable to transmit the channel.

21. A method of presenting media, comprising:

receiving, at a wireless device, a sequence of selected media segments from at least two of a plurality of media presentations;

receiving, at the wireless device, at least one interactive service respectively associated with each of the at least two of the plurality of media presentations; and

generating, at the wireless device, a presentation of a channel comprising the sequence of selected media segments and the at least one interactive service respectively associated with each of the at least two of the plurality of media presentations corresponding to the selected media segments.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising receiving, at the wireless device, a user request in response to the at least one interactive service corresponding to one of the selected media segments, and presenting additional information received from the least one interactive service in response to the user request.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein, for each of the selected segments, receiving at least one interactive service further comprises selecting from a plurality of interactive services associated with the corresponding media presentation based on a user preference.

24. At least one processor configured to perform the actions of:

receiving a sequence of selected media segments from at least two of a plurality of media presentations;

receiving at least one interactive service respectively associated with each of the at least two of the plurality of media presentations; and

generating a presentation of a channel comprising the sequence of selected media segments and the at least one interactive service respectively associated with each of the at least two of the plurality of media presentations corresponding to the selected media segments.

25. A computer program product, comprising;

a computer-readable medium comprising;

a first set of codes for causing a computer to receive a sequence of selected media segments from at least two of a plurality of media presentations;

a second set of codes for causing a computer to receive at least one interactive service respectively associated with each of the at least two of the plurality of media presentations; and

a third set of codes for causing a computer to generate a presentation of a channel comprising the sequence of selected media segments and the at least one interactive service respectively associated with each of the at least two of the plurality of media presentations corresponding to the selected media segments.

26. A wireless device, comprising:

means for receiving a sequence of selected media segments from at least two of a plurality of media presentations;

means for receiving at least one interactive service respectively associated with each of the at least two of the plurality of media presentations; and

means for generating a presentation of a channel comprising the sequence of selected media segments and the at least one interactive service respectively associated with each of the at least two of the plurality of media presentations corresponding to the selected media segments.

27. A wireless device, comprising:

a processor;

a communications module operable to receive a sequence of selected media segments from at least two of a plurality of media presentations, and wherein the communications module is further operable to receive at least one interactive service respectively associated with each of the at least two of the plurality of media presentations;

an output mechanism; and

a memory in communication with the processor, the output mechanism and the communications module, the memory comprising a media manager module executable by the processor to generate a presentation of a channel on the output mechanism, the channel comprising the sequence of selected media segments and at least one interactive service respectively associated with each of the at least two of the plurality of media presentations corresponding to the selected media segments.

28. The wireless device of claim 27, further comprising an input mechanism operable to receive a user request in response to the at least one interactive service corresponding to one of the selected media segments, and wherein the media manager module is operable to present, via the output mechanism, additional information received from the least one interactive service in response to the user request.

29. The wireless device of claim 27, wherein the memory further comprises a user preference, wherein the communications module is further operable to receive a plurality of interactive services associated with each of the selected media segments, and wherein, for each of the selected media segments, the media management module is operable to choose the at least one interactive service from the plurality of interactive services based on the user preference.

30. A method of producing media content, comprising:

receiving a plurality of media presentations occurring in real-time;

identifying a sequence of selected media segments from at least two of the plurality of media presentations;

providing substantially in real-time commentary corresponding to at least one of the selected media segments; and

transmitting substantially in real-time the identification of the sequence of media segments and the associated commentary so as to define a base service of a predetermined media channel.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein providing commentary further comprises providing at least one of a lead in and a closing with respect to the at least one of the selected media segments.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein identifying the sequence of media segments further comprises identifying at least one interactive service associated with each respective media segment.

33. The method of claim 30, wherein transmitting the identification of the sequence of media segments further comprises initiating a switch in transmission of content on the predetermined media channel from a first one of the plurality of presentations to a second one of the plurality of presentations.

43. A wireless device operable to receive and display the channel produced according to the method of claim 30.

44. A media distribution device operable to receive and transmit the channel produced according to the method of claim 30.

34. At least one processor configured to perform the actions of:

receiving a plurality of media presentations occurring in real-time;

identifying a sequence of selected media segments from at least two of the plurality of media presentations;

providing substantially in real-time commentary corresponding to the selected media segments; and

transmitting substantially in real-time the identification of the sequence of media segments and the associated commentary so as to define a base service of a predetermined media channel.

35. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer-readable medium comprising;

a first set of codes for causing a computer to receive a plurality of media presentations occurring in real-time;

a second set of codes for causing a computer to identify a sequence of selected media segments from at least two of the plurality of media presentations;

a third set of codes for causing a computer to provide substantially in real-time commentary corresponding to the selected media segments; and

a fourth set of codes for causing a computer to transmit substantially in real-time the identification of the sequence of media segments and the associated commentary so as to define a base service of a predetermined media-channel.

36. A media production system, comprising:

means for receiving a plurality of media presentations occurring in real-time;

means for identifying a sequence of selected media segments from at least two of the plurality of media presentations;

means for providing substantially in real-time commentary corresponding to the selected media segments; and

means for transmitting substantially in real-time the identification of the sequence of media segments and the associated commentary so as to define a base service of a predetermined media channel.

37. A media production system, comprising:

at least one monitoring mechanism operable to track at least one of a plurality of media presentations occurring in real-time and further operable to identify at least one media segment having a moment of interest;

a supervisor mechanism operable to identify a sequence of selected media segments identified by the at least one monitoring mechanism, wherein the sequence of selected media segments are associated with at least two of the plurality of media presentations, wherein the supervisor mechanism is further operable to add commentary audio data to at least one of the selected media segments; and

a communications module operable to transmit substantially in real-time the identified sequence of selected media segments and the associated commentary audio data so as to define a base service of a predetermined media channel.

38. The media production system of claim 37, wherein the commentary audio data further comprises at least one of a lead in and a closing.

39. The media production system of claim 37, wherein the supervisor mechanism is further operable to identify at least one interactive service associated with each of the selected media segments.

40. The media production system of claim 37, wherein, via transmitting the identified sequence of selected media segments, the communications module is further operable to initiate a switch in transmission of content on the predetermined media channel from a first one of the plurality of presentations to a second one of the plurality of presentations.