SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PERSONAL CONTENT ACCESS

• US 20080235733A1
• Filed: 03/23/2007
• Published: 09/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Monument Bank of Intellectual Property, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Nextwave Broadband Incorporated (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Librizzi, Michael S., Heie, Anders, Gould, Adam F.
• Granted Patent: US 8,955,030 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/46
• 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 21/4532 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 21/4753 for user identification, e.g. by entering a PIN or password cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8455 involving pointers to the content, e.g. pointers to the I-frames of the video stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A method and system for integrated personal content access have been disclosed. The system includes a gateway which is able to communicate across devices, coordinating media content distribution among the devices and users. The gateway can seamlessly switch or copy content streams from one device to another, even if the devices use different formats or protocols. Tags for adding embellishments to content on the fly for viewing by the user or by others. Tokens for indicating the identity and source of content, along with a location within the content, can also be used when sharing content or when switching content viewing between devices. Additionally, a network of gateways is possible, where content may be shared between devices connected to different gateways.

Claims

1. A method for providing integrated personal content access, comprising:

(a) receiving an embellishment command for a video content;

(b) storing the embellishment command in a tag; and

(c) storing the tag in correlation with the video content,

wherein, at the time that the video content is retrieved and played, the video content is played in combination with at least one of an audio embellishment and a visual embellishment in correspondence with the embellishment command, without pre-rendering the at least one embellishment with the video content.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the tag comprising the embellishment command edits a display of the video content without changing the video content.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the storing (c) comprises:

(c1) embedding the tag within the video content without pre-rendering the at least one embellishment with the video content.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the storing (c) comprises:

(c1) storing the tag separately from the video content without pre-rendering the at least one embellishment with the video content, wherein the tag comprises an identifier for the video content.

5. A content management device for distributing content to at least one display device, the content management device comprising:

a memory for storing at least one tag in correlation with a video content, the tag containing an embellishment command received by the content management device; and

at least one content distribution interface for connecting to the at least one display device and for distributing to the at least one display device the video content in combination with at least one of an audio embellishment or a visual embellishment in correspondence with the embellishment command retrieved from the at least one stored tag, without pre-rendering the at least one embellishment with the video content.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the tag comprising the embellishment command edits a display of the video content without changing the video content.

7. The device of claim 5, wherein the tag is embedded within the video content without pre-rendering the at least one embellishment with the video content.

8. The device of claim 5, wherein the tag is stored separately from the video content without pre-rendering the at least one embellishment with the video content, wherein the tag comprises an identifier for the video content.

9. A computer readable medium with program instructions for providing integrated personal content access, comprising instructions for:

(a) receiving an embellishment command for a video content;

(b) storing the embellishment command in a tag; and

(c) storing the tag in correlation with the video content,

wherein, at the time that the video content is retrieved for playback, the video content is distributed in combination with at least one of an audio embellishment or a visual embellishment in accordance with the embellishment command in the tag, without pre-rendering the at least one embellishment with the video content.

10. A method for providing integrated personal content access, comprising:

(a) distributing content to a user device for playback upon receipt at the user device;

(b) receiving a request from the user device to save a location within the content;

(c) creating a token comprising information about the content and the location;

(d) storing the token in association with the content;

(e) receiving a request to play the content at a target device; and

(f) retrieving the token and distributing the content to the target device starting at the location corresponding to the location information in the token, for display upon receipt at the target device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the content is distributed to a target gateway associated with the target device for display upon receipt at the target device.

12. A content management device for distributing content to at least one target device, the content management device comprising:

a memory for storing at least one token in correlation with a content, the token comprising information about the content and a location within the content in correspondence with a request from a requesting device to save the location within the content; and

at least one content distribution interface for connecting to a target device and for distributing the content to the target device starting at the location corresponding to the location information in the token, the content being displayed upon receipt at the target display device.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the content is distributed to a target gateway associated with the target device for display upon receipt at the target device.

14. A computer readable medium with program instructions for providing integrated personal content access, comprising instructions for:

(a) distributing content to a user device for playback upon receipt at the user device;

(b) receiving a request from the user device to save a location within the content;

(c) creating a token comprising information about the content and the location;

(d) storing the token in association with the content;

(e) receiving a request to play the content at a target device; and

(f) retrieving the token and distributing the content to the target device starting at the location corresponding to the location information in the token, for display upon receipt at the target device.

15. A method for providing integrated content access among at least an initial device and a target device, comprising:

(a) receiving a selection of a multimedia content from the target device;

(b) sending, in the event that the multimedia content is not identified as having been partially-viewed at the initial device, the multimedia content to the target device starting at a beginning location for display upon receipt at the target device; and

(c) accessing, in the event that the multimedia content is identified as having been partially-viewed at the initial device, a token corresponding to the multimedia content and sending the multimedia content to the target device starting at a location retrieved from the token for display upon receipt at the target device.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein in the event that the multimedia content is identified as having been partially-viewed at the initial device but is not a paused stream, the accessing (c) comprises:

(c1) creating a temporary token corresponding to the multimedia content; and

(c2) accessing the temporary token and sending the multimedia content to the target device starting at a location retrieved from the temporary token for display upon receipt at the target device.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the accessing (c) comprises:

(c1) determining a best source for the multimedia content; and

(c2) sending the multimedia content to the target device from the best source starting at the location retrieved from the token for display upon receipt at the target device.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the determining (c1) comprises:

(c1i) determining if the target device has direct access to a stream source for the multimedia content; and

(c1ii) if the target device does not have direct access to the stream source, determining if the multimedia content is available through an alternate stream source.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the determining (c1) further comprises:

(c1iii) if the multimedia content is available through the alternate stream source, sending the multimedia content to the target device starting at the location retrieved from the token for display upon receipt at the target device.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the determining (c1) further comprises:

(c1iii) if the multimedia content is not available through the alternate stream source, encoding the multimedia content starting at the location retrieved from the token; and

(c1iv) sending the encoded multimedia content to the target device for display upon receipt at the target device.

21. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

(d) receiving a request to pause the displaying of the multimedia content at the target device; and

(e) creating a second token in response to the request, wherein the second token comprises information about a location within the multimedia content displaying at the target device.

22. A content management device for providing integrated content access among at least an initial device and a target device, the content management device comprising:

at least one content distribution interface connected by at least one communication link to the initial device and the target device;

at least one processor configured to execute at least one computer-executable instruction sequence; and

a computer-readable medium storing at least one computer-executable instruction sequence, wherein execution of the at least one computer-executable instruction sequence by the processor causes the processor to perform;

(a) receiving, at the content management device, a selection of a multimedia content from the target device;

(b) sending, in the event that the multimedia content is not identified as having been partially-viewed at the initial device, the multimedia content via the content distribution interface to the target device starting at a beginning location for display upon receipt at the target device; and

(c) accessing, in the event that the multimedia content is identified as having been partially-viewed at the initial device, a token corresponding to the multimedia content and sending the multimedia content via the content distribution interface to the target device starting at a location retrieved from the token for display upon receipt at the target device.

23. The device of claim 22, wherein in the event that the multimedia content is identified as having been partially-viewed at the initial device but is not a paused stream, the accessing (c) comprises:

(c1) creating a temporary token corresponding to the multimedia content; and

(c2) accessing the temporary token and sending the multimedia content to the target device starting at a location retrieved from the temporary token for display upon receipt at the target device.

24. The device of claim 22, wherein the accessing (c) comprises:

(c1) determining a best source for the multimedia content; and

(c2) sending the multimedia content to the target device from the best source starting at the location retrieved from the token for display upon receipt at the target device.

25. A computer readable medium with program instructions for providing integrated content access among at least an initial device and a target device, comprising instructions for:

(a) receiving a selection of a multimedia content from the target device;

(b) sending, in the event that the multimedia content is not identified as having been partially-viewed at the initial device, the multimedia content to the target device starting at a beginning location for display upon receipt at the target device; and

(c) accessing, in the event that the multimedia content is identified as having been partially-viewed at the initial device, a token corresponding to the multimedia content and sending the multimedia content to the target device starting at a location retrieved from the token for display upon receipt at the target device.

26. A method for sharing digital content with at least one target device, comprising:

(a) receiving a selection of at least one target contact with which to share a digital content being displayed on a source device;

(b) creating a token associated with the digital content, the token comprising location information corresponding to a location within the digital content; and

(c) sending the token to a target gateway associated with the selected at least one target contact, the target gateway being configured to access the location information from the token and to distribute the digital content to at least one target device starting at the location corresponding to the location information.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the receiving (a) comprises:

(a1) displaying the content at the source device;

(a2) receiving a request for a list of target contacts;

(a3) displaying the list of target contacts; and

(a4) receiving the selection of at least one target contact with which to share the digital content being displayed on the source device.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein the sending (c) comprises:

(c1) sending a copy of the token to each target gateway associated with the selected target contacts.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein the sending (c) further comprises:

(c1) determining if the target gateway can access the digital content.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the determining (c1) comprises:

(c1i) receiving a request by the target gateway to access the digital content; and

(c1ii) analyzing stream information in the token to determine if the target gateway has access to the stream.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein if the target gateway has access to the stream, the determining (c1) further comprises:

(c1iii) playing the digital content from the stream at the target device starting at the location indicated by the token.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein if the target gateway does not have access to the stream, the determining (c1) further comprises:

(c1iii) creating a new stream of the digital content;

(c1iv) sending the new stream to the target gateway; and

(c1v) playing the digital content from the new stream at the target device starting at the location indicated by the token.

33. A content management device for sharing digital content with at least one target device, the content management device comprising:

at least one content distribution interface connected by a first communication link to a source device and by a second communication link to at least one target content management device;

at least one processor configured to execute at least one computer-executable instruction sequence; and

a computer-readable medium storing at least one computer-executable instruction sequence, wherein execution of the at least one computer-executable instruction sequence by the at least one processor performs;

(a) receiving a selection of at least one target contact with which to share a digital content being displayed on the source device;

(b) creating a token associated with the digital content, the token comprising location information corresponding to a location within the digital content; and

(c) sending the token to a target content management device associated with the selected at least one target contact, the target content management device being configured to access the location information from the token and to distribute the digital content to at least one target device starting at the location corresponding to the location information.

34. The device of claim 33, wherein the target gateway receives a request to play the digital content, and analyzes stream information in the token to determine if it has access to the stream.

35. The device of claim 34, wherein if the target gateway has access to the stream, then the target gateway plays the digital content from the stream at the target device starting at the location indicated by the token.

36. The device of claim 34, wherein if the target gateway does not have access to the stream, then the user gateway creates a new stream of the digital content, sends the new stream to the target gateway, and plays the digital content from the new stream at the target device starting at the location indicated by the token.

37. A computer readable medium with program instructions for sharing digital content with at least one target device, comprising instructions for:

(a) receiving a selection of at least one target contact with which to share a digital content being displayed on a source device;

(b) creating a token associated with the digital content, the token comprising location information corresponding to a location within the digital content; and

(c) sending the token to a target gateway associated with the selected at least one target contact, the target gateway being configured to access the location information from the token and to distribute the digital content to at least one target device starting at the location corresponding to the location information.

38. A method for monitoring digital content, comprising:

(a) receiving a monitor request associated with a requesting user, the monitor request including a target user identifier;

(b) determining a digital content that is being distributed to a target device associated with the target user identifier;

(c) creating a token which comprises location information corresponding to a location within the digital content being distributed to the target device; and

(d) distributing a copy of the digital content to a requesting device associated with the requesting user for display on the requesting device starting at a location corresponding to the location information in the token.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the receiving (a) comprises:

(a1) determining that the requesting user has a right to view the digital content that is being distributed to the target device associated with the target user identifier.

40. The method of claim 38, wherein the distributing (d) comprises:

(d1) directing from a local source the copy of the digital content to the requesting device associated with the requesting user starting at the location corresponding to the location information in the token.

41. The method of claim 38, wherein the distributing (d) comprises:

(d1) directing from a target gateway associated with the target device the copy of the digital content to the requesting device associated with the requesting user for display on the requesting device starting at the location corresponding to the location information in the token.

42. A content management device for monitoring digital content, the content management device comprising:

a content distribution interface connected by at least one communication link to a requesting device and to at least one target device;

at least one processor configured to execute at least one computer-executable instruction sequence; and

a computer-readable medium storing at least one computer-executable instruction sequence, wherein execution of the at least one computer-executable instruction sequence by the at least one processor performs;

(a) receiving a monitor request associated with a requesting user, the monitor request including a target user identifier;

(b) determining a digital content that is being distributed to a target device associated with the target user identifier;

(c) creating a token which comprises location information corresponding to a location within the digital content being distributed to the target device; and

(d) distributing a copy of the digital content to the requesting device associated with the requesting user for display on the requesting device starting at a location corresponding to the location information in the token.

43. The device of claim 42, wherein the gateway determines that the requesting user has a right to view the digital content that is being distributed to the target device associated with the target user identifier.

44. A computer readable medium with program instructions for monitoring digital content, comprising instructions for:

(a) receiving a monitor request associated with a requesting user, the monitor request including a target user identifier;

(b) determining a digital content that is being distributed to a target device associated with the target user identifier;

(c) creating a token which comprises location information corresponding to a location within the digital content being distributed to the target device; and

(d) distributing a copy of the digital content to a requesting device associated with the requesting user for display on the requesting device starting at a location corresponding to the location information in the token.

45. A method for controlling access to digital content, comprising:

(a) receiving a content access request from a requesting device that includes a requesting user identifier and content information identifying a digital content;

(b) forwarding the content access request to at least one target device corresponding to at least one approving user identifier, respectively;

(c) receiving a response to the content access request from the at least one target device;

(d) preventing distribution of the digital content to the requesting device in the event that the response comprises a rejection; and

(e) distributing the digital content to the requesting device in the event that the response comprises an acceptance.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein the forwarding (b) comprises:

(b1) determining if the requesting user is allowed to send the content access request; and

(b2) if so, forwarding the content access request to the at least one target device corresponding to the at least one approving user identifier.

47. The method of claim 45, wherein the forwarding (b) comprises:

(b1) determining a next approving user identifier from a plurality of approving user identifiers; and

(b2) forwarding the content access request to the target device corresponding to the next approving user identifier.

48. The method of claim 45, wherein the receiving (c) comprises:

(c1) determining if the content access request times out; and

(c2) preventing distribution of the digital content if the request times out.

49. The method of claim 45, wherein the distributing (e) comprises:

(e1) distributing the digital content to the requesting device, if a plurality of responses to a plurality of content access requests each comprise an acceptance.

50. The method of claim 45, wherein the distributing (e) comprises:

(e1) receiving from the at least one target device a request to preview the digital content;

(e2) creating a token for the digital content, wherein the token comprises information about a location within the digital content; and

(e3) playing the digital content at the at least one target device starting at the location indicated by the token.

51. A content management device for controlling access to digital content, the content management device comprising:

a content distribution interface connected by at least one communication link to a requesting device and to at least one target device;

at least one processor configured to execute at least one computer-executable instruction sequence; and

a computer-readable medium storing at least one computer-executable instruction sequence, wherein execution of the at least one computer-executable instruction sequence by the at least one processor performs;

(a) receiving a content access request from the requesting device that includes a requesting user identifier and content information identifying a digital content;

(b) forwarding the content access request to the at least one target device corresponding to at least one approving user identifier, respectively;

(c) receiving a response to the content access request from the at least one target device;

(d) preventing distribution of the digital content to the requesting device in the event that the response comprises a rejection; and

(e) distributing of the digital content to the requesting device in the event that the response comprises an acceptance.

52. The device of claim 51, wherein the at least one processor performs the step of:

determining if the requesting user is allowed to send the content access request, and if so, forwarding the content access request the at least one target device corresponding to the at least one approving user identifier.

53. The device of claim 51, wherein the at least one processor performs the step of:

determining a next approving user identifier from a plurality of approving user identifiers, and forwarding the content access request to the target device corresponding to the next approving user identifiers.

54. The device of claim 51, wherein at least one processor performs the step of:

receiving from the at least one target device a request to preview the digital content,

creating a token for the digital content, wherein the token comprises information about a location within the digital content, and

playing the digital content at the at least one target device starting at the location indicated by the token.

55. A computer readable medium with program instructions for controlling access to digital content, comprising instructions for:

(a) receiving a content access request from a requesting device that includes a requesting user identifier and content information identifying a digital content;

(b) forwarding the content access request to at least one target device corresponding to at least one approving user identifier, respectively;

(c) receiving a response to the content access request from the at least one target device;

(d) preventing distribution of the digital content to the requesting device in the event that the response comprises a rejection; and

(e) distributing the digital content to the requesting device in the event that the response comprises an acceptance.