System and Method to Manage and Distribute Media Using a Predictive Media Cache

• US 20090037382A1
• Filed: 07/03/2008
• Published: 02/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tyson King
• Original Assignee: Prodea Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: McQuarters, Alvin R., Ramayya, Jude P., Nicholls, Leon E., Masina, Ramprakash, Cowgill, George A., Ansari, Amir, Rose, Marshall T., Clavenna, Robert, Raissyan, Atousa
• Granted Patent: US 8,386,465 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/64 Browsing; Visualisation therefor generation of a list or set of audio data G06F16/638
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/68 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19656 Network used to communicate with a camera, e.g. WAN, LAN, Internet
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/22 Procedures used during a speech recognition process, e.g. man-machine dialogue
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 2015/223 Execution procedure of a spoken command
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2807 Exchanging configuration information on appliance services in a home automation network arrangements for maintenance or administration involving network analysis for automatically determining the actual topology of a network H04L41/12; hardware or software tools for network management using graphical user interfaces H04L41/22; address allocation H04L61/50
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2812 describing content present in a home automation network, e.g. audio video content retrieval from the Internet G06F16/95
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2814 Exchanging control software or macros for controlling appliance services in a home automation network arrangements for maintenance or administration involving configuration of the network and network elements H04L41/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2816 Controlling appliance services of a home automation network by calling their functionalities arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station; in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom H04Q9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2818 from a device located outside both the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless eletrical link G08C17/00; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with remote control systems H04M11/007
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0803 Configuration setting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/80 : Actions related to the user profile or the type of traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/83 : based on usage prediction
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/25 : Routing or path finding in a switch fabric
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4552 : Lookup mechanisms between a plurality of directories; Synchronisation of directories, e.g. metadirectories
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/02 : for separating internal from external traffic, e.g. firewalls
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 : for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0876 : based on the identity of the terminal or configuration, e.g. MAC address, hardware or software configuration or device fingerprint
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 : for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/20 : for managing network security; network security policies in general filtering policies H04L63/0227
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/102 : Gateways arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways, H04L12/66
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 : Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1108 : Web based protocols, e.g. webRTC
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 : Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/104 : Peer-to-peer [P2P] networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 : involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/141 : Setup of application sessions admission control or resource allocation in data switching networks H04L47/70
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 : Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/53 : using third party service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/325 : in the network layer [OSI layer 3], e.g. X.25 H04L69/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/00 : Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD] real-time bi-directional transmission of motion video data H04N7/14 ; broadcast or conference over packet switching networks H04L12/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/40 : Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 : for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/00 : Security arrangements; Authentication; Protecting privacy or anonymity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/033 : of the user plane, e.g. user's traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/0431 : Key distribution or pre-distribution; Key agreement
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 : Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/065 : Continuous authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 : Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/35 : Protecting application or service provisioning, e.g. securing SIM application provisioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 : Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 370/911 : Bridge, e.g. brouter, bus extender

Abstract

A system for decreasing the perceived end user latency while interacting with a database. The system comprises the database storing metadata associated with one or more of media, files, data, devices and services, a user interface operable to receive a user generated query selected from a plurality of user generated query options, the plurality of user generated query options representing at least one of a user selectable object displayed by the user interface, and a processor having a predictive module operable to generate at least one background query of the database prior to the user interface receiving the user generated query, the at least one background query correlating to at least one of the user generated query options. The predictive module compares the user generated query to the at least one background query prior to sending the user generated query to the database such that if the user generated query corresponds to the at least one background query the user interface displays a result to the at least one background query.

Claims

1. A system for decreasing the perceived end user latency while interacting with a database comprising:

the database storing metadata associated with one or more of media, files, data, devices and services;

a user interface operable to receive a user generated query selected from a plurality of user generated query options, the plurality of user generated query options representing at least one of a user selectable object displayed by the user interface;

a processor having a predictive module operable to generate at least one background query of the database prior to the user interface receiving the user generated query, the at least one background query correlating to at least one of the user generated query options; and

wherein the predictive module compares the user generated query to the at least one background query prior to sending the user generated query to the database such that if the user generated query corresponds to the at least one background query the user interface displays a result to the at least one background query.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the predictive module derives the at least one background query from the at least one user query options and the result to the at least one background query.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the results of the at least one background query are stored in a memory.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the predictive module sends the user query to the database for processing if no background query corresponds to the user query.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the user interface displays an answer to the user query sent to the database by the predictive module.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the user interface displaying the answer to the user query correlates to a plurality of second user query options, the user interface operable to receive a second user query selected from the plurality of second user query options, the plurality of second user query options representing at least one of a second user selectable object displayed by the user interface.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the predictive module generates at least one second background query of the database prior to the user interface receiving the second user query, the at least one second background query correlating to the at least one of the second user query options.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the predictive module compares the second user query to the at least one second background query prior to sending the second user query to the database such that if the second user query corresponds to the at least one second background query the user interface displays a second result to the at least one second background query.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the predictive module sends the second user query to the database for processing if no second background query corresponds to the second user query.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the user interface displays a second answer to the second user query sent to the database by the predictive module.

11. A system for decreasing the perceived end user latency while interacting with a media database comprising:

the media database storing metadata associated with media;

a media manager in communication with at least one media player and operable to access the media database;

the at least one media player each having a user interface operable to receive user input; and

a predictive module operable to generate at least one query based on the user input and to derive at least one background query of the database in anticipation of any at least one generated query, the predictive module compares the at least one generated query to the at least one derived background query such that if the generated query corresponds to the at least one background query the user interface displays a result to the at least one background query.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the received user input is generated from a user selection of a navigation artifact associated with the user interface, the selected navigation artifact being representative of metadata stored in the media database.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the derived background queries comprise all queries that may be made by selecting all navigation artifacts displayed on the user interface.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the predictive module sends the generated query to the database for processing if no generated query corresponds to any background query.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the predictive module derives the background queries from one or both of the user input and an answer to the generated query.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the predictive module receives and stores an answer for each of the at least one background query.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the user interface displays the answer to the background queries that correspond to the generated query.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the metadata comprises data selected from the group consisting of actor, album, artist, artwork count, author, bit rate, composer, comment, conductor, content rating, copyright information (such as for DRM), date, date added, date modified, description, duration, director, encoded by, ensemble, kind, genre, information, graphical elements (album art, for example), keywords, language, location, location of media, license, name, organization, parental control parameters, play count, play date, play date UTC, performer, producer, rating, resolution, sample rate, size, software, source, source media, title, track count, track number, track type, total time, track ID, type, user tag data, URL, year, year of publication, year of release, and other data downloaded from the Internet.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein the predictive module performs all possible background queries of an answer to a generated query.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein the predictive module performs at least one initial query prior to the at least one background query in anticipation of the user interface displaying at least one navigational artifact on an initialization of the system.

21. The system of claim 11, further comprising a plurality of communication paths between the media manager and the plurality of media players.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the plurality of communication paths are configured to handle a plurality of received generated queries and the at least one background query, the plurality of received generated queries and the at least one background query are allocated to at least one of the plurality of communication paths carrying the least amount of received generated queries and the at least one background query

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the at least one of the plurality of communication paths is re-established when disconnected.

24. The system of claim 11, wherein the predictive module receives an update from the media database, the update identifying a changed metadata resulting in the predictive module resubmitting the at least one background query associated with the changed metadata and storing a second result of the resubmitted at least one background query.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the predictive module receiving an update from the media database identifying the changed metadata includes deleting the result to the at least one background query least recently displayed by the user interface.

26. The system of claim 24, wherein the predictive module receiving an update from the media database identifying the changed metadata includes identifying the result to the at least one background query that would mostly likely be displayed by the user interface and deleting the result to the at least one background query that would least likely be displayed by the user interface.

27. The system of claim 11, wherein the media manager examines all answers of the at least one background query and generated query, extracts any location pointer indicative of a location in a memory storing an object, retrieves the associated object from the memory, and replaces the associated location pointer with the associated object.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the associated object comprises the object that the associated location pointer indicated within the associated answer.

29. The system of claim 27, wherein the object comprises metadata, image data, and media content.

30. The system of claim 27, wherein the memory comprises at least one memory located locally and remotely from the media manager.

31. The system of claim 27, wherein the media manager selectively extracts the location pointer in response to the type and size of the object.

32. The system of claim 11, wherein the media manager and the at least one of the media players are integrated.

33. The system of claim 11, wherein the media manager and the at least one of the media player are separate devices.

34. A method for decreasing the perceived end user latency while interacting with a database, the method comprising:

aggregating metadata associated with media in the database;

performing at least one first predictive background query of the database;

receiving and storing a result of the at least one first predictive background query;

receiving user input at a user interface;

generating at least one query based on the user input;

comparing the at least one generated query to the at least one first predictive background query; and

displaying the stored result to the at least one first predictive background query in response to the at least one first predictive background query encompassing the at least one generated query.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein the first predictive background query of the database is performed before any user input is received at the user interface.

36. The method of claim 34 wherein the result to the first predictive background query is received before any user input is received at the user interface.

37. The method of claim 34 further comprising presenting the stored result of the at least one first predictive background query via the user interface in response to the at least one first predictive background query encompassing the at least one generated query.

38. The method of claim 34 further comprising performing the at least one generated query of the database in response to the at least one first predictive background query not encompassing the at least one generated query.

39. The method of claim 34 further comprising receiving and storing the result of the at least one generated query of the database and presenting the stored result of the at least one generated background query via the user interface.

40. The methods of claim 34 further comprising deriving at least one second predictive background query of the database after comparing the at least one generated query to the at least one first predictive background query.

41. The method of claims 34 further comprising deriving at least one second predictive background query of the database from at least one of the user input and an answer to the generated query.

42. The method of claim 34, further comprising deriving subsequent predictive background queries based on the answer to the prior generated query and the user input then presented to the user.

43. The method of claim 40, wherein the at least one second predictive background query is sent to the database and the answer to the at least one second predictive background query is received before any user input is received at the user interface.

44. The method of claim 43, further comprising receiving and storing a result of the at least one second predictive background query.

45. The method of claim 44, further comprising performing the generated query when the at least one second predictive background query does not encompass the at least one generated query.

46. The method of claim 34, further comprising configuring the user interface to display at least one navigational artifact.

47. The method of claim 34, wherein performing the at least one first predictive background query further comprises performing any one or more possible queries that may be made via the user interface.

48. The method of claim 34, wherein performing the at least one first predictive background query further comprises performing the query while awaiting to receive user input.

49. The method of claim 40, wherein performing the at least one second predictive background query further comprises performing the query while awaiting to receive user input.

50. The method of claim 40, further comprising sending the at least one first predictive background query and the at least one second predictive background query across at least one communication path to the database.

51. The method of claim 50, wherein sending the at least one first predictive background query and the at least one second predictive background query across the at least one communication path further comprises re-connecting the at least one communication path when the at least one communication path is disconnected.

52. The method of claim 34, further comprising resubmitting the at least one first predictive background query in response to an update identifying the stored result of the at least one first predictive background query as being invalid.

53. The method of claim 52, wherein resubmitting the at least one first predictive background query further comprises deleting the stored result of the at least one first predictive background query, the deletion beginning with the result to the at least one first predictive background query least recently displayed by the user interface.

54. The system of claim 52, wherein resubmitting the at least one first predictive background query further comprises identifying the result to the at least one first predictive background query that would mostly likely be displayed by the user interface and deleting the result to the at least one first predictive background query that would least likely be displayed by the user interface.

55. The method of claim 34, further comprising extracting a location pointer indicative of a location of an object from the result of the at least one first predictive background query.

56. The method of claim 55, further comprising retrieving the object from a memory indicated by the location pointer within the result of the at least one first predictive background query.

57. The method of claim 56, further comprising replacing the location pointer in the result of the at least one first predictive background query with the retrieved object.

58. The method of claim 55, further comprising replacing the location pointer in the result of the at least one first predictive background query in response to the type and size of the object.

59. A computer-readable medium having encoded thereon a method for decreasing the perceived end user latency while interacting with a database, the method comprising:

aggregating metadata associated with media in the database;

performing at least one first predictive background query of the database;

receiving and storing a result of the at least one first predictive background query;

receiving user input at the user interface;

generating at least one query based on the user input;

comparing the at least one generated query to the at least one first predictive background query;

performing at least one second predictive background query of the database in response to the at least one first predictive background query not encompassing the at least one generated query; and

presenting the stored result of the at least one first predictive background query via the user interface in response to the at least one first predictive background query encompassing the at least one generated query.

60. The method of claim 59, further comprising receiving and storing a result of the at least one second predictive background query.

61. The method of claim 59, further comprising performing the at least one generated query when the at least one first predictive background query and the at least one second predictive background query do not encompass the at least one generated query.

62. The method of claim 59, further comprising configuring the user interface to display at least one navigational artifact.

63. The method of claim 59, wherein performing the at least one first predictive background query further comprises performing at least one possible query that may be made via the user interface.

64. The method of claim 59, wherein performing the at least one first predictive background query and the at least one second predictive background query further comprises performing these queries in parallel while awaiting to receive a user input.

65. The method of claim 59, wherein performing the at least one first predictive background query further comprises performing the query while awaiting to receive user input.

66. The method of claim 59, wherein performing the at least one second predictive background query further comprises performing the query while awaiting to receive user input.

67. The method of claim 59, further comprising sending the at least one first predictive background query and the at least one second predictive background query across at least one communication path to the database.

68. The method of claim 67, wherein sending the at least one first predictive background query and the at least one second predictive background query across the at least one communication path further comprises re-connecting the at least one communication path when the at least one communication path is disconnected.

69. The method of claim 59, further comprising resubmitting the at least one first predictive background query in response to an update identifying the stored result of the at least one first predictive background query as being invalid.

70. The method of claim 69, wherein resubmitting the at least one first predictive background query further comprises deleting the stored result of the at least one first predictive background query least recently displayed by the user interface.

71. The system of claim 69, wherein resubmitting the at least one first predictive background query further comprises identifying the result to the at least one first predictive background query that would mostly likely be displayed by the user interface and deleting the result to the at least one first predictive background query that would least likely be displayed by the user interface.

72. The method of claim 59, further comprising extracting a location pointer indicative of a location of an object from the result of the at least one first predictive background query.

73. The method of claim 72, further comprising retrieving the object from a memory indicated by the location pointer within the result of the at least one first predictive background query.

74. The method of claim 73, further comprising replacing the location pointer in the result of the at least one first predictive background query with the retrieved object.

75. The method of claim 72, further comprising replacing the location pointer in the result of the at least one first predictive background query in response to the type and size of the object.