Distributed Media Management Apparatus and Method

• US 20090172750A1
• Filed: 03/03/2009
• Published: 07/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Resource Consortium Limited, LLC
• Original Assignee: Resource Consortium Limited
• Inventors: Scheelke, Erik
• Application Number:
  US12/396,669
• Publication Number:
  US 20090172750A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/81
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4122 additional display device, e.g. video projector digital output for controlling a plurality of local displays G06F3/1423
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4135 external recorder interface circuits between an apparatus for recording television signals and a television receiver H04N5/775
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4325 by playing back content from the storage medium reproduction of recorded television signals H04N5/76; reproduction of recorded television signals H04N9/79
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44227 Monitoring of local network, e.g. connection or bandwidth variations; Detecting new devices in the local network configuring of peripheral devices in general G06F9/4411; monitoring connectivity in data switched networks H04L43/0811
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/462 Content or additional data management, e.g. creating a master electronic program guide from data received from the Internet and a Head-end, controlling the complexity of a video stream by scaling the resolution or bit-rate based on the client capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4821 using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver

Abstract

An apparatus and method of distributing media content from a plurality of source devices to a plurality of remotely located display devices within a home network. A first management unit is assigned to control a first source stream and first display stream. A second management unit is assigned to control a second source stream and a second display stream. The first source stream and the first display stream are subsequently assigned to the second management unit if the first management unit fails. Alternatively, the second source stream and the second display stream are subsequently assigned to the first management unit if the second management unit fails. The apparatus and method can include a plurality of management units, each unit assigned to control at least one of the source streams and one of the display streams.

Claims

1. A method of providing failover in a streaming media system, the method comprising:

(a) receiving, by a secondary management computer, a first publication message indicating that a primary management computer is controlling a source media stream and a display media stream;

(b) determining, by the secondary management computer, that a predefined period has elapsed since the first publication message was received; and

(c) sending, by the secondary management computer, a second publication message indicating that the secondary management computer is controlling the source media stream and the display media stream.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the source media stream is associated with a source media device selected from a group comprising a computer, a DVD player, a CD player, a VCR, a cable receiving, a television receiver, and a satellite receiver.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the display media stream is associated with a display media device selected from a group comprising a television, a computer, a stereo receiver, and a display screen.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first publication message is received over a digital network.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the digital network is wired.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the digital network is wireless.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the secondary management computer controls a plurality of source media streams and a plurality of display media streams.

8. A method of providing failover in a streaming media system, the method comprising:

(a) receiving, by a source media device, a request for a media stream, wherein the request comprises a management computer address and a display media device address;

(b) transmitting, by the source media device, the media stream over a first network to the management computer address;

(c) determining, by the source media device, that the management computer cannot receive the media stream; and

(d) redirecting, by the source media device, the media stream to transmit over a second network to the display media device address.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the source media device address is selected from a group comprising a computer, a DVD player, a CD player, a VCR, a cable receiver, a television receiver, and a satellite receiver.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the display media device address is associated with a display media device selected from a group comprising a television, a computer, a stereo receiver, and a display screen.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the first network a digital network.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the digital network is wired.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the digital network is wireless.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the second network is a digital network.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the digital network is wired.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the digital network is wireless.

17. A streaming media system for managing and distributing media content from a plurality of source media devices to a plurality of destination media devices, the system comprising:

(a) a plurality of management computers, configured to control a plurality of source media streams and a plurality of destination media streams;

(b) a first digital network connecting the management computers, the source media devices, and the destination media devices; and

(c) a second digital network connecting the source media devices and the destination media devices.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the first digital network is wired and the second digital network is wireless.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the first digital network is wireless and the second digital network is wired.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein at least one of the first digital network and the second digital network is a powerline network.