APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DISTRIBUTING MEDIA CONTENT

• US 20100146567A1
• Filed: 12/10/2008
• Published: 06/10/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Services Incorporated (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Services Incorporated (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bajpay, Paritosh, Mehta, Neerav
• Granted Patent: US 8,949,887 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/91
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6405 Multicasting data broadcast and multicast in packet switching networks H04L12/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6408 Unicasting
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a server having a controller to access multiple media content in response to a request to record the multiple media content from a first communication device, adjust a format of at least a portion of the multiple media content based at least in part on a user profile associated with the first communication device, and compile the adjusted multiple media content for delivery. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A computer-readable storage medium comprising computer instructions for:

receiving from a first communication device a request for recording multiple media content;

accessing each of the multiple media content;

accessing a user profile associated with the first communication device;

adjusting a format of at least a portion of the multiple media content based at least in part on the user profile; and

concatenating the adjusted multiple media content for delivery.

2. The storage medium of claim 1, comprising computer instructions for transmitting the concatenated media content to the first communication device in response to a request for playback.

3. The storage medium of claim 1, comprising computer instructions for transmitting the concatenated media content to a second communication device associated with the user profile, wherein the adjusting of the format is based on a format preference associated with the second communication device.

4. The storage medium of claim 1, comprising computer instructions for monitoring behavior associated with the first communication device and storing information associated with the monitored behavior in the user profile.

5. The storage medium of claim 1, comprising computer instructions for transmitting search information to the first communication device based at least in part on prior recordings stored in the user profile.

6. The storage medium of claim 1, comprising computer instructions for adjusting the format into a plurality of versions of the multiple media content, wherein a first version has more error correction data than a second version.

7. The storage medium of claim 6, wherein the plurality of version are concatenated together for delivery, and further comprising computer instructions for transmitting the plurality of versions of the multiple media content to the first communication device.

8. A server comprising a controller to:

access multiple media content in response to a request to record the multiple media content from a first communication device;

adjust a format of at least a portion of the multiple media content based at least in part on a user profile associated with the first communication device; and

compile the adjusted multiple media content for delivery.

9. The server of claim 8, wherein the controller is adapted to wirelessly transmit the compiled media content to at least one of the first communication device and a second communication device in response to a request for playback received from at least one of the first communication device and the second communication device.

10. The server of claim 9, wherein the second communication device is a set top box, and wherein the adjusted format is based on compatible formats for a group of communication devices comprising the first and second communication devices.

11. The server of claim 8, wherein the controller is adapted to adjust the format into a plurality of formats that are each associated with a user preference from the user profile, and wherein the compiled media content is a plurality of compiled media content for each of the plurality of formats.

12. The server of claim 8, wherein the controller is adapted to monitor recording behavior of a plurality of communication devices associated with the user profile.

13. The server of claim 12, wherein the controller is adapted to transmit search information associated with the request to record to the first communication device, and wherein the search information is determined based at least in part on the monitored recording behavior.

14. The server of claim 8, wherein the controller is adapted to:

commence delivery of the compiled media content to the first communication device;

bookmark the compiled media content at a pause point when viewing is paused; and

commence delivery of the compiled media content to a second communication device from the pause point.

15. The server of claim 8, wherein the controller is adapted to adjust the format of the multiple media content for delivery to a dedicated channel of the first communication device.

16. A set top box comprising a controller adapted to:

transmit to a server a request for recording multiple media content;

transmit to the server a playback request associated with the multiple media content;

receive a compilation of the multiple media content, the received compilation of the multiple media content having a format adjusted based on a user profile associated with the set top box; and

present the compilation of the multiple media content on a display device.

17. The set top box of claim 16, wherein the controller is adapted to:

transmit to the server a request for searching media content;

receive search information from the server, the search information being based at least in part on the user profile associated with the set top box; and

present a selection of the media content based at least in part on the received search information.

18. The set top box of claim 16, wherein the compilation of the multiple media content comprises first and second versions of the multiple media content, wherein the first version has more error correction data than the second version.

19. The set top box of claim 16, wherein the controller is adapted to transmit the compilation of the multiple media content to a mobile communication device.

20. A mobile communication device comprising a controller to:

transmit to a server a request for recording media content; and

transmit to the server a playback request associated with the media content, the playback request being for presentation of the media content on a display device of a set top box, the media content having a format adjusted by the server based on a user profile associated with the mobile communication device and the set top box.

21. A method, comprising:

accessing multiple media content in response to a request to record the multiple media content from a user of a first communication device;

adjusting a format of at least a portion of the multiple media content based at least in part on user preferences associated with the first communication device and a second communication device associated with the user; and

compiling the adjusted multiple media content for delivery.

22. The method of claim 21, comprising:

monitoring behavior associated with at least one of the first and second communication devices; and

determining the user preferences based at least in part on the monitored behavior.

23. The method of claim 22, comprising transmitting search information to the first communication device, wherein the search information is determined based at least in part on the monitored behavior.

24. The method of claim 21, comprising adjusting the format of the multiple media content into a plurality of versions of the multiple media content, wherein a first version has more error correction data than a second version.

25. The method of claim 21, comprising delivering the compiled media content to the first communication and bookmarking the compiled media content for delivery to the second communication device.