METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PVR ON INTERNET ENABLED TELEVISIONS (TVS)

• US 20110019978A1
• Filed: 08/11/2009
• Published: 01/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP PTE Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Jagmag, Adil
• Granted Patent: US 9,565,471 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 386/351
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23424 involving splicing one content stream with another content stream, e.g. for inserting or substituting an advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23439 for generating different versions
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2387 Stream processing in response to a playback request from an end-user, e.g. for trick-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2662 Controlling the complexity of the video stream, e.g. by scaling the resolution or bitrate of the video stream based on the client capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4147 PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44004 involving video buffer management, e.g. video decoder buffer or video display buffer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44016 involving splicing one content stream with another content stream, e.g. for substituting a video clip
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A media playback device may be operable to determine whether replacement media content corresponding to at least a portion of a received broadcast media stream is available during reception of the broadcast media stream from one or more broadcast sources. At least some of the replacement media content may then be retrieved when personal video recording (PVR) operations are requested during play of the received broadcast media stream, to enable seamless performance of the requested PVR operations using at least a portion of the retrieved replacement media content. Exemplary PVR operations may comprise pausing, fast forwarding, and/or rewinding. The replacement media content may be retrieved from a plurality of local and/or remote replacement servers. Availability of replacement media content, from remote replacement servers, may be determined based on programming data in said broadcast media stream, routing information provided by a broadcast source, and/or by inquiry via one or more cataloguing servers.

Claims

1. A method for video processing, the method comprising:

performing by one or more processors and/or circuits integrated within a single chip;

when receiving a broadcast media stream from one or more broadcast sources, determining whether replacement media content corresponding to at least a portion of said received broadcast media stream is available;

retrieving at least some of said replacement media content when personal video recording (PVR) operations are requested during play of said received broadcast media stream; and

performing said PVR operations utilizing at least a portion of said retrieved replacement media content.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said one or more broadcast sources comprise satellite head-ends, cable head-ends, and/or broadcast media head-ends.

3. The method according to claim 1, comprising retrieving said replacement media content from one or more local and/or remote replacement servers.

4. The method according to claim 1, comprising delaying playback of said received broadcast media stream to account for buffering requirements, and/or to accommodate for said determination of availability of said replacement media content and/or said retrieval of at least some of said replacement media content.

5. The method according to claim 4, comprising buffering said received broadcast media stream to enable generating said delay.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said PVR operations comprise pausing, fast forwarding, and/or rewinding.

7. The method according to claim 1, comprising determining availability of said replacement media content, via a plurality of remote replacement servers, based on programming data in said broadcast media stream, routing information provided via at least some of said broadcast sources, and/or via one or more cataloguing servers.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein said programming data comprise program-specific metadata and/or broadcast guide data included in said broadcast media stream.

9. The method according to claim 7, comprising communicating matching information to said one or more cataloguing servers to perform said determination of availability of said replacement media content via said one or more cataloguing servers.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein said matching information comprise location, time, program, and/or provider information.

11. A system for video processing, the system comprising:

one or more processors and/or circuits integrated within a single chip, wherein said one or more processors and/or circuits are operable to;

determine whether replacement media content corresponding to at least a portion of a received broadcast media stream is available when receiving said broadcast media stream from one or more broadcast sources;

retrieve at least some of said replacement media content when personal video recording (PVR) operations are requested during play of said received broadcast media stream; and

perform said PVR operations utilizing at least a portion of said retrieved replacement media content.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more broadcast sources comprise satellite head-ends, cable head-ends, and/or broadcast media head-ends.

13. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more processors and/or circuits are operable to retrieve said replacement media content from one or more local and/or remote replacement servers.

14. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more processors and/or circuits are operable to delay playback of said received broadcast media stream to account for buffering requirements in said system, and/or to accommodate for said determination of availability of said replacement media content and/or said retrieval of at least some of said replacement media content.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein said one or more processors and/or circuits are operable to buffer said received broadcast media stream to enable generating said delay.

16. The system according to claim 11, wherein said PVR operations comprise pausing, fast forwarding, and/or rewinding.

17. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more processors and/or circuits are operable to determine availability of said replacement media content, via a plurality of remote replacement servers, based on programming data in said broadcast media stream, routing information provided via at least some of said broadcast sources, and/or via one or more cataloguing servers.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein said programming data comprise program-specific metadata and/or broadcast guide data included in said broadcast media stream.

19. The system according to claim 17, wherein said one or more processors and/or circuits are operable to communicate matching information to said one or more cataloguing servers to perform said determination of availability of said replacement media content via said one or more cataloguing servers.

20. The system according to claim 19, wherein said matching information comprise location, time, program, and/or provider information.