VIRTUAL AGGREGATION PROCESSOR FOR INCORPORATING REVERSE PATH FEEDBACK INTO CONTENT DELIVERED ON A FORWARD PATH

• US 20110066747A1
• Filed: 08/31/2007
• Published: 03/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lava Two, LLC.
• Original Assignee: Lava Two, LLC.
• Inventors: McKenna, Daniel Bernard, Graziano, James Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,307,035 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/231
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/611 for multicast or broadcast systems for broadcast or conference H04L12/18; arrangements for broadcast or distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/00; arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time H04H60/00; selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS], H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/765 intermediate
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/252 Processing of multiple end-users' preferences to derive collaborative data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25808 Management of client data terminal profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/303
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42202 environmental sensors, e.g. for detecting temperature, luminosity, pressure, earthquakes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/475 End-user interface for inputting end-user data, e.g. personal identification number [PIN], preference data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6112 involving terrestrial transmission, e.g. DVB-T
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6162 involving terrestrial transmission, e.g. DVB-T
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6405 Multicasting data broadcast and multicast in packet switching networks H04L12/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6547 comprising parameters, e.g. for client setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/854 Content authoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17327 with deferred transmission or handling of upstream communications

Abstract

The Virtual Aggregation Processor enables end user devices to share a common wireless forward path of a multicast communication architecture in which the forward path delivered content is dynamically changed or modified based on a real-time, near-real-time, or delay-time basis via aggregated reverse path feedback from at least one of a plurality of end user devices. The Virtual Aggregation Processor periodically or continuously aggregates the feedback input received via the reverse path (having wired and/or wireless connectivity), modifies the forward path multi-media content, and delivers this dynamically modified multi-media content to the then connected population of end user devices via a wireless forward path multicast in a repetitive closed loop fashion.

Claims

1. A virtual aggregation processor that modifies, based on wireless end user device feedback, a multi-media content data stream, that is wirelessly transmitted over a unidirectional forward broadcast path that extends to a plurality of wireless end user devices, comprising:

content source means for receiving multi-media content from at least one multi-media content source;

content stream generation means for wirelessly transmitting a multi-media content data stream over said unidirectional forward broadcast path concurrently to selected ones of said wireless end user devices;

feedback means for aggregating content modification data received from at least one of said selected wireless end user devices;

content integration means for modifying said multi-media content data stream in a pre-determined manner using said aggregated content modification data; and

wherein said multi-media content data stream is dynamically modified as said content modification data is received from said selected wireless end user devices.

2. The virtual aggregation processor of claim 1 wherein said feedback means comprises:

synchronization means for associating said content modification data received from said wireless end user devices with a corresponding multi-media content.

3. The virtual aggregation processor of claim 2 wherein said multi-media content comprises a series of frames that are delivered in sequence, said feedback means further comprises:

updating means for accumulating content modification data received from said wireless end user devices for a corresponding multi-media content.

4. The virtual aggregation processor of claim 3 wherein said content integration means comprises:

at least one integration application, responsive to receipt of said accumulated content modification data, for revising said multi-media content to produce a revised multi-media content.

5. The virtual aggregation processor of claim 2 wherein said multi-media content comprises a series of frames that are delivered in sequence, said feedback means further comprises:

timing means for defining a time period for use by said synchronization means during which time period said content modification data is associated with a present frame in said series of frames.

6. The virtual aggregation processor of claim 5 wherein said feedback means further comprises:

accumulated data processing means for processing said accumulated content modification data to a composite content revision for a multi-media content.

7. The virtual aggregation processor of claim 6 wherein said content integration means further comprises:

at least one integration application, responsive to receipt of said accumulated content modification data, for revising said multi-media content to produce a revised multi-media content.

8. A method of operating a virtual aggregation processor to modify, based on wireless end user device feedback, a multi-media content data stream, that is wirelessly transmitted over a unidirectional forward broadcast path that extends to a plurality of wireless end user devices, comprising:

receiving multi-media content from at least one multi-media content source;

wirelessly transmitting a multi-media content data stream over said unidirectional forward broadcast path concurrently to selected ones of said wireless end user devices;

aggregating content modification data received from at least one of said selected wireless end user devices;

modifying said multi-media content data stream in a pre-determined manner using said aggregated content modification data; and

wherein said multi-media content data stream is dynamically modified as said content modification data is received from said selected wireless end user devices.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said step of aggregating comprises:

associating said content modification data received from said wireless end user devices with a corresponding multi-media content.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said multi-media content comprises a series of frames that are delivered in sequence, said step of aggregating further comprises:

accumulating content modification data received from said end users for a corresponding multi-media content.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said step of modifying comprises:

revising, in response to receipt of said accumulated content modification data, said multi-media content to produce a revised multi-media content.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein said multi-media content comprises a series of frames that are delivered in sequence, said step of aggregating further comprises:

defining a time period for use by said synchronization means during which time period said content modification data is associated with a present frame in said series of frames.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said step of aggregating further comprises:

processing said accumulated content modification data to a composite content revision for a multi-media content.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said step of modifying further comprises:

revising, in response to receipt of said accumulated content modification data, said multi-media content to produce a revised multi-media content.