Time shifted transcoded streaming (TSTS) system and method

• US 20110238788A1
• Filed: 03/26/2010
• Published: 09/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dan Fiul
• Original Assignee: Dan Fiul
• Inventors: Fiul, Dan
• Granted Patent: US 8,843,594 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1451 by selection of backup contents
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/70 Media network packetisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/16 Implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23439 for generating different versions
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2365 Multiplexing of several video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26275 for distributing content or additional data in a staggered manner, e.g. repeating movies on different channels in a time-staggered manner in a near video on demand system
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4347 Demultiplexing of several video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44004 involving video buffer management, e.g. video decoder buffer or video display buffer

Abstract

A method and system for transmitting multimedia content from a server to a client device includes a source multimedia retriever to retrieve source multimedia content data. A transcoded multimedia retriever retrieves transcoded multimedia content data, the transcoded multimedia content data being a transcoded version of the source multimedia content, and the transcoded multimedia content data being time shifted with respect to the source multimedia content data. A data packet formulator formulates a data packet comprising the source multimedia content data and the time shifted transcoded multimedia content data. A data packet transmitter transmits the data packet from the server to the client device.

Claims

1. A method of transmitting multimedia content from a server to a client device, comprising:

retrieving source multimedia content data;

retrieving transcoded multimedia content data, said transcoded multimedia content data being a transcoded version of said source multimedia content and said transcoded multimedia content data being time shifted with respect to said source multimedia content data;

formulating a data packet comprising said source multimedia content data and said time shifted transcoded multimedia content data; and

transmitting said data packet from said server to said client device.

2. The method of transmitting multimedia content from a server to a client device according to claim 1, wherein:

said server is a proxy server retrieving said source multimedia content from a multimedia source server.

3. The method of transmitting multimedia content from a server to a client device according to claim 1, further comprising:

transcoding, at said server, said source multimedia content data.

4. The method of transmitting multimedia content from a server to a client device according to claim 1, wherein:

said data packet is a Transport Control Protocol (TCP)/Internet Protocol (IP) data packet.

5. The method of transmitting multimedia content from a server to a client device according to claim 1, wherein:

said client device is a cellular telephone.

6. A system for transmitting multimedia content from a server to a client device, comprising:

a source multimedia retriever to retrieve source multimedia content data;

a transcoded multimedia retriever to retrieve transcoded multimedia content data, said transcoded multimedia content data being a transcoded version of said source multimedia content, and said transcoded multimedia content data being time shifted with respect to said source multimedia content data;

a data packet formulator to formulate a data packet comprising said source multimedia content data and said time shifted transcoded multimedia content data; and

a data packet transmitter to transmit said data packet from said server to said client device.

7. The system for transmitting multimedia content from a server to a client device according to claim 6, further comprising:

a transcode retriever to retrieve said transcoded multimedia content data from a transcoded multimedia server.

8. The system for transmitting multimedia content from a server to a client device according to claim 6, wherein:

said data packet is a User Datagram Protocol (UDP) data packet.

9. The system for transmitting multimedia content from a server to a client device according to claim 6, wherein:

said client device is a satellite television receiver.

10. The method of transmitting multimedia content from a server to a client device according to claim 6, wherein:

said client device is a satellite radio receiver.

11. A method of receiving multimedia content from a server at a client device, comprising:

receiving, from said server, a data packet, said data packet comprising source multimedia content data and transcoded multimedia content data, said transcoded multimedia content data being a transcoded version of said source multimedia content data, and said transcoded multimedia content data being time shifted with respect to said source multimedia content data;

buffering, within a data buffer at said client device, said source multimedia content data and said transcoded multimedia content data;

if said source multimedia content data is available within said data buffer of said client device, streaming said source multimedia content data to a sensory device; and

if said source multimedia content data is unavailable within said data buffer of said client device, streaming said transcoded multimedia content data to said sensory device.

12. The method of receiving multimedia content from a server at a client device according to claim 11, further comprising:

storing said source multimedia content data in a first data buffer portion of said data buffer and storing said transcoded multimedia content data in a second data buffer portion of said data buffer.

13. The method of receiving multimedia content from a server at a client device according to claim 11, wherein:

said data packet is a Transport Control Protocol (TCP)/Internet Protocol (IP) data packet.

14. The method of receiving multimedia content from a server at a client device according to claim 11, wherein:

said data packet is a User Datagram Protocol (UDP) data packet.

15. The method of receiving multimedia content from a server at a client device according to claim 11, wherein:

said client device is a satellite radio receiver.

16. A system for receiving multimedia content from a server at a client device, comprising:

a data packet receiver to receive, from said server, a data packet, said data packet comprising source multimedia content data and transcoded multimedia content data, said transcoded multimedia content data being a transcoded version of said source multimedia content data, and said transcoded multimedia content data being time shifted with respect to said source multimedia content data;

a data buffer to buffer, within said client device, said source multimedia content data and said transcoded multimedia content data;

a multimedia streamer to stream said source multimedia content data to a sensory device if said source multimedia content data is available within said data buffer of said client device, and to stream said transcoded multimedia content data to said sensory device if said source multimedia content data is unavailable within said data buffer of said client device.

17. The system for receiving multimedia content from a server at a client device according to claim 16, wherein:

said data buffer is comprised of a first data buffer portion and a second data buffer portion, said first data buffer portion storing said source multimedia content data and said second data buffer portion storing said transcoded multimedia content data.

18. The system for receiving multimedia content from a server at a client device according to claim 16, wherein:

said combination data packet is a Transport Control Protocol (TCP)/Internet Protocol (IP) data packet.

19. The system for receiving multimedia content from a server at a client device according to claim 16, wherein:

said combination data packet is a User Datagram Protocol (UDP) data packet.

20. The system for receiving multimedia content from a server at a client device according to claim 16, wherein:

said client device is a cellular telephone.