SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IMPROVED CONTENT STREAMING

• US 20140052872A1
• Filed: 08/14/2012
• Published: 02/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Varoglu, Devrim, Dave, Swapnil R.
• Granted Patent: US 9,749,373 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/231
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1083 In-session procedures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS

Abstract

A system and methods for improved streaming of content. After streaming of a content item from a wireless device (e.g., a smart phone, a table computer) commences to a presentation device (e.g., a media receiver, a television), the presentation device determines that it can stream the content item from an alternative source, such as a web server, data server or other content repository residing on the Internet or other network. The presentation device initiates the alternative streaming and notifies the wireless device that it may stop streaming. The wireless device may continue to provide control inputs to allow a user to pause, play, fast forward or otherwise control the presentation, and may or may not present the content item locally. If the presentation device must cease streaming of the content item from the alternative source, it notifies the wireless device, which resumes streaming.

Claims

1. A method of streaming content, the method comprising at a first device:

initiating streaming of a content item to a presentation device via a wireless communication connection;

forwarding control inputs toward the presentation device as the control inputs are received on the first device, to control presentation of the content item on the presentation device;

receiving from the presentation device notification that the presentation device can stream the content item from an alternative source; and

terminating streaming of the content item to the presentation device from the first device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

continuing to forward control inputs toward the presentation device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting toward the presentation device one or more of;

an identity of the content item;

identities of at least one source of the content item, including the alternative source; and

a current timestamp of the streaming within the content item.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying on a display component of the first device an indication that streaming of the content item from the first device has ceased.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving notification that streaming of the content item to the presentation device from the alternative source is terminating; and

resuming streaming of the content item to the presentation device from the first device.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

receiving from the presentation device a resumption timestamp of the content item at which to resume the streaming.

7. A processor-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method of streaming content, the method comprising at a first device:

initiating streaming of a content item to a presentation device via a wireless communication connection;

forwarding control inputs toward the presentation device as the control inputs are received on the first device, to control presentation of the content item on the presentation device;

receiving from the presentation device notification that the presentation device can stream the content item from an alternative source; and

terminating streaming of the content item to the presentation device from the first device.

8. Apparatus for streaming content, comprising:

input controls manipulable by a user of the apparatus;

streaming means for streaming content from the apparatus toward a presentation device;

signal means for signaling to the presentation device manipulation of the input controls by the user; and

terminating means for terminating streaming of the content in response to a termination signal received from the presentation device.

9. A method of streaming content, the method comprising at a presentation device for presenting content:

streaming a content item from a first source;

presenting the content item during the streaming;

receiving from the first source control inputs for controlling the presentation of the content item;

identifying a second source of the content item;

streaming the content item from the second source; and

terminating streaming of the content item from the first source.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

continuing to receive from the first source control inputs for controlling the presentation of the content item.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein:

the first source is a wireless device; and

the second source is a content repository other than the wireless device.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving from the first source one or more of;

an identity of the content item;

a location of the second source of the content item; and

a current timestamp within the content item.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising, prior to identifying the second source of the content item:

identifying an alternative source of the content item; and

determining whether a connection to the alternative source of the content item can be used to receive the content item;

wherein the alternative source of the content item is the second source of the content item if a connection to the alternative source of the content item can be used to receive the content item.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

determining that streaming of the content item from the second source will terminate prior to completion of presentation of the content item;

notifying the first source to resume streaming the content item;

resuming streaming the content item from the first source; and

terminating streaming of the content item from the second source.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

notifying the first source of a timestamp of the content item at which to resume the streaming.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the presentation device is an Apple TV®

media receiver.

17. Apparatus for streaming content, comprising:

receiving means for receiving streamed content from a source;

presentation means for presenting the streamed content;

control means for controlling the presenting of the content in response to received control signals;

selection means for selecting a second source from which to stream the content, in place of a first source; and

signal means for signaling the first source to terminate streaming of the content.

18. A system for streaming content, comprising:

a wireless device having access to a first version of a content item;

a presentation device for presenting content and having access to a second version of the content item, from an alternative source different from the wireless device;

a network device having a wireless communication connection with the wireless device and a wired connection with the presentation device;

first logic configured to replace streaming of the first version of the content item from the wireless device to the presentation device with streaming of the second version of the content item from the alternative source; and

second logic configured to control presentation of the content item on the presentation device with control inputs from the wireless device.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the wireless device comprises the first version of the content item.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the second version of the content item is stored in a content repository accessible by the presentation device via the network device.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein one or more of the first logic and the second logic are provided by an operator of the content repository.