System and method for aggregating and displaying media from multiple cloud services

• US 20170251257A1
• Filed: 05/28/2014
• Published: 08/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Dermot Obrien Apps LLC
• Original Assignee: Dermot Obrien Apps LLC
• Inventors: OBrien, Dermot
• Application Number:
  US15/330,950
• Publication Number:
  US 20170251257A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/148 Migration or transfer of sessions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/274 Storing end-user multimedia data in response to end-user request , e.g. network recorder
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/437 Interfacing the upstream path of the transmission network, e.g. for transmitting client requests to a VOD server flow control in data networks H04L47/10; streaming protocols, e.g. RTP or RTCP, H04L65/65; scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests in data packet switching networks H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4668 for recommending content, e.g. movies
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47205 for manipulating displayed content, e.g. interacting with MPEG-4 objects, editing locally
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47217 for controlling playback functions for recorded or on-demand content, e.g. using progress bars, mode or play-point indicators or bookmarks specific graphical features in visual interfaces H04N21/4312
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4753 for user identification, e.g. by entering a PIN or password cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4788 communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4825 using a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlists
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6175 involving transmission via Internet broadcast-related systems characterised by the transmission system being the Internet H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6582 Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38

Abstract

A computer implemented system and process for aggregating files from multiple Cloud servers provides into one or more seamless virtual directories. File types can be combined to create unique multimedia Shows, with added special effects and transitions. The Shows can be streamed to multiple device types or saved for later viewing. Shows can be pushed out to devices, viewed on-demand or by schedule and Cloud subscribers can change show content by changing media residing in their individual Clouds.

Claims

1. ) A computer-implemented method for aggregating files from multiple Cloud Service Providers into one or more virtual directories comprising:

a) providing an Internet connected Computing Device for requesting data from two or more Cloud Service Providers, which are external to the computing device;

b) providing a user interface to enter login information required for access to Cloud Services by the Computing Device.

c) causing said Computing Device to make an application program interface (API) call to two or more Cloud Service Providers, requesting paths to Cloud hosted files;

d) creating symbolic links designating the paths to files residing on the Cloud Server;

e) aggregating the symbolic links into one or more virtual directories; and

f) outputting the virtual directory to a graphical user interface on an internet connected computing device.

2. ) A method according to claim 1 wherein the files listed in the virtual directory are media files, selected from audio, video, image files and combinations thereof.

3. ) A method according to claim 2 wherein the Computing Device is an Aggregation Cloud Server external to one or more user devices with applications capable of playing streaming media.

4. ) A method according to claim 2 wherein a user selects a symbolic link from a virtual directory, a file selection notification is sent to a computing device which makes an API call to the Cloud server hosting the file indicated by the path in the symbolic link, whereby said file is streamed to a user'"'"'s media player application.

5. ) A method according to claim 4, wherein a computing process removes one or more symbolic links pointing to duplicate files on one or more cloud servers.

6. ) A method according to claims 5, wherein one or more users store one or more preference profiles on a Cloud Server.

7. ) A method according to claim 6 wherein user requested streamed media content is played on a Universal player.

8. ) A method according to claim 7 wherein a Universal player commits saved-state information periodically or by user request, a plurality of times during playback of streaming media files, saving said saved-states to a Cloud Server, which can resume playback from a position recorded by a saved-state on another device containing a Universal player.

9. ) A method according to claim 2, wherein a user can create a Show by selecting two or more media files for sequentially ordered playback on a media player.

10. ) A method according to claim 9 wherein two or more media files are played concurrently.

11. ) A method according to claim 9 wherein a user adds special effects to a Show.

12. ) A method according to claim 10 wherein a user adds special effects to a Show

13. ) A method according to claim 11 where Shows are automatically generated based upon saved user preferences.

14. ) A method according to claim 12 where Shows are automatically generated based upon saved user preferences.

15. ) A method according to claim 7, wherein Show playback instructions are saved as a file to a Cloud server for playback on one or more devices capable of reading the Show instruction file.

16. ) A method according to claim 8, wherein Show playback instructions are saved as a file to a Cloud server for playback on one or more devices capable of reading the Show instruction file.

17. ) A method according to claim 9, wherein Show playback instructions are saved as a file to a Cloud server for playback on one or more devices capable of reading the Show instruction file.

18. ) A method according to claim 8 wherein a computing process requests media content and special effects according to playback instructions in a Saved Show file, makes API calls to Cloud Server'"'"'s hosting media files required for playback, and streams the media to a plurality of media player devices.

19. ) A method according to claim 14 wherein the playback instruction from a saved Show Instruction file contain Boolean style queries for requesting media files for Show playback;

sequential or concurrent playback order determined by a user or saved user preferences.