Broadcast video channel surfing system based on internet streaming of captured live broadcast channels

• US 7,386,870 B2
• Filed: 08/23/2001
• Issued: 06/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Lu, Jin
• Primary Examiner(s): Lonsberry; Hunter B.
• Application Number:
  US09/935,885
• Publication Number:
  US 20030041334A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,483 Days
• Field of Search: 725/62, 725/86, 725/38
• US Class Current: 725/62
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• 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: H04N 21/2187 Live feed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234363 by altering the spatial resolution, e.g. for clients with a lower screen resolution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234381 by altering the temporal resolution, e.g. decreasing the frame rate by frame skipping
• 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 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• 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 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6131 involving transmission via a mobile phone network wireless downlink channel access H04W74/006
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/162 Authorising the user terminal, e.g. by paying; Registering the use of a subscription channel, e.g. billing

Abstract

A method for reviewing broadcast channels. The method including: capturing at least one broadcast channel at a first site at a reduced quality from its broadcast quality; receiving the at least one reduced quality broadcast channel at a second site, the second site being remote from the first site; and reviewing the at least one reduced quality broadcast channel at the second site. Preferably, the reduced quality broadcast channel is captured on a video server corresponding to an Internet address and is downloaded from the Internet via a wireless transmission to a cellular phone, PDA, or the like.

Claims

1. A method of facilitating broadcast channel surfing, comprising:

receiving a plurality of broadcast signals from a plurality of broadcast channels, the broadcast signals being configured to enable viewing of video information at a first quality level;

processing the plurality of broadcast signals into a corresponding plurality of surfing signals that provide a second quality level that is poorer than the first quality level; and

broadcasting the plurality of surfing signals substantially concurrent in time with the corresponding broadcast signals to enable channel surfing of the surfing signals at a remote device at a time of surfing that is not substantially different from a time of broadcasting the corresponding broadcast signals.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein

broadcasting the surfing signals includes providing substantially continuous access to the plurality of surfing signals at a corresponding plurality of Internet addresses.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein

the broadcasting of the plurality of surfing signals is configured to facilitate selective reception of each surf signal.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein

the processing of the broadcast signals includes:

identifying key frames in the broadcast signals, and

forming the surfing signals from the key frames.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein

the first and second quality levels are based on at least one of:

an image resolution, and

a frame rate.

7. The server of claim 1, wherein

the transmission system includes an Internet web-server, and broadcasting the surfing signals includes providing substantially continuous access to the plurality of surfing signals at a corresponding plurality of Internet addresses.

8. The server of claim 1, wherein

the transmission system is configured to broadcast the plurality of surfing signals so as to facilitate selective reception of each surf signal.

9. The server of claim 1, wherein

the processor is configured to:

identify key frames in the broadcast signals, and

form the surfing signals based on the key frames.

19. The method of claim 2, wherein

the broadcast signals correspond to a plurality of broadcast transmissions from a plurality of broadcast channels, and

the surfing signals are accessed via a plurality of Internet addresses, each address of the plurality of Internet addresses corresponding to each broadcast channel of the plurality of broadcast channels.

20. The method of claim 2, wherein

the broadcast signals correspond to a plurality of broadcast transmissions from a plurality of broadcast channels, and

the surfing signals are accessed via one or more Internet addresses.

22. The server of claim 7, wherein

the broadcast signals correspond to a plurality of broadcast transmissions from a plurality of broadcast channels, and

the surfing signals are accessed via a plurality of Internet addresses, each address of the plurality of Internet addresses corresponding to each broadcast channel of the plurality of broadcast channels.

23. The server of claim 8, wherein

the broadcast signals correspond to a plurality of broadcast transmissions from a plurality of broadcast channels, and

the surfing signals are accessed via one or more Internet addresses.

6. A server that facilitates broadcast channel surfing, comprising:

a receiving system that is configured to receive a plurality of broadcast signals from a plurality of broadcast channels, the broadcast signals being configured to enable viewing of video information at a first quality level;

a processor that is configured to process the plurality of broadcast signals to form a corresponding plurality of surfing signals that provide a second quality level that is poorer than the first quality level; and

a transmission system that is configured to broadcast the plurality of surfing signals substantially concurrent in time with the corresponding plurality of broadcast signals;

to enable channel surfing of the surfing signals at a remote device at a time of surfing that is not substantially different from a time of broadcasting the corresponding plurality of broadcast signals.

21. The server of claim 6, wherein

the transmission system includes an Internet web-server, and broadcasting the surfing signals includes providing substantially continuous access to the surfing signals at one or more Internet addresses.

10. A method of facilitating broadcast channel surfing, comprising:

receiving current broadcast signals from at least one broadcast channel, the broadcast signals being configured to enable viewing of video information at a first quality level;

encoding the broadcast signals into surfing signals to provide a second quality level that is poorer than the first quality level; and

broadcasting the surfing signals substantially concurrent in time with the corresponding broadcast signals to enable viewing of the surfing signals at a remote device at a time of surfing that is not substantially different from a time of broadcasting the corresponding broadcast signals from the at least one broadcast channel.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein

broadcasting the surfing signals includes providing substantially continuous access to the surfing signals at one or more Internet addresses.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein

the broadcast signals correspond to a plurality of broadcast transmissions from a plurality of broadcast channels, and

the surfing signals are accessed via a plurality of Internet addresses, each address of the plurality of Internet addresses corresponding to each broadcast channel of the plurality of broadcast channels.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein

the surfing signals are configured to facilitate reception via a portable device.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein

encoding the broadcast signals at the second quality level provides surfing signals that consume substantially less bandwidth than signals encoded at the first quality level.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein

the broadcast signals correspond to a plurality of broadcast transmissions from a plurality of broadcast channels, and

the surfing signals correspond to a plurality of surf signals, each surf signal of the plurality of surf signals corresponding to each broadcast transmission from the plurality of broadcast channels.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein

the broadcasting of the surfing signals is configured to facilitate selective reception of each surf signal.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein

the processing of the broadcast signals includes:

identifying key frames in the broadcast signals, and

forming the surfing signals from the key frames.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein

the first and second quality levels are based on at least one of:

an image resolution, and

a frame rate.