Media processing system based on satellite set top box platform with telephony downstream and upstream data paths

• US 7,450,501 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2003
• Issued: 11/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bennett, James D., Karaoguz, Jeyhan
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham; Chi H
• Assistant Examiner(s): BOAKYE, ALEXANDER O
• Application Number:
  US10/674,671
• Publication Number:
  US 20040114630A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,869 Days
• Field of Search: 370/230, 370/230.1, 370/231, 370/235, 370/245, 370/253, 370/264, 370/299, 370/395.41, 370/395.52, 370/401, 709/245, 709/249, 725/119
• US Class Current: 370/230
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/38 Arrangements for distribution where lower stations, e.g. receivers, interact with the broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2834 Switching of information between an external network and a home network access arrangements H04L12/2856
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2845 Telephone line
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1073 Registration or de-registration
• 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: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/62 Establishing a time schedule for servicing the requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/63 Routing a service request depending on the request content or context
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/222 Secondary servers, e.g. proxy server, cable television Head-end provisioning of proxy services in data packet switching networks H04L67/56
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23106 involving caching operations prefetching while addressing of a memory level in which the access to the desired data or data block requires associative addressing means within memory systems or architectures G06F12/0862; caching at an intermediate stage in a data network H04L67/568
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2343 involving reformatting operations of video signals for distribution or compliance with end-user requests or end-user device requirements video transcoding H04N19/40; media packet handling at the source H04L65/762
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234363 by altering the spatial resolution, e.g. for clients with a lower screen resolution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2408 Monitoring of the upstream path of the transmission network, e.g. client requests monitoring data switching networks utilization H04L43/0876; scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/254 Management at additional data server, e.g. shopping server, rights management server arrangements for maintenance or administration in data networks H04L41/00; network services using third party service providers H04L67/53
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2541 Rights Management protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10; security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2543 Billing , e.g. for subscription services payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; e-commerce G06Q30/00; arrangements for billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/21
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25435 : involving characteristics of content or additional data, e.g. video resolution or the amount of advertising
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/258 : Client or end-user data management, e.g. managing client capabilities, user preferences or demographics, processing of multiple end-users preferences to derive collaborative data arrangements for services using the result on the distributing side of broadcast systems H04H60/66; profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25808 : Management of client data terminal profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/303
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25833 : involving client hardware characteristics, e.g. manufacturer, processing or storage capabilities allocation of resources considering hardware capabilities in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/5044; allocation of resources considering software capabilities in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/5055
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25875 : involving end-user authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; arrangements for secret or secure communication including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• 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 21/26266 : for determining content or additional data repetition rate, e.g. of a file in a DVB carousel according to its importance arrangements for broadcast or for distribution of identical information repeatedly in broadcast distribution systems H04H20/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2668 : Creating a channel for a dedicated end-user group, e.g. insertion of targeted commercials based on end-user profiles information retrieval from the Internet by querying with filtering and personalisation G06F16/9535; arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast H04H20/10; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; adaptation of message content in packet-switching networks H04L51/063
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2743 : Video hosting of uploaded data from client
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2747 : Remote storage of video programs received via the downstream path, e.g. from the server
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/40 : Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 : having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 : embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41422 : located in transportation means, e.g. personal vehicle arrangements specially adapted for transportation systems in broadcast systems H04H20/62
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4143 : embedded in a Personal Computer [PC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/422 : Input-only peripherals , i.e. input devices connected to specially adapted client devices, e.g. global positioning system [GPS] input devices also receiving signals from specially adapted client devices H04N21/4104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 : Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4227 : Providing Remote input by a user located remotely from the client device, e.g. at work
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42684 : Client identification by a unique number or address, e.g. serial number, MAC address, socket ID network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming H04L61/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 : involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4314 : for fitting data in a restricted space on the screen, e.g. EPG data in a rectangular grid
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 : for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4331 : Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 : Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/436 : Interfacing a local distribution network, e.g. communicating with another STB or one or more peripheral devices inside the home
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 : Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43632 : involving a wired protocol, e.g. IEEE 1394 high-speed IEEE 1394 serial bus H04L12/40052
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 : involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/442 : Monitoring of processes or resources, e.g. detecting the failure of a recording device, monitoring the downstream bandwidth, the number of times a movie has been viewed, the storage space available from the internal hard disk arrangements for monitoring broadcast services or broadcast-related services H04H60/29; arrangements for identifying or recognising characteristics with a direct linkage to broadcast information H04H60/35; monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; monitoring in wireless networks H04W24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44222 : Analytics of user selections, e.g. selection of programs or purchase activity monitoring of user selections in data processing systems G06F11/34; arrangements for monitoring the user's behaviour or opinions in broadcast systems H04H60/33
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 : involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; 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 21/458 : Scheduling content for creating a personalised stream, e.g. by combining a locally stored advertisement with an incoming stream; Updating operations, e.g. for OS modules ; time-related management operations arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast or during the distribution H04H20/10
• 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 21/4627 : Rights management associated to the content security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4668 : for recommending content, e.g. movies
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 : for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47214 : for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4751 : for defining user accounts, e.g. accounts for children
• 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 21/4755 : for defining user preferences, e.g. favourite actors or genre retrieval personalisation and generation of user profiles for the retrieval of video data G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4758 : for providing answers, e.g. voting
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 : Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4786 : e-mailing message switching systems, e.g. electronic mail systems H04L51/00
• 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 21/482 : End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4821 : using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4826 : using recommendation lists, e.g. of programs or channels sorted out according to their score
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4828 : for searching program descriptors retrieval of video data G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4856 : for language selection, e.g. for the menu or subtitles
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4882 : for displaying messages, e.g. warnings, reminders arrangements for providing short real-time information to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 : involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6143 : involving transmission via a satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6187 : involving transmission via a telephone network, e.g. POTS
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/632 : using a connection between clients on a wide area network, e.g. setting up a peer-to-peer communication via Internet for retrieving video segments from the hard-disk of other client devices broadcast-related systems characterised by transmission among terminal devices H04H60/80; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6402 : Address allocation for clients address allocation in data networks H04L61/50
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6581 : Reference data, e.g. a movie identifier for ordering a movie or a product identifier in a home shopping application
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6583 : Acknowledgement
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 : Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8113 : comprising music, e.g. song in MP3 format
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 : involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/814 : comprising emergency warnings arrangements specially adapted for emergency or urgency in broadcast systems H04H20/59; arrangements for providing alarms, notifications, alerts to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8146 : involving graphical data, e.g. 3D object, 2D graphics
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 : Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/141 : between two video terminals, e.g. videophone telephonic communication systems combined with television receiver for reception of entertainment or information matter H04M11/085
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 : by receiver means only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17309 : Transmission or handling of upstream communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 : Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17336 : Handling of requests in head-ends
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 : Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

Systems and methods that provide satellite-based media processing are described. In one embodiment, a system that exchanges media may include, for example, a communications device that may be coupled to a network and to an antenna. The communications device may provide two-way communications with the network and may provide one-way communications with the antenna. The communications may receive media content from the antenna and/or the network. The communications device may send the media content to the network.

Claims

1. A system for exchanging media content, comprising:

a communications device operatively coupled to a network and to an antenna, the communications device providing two-way communications with the network and providing one-way communications with the antenna,

wherein the communications device can receive broadcast media content from the antenna and from the network,

wherein the communications device can send the received broadcast media content and personal media content to the network, the personal media content being different from the received broadcast media content,

wherein the communications device presents a plurality of media channels by which to access the received broadcast media content and the personal media content, and

wherein the communications device pushes a selected media channel of the plurality of media channels over the network.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the antenna comprises a dish antenna.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the communications device comprises a software platform that can provide at least one of a user-interface functionality, a distributed storage functionality and a networking functionality.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the communications device comprises a software platform that can provide at least one of device registration, channel setup, program setup, management and security.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the communications device is adapted to provide at least one of distributed a networking capability, an archival functionality, a temporary storage capability, a storage manager and a digital rights manager.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the network comprises a telephony network.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the network comprises an Internet infrastructure.

8. The system according to claim 7,

wherein the Internet infrastructure is coupled to a telephony network, and

wherein the communications device provides two-way communications with telephony network.

9. The system according to claim 1,

wherein the network comprises a telephony network, a telephony network headend and a satellite system headend,

wherein the communications device provides two-way communications with the telephony network headend via the telephony network, and

wherein the communications device provides two-way communications with the satellite system headend via the telephony network.

10. The system according to claim 9,

wherein the communications device can request the broadcast media content from the satellite system headend via the telephony network, and

wherein the communications device receives the requested media content via the antenna.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the communications device receives acknowledge information relating to the media content request from the satellite system headend via the telephony network.

12. The system according to claim 9, wherein at least one of the telephony network headend and the satellite system headend comprises a modem that supports at least one of an upconverter, a modulator, a router, a firewall and an intranet infrastructure.

13. The system according to claim 9,

wherein the communications device receives a broadcast media guide from the satellite system headend,

wherein the communications device receives a personal media guide from the telephony network headend, and

wherein the communications device generates a unified media guide by processing the received broadcast media guide and the received personal media guide.

14. The system according to claim 9,

wherein telephony network headend receives a broadcast media guide from the satellite system headend,

wherein telephony network headend receives a personal media guide from the communications device, and

wherein telephony network headend generates a unified media guide by processing the received broadcast media guide and the received personal media guide.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein the telephony network headend sends the unified media guide to the communications device.

16. The system according to claim 9, wherein the telephony network headend is a digital subscriber line (DSL) headend.

17. The system according to claim 16,

wherein the telephony network comprises a DSL infrastructure, and

wherein the communications device provides two-way communications with the DSL headend via a DSL modem and the DSL infrastructure.

18. The system according to claim 1, wherein the communications device is a first communications device and the system further comprising:

a second communications device coupled to the network, the second communications device providing two-way communications with the network,

wherein the second communications device can send respective broadcast media content and respective personal media content to the first communications device via the network,

wherein the second communications device receives the pushed selected media channel from the first communications device,

wherein the second communications device presents a respective plurality of media channels by which to access the respective received broadcast media content and the respective personal media content, the respective personal media content being different from the respective received broadcast media content, and

wherein the plurality of media channels presented by the second communications device is updated to reflect the received media channel that was pushed by the first communications device.

19. The system according to claim 18,

wherein the communications device is disposed at a first location, and

wherein the second communications device is disposed in a second location.

20. The system according to claim 18,

wherein the communications device is disposed in a first home environment, and

wherein the second communications device is disposed in a second home environment.

21. The system according to claim 18, wherein the second communications device is coupled to the network via a headend.

22. The system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a media server coupled to the network,

wherein the communications device can receive at least some of the broadcast media content and at least some of the personal media content from the media server via the network.

23. A method for exchanging media content, comprising:

adapting a communications device to provide two-way communications with a network;

adapting the communications device to provide one-way communications with an antenna;

receiving, by the communications device, broadcast media content from the antenna and from the network;

sending, by the communications device, personal media content and the received broadcast media content to the network, the personal media content being non-broadcast media content;

presenting, by the communications device, a plurality of media channels by which to access the personal media content and the received broadcast media content;

pushing, by the communications device, a selected media channel of the plurality of media channels over the network;

receiving, by the communications device, a personal media channel that was pushed over the network; and

updating the presented plurality of media channels to reflect the received pushed personal media channel.

24. The method according to claim 23, further comprising:

requesting, by the communications device, the broadcast media content from a satellite headend that is part of the network;

receiving, by the communications device, acknowledge information relating to the requested broadcast media content from the satellite headend; and

receiving, by the communications device, the requested broadcast media content from the antenna.

25. The method according to claim 23, further comprising:

receiving, by the communications device, a personal media guide from a telephony network headend that is part of the network;

receiving, by the communications device, a broadcast media guide from a satellite headend that is part of the network; and

generating, by the communications device, a unified media guide based on at least the received personal media guide and the received broadcast media guide.

26. The method according to claim 23, further comprising:

receiving, by a telephony network headend that is part of the network, a personal media guide from the communications device;

receiving, by the telephony network headend, a broadcast media guide from a satellite headend that is part of the network; and

generating, by the telephony network headend, a unified media guide based on at least the received personal media guide and the received broadcast media guide.

27. The method according to claim 26, further comprising:

sending the unified media guide to the communications device.

28. The method according to claim 23, wherein the communications device is a first communications device and the method further comprising:

pushing, by the first communications device disposed in a first building, at least some of the personal media content and at least some of the received broadcast media content to a second communications device, the second communications device being disposed in a second building and being coupled to the network; and

revising a media guide presented by the second communications device to include the pushed broadcast media content and the pushed personal media content received by the second communications device.

29. The method according to claim 28,

wherein the media guide presented by the second communications device is revised by adding one or more media channels that provide access to the pushed broadcast media content received by the second communications device and by adding one or more additional media channels that provide access to the pushed personal media content.