Content integration platform with format and protocol conversion

• US 7,468,684 B2
• Filed: 07/05/2005
• Issued: 12/23/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Era Digital Media Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Era Digital Media Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Chiu, Fu-Sheng
• Primary Examiner(s): JEANGLAUDE, JEAN BRUNER
• Application Number:
  US11/172,843
• Publication Number:
  US 20070011182A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,267 Days
• Field of Search: 341/50, 341/51, 725/86, 725/63, 725/143, 725/146, 725/112, 348/722
• US Class Current: 341/51
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1026 at the edge
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1036 at the edge
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/762 at the source reformatting of additional data in video distribution servers H04N21/2355
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/764 at the destination reformatting of additional data in video clients H04N21/4355
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• 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 21/25808 Management of client data terminal profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/303
• 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 21/64707 for transferring content from a first network to a second network, e.g. between IP and wireless

Abstract

An interactive multimedia device that converts media content in real-time or near-real-time from a variety of input data formats to data formats accepted by a user'"'"'s available output devices, and to output protocols that can communicate with the user'"'"'s devices. The multimedia device can acquire content from remote sources and deliver it to the user. The multimedia device further supports interactive use and the generation of content by the user, as well as the purchase of media content on demand.

Claims

1. A content integration system comprising:

at least one media source link member;

at least one user device link member;

a controller operable to control and connected to the at least one media source link member and the at least one user device link member;

a decoder for decoding data of a plurality of first formats from a plurality of media sources; and

an encoder for adaptively encoding data decoded by the decoder to a second format compatible with a selected one of a plurality of user devices, wherein the content integration system converts formats of a plurality of media sources into appropriate formats for the user devices, wherein the content integration system integrates signals from the media sources with signals from a user device to form a single signal.

2. The content integration system of claim 1, further comprising:

a first switch for selecting among the media source link members; and

a second switch for selecting among the user device link members.

3. The content integration system of claim 1, further comprising:

a memory for storing settings of the device; and

a temporary memory for storing intermediate data.

4. The content integration system of claim 1, wherein the decoder and encoder comprise updatable software.

5. The content integration system of claim 1 further comprising:

a communications controller for managing and configuring communications protocols.

6. The content integration system of claim 5, wherein the communications protocols comprise at least one protocol from the group TCP/IP, UDP/IP, 3G wireless, Bluetooth, WiFi, NTSC, PAL, SECAM, WAP, and HTTP.

7. The content integration system of claim 1, wherein the format comprises AM radio, FM radio, or other analog audio format, NTSC video, PAL video, SECAM video, or other analog video format, RGB video, MPEG2 video, MPEG4 video, PCM audio, MP3 audio, MP4 audio, WAV audio, AIFF audio, AU audio, AAC audio, AVI video, RealMedia video, RealAudio, LiquidAudio, DIVX, CSS DVD, VCD, digital cable, or other digital audio or digital video format, TIFF, JPEG, GIF, PNG, or other digital image format, or HTML, XML, SGML, ASCII, or other textual format, or RSS or other push textual format.

8. A content integration system with format and protocol conversion comprising:

a first plurality of communication link members for connecting to external media sources;

a second plurality of communication link members for connecting to external user devices;

a central processing unit operable to control the devices;

a decoder for decoding data of a plurality of first formats from a plurality of external media sources; and

a multimedia encoder for adaptively encoding data decoded by the decoder to a second format compatible with a selected one of a plurality of external user devices, wherein the content integration system converts formats of a plurality of external media sources into appropriate formats for the external user devices, wherein the content integration system integrates signals from the media sources with signals from a user device to form a single signal.

9. The content integration system with format and protocol conversion of claim 8, wherein the format comprises AM radio, FM radio, or other analog audio format, NTSC video, PAL video, SECAM video, or other analog video format, RGB video, MPEG2 video, MPEG4 video, PCM audio, MP3 audio, MP4 audio, WAV audio, AIFF audio, AU audio, AAC audio, AVI video, RealMedia video, RealAudio, LiquidAudio, DIVX, CSS DVD, VCD, digital cable, or other digital audio or digital video format, TIFF, JPEG, GIF, PNG, or other digital image format, or HTML, XML, SGML, ASCII, or other textual format, or RSS or other push textual format.

10. The content integration system with format and protocol conversion of claim 9, further comprising:

a first switch for selecting among the first plurality of communication link members; and

a second switch for selecting among the second plurality of communication link members.

11. The content integration system with format and protocol conversion of claim 9, further comprising:

a memory for storing settings of the device; and

a temporary memory for storing intermediate data.

12. The content integration system with format and protocol conversion of claim 9, wherein the decoder and encoder comprise updatable software.

13. The content integration system with format and protocol conversion of claim 9 further comprising:

a communications controller for managing and configuring communications protocols.

14. The content integration system with format and protocol conversion of claim 13, wherein the communications protocols comprise at least one protocol from the group TCP/IP, UDP/IP, 3G wireless, Bluetooth, WiFi, NTSC, PAL, SECAM, WAP, and HTTP.

15. A content integration system with format and protocol conversion comprising:

a first plurality of communication link members for connecting to external media sources;

a second plurality of communication link members for connecting to external user devices;

a first switch operable to select among the first plurality of communication link members;

a second switch operable to select among the second plurality of communication link members;

a central processing unit operable to control operations of the devices;

a memory for storing settings of the devices;

a temporary memory for storing intermediate data;

an updatable software multimedia decoder for decoding data of a plurality of first formats from a plurality of external media sources; and

a multimedia encoder for adaptively encoding data decoded by the decoder to a second format compatible with a selected one of a plurality of external user devices, wherein the content integration system platform integrates signals from the media sources with signals from the user devices to form a single signal.

16. The content integration system with format and protocol conversion of claim 15, further comprising:

a communications controller for managing and configuring communications protocols.

17. The content integration system with format and protocol conversion of claim 16, wherein the communications protocols comprise at least one protocol from the group TCP/IP, UDP/IP, 3G wireless, Bluetooth, WiFi, NTSC, PAL, SECAM, WAP, and HTTP.

18. The content integration system with format and protocol conversion of claim 15, wherein the format comprises AM radio, FM radio, or other analog audio format, NTSC video, PAL video, SECAM video, or other analog video format, RGB video, MPEG2 video, MPEG4 video, PCM audio, MP3 audio, MP4 audio, WAV audio, AIFF audio, AU audio, AAC audio, AVI video, RealMedia video, RealAudio, LiquidAudio, DIVX, CSS DVD, VCD, digital cable, or other digital audio or digital video format, TIFF, JPEG, GIF, PNG, or other digital image format, or HTML, XML, SGML, ASCII, or other textual format, or RSS or other push textual format.