Personal media broadcasting system with output buffer
First Claim
1. A personal media broadcaster comprising:
- an input interface for receiving an audio/video signal from one or more audio/video source devices;
a processor coupled to the input interface and configured to construct a media stream suitable for transmission over a network from the audio/video signal;
a buffer coupled to receive the media stream, the buffer coupled to the processor for communicating an amount of free space remaining in the buffer, wherein the processor constructs the media stream by encoding the audio/video signal using a bit rate selected at least in part based on the amount of free space remaining in the buffer; and
a network interface for transmitting the media stream stored in the buffer to a client over a network.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A personal media broadcasting system enables video distribution over a computer network and allows a user to view and control media sources over a computer network from a remote location. A personal broadcaster receives an input from one or more types of media sources, digitizes and compresses the content, and streams the compressed media over a computer network to a media player running on any of a wide range of client devices for viewing the media. The system may allow the user to issue control commands (e.g., “channel up”) from the media player to the broadcaster, causing the source device to execute the commands. The broadcaster and the media player may employ several techniques for buffering, transmitting, and viewing the content to improve the user'"'"'s experience.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. A personal media broadcaster comprising:
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an input interface for receiving an audio/video signal from one or more audio/video source devices; a processor coupled to the input interface and configured to construct a media stream suitable for transmission over a network from the audio/video signal; a buffer coupled to receive the media stream, the buffer coupled to the processor for communicating an amount of free space remaining in the buffer, wherein the processor constructs the media stream by encoding the audio/video signal using a bit rate selected at least in part based on the amount of free space remaining in the buffer; and a network interface for transmitting the media stream stored in the buffer to a client over a network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 28)
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9. A personal media broadcasting system comprising:
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a personal media broadcaster having an input interface for communication with one or more audio/video source devices, the personal media broadcaster configured to construct a media stream suitable for transmission over a network from a signal received from one of the audio/video source devices, the media stream constructed by encoding the signal using a bit rate selected at least in part based on an amount of free space remaining in an intermediate output buffer, the personal media broadcaster further including a network interface for transmitting the media stream from the intermediate output buffer; and a client module for communicating with the personal media broadcaster over a network connection to receive the media stream, the client module configured to play the media stream for a user. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for providing access to an audio/visual source at a location remote from the audio/visual source, the method comprising:
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receiving an input signal from an audio/visual source device; constructing a media stream suitable for transmission over a network by encoding the input signal using a bit rate selected at least in part based on an amount of free space remaining in a buffer; storing the media stream in the buffer; and sending the media stream from the buffer to a remote client over a network. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 29)
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21. A method for providing access to a video source at a location remote from the video source, the method comprising:
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receiving a video signal; creating a media stream from the video signal, the media stream encoded using a bit rate selected at least in part based on an amount of free space remaining in an output buffer; storing the encoded media stream in the output buffer; and sending the media stream from the output buffer to a remote client over a network.
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22. A method for streaming a media signal to a remote subscriber location, the method comprising:
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receiving a media signal for transmission to a subscriber location; constructing a media stream suitable for transmission over a transmission network by encoding the received media signal using a bit rate selected at least in part based on an amount of free space remaining in an output buffer; storing the media stream in the output buffer; and transmitting the media stream from the output buffer to the remote subscriber location over a transmission network. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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30. A device comprising:
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an input interface configured to receive an audio/video signal; a processor coupled to the input interface and configured to encode the audio/video signal using a bit rate; a buffer configured to receive the media stream, wherein the bit rate is selected at least in part based on an amount of free space remaining in the buffer; and an output interface configured to transmit the media stream stored in the buffer. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification