Media search engine for a personal media network

• US 7,970,908 B2
• Filed: 01/27/2009
• Issued: 06/28/2011
• 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): WANG, LIANG CHE A
• Application Number:
  US12/360,452
• Publication Number:
  US 20090138930A1
• Time in Patent Office: 882 Days
• Field of Search: 709/212, 709/217, 709/219, 709/223, 709/226, 709/230, 725/86, 725/91, 725/100, 725/103, 348/207.1
• US Class Current: 709/226
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2743 Video hosting of uploaded data from client
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4828 for searching program descriptors retrieval of video data G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64322 IP

Abstract

A system providing search functionality supporting the exchange and consumption of media is disclosed. The searching of media on storage belonging to any of a pre-defined group of users of a personal media network is provided. In addition, media stored on designated servers may also be included in a search. The media stored may include audio, still images, video, and data. A user may search the stored media using a number of criteria including the time period of the media, the type of device, and the type of media. The system also provides support for the search of one or more media peripherals, which may be searched when the media peripherals are communicatively coupled to the system.

Claims

1. One or more circuits for use in a communication device supporting search functionality that enables the exchange and consumption of media among a self-administered group of users administered by a member of the self-administered group of users, the one or more circuits comprising:

at least one processor having circuitry to operably couple to a first storage that stores media, in a first home, the first storage supporting consumption of the media by a first display device supporting display of television content in the first home, the first storage having a first network protocol address associated with a first user, the at least one processor operable to, at least;

cause display of a user interface on the first display device, in the first home, the user interface having at least one view comprising a representation of media available for consumption, the user interface supporting delivery of media from the first home to a second home having a second display device supporting display of television content and a second storage supporting consumption of the media by the second display device in the second home and having a second network protocol address associated with a second user;

communicate a search request to search software, the request comprising user defined search criteria and one of the first and second associated network protocol addresses, the first and second associated network protocol addresses representing members of the self-administered group of users, where the self-administered group of users is defined based on authorization by a member of the self-administered group of the users; and

receive a search response identifying media currently stored on at least one of the first and second storage, the identified media matching the user defined search criteria.

2. The one or more circuits of claim 1 wherein the media comprises one or more of audio, a still image, video, and/or data.

3. The one or more circuits of claim 1 wherein the first and second network protocol addresses are one of an Internet protocol (IP) address, a media access control (MAC) address, or an electronic serial number (ESN).

4. The one or more circuits of claim 1 wherein the first storage and second storage communicatively couple via a communication network that comprises one or more of a cable infrastructure, a satellite network infrastructure, a digital subscriber line (DSL) infrastructure, an Internet infrastructure, an intranet infrastructure, a wired infrastructure, and/or a wireless infrastructure.

5. The one or more circuits of claim 4 wherein the communication network is the Internet.

6. The one or more circuits of claim 1 wherein consumption comprises one or more of playing digitized audio, displaying a still image, displaying video, and/or displaying data.

7. The one or more circuits of claim 1 wherein the user defined search criteria comprises one or more of a time period, a device type, a specific media, a media type, a specific media channel, and/or a media channel type.

8. The one or more circuits of claim 1 comprising:

at least one media peripheral communicatively coupled to the first storage, the at least one media peripheral having storage; and

the search software responding by identifying media stored on the at least one media peripheral, the identified media matching the user defined search criteria.

9. The one or more circuits of claim 8 wherein the at least one media peripheral comprises one or more of a digital camera, a digital camcorder, a television, a personal computer, a CD player, a home juke-box, a multi-media gateway device, a multi-media personal digital assistant, a DVD player, a tape player, and/or a MP3 player.

10. The one or more circuits of claim 1 wherein the at least one processor communicates with at least one server for storing media, the at least one server having been designated by a user for searching;

and wherein the search response identifies media stored on the at least one server, the identified media matching the user defined search criteria.

11. The one or more circuits of claim 10 wherein the at least one server comprises one or more of a 3rd party media provider, a media peripheral, a personal computer, a 3rd party storage vendor, and/or a broadband head end.

12. The one or more circuits of claim 1 where the first display device is a television.

13. The one or more circuits of claim 1 wherein the second display device is a television.

14. One or more circuits for a communication device supporting search functionality that enables the exchange and consumption of media among a self-administered group of users administered by a member of the self-administered group of users, the one or more circuits comprising:

at least one processor having circuitry for communicatively coupling to a first storage for storing media, in a first home, the first storage having a first protocol address associated with a first user, and to a second storage for storing media, in a second home, the second storage having a second protocol address associated with a second user, the at least one processor operable to, at least;

cause display of a user interface on a first display device supporting display of television content in the first home, the user interface having at least one view comprising a representation of media available for consumption, the user interface supporting searching of media at the first home and the second home;

communicate a search request to search software, the search request comprising user defined search criteria and one of the first and second associated protocol addresses, the first and second associated protocol addresses representing members of the self-administered group of users, where the self-administered group of users is defined based on authorization by a member of the group of users; and

receive a search response identifying media currently available at one or both of the first and second associated protocol addresses, the identified media matching the user defined search criteria.

15. The one or more circuits of claim 14 wherein the media comprises one or more of audio, a still image, video, and/or data.

16. The one or more circuits of claim 14 wherein each of the first and second protocol addresses are selected from the group consisting of:

an Internet protocol (IP) address, a media access control (MAC) address, or an electronic serial number (ESN).

17. The one or more circuits of claim 14 wherein the set top box circuitry and the second storage communicatively couple via a communication network that comprises one or more of a cable infrastructure, a satellite network infrastructure, a digital subscriber line (DSL) infrastructure, an Internet infrastructure, an intranet infrastructure, a wired infrastructure, and/or a wireless infrastructure.

18. The one or more circuits of claim 17 wherein the communication network is the Internet.

19. The one or more circuits of claim 14 wherein consumption comprises one or more of playing digitized audio, displaying a still image, displaying video, and/or displaying data.

20. The one or more circuits of claim 14 wherein the user defined search criteria comprises one or more of a time period, a device type, a specific media, a media type, a specific media channel, and/or a media channel type.

21. The one or more circuits of claim 14 comprising:

at least one media peripheral communicatively coupled to the first storage, the at least one media peripheral having storage; and

the search software responding by identifying media stored on the at least one media peripheral, the identified media matching the user defined search criteria.

22. The one or more circuits of claim 21 wherein the at least one media peripheral comprises one or more of a digital camera, a digital camcorder, a television, a personal computer, a CD player, a home juke-box, a multi-media gateway device, a multi-media personal digital assistant, a DVD player, a tape player, and/or a MP3 player.

23. The one or more circuits of claim 14 comprising:

at least one server for storing media, the at least one server having been designated by a user for searching; and

the search software responding by identifying media stored on the at least one server, the identified media matching the user defined search criteria.

24. The one or more circuits of claim 23 wherein the at least one server comprises one or more of a 3rd party media provider, a media peripheral, a personal computer, a 3rd party storage vendor, and/or a broadband head end.

25. The one or more circuits of claim 14 wherein the first display comprises a television.

26. The one or more circuits of claim 14 wherein the at least one processor is operable to, at least:

deliver the identified media from the first storage at the first home to a second display device supporting display of television content at the second home.

27. The one or more circuits of claim 26 wherein the second display device comprises a television.

28. The one or more circuits of claim 14 wherein the at least one processor is operable to, at least:

facilitate delivery of the identified media from the second storage at the second home to the first display device at the first home.