Methods and apparatus for integrating disparate media formats in a networked media system

• US 8,086,575 B2
• Filed: 09/23/2004
• Issued: 12/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rovi Solutions Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rovi Solutions Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Putterman, Daniel, Dietrich, Brad
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo, Tim T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mobin, Hasanul
• Application Number:
  US10/949,775
• Publication Number:
  US 20070220024A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,651 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 707/693
• 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 21/4402 involving reformatting operations of video signals for household redistribution, storage or real-time display details of conversion of video standards at pixel level H04N7/01; video transcoding H04N19/40; adapting incoming signals to the display format of the display terminal G09G5/005; media handling at the source in data packet switching networks H04L65/764

Abstract

A media system includes at least a source media device and a playback media device coupled through a network. The source media device presents media to the network. The media comprises at least one digital content file with a first format. A playback media device plays back digital content files formatted in a second format. A transcoder, also coupled to the network, converts the first format of the digital content file to a second format. In one embodiment, the transcoder comprises a device separate from the source media device and the playback media device. In another embodiment, the transcoder comprises a device integrated with the source media device. The playback device receives the digital content file, formatted in the second format, over the network, and processes the digital content file in the second format to generate processed signals. The processed signals drive the playback device to play the digital content file. In another embodiment, the transcoder operates in conjunction with one or more media servers. For this embodiment, media, stored on the media servers, is converted to one or more different file formats. The conversion may occur without requiring a user to initiate the conversion.

Claims

1. A method for managing media in a networked media system comprising a source device, at least one playback device, and a transcoder device, the method comprising:

receiving, at the playback device, source-device state information from the source device, the source-device state information specifying a first network protocol and a content service supported by the source device configured to store digital media files in a plurality of formats, the content service configured to provide other network devices access to digital media files stored on the source device, the playback device configured to playback digital media files in a first of the plurality of formats;

receiving, at the playback device, transcoder-device state information from the transcoder device, the transcoder-device state information specifying a second network protocol and a conversion service supported by the transcoder device, the conversion service for conversion of digital media files, the first and second network protocols being different network protocols;

determining whether the conversion service of the transcoder device converts digital media files in at least one of the plurality of formats to the first format;

in response to a determination that the conversion service of the transcoder device converts digital media files in at least one of the plurality of formats to the first format, aggregating, at the playback device, a list of digital media files stored on the source device, wherein the aggregated list includes only digital media files that can be provided to the playback device in the first format;

sending, from the playback device to the source device, a first request invoking the content service on the source device for accessing a first digital media file included in the list of digital media files, the first digital media file being stored on the source device, the first request being translated to the first network protocol by the playback device;

sending, from the playback device to the transcoder device, a second request invoking the conversion service on the transcoder device for converting the first digital media file to the first format, the second request being translated to the second network protocol by the playback device; and

playing back, at the playback device, the first digital media file converted to the first format,

wherein the source device, the playback device, and the transcoder device comprise separate network devices coupled through a network.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending the source-device state information through the network from the source device to the playback device, the source-device state information further specifying a plurality of services supported by the source device;

exposing, at the source device, each service specified in the source-device state information to the other network devices; and

requesting, at the playback device, an exposed service of the source device using the first network protocol specified in the source-device state information.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending the transcoder-device state information through the network from the transcoder device to the playback device, the transcoder-device state information further specifying a plurality of services supported by the transcoder device;

exposing, at the transcoder device, each service specified in the transcoder-device state information to the other network devices; and

requesting, at the playback device, an exposed service of the transcoder device using the second network protocol specified in the transcoder-device state information.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

upon the playback device being coupled to the network, sending playback-device state information from the playback device to the source device and the transcoder device through the network, the playback-device state information specifying at least one network protocol and at least one service supported by the playback device;

exposing, at the playback device, each service specified in the playback-device state information to the other network devices; and

requesting an exposed service of the playback device using a network protocol specified in the playback-device state information.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the networked media system utilizes a peer-to-peer architecture so that network devices directly communicate with each other through the network using network protocols specified in the state information for each network device; and

requests sent to a network device is translated to the network protocol specified in the state information for the network device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the transcoder-device state information further specifies a plurality of conversion services supported by the transcoder device, each conversion service for converting different formats of digital media files, the method further comprising:

determining, using the transcoder-device state information, which of the plurality of formats of digital media files stored at the source device comprise formats that are convertible to the first format, wherein aggregating the list of digital media files comprises aggregating a list of digital media files stored on the source device that are convertible to the first format.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the digital media files comprise audio media files, video media files, or image media files stored on the source device;

the playback device is configured to playback audio media files; and

aggregating the list of digital media files comprises aggregating a list of only audio media files stored on the source device.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein:

an audio media file in the first format comprises a Microsoft Windows Median audio (“

WMA”

) file, a Moving Pictures Experts Group layer 3 (“

MP3”

), or a Real Audio file; and

an audio media file in the second format comprises a pulse code modulated (“

PCM”

) file or a Moving Pictures Experts Group layer 3 (“

MP3”

) file.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the digital media files comprise audio media files, video media files, or image media files stored on the source device;

the playback device is configured to playback video media files; and

aggregating the list of digital media files comprises aggregating a list of only video media files stored on the source device.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein:

a video media file in the first format comprises a Moving Pictures Experts Group layer 4 (“

MPEG-4”

) file, a Moving Joint Photographic Experts Group (“

MJPEG”

) file, a Quicktime file, a Microsoft Windows Media Video (“

WMV”

) file, or a Real Video file; and

a video media file in the second format comprises a Moving Pictures Experts Group layer 2 (“

MPEG-2”

) file.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the digital media files comprise audio media files, video media files, or image media files stored on the source device;

the playback device is configured to playback image media files; and

aggregating the list of digital media files comprises aggregating a list of only image media files stored on the source device.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

after sending the first request to the source device, transmitting through the network the first digital media file from the source device to the transcoder device; and

after sending the second request to the transcoder device, transmitting through the network the first digital media file in the first format from the transcoder device to the playback device for playback.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the networked media system further comprises a plurality of source devices configured to store digital media files in the plurality of formats and aggregating the list of digital media files comprises aggregating a list of digital media files stored on the plurality of source devices, the method further comprising:

determining which of the plurality of source devices stores the first digital media file.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the content service supported by the source device further allows other network devices to extract information to identify digital media files on the source device.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

prior to sending the first request to the source device, receiving, at the playback device, a user request to play the first digital media file.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting through the network the first digital media file in the first format from the transcoder device to the source device for storage.

17. A networked media system for managing media, the networked media system comprising:

a source device configured for storing digital media files in a plurality of formats;

a transcoder device configured for converting digital media files;

a playback device configured for;

playing back digital media files in a first of the plurality of formats;

receiving, from the source device, source-device state information specifying a first network protocol and a content service supported by the source device, the content service for providing other network devices access to digital media files stored on the source device;

receiving, from the transcoder device, transcoder-device state information specifying a second network protocol and a conversion service supported by the transcoder device, the conversion service for converting digital media files, the first and second network protocols being different network protocols;

determining whether the conversion service of the transcoder device converts digital media files in at least one of the plurality of formats to the first format;

in response to a determination that the conversion service of the transcoder device converts digital media files in at least one of the plurality of formats to the first format, aggregating a list of digital media files stored on the source device, wherein the aggregated list includes only digital media files that can be provided to the playback device in the first format;

sending, to the source device, a first request invoking the content service on the source device for accessing a first digital media file included in the list of digital media files, the first digital media file being stored on the source device, the first request being translated to the first network protocol;

sending, to the transcoder device, a second request invoking the conversion service on the transcoder device for converting the first digital media file to the first format, the second request being translated to the second network protocol; and

playing back at the playback device, the first digital media file converted to the first format; and

a network coupling the source device, transcoder device, and playback device which comprise separate network devices.

18. The networked media system of claim 17, wherein:

the source device is further configured for;

sending the source-device state information through the network to the playback device, the source-device state information further specifying a plurality of services supported by the source device; and

exposing each service specified by the source-device state information to the other network devices; and

the playback device is further configured for;

requesting an exposed service of the source device using the first network protocol specified in the source-device state information.

19. The networked media system of claim 17, wherein:

the transcoder device is further configured for;

sending the transcoder-device state information through the network to the playback device, the transcoder-device state information further specifying a plurality of services supported by the transcoder device; and

exposing each service specified in the transcoder-device state information to the other network devices; and

the playback device is further configured for;

requesting an exposed service of the transcoder device using the second network protocol specified in the trans coder-device state information.

20. The networked media system of claim 17, wherein:

the playback device is further configured for;

upon being coupled to the network, sending playback-device state information to the source device and the transcoder device through the network, the playback-device state information specifying at least one network protocol and at least one service supported by the playback device; and

exposing, at the playback device, each service specified in the playback-device state information to the other network devices; and

the source device and transcoder device are further configured for;

requesting an exposed service of the playback device using a network protocol specified in the playback-device state information.

21. The networked media system of claim 17, wherein:

the networked media system utilizes a peer-to-peer architecture so that network devices directly communicate with each other through the network using network protocols specified in the state information for each network device; and

requests sent to a network device is translated to the network protocol specified in the state information for the network device.

22. The networked media system of claim 17, wherein:

the transcoder-device state information further specifies a plurality of conversion services supported by the transcoder device, each conversion service for converting different formats of digital media files; and

the playback device is further configured for determining, using the transcoder-device state information, which of the plurality of formats of digital media files stored at the source device comprise formats that are convertible to the first format, wherein aggregating the list of digital media files comprises aggregating a list of digital media files stored on the source device that are convertible to the first format.

23. The networked media system of claim 17, wherein:

the digital media files comprise audio media files, video media files, or image media files stored on the source device;

the playback device is configured for playback of audio media files; and

aggregating the list of digital media files comprises aggregating a list of only audio media files stored on the source device.

24. The networked media system of claim 23, wherein:

an audio media file in the first format comprises a Microsoft Windows Media Audio (“

WMA”

) file, a Moving Pictures Experts Group layer 3 (“

MP3”

), or a Real Audio file; and

an audio media file in the second format comprises a pulse code modulated (“

PCM”

) file or a Moving Pictures Experts Group layer 3 (“

MP3”

) file.

25. The networked media system of claim 17, wherein:

the digital media files comprise audio media files, video media files, or image media files stored on the source device;

the playback device is configured for playback of video media files; and

aggregating the list of digital media files comprises aggregating a list of only video media files stored on the source device.

26. The networked media system of claim 25, wherein:

a video media file in the first format comprises a Moving Pictures Experts Group layer 4 (“

MPEG-4”

) file, a Moving Joint Photographic Experts Group (“

MJPEG”

) file, a Quicktime file, a Microsoft Windows Media Video (“

WMV”

) file, or a Real Video file; and

a video media file in the second format comprises a Moving Pictures Experts Group layer 2 (“

MPEG-2”

) file.

27. The networked media system of claim 17, wherein:

the digital media files comprise audio media files, video media files, or image media files stored on the source device;

the playback device is configured for playback of image media files; and

aggregating the list of digital media files comprises aggregating a list of only image media files stored on the source device.

28. The networked media system of claim 17, wherein:

the source device is further configured for transmitting through the network the first digital media file to the transcoder device; and

the transcoder device is further configured for transmitting through the network the first digital media file in the first format to the playback device for playback.

29. The networked media system of claim 17, further comprising:

a plurality of source devices configured for storing digital media files, wherein aggregating the list of digital media files comprises aggregating a list of digital media files stored on the plurality of source devices, and the playback device is further configured for determining which of the plurality of source devices stores the first digital media file.

30. The networked media system of claim 17, wherein the content service supported by the source device further allows other network devices to extract information to identify digital media files on the source device.

31. The networked media system of claim 17, wherein the playback device is further configured for receiving a user request to play the first digital media file.

32. The networked media system of claim 17 wherein the transcoder device is further configured for transmitting through the network the first digital media file in the first format to the source device for storage.

33. A method for managing media in a networked media system comprising a source device, at least one playback device, and a transcoder device, the method comprising:

receiving, at the playback device, source-device state information from the source device, the source-device state information specifying a first network protocol and a content service supported by the source device configured to store digital media files in a plurality of formats, the content service configured to provide other network devices access to digital media files stored on the source device, the playback device configured to playback digital media files in a first of the plurality of formats;

receiving, at the playback device, transcoder-device state information from the transcoder device, the transcoder-device state information specifying a second network protocol and a conversion service supported by the transcoder device, the conversion service for conversion of digital media files, the first and second network protocols being different network protocols;

determining whether the conversion service of the transcoder device converts digital media files in at least one of the plurality of formats to the first format;

in response to a determination that the conversion service of the transcoder device converts digital media files in at least one of the plurality of formats to the first format, aggregating, at the playback device, a list of the digital media files stored on the source device, wherein the aggregated list includes only digital media files that can be provided to the playback device in the first format;

playing back, at the playback device, one of the digital media files converted by the transcoder to the first format.