Methods, systems, and storage mediums for providing multi-viewpoint media sharing of proximity-centric content

• US 8,171,516 B2
• Filed: 02/24/2004
• Issued: 05/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Tischer, Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): SHEPARD, JUSTIN E
• Application Number:
  US10/785,914
• Publication Number:
  US 20050188399A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,989 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 725/62
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/21805 enabling multiple viewpoints, e.g. using a plurality of cameras
• 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 21/41407 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 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• 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 21/4788 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 7/16 Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments of the invention relate to methods, systems, and storage mediums for providing multi-viewpoint, media-sharing activities related to proximity-centric media content associated with an event whereby the media-sharing activities are performed via portable communications devices. The method includes identifying an alternate feed of media content by a first portable communications device that was captured by a second portable communications device at the event. The method also includes performing real-time auditioning of the media content by the first portable communications device for assessing a vantage point of the media content with respect to the event. The method further includes receiving the alternate feed of media content at the first portable communications device in response to a request transmitted by the first portable communications device. The first portable communications device and the second portable communications device are in geographic propinquity of the event.

Claims

1. A method for providing multi-viewpoint media-sharing activities, comprising:

identifying an alternate feed of media content by a first portable communications device that is operated by a first user, the alternate feed of media content captured by a second portable communications device that is operated by a second user at an event;

performing real-time auditioning of the media content by the first portable communications device operable for assessing a vantage point of the media content with respect to the event, the real-time auditioning including viewing the alternate feed of media content captured by the second portable communications device at the first portable communications device to allow the first user to evaluate the alternate feed of media content; and

receiving the alternate feed of media content at the first portable communications device in response to a request transmitted by the first portable communications device;

wherein the first portable communications device and the second portable communications device are in geographic propinquity of the event; and

wherein the performing real-time auditioning of the media content includes;

receiving via transmission the alternate feed of media content; and

evaluating desirability of the alternate feed of media content for a limited time before making a determination whether to accept the alternate feed of media content;

wherein the alternate feed of media content includes an exit route directing the first portable communications device away from the event.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting the media content received by the first portable communications device via the alternate feed to a remote communications device, the first portable communications device in communication with the remote communications device over a long-distance communication network.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the remote communications device includes a portable telephone.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the alternate feed of media content comprises

a video stream.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the alternate feed of media content comprises

physical coordinates.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the remote communications device comprises an information generation component that performs measurements,

the information-generation component comprising

a global positioning system operable for identifying and transmitting physical coordinates of the remote communications device;

wherein the measurements are transmittable by the remote communications device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first portable communications devices comprises

a cellular telephone.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the first portable communications devices includes an information-generation component that performs measurements,

the information-generation component comprising

a global positioning system operable for identifying and transmitting physical coordinates of the first portable communications device;

wherein the measurements are transmittable by the first portable communications device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifying an alternate feed of media content is accomplished via a sensor, the sensor transmitting a broadcast signal via a peer-to-peer network operable for enabling the first portable communications device to discover it.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifying an alternate feed of media content is accomplished by a telecommunications system that identifies portable communications devices that are proximally close and providing contact information to the portable communications devices.

11. A non-transitory storage medium encoded with machine-readable computer program code for providing multi-viewpoint media-sharing activities, the storage medium including instructions for causing the portable communication device to implement a method comprising:

identifying an alternate feed of media content by a first portable communications device that is operated by a first user, the alternate feed of media content captured by a second portable communications device that is operated by a second user at an event;

performing real-time auditioning of the media content by the first portable communications device operable for assessing vantage point of the media content with respect to the event, the real-time auditioning including viewing the alternate feed of media content captured by the second portable communications device at the first portable communications device to allow the first user to evaluate the alternate feed of media content; and

receiving the alternate feed of media content at the first portable communications device in response to a request transmitted by the first portable communications device;

wherein the first portable communications device and the second portable communications device are in geographic propinquity of the event; and

wherein the performing real-time auditioning of the media content includes;

receiving via transmission the alternate feed of media content; and

evaluating desirability of the alternate feed of media content for a limited time before making a determination whether to accept the alternate feed of media content;

wherein the alternate feed of media content includes an exit route directing the first portable communications device away from the event.

12. The storage medium of claim 11, further comprising instructions for causing the first portable communications device to implement:

transmitting the media content received by the first portable communications device via the alternate feed to a remote communications device.

13. The storage medium of claim 12 wherein the remote communications device includes

a portable telephone.

14. The storage medium of claim 13, wherein the alternate feed of media content comprises

a video stream.

15. The storage medium of claim 13, wherein the alternate feed of media content comprises

physical coordinates.

16. The storage medium of claim 12, wherein the remote communications device comprises an information generation component that performs measurements,

the information-generation component comprising

a global positioning system operable for identifying and transmitting physical coordinates of the remote communications device;

wherein the measurements are transmittable by the remote communications device.

17. The storage medium of claim 11, wherein the first portable communications devices comprises:

a cellular telephone.

18. The storage medium of claim 17, wherein the first portable communications devices include an information-generation component that performs measurements, the

information-generation component comprising

a global positioning system operable for identifying and transmitting physical coordinates of the first portable communications device;

wherein the measurements are transmittable by the first portable communications device.

19. The storage medium of claim 11, wherein the identifying an alternate feed of media content is accomplished via a sensor, the sensor transmitting a broadcast signal via a peer-to-peer network operable for enabling the first portable communications device to discover it.

20. The storage medium of claim 11, wherein the identifying an alternate feed of media content is accomplished by a telecommunications system that identifies portable communications devices that are proximally close and providing contact information to the portable communications devices.

21. A system for providing multi-viewpoint media-sharing activities, comprising:

a first portable communications device operated by a first user;

a second portable communications device in geographic propinquity of the first portable communications device, the second portable communications device operated by a second user; and

a multi-viewpoint media access system executing on the first portable communications device and the second portable communications device;

wherein the multi-viewpoint media access system performs;

identifying an alternate feed of media content, the alternate feed of media content originating from the second portable communications device at an event;

receiving a request to perform real-time auditioning of the media content by the first portable communications device operable for assessing a vantage point of the media content with respect to the event, the real-time auditioning including viewing the alternate feed of media content captured by the second portable communications device at the first portable communications device to allow the first user to evaluate the alternate feed of media content; and

upon selecting the alternate feed of media content by the first portable communications device, receiving via transmission the alternate feed at the first portable communications device;

wherein the performing real-time auditioning of the media content includes

evaluating desirability of the alternate feed of media content for a limited time before making a determination whether to accept the alternate feed of media content;

wherein the alternate feed of media content includes an exit route directing the first portable communications device away from the event.

22. The system of claim 21, further comprising an information-generation component residing on the first portable communications device, the information-generation component performing measurements and including

a global positioning system operable for identifying and transmitting physical coordinates of the first portable communications device;

wherein the measurements are transmittable by the first portable communications device.