Virtual Aggregation Processor for incorporating reverse path feedback into content delivered on a forward path

• US 8,307,035 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2007
• Issued: 11/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lava Two, LLC.
• Original Assignee: Lava Two, LLC.
• Inventors: McKenna, Daniel Bernard, Graziano, James Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): BILGRAMI, ASGHAR H
• Application Number:
  US12/675,376
• Publication Number:
  US 20110066747A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,894 Days
• Field of Search: 709/205
• US Class Current: 709/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/611 for multicast or broadcast systems for broadcast or conference H04L12/18; arrangements for broadcast or distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/00; arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time H04H60/00; selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS], H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/765 intermediate
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/252 Processing of multiple end-users' preferences to derive collaborative data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25808 Management of client data terminal profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/303
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42202 environmental sensors, e.g. for detecting temperature, luminosity, pressure, earthquakes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/475 End-user interface for inputting end-user data, e.g. personal identification number [PIN], preference data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6112 involving terrestrial transmission, e.g. DVB-T
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6162 involving terrestrial transmission, e.g. DVB-T
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6405 Multicasting data broadcast and multicast in packet switching networks H04L12/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6547 comprising parameters, e.g. for client setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/854 Content authoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17327 with deferred transmission or handling of upstream communications

Abstract

The Virtual Aggregation Processor enables end user devices to share a common wireless forward path of a multicast communication architecture in which the forward path delivered content is dynamically changed or modified based on a real-time, near-real-time, or delay-time basis via aggregated reverse path feedback from at least one of a plurality of end user devices. The Virtual Aggregation Processor periodically or continuously aggregates the feedback input received via the reverse path (having wired and/or wireless connectivity), modifies the forward path multi-media content, and delivers this dynamically modified multi-media content to the then connected population of end user devices via a wireless forward path multicast in a repetitive closed loop fashion.

Claims

1. A virtual aggregation processor system, comprising:

a content integrator for receiving multi-media content from at least one multi-media content source;

a unidirectional wireless forward broadcast path, connected to and shared by a plurality of wireless end user devices, for concurrently transmitting multi-media content from the content integrator to the plurality of wireless end user devices;

a plurality of wireless private reverse communication paths, each separate from the unidirectional wireless forward broadcast path and unique to each of the plurality of wireless end user devices, for transmitting end user content modification data from each of the plurality of wireless end user devices;

a virtual feedback aggregator for collecting content modification data received over the plurality of wireless private reverse communication paths from the plurality of wireless end user devices;

a content processor assimilating the collected content modification data; and

wherein the content integrator is connected to the content processor and dynamically modifies the multi-media content based on the assimilated aggregated content modification data received from the plurality of wireless end user devices.

2. The virtual aggregation processor system of claim 1 wherein said content processor associates the content modification data received from the wireless end user devices with a corresponding multi-media content.

3. The virtual aggregation processor system of claim 2 wherein the multi-media content comprises a series of frames that are delivered in sequence, and the content processor further comprises:

a timing process for defining a time period for use by the content processor during which time period the content modification data is associated with a present frame in the series of frames.

4. The virtual aggregation processor system of claim 3 wherein the content processor further comprises:

an accumulated data processor for processing the accumulated content modification data to a composite content revision for a multi-media content.

5. The virtual aggregation processor system of claim 4 wherein the content integrator further comprises:

at least one integration application, responsive to receipt of the accumulated content modification data, for revising the multi-media content to produce a revised multi-media content.

6. A method of operating a virtual aggregation processor system, comprising:

receiving multi-media content from at least one multi-media content source;

wirelessly transmitting multi-media content over a unidirectional wireless forward broadcast path, connected to and shared by a plurality of wireless end user devices, concurrently to a plurality of wireless end user devices;

transmitting end user content modification data from each of the plurality of wireless end user devices over a plurality of wireless private reverse communication paths, each separate from the unidirectional wireless forward broadcast path and unique to each of the plurality of wireless end user devices;

collecting content modification data received over the plurality of wireless private reverse communication paths from the plurality of wireless end user devices;

assimilating the collected content modification data; and

dynamically modifying the multi-media content based on the assimilated aggregated content modification data received from selected wireless end user devices.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said step of modifying comprises:

revising, in response to receipt of the accumulated content modification data, the multi-media content to produce a revised multi-media content.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the multi-media content comprises a series of frames that are delivered in sequence, and the step of assimilating comprises:

defining a time period for use by the content processor during which time period the content modification data is associated with a present frame in the series of frames.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the step of assimilating comprises:

processing the accumulated content modification data to a composite content revision for a multi-media content.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of modifying comprises:

revising, in response to receipt of accumulated content modification data, the multi-media content to produce a revised multi-media content.