System and method for home audio and video communication

• US 8,392,947 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2006
• Issued: 03/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sbc Knowledge Ventures, L.P.
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Grannan, Michael F., Martaus, Cecilia M., Noll, Roland, McCarthy, Mary Catherine
• Primary Examiner(s): HUYNH, AN SON PHI
• Application Number:
  US11/479,070
• Publication Number:
  US 20080022322A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,440 Days
• Field of Search: 725/39, 725/78, 725/133, 725/141, 725/153, 725/41, 725/43, 725/48, 725/59
• US Class Current: 725/50
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4108 characterised by an identification number or address, e.g. local network address protecting specific internal or external computer components using identification number G06F21/73; network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming H04L61/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42203 sound input device, e.g. microphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• 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 21/4363 Adapting the video stream to a specific local network, e.g. a Bluetooth® network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/443 OS processes, e.g. booting an STB, implementing a Java virtual machine in an STB or power management in an STB
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64322 IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/186 Video door telephones

Abstract

A method for near real time data communication is disclosed. The method includes discovering a first device associated with a first location, determining available data from the first discovered device, and inserting a listing for the first discovered device into an electronic program guide (EPG). A data structure in memory is disclosed that includes a device identifier field for containing data indicating an identifier for a discovered device, a name field for containing data indicating a name associated with the discovered device, a receiver available field for containing data indicating a data receiver is available for the discovered device location, an electronic program guide (EPG) field for containing data indicating an EPG and an EPG2 field for inserting listings for discovered device data into the EPG for display to a user at an STB. A system is disclosed for near real time data communication is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A computerized method for data communication comprising:

discovering at a first end user device, a plurality of discovered devices associated with a plurality of locations wherein the first end user device and the plurality of discovered devices are on a single residential network within a single residence;

creating a separate channel for each of the plurality of discovered devices on the residential network;

determining whether there is live motion video data and whether there is live audio data available from each of the plurality of discovered devices;

in response to live motion video data being available for a first discovered device, creating and inserting a separate channel number for the first discovered device into the electronic program guide data for the live motion video data from the first discovered device and an indicator for a video stream from the first discovered device and the live motion video data from the first discovered device into the electronic program guide data, dynamically configuring and displaying a pull down menu from a display field of the separate channel number for the first discovered device in an electronic program guide screen, indicating that the first discovered device has live motion video data available, establishing a two-way video connection between the first discovered device and the first end user device; and

in response to audio data being available, inserting the separate channel number into the electronic program guide data for the first discovered device and an indicator for an audio stream from the first discovered device and the live audio data from the first discovered device, dynamically configuring and displaying a pull down menu from the display field of the separate channel number for the discovered device in the electronic program guide screen, indicating that the first discovered device has live audio data available establishing a two-way audio connection between the first discovered device and the first end user device;

providing over the separate channel for a selected device, a data stream consisting of video data only, audio data only and video data and audio data;

creating a live video data channel for the live motion video data;

simultaneously displaying on the electronic program guide screen a plural channel numbers for broadcast channels from external networks, the separate channel number and the indicator for each of the plurality of discovered devices, the live motion video data from the first discovered device and the full down menu from the display field of the separate channel number for the first discovered device; and

sending the live motion video data to a video head end for distribution to a plurality of end user devices.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first end user device and a plurality of end user devices further comprise a plurality of set top boxes configured to receive internet protocol video data from a super video head end, the method further comprising:

creating on the single residential network, a live video data channel in the electronic program guide data for the live motion video data; and

creating on the single residential network, a live audio data channel in the electronic program guide data for the live audio data.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first end user device further comprises a set top box, the method further comprising:

receiving from the set top box of the first end user device over the single residential network, the electronic program guide data at a first television connected to the set top box;

communicating with the set top box of the first end user device, using a radio frequency remote control signal from a second television remote control to select data from the electronic program guide screen displayed on the first television to select an internet protocol stream to receive at a second television wherein the internet protocol video stream received at a second television is different than an internet protocol video stream received at the first television.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

sending the live motion video data to a second discovered device at a first location associated with the second discovered device.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

establishing 2-way video data communication between a second discovered device and a third discovered device at a user location.

6. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

processing the available live motion video data at a second discovered device wherein processing is selected from the group consisting of recording, displaying and reproducing on a video display.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying a name associated with the first discovered device, wherein the name is selected from the group consisting of a user and a location.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying a plurality of live video screen displays, each of the plurality of video screen displays associated with one of the plurality of discovered devices;

receiving a user selection indicating one of the plurality of live video screen displays; and

establishing data communication with a location associated with the one discovered device associated with the selected screen display.

9. A non-transitory computer readable medium, containing a computer program comprising instructions that being executed by a computer perform a method for data communication, the computer program comprising:

instructions to send a message from a first end user device to at least one of a plurality of devices;

instructions to discover at the first end user device a plurality of discovered devices associated with a plurality of locations wherein the first end user device and the plurality of discovered devices are on a single residential network within a single residence;

instructions to create a separate channel number for each of the plurality of discovered devices;

instructions to determine whether there is live motion video data available from each of the plurality of discovered devices;

in response to live motion video data being available for a first discovered device, instructions to create and insert the separate channel number for the first discovered device into electronic program guide data for the live motion video data from the first discovered device and an indicator for a video stream from the first discovered device and the live motion video data from the first discovered device into the electronic program guide data, instructions to dynamically configure and display a pull down menu from a display field of the separate channel number for the first discovered device in an electronic program guide screen, instructions to indicate that the first discovered device has live motion video data available, instructions to establish a two-way video connection between the first discovered device and the first end user device; and

in response to live audio data being available, instructions to insert the separate channel number for the discovered device audio stream into the electronic program guide data and a listing for available live audio data from the discovered device and an indicator for an audio stream from the discovered device and the live audio data from the discovered device; and

instructions to adaptively display a pull down menu for the discovered device listed in the electronic program guide from the display field of the separate channel number for the discovered device, wherein attributes for the discovered device are adaptively displayed in the pull down menu to indicate for each discovered device listed in the electronic program guide provides a stream selected from the group consisting of video data only, audio data only and video data and audio data;

instructions to create a live video data channel for the live motion video data;

instructions to simultaneously display on the electronic program guide screen a plurality channel numbers for broadcast channels from external networks, the separate channel number and the indicator for each of the plurality of discovered devices, the live motion video data from the first discovered device and the full down menu from the display field of the separate channel number for the first discovered device; and

instructions to send the live video data to a video head end for distribution to a plurality of end user devices.

10. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9, wherein the live motion video data comprises near real time data, the computer program further comprising instructions to create a live video data channel for the live motion video data and instructions to send the live motion video data to a video head end for distribution to a plurality of end user devices.

11. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9, the computer program further comprising:

instructions to accept an end user selection from data presented on the electronic program guide screen of a second discovered device from which to receive the live video data from the second discovered device.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11, the computer program further comprising:

instructions to send the live motion video data to a second discovered device at the first location associated with the first discovered device.

13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11, the computer program further comprising:

instructions to establish 2-way video data communication between the second discovered device and a third discovered device at a user location.

14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9, the computer program further comprising:

instructions to display a name associated with the first discovered device, wherein the name is one selected from a group consisting of a user and a location.

15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9, the computer program further comprising:

instructions to display a plurality of screen displays, wherein each of the plurality of screen displays are associated with one of a plurality of discovered devices;

instructions to receive user selection data indicating one of the screen displays; and

instructions to establish video data communication with the one of the plurality of discovered devices associated with the selected screen display.

16. A system for near real time data communication comprising:

a processor in data communication with a non-transitory computer readable medium; and

a computer program comprising data embedded in the non-transitory computer readable medium executed by the processor, the computer program comprising

instructions to discover at a first end user device a plurality of discovered devices associated with a plurality of locations wherein the first end user device and the plurality of discovered devices are on a single residential network within a single residence;

instructions to create a separate channel for each of the plurality of discovered devices;

instructions to determine whether there is live motion video data available and instructions to determine whether live audio data is available from each of the discovered devices;

in response to live video data being available for a first discovered device, instructions to create and insert a separate channel number into electronic program guide data for available live motion video data from the first discovered device into the electronic program guide data, instructions to create and insert an indicator for a video stream from the first discovered device and the live motion video data from the first discovered device into the electronic program guide data, dynamically configuring and displaying a pull down menu from a display of the separate channel number for the first discovered device in an electronic program guide screen, indicating that the first discovered device has live motion video data available, establishing a two-way video connection between the first discovered device and the first end user device; and

in response to live audio data being available, instructions to insert a separate channel number into the electronic program guide data for available live audio data from the first discovered device;

instructions to adaptively display a pull down menu for the first discovered device from a display field of the separate channel number for the first discovered device listed in the electronic program guide screen, wherein attributes for the discovered device are adaptively displayed in the pull down menu to indicate for each discovered device listed in the electronic program guide screen provides a stream selected from the group consisting of video data only, audio data only and video data and audio data;

instructions to create a live video data channel for the live video data; and

creating a live video data channel for the live video data;

instructions to simultaneously display on the electronic program guide screen a plurality channel numbers for broadcast channels from external networks, the separate channel number and the indicator for each of the plurality of discovered devices, the live motion video data from the first discovered device and the full down menu from the display field of the separate channel number for the first discovered device; and

sending the live motion video data to a video head end for distribution to a plurality of end user devices; and

instructions to send the live motion video data to a video head end for distribution to a plurality of end user devices.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the live motion video data comprises near real time data selected from the group consisting of audio data and video data.

18. The system of claim 16, the computer program further comprising:

instructions to accept an end user device selection of the first discovered device from the electronic program guide screen from which to receive the live motion video data.

19. The system of claim 18, the computer program further comprising:

instructions to send the live motion video data to a second discovered device at the first location.

20. The system of claim 16, the computer program further comprising:

instructions to display a name associated with the first discovered device, wherein the name is selected from a group consisting of a user and a location.

21. The system of claim 16, the computer program further comprising:

instructions to establish 2-way live motion video data communication between a second discovered device associated with the first location and a third discovered device at a user location.

22. The system of claim 16, the computer program further comprising:

instructions to display a plurality of video screen displays, wherein each of the plurality of video screen displays is associated with one of a plurality of discovered devices, instructions to receive a user selection indicating one of the plurality of video screen displays and instructions to establish video data communication with a second device at a location for the discovered device associated with the selected screen display.