Method and apparatus for internet protocol television media content sharing

• US 8,402,496 B1
• Filed: 12/19/2005
• Issued: 03/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gilboy, Christopher P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shepard, Justin
• Assistant Examiner(s): NEWLIN, TIMOTHY R
• Application Number:
  US11/311,461
• Time in Patent Office: 2,647 Days
• Field of Search: 709/231, 709/2, 725/51, 725/112, 725/153, 725/86, 725/90, 725 95-104
• US Class Current: 725/95
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2187 Live feed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2385 Channel allocation H04N21/266 takes precedence; Bandwidth allocation H04N21/24 takes precedence ; allocation of channels according to the instantaneous demands of the users in time-division multiplex systems H04J3/1682; admission control, resource allocation in open networks H04L12/5692; arrangements for maintenance or administration in data switching networks involving bandwidth and capacity management H04L41/0896; negotiating bandwidth in wireless networks H04W28/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/262 Content or additional data distribution scheduling, e.g. sending additional data at off-peak times, updating software modules, calculating the carousel transmission frequency, delaying a video stream transmission, generating play-lists scheduling strategies for dispatcher in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/4881; arrangements for scheduling broadcast services or broadcast-related services H04H60/06; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10; establishing a time schedule or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/62
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26258 for generating a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlist, or scheduling item distribution according to such list retrieval of multimedia data based on playlists G06F16/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/266 Channel or content management, e.g. generation and management of keys and entitlement messages in a conditional access system, merging a VOD unicast channel into a multicast channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2668 Creating a channel for a dedicated end-user group, e.g. insertion of targeted commercials based on end-user profiles information retrieval from the Internet by querying with filtering and personalisation G06F16/9535; arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast H04H20/10; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; adaptation of message content in packet-switching networks H04L51/063
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2743 Video hosting of uploaded data from client
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/437 Interfacing the upstream path of the transmission network, e.g. for transmitting client requests to a VOD server flow control in data networks H04L47/10; streaming protocols, e.g. RTP or RTCP, H04L65/65; scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests in data packet switching networks H04L67/60
• 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 21/4753 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 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6175 involving transmission via Internet broadcast-related systems characterised by the transmission system being the Internet H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64322 IP

Abstract

A method and apparatus for enabling IP service subscribers to share media contents with other IP service subscribers or Internet users in either a secured or open fashion are disclosed. In one embodiment, the present invention enables the sharing of home movies, pictures, and other media contents, where media could be stored media or media created in real-time. Namely, the present method allows IP service subscribers to effectively create their own TV station, e.g., complete with stored or live content programming and content scheduling. In turn, the method allows a viewing subscriber to select and view a shared media program created by another subscriber.

Claims

1. A method for accessing media content from a communication network, comprising:

selecting, via a processor, a media content programming created by a first subscriber of the communication network, wherein the selecting of the media content programming is performed in response to a first input by a second subscriber of the communication network;

selecting, via the processor, a channel number for receiving the media content programming, wherein the selecting of the channel number is performed in response to a second input by the second subscriber, wherein the channel number corresponds to an unused television channel that is available to be assigned to carry a program signal comprising media content; and

receiving, by the processor, the media content programming from the communication network via the unused television channel, wherein the media content programming is broadcast on the unused television channel by the communication network in response to the channel number that is selected.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication network comprises an internet protocol network.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the media content programming comprises live media content that is captured by a video camera.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the media content programming comprises a sequence of the live media content.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the media content programming is scheduled by the first subscriber in accordance with a time.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving of the media content programming requires a password if the password is configured by the first subscriber.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the media content programming is publicized by the first subscriber via a shared media content programming guide residing in the communication network.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the media content programming is received from the communication network via a set top box comprising the processor.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein a source of the media content programming is determined by the second subscriber and an address associated with the media content programming is provided to the communication network.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the address comprises an email address.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable medium to store instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations for accessing media from a communication network, the operations comprising:

selecting a media content programming created by a first subscriber of the communication network, wherein the selecting of the media content programming is performed in response to a first input by a second subscriber of the communication network;

selecting a channel number for receiving the media content programming, wherein the selecting of the channel number is performed in response to a second input by the second subscriber, wherein the channel number corresponds to an unused television channel that is available to be assigned to carry a program signal comprising media content; and

receiving the media content programming from the communication network via the unused television channel, wherein the media content programming is broadcast on the unused television channel by the communication network in response to the channel number that is selected.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the communication network comprises an Internet protocol network.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the media content programming comprises:

live media content that is captured by a video camera.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the media content programming comprises a sequence of the live media content.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the media content programming is scheduled by the first subscriber in accordance with a time.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the receiving of the media content programming requires a password if the password is configured by the first subscriber.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the media content programming is publicized by the first subscriber via a shared media content programming guide residing in the communication network.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the media content programming is received from the communication network via a set top box comprising the processor.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein a source of the media content programming is determined by the second subscriber and an address associated with the media content programming is provided to the communication network.

20. An apparatus for accessing media content from a communication network, comprising:

a processor; and

a computer-readable medium in communication with the processor, the computer readable medium to store instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising;

selecting a media content programming created by a first subscriber of the communication network, wherein the selecting of the media content programming is performed in response to a first input by a second subscriber of the communication network;

selecting a channel number for receiving the media content programming, wherein the selecting of the channel number is performed in response to a second input by the second subscriber, wherein the channel number corresponds to an unused television channel that is available to be assigned to carry a program signal comprising media content; and

receiving the media content programming from the communication network via the unused television channel, wherein the media content programming is broadcast on the unused television channel by the communication network in response to the channel number that is selected.