Server architecture supporting a personal media exchange network

• US 8,495,180 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2003
• Issued: 07/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Karaoguz, Jeyhan, Bennett, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Pollack, Melvin H
• Application Number:
  US10/675,443
• Publication Number:
  US 20040117834A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,584 Days
• Field of Search: 709/218, 709/220, 709225-229, 709/231, 709/237, 709/249, 725/60, 725/64, 725/91, 725/100, 725/103, 725/110, 725/111, 725/114, 726/30, 713/156, 713/175, 370/389, 370/392, 370/395.2, 370/395.3, 370/401
• US Class Current: 709/220
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/385 for adaptation of a particular data processing system to different peripheral devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 2201/70 characterised in that receivers can be addressed
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2807 Exchanging configuration information on appliance services in a home automation network arrangements for maintenance or administration involving network analysis for automatically determining the actual topology of a network H04L41/12; hardware or software tools for network management using graphical user interfaces H04L41/22; address allocation H04L61/50
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/282 based on user interaction within the home receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/283 Processing of data at an internetworking point of a home automation network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2845 Telephone line
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/61 for supporting one-way streaming services, e.g. Internet radio
• 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 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/104 Peer-to-peer [P2P] networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/62 Establishing a time schedule for servicing the requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/63 Routing a service request depending on the request content or context
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2343 involving reformatting operations of video signals for distribution or compliance with end-user requests or end-user device requirements video transcoding H04N19/40; media packet handling at the source H04L65/762
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234363 by altering the spatial resolution, e.g. for clients with a lower screen resolution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2408 Monitoring of the upstream path of the transmission network, e.g. client requests monitoring data switching networks utilization H04L43/0876; scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/254 Management at additional data server, e.g. shopping server, rights management server arrangements for maintenance or administration in data networks H04L41/00; network services using third party service providers H04L67/53
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2541 : Rights Management protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10; security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2543 : Billing , e.g. for subscription services payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; e-commerce G06Q30/00; arrangements for billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/21
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25435 : involving characteristics of content or additional data, e.g. video resolution or the amount of advertising
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/258 : Client or end-user data management, e.g. managing client capabilities, user preferences or demographics, processing of multiple end-users preferences to derive collaborative data arrangements for services using the result on the distributing side of broadcast systems H04H60/66; profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25808 : Management of client data terminal profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/303
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25833 : involving client hardware characteristics, e.g. manufacturer, processing or storage capabilities allocation of resources considering hardware capabilities in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/5044; allocation of resources considering software capabilities in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/5055
• 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 21/25891 : being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26266 : for determining content or additional data repetition rate, e.g. of a file in a DVB carousel according to its importance arrangements for broadcast or for distribution of identical information repeatedly in broadcast distribution systems H04H20/16
• 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 21/2747 : Remote storage of video programs received via the downstream path, e.g. from the server
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 : having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41422 : located in transportation means, e.g. personal vehicle arrangements specially adapted for transportation systems in broadcast systems H04H20/62
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4143 : embedded in a Personal Computer [PC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 : Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4227 : Providing Remote input by a user located remotely from the client device, e.g. at work
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42684 : Client identification by a unique number or address, e.g. serial number, MAC address, socket ID network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming H04L61/00
• 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 21/4331 : Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 : Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• 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 21/43632 : involving a wired protocol, e.g. IEEE 1394 high-speed IEEE 1394 serial bus H04L12/40052
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 : involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/442 : Monitoring of processes or resources, e.g. detecting the failure of a recording device, monitoring the downstream bandwidth, the number of times a movie has been viewed, the storage space available from the internal hard disk arrangements for monitoring broadcast services or broadcast-related services H04H60/29; arrangements for identifying or recognising characteristics with a direct linkage to broadcast information H04H60/35; monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; monitoring in wireless networks H04W24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44222 : Analytics of user selections, e.g. selection of programs or purchase activity monitoring of user selections in data processing systems G06F11/34; arrangements for monitoring the user's behaviour or opinions in broadcast systems H04H60/33
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 : involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/458 : Scheduling content for creating a personalised stream, e.g. by combining a locally stored advertisement with an incoming stream; Updating operations, e.g. for OS modules ; time-related management operations arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast or during the distribution H04H20/10
• 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 21/4627 : Rights management associated to the content security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4668 : for recommending content, e.g. movies
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 : for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47214 : for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• 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 21/4755 : for defining user preferences, e.g. favourite actors or genre retrieval personalisation and generation of user profiles for the retrieval of video data G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 : Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4786 : e-mailing message switching systems, e.g. electronic mail systems H04L51/00
• 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 21/482 : End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4821 : using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4826 : using recommendation lists, e.g. of programs or channels sorted out according to their score
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4828 : for searching program descriptors retrieval of video data G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4882 : for displaying messages, e.g. warnings, reminders arrangements for providing short real-time information to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 : involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6187 : involving transmission via a telephone network, e.g. POTS
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/632 : using a connection between clients on a wide area network, e.g. setting up a peer-to-peer communication via Internet for retrieving video segments from the hard-disk of other client devices broadcast-related systems characterised by transmission among terminal devices H04H60/80; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6402 : Address allocation for clients address allocation in data networks H04L61/50
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6581 : Reference data, e.g. a movie identifier for ordering a movie or a product identifier in a home shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6582 : Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6583 : Acknowledgement
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8113 : comprising music, e.g. song in MP3 format
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 : involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/814 : comprising emergency warnings arrangements specially adapted for emergency or urgency in broadcast systems H04H20/59; arrangements for providing alarms, notifications, alerts to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8146 : involving graphical data, e.g. 3D object, 2D graphics
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/141 : between two video terminals, e.g. videophone telephonic communication systems combined with television receiver for reception of entertainment or information matter H04M11/085
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 : by receiver means only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17309 : Transmission or handling of upstream communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 : Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17336 : Handling of requests in head-ends
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 : Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

Certain aspects of the invention may be found in a method and system for setting up devices for communication on a communication network and may include a headend that may detect when a first device is initially coupled to the communication network and assign an address to the first device. The headend may transfer the assigned address to the first device and in response to receiving the transferred assigned address and/or an identifier of the first device from the first device, the headend may communicate the transferred received assigned address and/or the identifier of the first device to at least one communication server coupled to the communication network. The assigned address of the first device may be a static address, a dynamic address and/or an embedded device address such as a MAC address. The identifier of the first device may be a digital certificate and/or a serial number.

Claims

1. A method for setting up devices for communication, the method comprising:

in a communication network comprising a headend, wherein said headend enables access to said communication network for at least a first device,

assigning, by said headend, an address to said first device coupled to said communication network, wherein said address is associated with said first device in said communication network at a time of said assigning;

transferring, by said headend, said assigned address to said first device; and

in response to said headend receiving an identifier of said first device from said first device, communicating, by said headend, one or both of said transferred assigned address and/or said identifier of said first device to at least one communication server coupled to said communication network.

2. The method according to claim 1, comprising detecting, by said headend, when said first device is initially coupled to said communication network prior to said assigning of said address to said first device.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein:

said assigned address of said first device is one of a static address, a dynamic address, or an embedded device address; and

said identifier of said first device is one of a digital certificate and a serial number.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said one or both of said transferred assigned address and/or said identifier of said first device is registered with said at least one communication server.

5. The method according to claim 1, comprising broadcasting said one or both of said transferred assigned address and/or said identifier of said first device throughout at least a portion of said communication network by said at least one communication server.

6. The method according to claim 5, comprising receiving said broadcasted one or both of said transferred assigned address and/or said identifier of said first device by a second device located in said at least a portion of said communication network.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein said first device communicates with said second device utilizing said received broadcasted one or both of said transferred assigned address and/or said identifier of said first device.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein a second device desiring to communicate with said first device via said communication network requests said one or both of said transferred assigned address and/or said identifier of said first device from said communication server.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein:

in response to said request, said second device receives said one or both of said transferred assigned address and/or said identifier of said first device from said communication server; and

said second device transfers media between said second device and said first device utilizing said received one or both of said transferred assigned address and/or said identifier of said first device.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein said second device requests said one or both of said transferred assigned address and/or said identifier of said first device from said communication server based on a known location of said first device.

11. A machine-readable storage having stored thereon, a computer program having at least one code section for setting up devices for communication, the at least one code section being executable by a machine for causing the machine to perform steps comprising:

in a communication network comprising a headend, wherein said headend enables access to said communication network for at least a first device,

assigning, by said headend, an address to said first device coupled to said communication network, wherein said address is associated with said first device in said communication network at a time of said assigning;

transferring, by said headend, said assigned address to said first device; and

in response to said headend receiving an identifier of said first device from said first device, communicating, by said headend, one or both of said transferred assigned address and/or said identifier of said first device to at least one communication server coupled to said communication network.

12. The machine-readable storage according to claim 11, wherein said at least one code section comprises code for detecting, by said headend, when said first device is initially coupled to said communication network prior to said assigning of said address to said first device.

13. The machine-readable storage according to claim 12, wherein:

said assigned address of said first device is one of a static address, a dynamic address, or an embedded device address;

said identifier of said first device is one of a digital certificate and a serial number.

14. The machine-readable storage according to claim 11, wherein said one or both of said transferred assigned address and/or said identifier of said first device is registered with said at least one communication server.

15. The machine-readable storage according to claim 11, wherein said at least one code section comprises code for broadcasting said one or both of said transferred assigned address and/or said identifier of said first device throughout at least a portion of said communication network by said at least one communication server.

16. The machine-readable storage according to claim 15, wherein said at least one code section comprises code for receiving said broadcasted one or both of said transferred assigned address and/or said identifier of said first device by a second device located in said at least a portion of said communication network.

17. The machine-readable storage according to claim 16, wherein said first device communicates with said second device utilizing said received broadcasted one or both of said transferred assigned address and/or said identifier of said first device.

18. The machine-readable storage according to claim 11, wherein a second device desiring to communicate with said first device via said communication network requests said one or both of said transferred assigned address and/or said identifier of said first device from said communication server.

19. The machine-readable storage according to claim 18, wherein:

in response to said request, said second device receives said one or both of said transferred assigned address and/or said identifier of said first device from said communication server; and

said second device transfers media between said second device and said first device utilizing said received one or both of said transferred assigned address and said identifier of said first device.

20. The machine-readable storage according to claim 18, wherein said second device requests said one or both of said transferred assigned address and/or said identifier of said first device from said communication server based on a known location of said first device.

21. A system for setting up devices for communication, the system comprising:

one or more circuits for use in a headend communicatively coupled to a communication network, said one or more circuits operable to;

assign an address to a first device coupled to the communication network, wherein said address is associated with said first device in said communication network at a time of said assigning;

transfer said assigned address to said first device; and

in response to receiving an identifier of said first device from said first device, communicate one or both of said transferred assigned address and/or said identifier of said first device to at least one communication server coupled to the said communication network.

22. The system according to claim 21, wherein said one or more circuits are operable to detect when said first device is initially coupled to said communication network prior to said assigning of said address to said first device.

23. The system according to claim 22, wherein:

said assigned address of said first device is one of a static address, a dynamic address, or an embedded device address; and

said identifier of said first device is one of a digital certificate and a serial number.

24. The system according to claim 21, wherein said communication server registers said one or both of said transferred assigned address and/or said identifier of said first device.

25. The system according to claim 21, wherein said communication server broadcasts said one or both of said transferred assigned address and/or said identifier of said first device throughout at least a portion of said communication network.

26. The system according to claim 25, wherein a second device located in said at least a portion of the communication network receives said broadcasted one or both of said transferred assigned address and/or said identifier of said first device.

27. The system according to claim 26, wherein said second device communicates with said first device utilizing said received broadcasted one or both of said transferred assigned address and/or said identifier of said first device.

28. The system according to claim 21, wherein a second device requests said one or both of said transferred assigned address and/or said identifier of said first device from said communication server whenever said second device desires to communicate with said first device via said communication network.

29. The system according to claim 28, wherein, in response to said request, said second device:

receives said at least one of said transferred assigned address and said identifier of said first device from said communication server; and

transfers media between said second device and said first device utilizing said received one or both of said transferred assigned address and/or said identifier of said first device.

30. The system according to claim 28, wherein said second device requests said one or both of said transferred assigned address and/or said identifier of said first device from said communication server based on a known location of said first device.