Network based format conversion

• US 8,583,758 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2005
• Issued: 11/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TiVo Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Casey, Steven M., Cook, Charles I., Sprenger, Michael D., Goeringer, Steve, Selvadurai, Gnanasegeran
• Primary Examiner(s): Najjar, Saleh
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gao, Shu Chun
• Application Number:
  US11/291,326
• Publication Number:
  US 20070121651A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,904 Days
• Field of Search: 709/246, 709/217, 709/218, 370/401, 370/466
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/258 Data format conversion from or to a database
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/40 of multimedia data, e.g. slideshows comprising image and additional audio data retrieval of still image data G06F16/50; retrieval of audio data G06F16/60; retrieval of video data G06F16/70
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/303 Terminal profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/565 Conversion or adaptation of application format or content adding application control or application functional data H04L67/561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/440218 by transcoding between formats or standards, e.g. from MPEG-2 to MPEG-4 conversion of standards in analogue television systems H04N7/01
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4516 involving client characteristics, e.g. Set-Top-Box type, software version or amount of memory available
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/454 Content or additional data filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements

Abstract

Various embodiments of the invention provide solutions for converting content, such as audio files and/or streams, video files and/or streams, other data files and/or the like. In an aspect, embodiments of the invention thus provide novel solutions to facilitate the provision of media services to one or more subscribers. In a set of embodiments, for example, media conversion services might be performed according to a subscriber'"'"'s profile, such that the conversion services can be provided, in some cases, on the fly while providing the media to the subscriber, allowing the subscriber to obtain content in the necessary format without having to specify in each instance the formats in which various content should be provided.

Claims

1. A method of providing content to a subscriber, the method comprising:

receiving, at a media conversion server and from the subscriber, a preferred format definition and a preferred transmit time for at least one device, the preferred format definition and the preferred transmit time being set by the subscriber;

storing the preferred format definition on a profile engine coupled with the media conversion server;

identifying, at the media conversion server, a set of downloadable content to be provided to the subscriber, wherein the set of downloadable content includes at least one of a video content or an audio content;

identifying, at the media conversion server, a device, from among a plurality of devices, to receive the set of downloadable content;

retrieving, from a storage location, the set of downloadable content to be provided to the subscriber from the media conversion server;

based on the preferred format definition for the identified device, automatically converting with the media conversion server the set of downloadable content from a first format to a second format, wherein the second format is compatible with the identified device;

providing, by the media conversion server, an option to the subscriber to download upon demand the set of downloadable content, contrary to the preferred transmit time for the at least one device;

in response to receiving from the subscriber a selection of said option to download upon demand the set of downloadable content, contrary to the preferred transmit time for the at least one device, immediately transmitting, in the second format and in contradiction of the preferred transmit time for the at least one device, the set of downloadable content for reception by the identified device; and

transmitting, in the second format at the preferred transmit time, the set of downloadable content for reception by the identified device, if a selection of said option to download upon demand the set of downloadable content, contrary to the preferred transmit time for the at least one device, has not been received from the subscriber by the preferred transmit time.

2. A method of providing downloadable content to a subscriber as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

encrypting the set of content in the second format.

3. A method of providing downloadable content to a subscriber as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

providing, with the identified device, the downloadable content for use by the subscriber.

4. A method of providing downloadable content to a subscriber as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

charging the subscriber a fee for converting the set of downloadable content.

5. A method of providing downloadable content to a subscriber as recited in claim 4, wherein charging the subscriber a fee comprises charging the subscriber a monthly fee for conversion services.

6. A method of providing downloadable content to a subscriber as recited in claim 4, wherein charging the subscriber a fee comprises charging the subscriber per-conversion fee.

7. A method of providing downloadable content to a subscriber as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

inserting into the set of content an advertisement.

8. A method of providing downloadable content to a subscriber as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

storing, in the second format, the set of downloadable content for later access by the subscriber.

9. A method of providing downloadable content to a subscriber as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

providing to the subscriber a notification of a status of a conversion.

10. A method of providing downloadable content to a subscriber as recited in claim 1, wherein the set of downloadable content comprises an audio file.

11. A method of providing downloadable content to a subscriber as recited in claim 10, wherein the second format comprises a ringtone that may be used on a wireless telephone.

12. A method of providing downloadable content to a subscriber as recited in claim 1, wherein the set of downloadable content comprises a video file.

13. A method of providing downloadable content to a subscriber as recited in claim 1, wherein the set of downloadable content comprises at least one web page.

14. A method of providing downloadable content to a subscriber as recited in claim 1, wherein the set of downloadable content comprises at least one digital photo.

15. A method of providing downloadable content to a subscriber as recited in claim 1, wherein identifying a set of downloadable content to be provided to the subscriber comprises receiving a content request from the subscriber.

16. A method of providing downloadable content to a subscriber as recited in claim 15, wherein receiving a content request from the subscriber comprises receiving an email message from the subscriber, wherein the email message comprises the content request.

17. A method of providing downloadable content to a subscriber as recited in claim 15, wherein receiving a selection from the subscriber comprises:

providing a web form; and

receiving a response to the web form, wherein the response comprises the content request.

18. A method of providing downloadable content to a subscriber as recited in claim 15, wherein receiving a content request from the subscriber comprises receiving, at a set top box, a command from a remote control, wherein the command from the remote control comprises the content request.

19. A method of providing downloadable content to a subscriber as recited in claim 15, wherein receiving a content request comprises receiving a telephone call from the subscriber, wherein the telephone call comprises the content request.

20. A method of providing downloadable content to a subscriber as recited in claim 1, wherein identifying a device to receive the downloadable content comprises receiving a content request from the subscriber.

21. A method of providing downloadable content to a subscriber as recited in claim 1, wherein retrieving the set of downloadable content comprises uploading the set of downloadable content from a personal content recorder to a network-based content recorder.

22. A method of providing downloadable content to a subscriber as recited in claim 21, the plurality of devices comprises a first device, and wherein providing the set of downloadable content comprises converting the downloadable content to a third format compatible with the first device.

23. A method of providing downloadable content to a subscriber as recited in claim 1, wherein providing the set of downloadable content comprises providing a web page at which users of the plurality of devices can download the set of downloadable content.

24. A method of providing downloadable content to a subscriber as recited in claim 1, wherein providing the set of downloadable content comprises transmitting the set of downloadable content to users of the plurality of devices.

25. A method of providing downloadable content to a subscriber as recited in claim 24, wherein transmitting the set of downloadable content comprises transmitting the set of downloadable content via email.

26. A method of providing downloadable content to a subscriber as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of devices comprises a second device and a third device, wherein the second device is associated with a second subscriber and the third device is associated with a third subscriber.

27. A method of providing downloadable content to a subscriber as recited in claim 1, wherein retrieving the set of downloadable content comprises accessing the set of downloadable content on a personal content recorder.

28. A method of providing downloadable content to a subscriber as recited in claim 27, wherein the personal content recorder converts the set of downloadable content.

29. A method of providing downloadable content to a subscriber as recited in claim 27, wherein the personal content recorder transmits the set of downloadable content for reception by the identified device.

32. A method of providing downloadable content to a subscriber as recited in claim 21, further comprising providing the set of downloadable content for reception by a plurality of devices.

33. A method of providing downloadable content to a subscriber as recited in claim 21, wherein each of the plurality of devices have capabilities similar to the capabilities of the identified device, such that the second format is compatible with each of the plurality of devices, and wherein providing the set of downloadable content for reception by the plurality of devices comprises providing the set of downloadable content in the second format.

30. A software program embodied on a physical non-transitory computer readable medium comprising a set of instructions executable by one or more processors, the set of instructions comprising:

instructions to provide a preferred format definition and a preferred transmit time for at least one device, the format definition and the preferred transmit time being set by a subscriber and being stored on a profile engine;

instructions to identify a set of downloadable content to be provided to the subscriber, wherein the set of downloadable content includes at least one of a video content or an audio content;

instructions to identify a device to receive the set of downloadable content;

instructions to retrieve from a storage location the set of downloadable content to be provided to the subscriber;

instructions to automatically convert, based on a format definition for the identified device, the set of downloadable content from a first format to a second format, wherein the second format is compatible with the identified device;

instructions to provide an option to the subscriber to download upon demand the set of downloadable content, contrary to the preferred transmit time for the at least one device;

instructions to immediately transmit, in the second format and in contradiction of the preferred transmit time for the at least one device, the set of downloadable content for reception by the identified device, in response to receiving from the subscriber a selection of said option to download upon demand the set of downloadable content, contrary to the preferred transmit time for the at least one device; and

instructions to transmit, in the second format at the preferred transmit time, the set of downloadable content for reception by the identified device, if a selection of said option to download upon demand the set of downloadable content, contrary to the preferred transmit time for the at least one device, has not been received from the subscriber by the preferred transmit time.

31. A system for providing content to a subscriber, the system comprising one or more processors and a physical non-transitory computer readable medium having a set of instructions executable by the one or more processors, the set of instructions comprising:

instructions to provide a preferred format definition and a preferred transmit time from the subscriber for at least one device, the preferred format definition and a preferred transmit time being set by a subscriber;

instructions to identify a set of downloadable content to be provided to the subscriber;

instructions to identify a device to receive the set of downloadable content;

instructions to retrieve from a storage location the set of downloadable content to be provided to the subscriber;

instructions to automatically convert, based on the preferred format definition for the identified device, the set of downloadable content from a first format to a second format, wherein the second format is compatible with the identified device;

instructions to provide an option to the subscriber to download upon demand the set of downloadable content, contrary to the preferred transmit time for the at least one device;

instructions to immediately transmit, in the second format and in contradiction of the preferred transmit time for the at least one device, the set of downloadable content for reception by the identified device, in response to receiving from the subscriber a selection of said option to download upon demand the set of downloadable content, contrary to the preferred transmit time for the at least one device; and

instructions to transmit, in the second format at the preferred transmit time, the set of downloadable content for reception by the identified device, if a selection of said option to download upon demand the set of downloadable content, contrary to the preferred transmit time for the at least one device, has not been received from the subscriber by the preferred transmit time.