Media processing system supporting adaptive digital media parameters based on end-user viewing capabilities

• US 8,661,489 B2
• Filed: 08/16/2011
• Issued: 02/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Karaoguz, Jeyhan, Bennett, James D.
• Primary Examiner(s): ALAM, MUSHFIKH I
• Application Number:
  US13/210,787
• Publication Number:
  US 20110302620A1
• Time in Patent Office: 924 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 725/110
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/80 characterised by transmission among terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2834 Switching of information between an external network and a home network access arrangements H04L12/2856
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/762 at the source reformatting of additional data in video distribution servers H04N21/2355
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/765 intermediate
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• 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 21/25833 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 21/26266 : 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 21/41265 : 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 21/43637 : 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 21/47214 : 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 21/6581 : 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 21/812 : 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 7/147 : Communication arrangements, e.g. identifying the communication as a video-communication, intermediate storage of the signals selecting H04Q
• 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 7/18 : Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

Systems and methods that adapt media content are described. In one embodiment, a system may include, for example, a first communications device and a second communications device. The first communications device may be disposed in a first location and may be operatively coupled to a network. The second communications device may be disposed in a second location and may be operatively coupled to the network. The second communications device may receive a device profile relating to the first communications device, adapt media content based upon the device profile of the first communications device, and send the adapted media content to the first communications device.

Claims

1. A method for adapting media content, comprising:

generating a media guide by a first media processing system wherein the media guide includes a plurality of channels assigned to personal media content and a plurality of channels assigned to broadcast media content, wherein the personal media content is selected from a plurality of personal media devices operatively coupled to the first media processing system over a local area network;

selecting by the first media processing system a first channel of the plurality of channels for transmission to a second media processing system, wherein the first channel is assigned to a first personal media content;

accessing a device capability profile associated with the second media processing system, wherein the device capability profile includes device capabilities of a lower quality standard and a higher quality standard and wherein the device capability profile indicates a selection for transmission of the lower quality standard to the second media processing system;

modifying digital parameters of the first personal media content of the selected first channel to the lower quality standard in accordance with the device capability profile to generate modified media content;

pushing the selected first channel and the modified media content over a media exchange network to the second media processing device; and

storing the first personal media content modified to the higher quality standard in the device capability profile in a media storage server operatively coupled to the media exchange; and

generating a file with address information of a location of the first personal media content modified to the higher quality standard stored in the media storage server.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising:

receiving an updated device capability profile by the first media processing system over the media exchange network from the second media processing system.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the selection for transmission of the lower quality standard in the device capability profile associated with the second media processing system is received from the second media processing system.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein modifiying the digital parameters of the first personal media content to the lower quality standard in accordance with the device capability profile to generate the modified media content in accordance with the device capability profile comprises:

modifying image quality of the first personal media content to the lower quality standard.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein generating the file with address information of the location of the first personal media content modified to the higher quality standard stored in the media storage server comprises:

generating a meta file including a pointer with an address of a location of the first personal media content modified to the higher quality standard stored in the media storage server.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein pushing the selected first channel and the modified media content over the media exchange network to the second media processing device includes pushing the file with the address information of the location of the first personal media content modified to the higher quality standard.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating a personal media view by the first media processing system of the personal media content, wherein the personal media content is stored on the plurality of personal media devices operatively coupled to the first media processing system over the local area network;

receiving a selection by the first media processing system of one or more of the personal media content from the personal media view; and

assigning one or more channels of the media guide to the selected personal media content by the first media processing system.

8. A media processing system, comprising:

a user interface;

at least one processing unit operable to;

generate a personal media view of personal media content for display on the user interface;

receive a selection of one or more of the personal media content from the personal media view;

assign one or more channels to the selected personal media content;

generate a media guide having a plurality of channels, wherein the plurality of channels include the one or more channels assigned to the selected personal media content and one or more channels assigned to broadcast media content;

receive a selection of one of the plurality of channels of the media guide assigned to the selected personal media content;

receive a request to transfer the selected personal media content assigned to the selected one of the plurality of channels to a second media processing system;

access a device capability profile associated with the second media processing system, wherein the device capability profile includes device capabilities of a lower quality standard and a higher quality standard associated with the second media processing system and wherein the device capability profile indicates a selection for transmission of the lower quality standard to the second media processing system;

modify digital parameters of the selected personal media content assigned to the selected one of the plurality of channels to the higher quality standard in accordance with the device capability profile to generate modified media content;

transfer the modified media content assigned to the selected one of the plurality of channels to the second media processing system over a wide area network;

store the selected personal media content modified to the higher quality standard in the device capability profile in a media storage server operatively coupled to the wide area network; and

generate a file with address information of a location of the selected personal media content modified to the higher quality standard stored in the media storage server.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein generating the personal media view by the first media processing system includes:

generating the personal media view of data content, audio content, video content and multimedia content stored on the plurality of personal media devices operatively coupled to the first media processing system over the local area network.

10. The media processing system of claim 8, wherein the selection for transmission of the lower quality standard in the device capability profile associated with the second media processing system is received from the second media processing system.

11. The media processing system of claim 10, wherein the at least one processing unit is operable to modify the digital parameters of the selected media content to the higher quality standard in the device capability profile by:

modifying image quality of the first personal media content to the higher quality standard.

12. The media processing system of claim 11, wherein the at least one processing unit is further operable to generate the file with address information of the location of the selected personal media content modified to the higher quality standard stored in the media storage server by:

generating a meta file including a pointer with an address of a location of the first personal media content modified to the higher quality standard stored in the media storage server.

13. The media processing system of claim 8, wherein the at least one processing unit is operable to transfer the modified media content assigned to the selected one of the plurality of channels to the second media processing system further includes the processing unit transferring the file with the address information of the location of the first personal media content modified to the higher quality standard with the modified media content to the second media processing system over the wide area network.

14. The media processing system of claim 8, wherein the at least one processing unit is further operable to receive an updated device capability profile over the wide area network from the second media processing system.

15. The media processing system of claim 8, wherein the media processing system is operatively coupled to the wide area network by a broadband access headend.

16. A media processing system, comprising:

a display;

a set top box including a processing unit, wherein the set top box is operable to;

generate a media guide by a first media processing system wherein the media guide includes a plurality of channels assigned to personal media content and a plurality of channels assigned to broadcast media content, wherein the personal media content is selected from a plurality of personal media devices operatively coupled to the first media processing system over a local area network;

select by the first media processing system a first channel of the plurality of channels for transmission to a second media processing system, wherein the first channel is assigned to a first personal media content;

access a device capability profile associated with the second media processing system, wherein the device capability profile associated with the second media processing system includes device capabilities of a lower quality standard and a higher quality standard and wherein the device capability profile indicates a selection for transmission of the lower quality standard;

modify digital parameters of the first personal media content to the lower quality standard in the device capability profile to generate modified media content in accordance with the device capability profile;

store the first personal media content modified to the higher quality standard in the device capability profile in a media storage server operatively coupled to the media exchange;

generate a file with address information of a location of the first personal media content modified to the higher quality standard stored in the media storage server; and

push the selected first channel with the modified media content and the file with address information of the location of the first personal media content modified to the higher quality standard over a media exchange network to the second media processing device.

17. The media processing system of claim 16, wherein the set-top box is further operable to receive an updated device capability profile over the media exchange network from the second media processing system.

18. The media processing system of claim 16, wherein the set-top box is further operable to:

generate a personal media view by the first media processing system of the personal media content, wherein the personal media content is stored on the plurality of personal media devices operatively coupled to the first media processing system over the local area network;

receive a selection by the first media processing system of one or more of the personal media content from the personal media view; and

assign one or more channels of the media guide to the selected personal media content by the first media processing system.

19. The media processing system of claim 18, wherein the set-top box being operable to generate the personal media view includes:

being operable to generate the personal media view of data content, audio content, video content and multimedia content stored on the plurality of personal media devices operatively coupled to the first media processing system over the local area network.

20. The media processing system of claim 19, wherein the set-top box is further operable to:

request one of a plurality of channels in a second media guide generated by the second media processing system, wherein the requested channel is associated with third party personal media content;

receive the third party personal media content from the second media processing system;

assign one or more channels of the plurality of channels of the media guide to the third party personal media content; and

update the media guide with the one or more channels of the plurality of channels of the media guide assigned to the third party personal media content.