Space-shifting media streaming system

• US 8,683,532 B2
• Filed: 11/29/2005
• Issued: 03/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyndryl Incorporated (Kyndryl Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Chen, Yen-Fu, Handy-Bosma, John Hans, Walker, Keith Raymond
• Primary Examiner(s): Saltarelli, Dominic D
• Application Number:
  US11/289,095
• Publication Number:
  US 20070124761A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,038 Days
• Field of Search: 725 1-153, 386 1-131
• US Class Current: 725/80
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• 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 12/2834 Switching of information between an external network and a home network access arrangements H04L12/2856
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2838 Distribution of signals within a home automation network, e.g. involving splitting/multiplexing signals to/from different paths adaptations of television systems for transmission by electric cable for domestic distribution H04N7/106; hybrid transport H04L12/6418; home network arrangements specially adapted for distribution of digital video signals H04N7/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4122 additional display device, e.g. video projector digital output for controlling a plurality of local displays G06F3/1423
• 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 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only

Abstract

A system for space-shifting media broadcasts is provided. A request to space-shift a media broadcast is received. A device, out of a network of devices is selected to space-shift the media broadcast to. The media broadcast is then space-shifted to the selected device.

Claims

1. A method for space-shifting a media broadcast program, the method comprising:

a media server receiving from a user for a user profile a preferred brightness level for a specified computing device of the user, the brightness level for the specified computing device differing from a brightness level of a television of the user, the computing device differing in type from the television;

subsequently, receiving at the media server a user request to space-shift a media broadcast program which was played in part on the television, and in response, the media server recording a point in the media broadcast program approximately at an end of the part which was played on the television;

subsequently, the media server receiving another user request to resume play of the media broadcast program on the computing device, and in response, the media server correlating the computing device to the user, correlating the user and the user profile to the other user request, and resuming play of the media broadcast program on the computing device from approximately the point and automatically setting a brightness level of the resumed media broadcast program on the computing device to the preferred brightness level specified in the user profile.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of user profiles associated with a plurality of users, wherein the plurality of profiles are operable to maintain media settings for multiple media streams for each user of the plurality of users.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the user request is received from a device manager that is operable to send the at least some of the plurality of media settings to the device.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the at least some of the media setting are sent to the device when streaming the media broadcast program to the device.

5. A media server computer for space-shifting media broadcast programs, the media server computer comprising:

one or more processors, one or more computer-readable memories, one or more computer-readable storage devices, and program instructions stored on the one or more storage devices for execution by the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, the program instructions comprising;

first program instructions to receive from a user for a user profile a preferred brightness level for a specified computing device of the user, the brightness level for the specified computing device differing from a brightness level of a television of the user, the computing device differing in type from the television;

second program instructions to subsequently receive at the media server a user request to space-shift a media broadcast program which was played in part on the television, and in response, the media server recording a point in the media broadcast program approximately at an end of the part which was played on the television; and

third program instructions to subsequently receive at the media server another user request to resume play of the media broadcast program on the computing device, and in response, the media server correlating the computing device to the user, correlating the user and the user profile to the other user request, and resuming play of the media broadcast program on the computing device from approximately the point and automatically setting a brightness level of the resumed media broadcast program on the computing device to the preferred brightness level specified in the user profile.

6. The system of claim 5, further comprising a device manager coupled to the media server, wherein the device manager is operable for managing a plurality of devices included in a network, wherein the media server controls other devices that store at least some of the media broadcast programs, wherein the device manager controls a volume and brightness on the computing device based on a given user profile of the user profiles that is associated with the user who initiated the request.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the device manager includes media setting controls for each device of the plurality of devices.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the device manager applies a modifier to a plurality of media settings, depending on a particular device of the plurality of devices that the media broadcast program is being sent to, in order to map a given control signal to a compatible control signal that is compatible with the particular device.

9. The system of claim 6 further comprising:

a user operable control device comprising the device manager.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the user operable control device is operable to control at least one of the plurality of devices and comprises a dedicated control button for each of the plurality of users.

11. The system of claim 5, further comprising a user manager coupled to the media server, wherein the user manager is operable for creating and managing user identifications and user profiles for a plurality of users on a network including a plurality of devices, wherein the user manager comprises a graphical user interface and a database that is operable for managing the user identifications and the user profiles for the plurality of users.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising a device manager coupled to the media server, wherein the device manager is operable for managing the plurality of devices, wherein the device manager comprises a graphical user interface and a database;

wherein the device manager controls which devices participate in the system;

wherein the device manager queues requested media, adjusts volume for an individual user'"'"'s settings, and turns on the computing device; and

wherein the device manager adjusts volume and brightness by adjusting settings embedded in the media broadcast program sent to the computing device.

13. The system of claim 5, wherein the user has a plurality of profiles, and wherein the user selects the computing device from a list that is presented to the user based on the plurality of profiles.