Aggregation of multiple media streams to a user

• US 8,812,637 B2
• Filed: 11/28/2006
• Issued: 08/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Cragun, Brian John, Garbow, Zachary Adam, Paterson, Kevin Glynn, Pederson, Candace Trielle
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, MINH CHAU
• Application Number:
  US11/563,794
• Publication Number:
  US 20080126109A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,821 Days
• Field of Search: 709/200, 709/203, 709217-219, 709/231, 725/46, 725/47, 705/1
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0603 Catalogue ordering
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0621 Item configuration or customization
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23418 involving operations for analysing video streams, e.g. detecting features or characteristics television picture signal circuitry for scene change detection H04N5/147; filtering for image enhancement G06T5/00; methods or arrangements for recognising scenes G06V20/00; arrangements characterised by components specially adapted for monitoring, identification or recognition of video in broadcast systems H04H60/59
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25808 Management of client data terminal profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/303
• 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 21/2665 Gathering content from different sources, e.g. Internet and satellite
• 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 21/8405 represented by keywords
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus

Abstract

A media stream aggregation mechanism receives and analyzes multiple media streams and creates an aggregate media stream output based on user preferences. In this manner a media provider that uses the media stream aggregation mechanism potentially may provide a customized presentation to each user based on user preferences. By providing the aggregation of multiple media streams to a user, the user'"'"'s experience is customized according to user preferences.

Claims

1. A method for a user to play a customized media stream of a live televised event on a media player, the method comprising the steps of:

the user specifying user preferences in the media player for generating the customized media stream of the live televised event;

the media player sending the user preferences to an aggregation provider external to the media player;

the media player requesting the customized media stream of the live televised event from the aggregation provider, the aggregation provider generating the customized media stream of the live televised event from a plurality of media streams according to the user preferences, each of the plurality of media streams being generated from the live televised event;

the media player receiving the customized media stream of the live televised event from the aggregation provider; and

the media player playing the customized media stream of the live televised event.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of the user paying an amount to at least one media source provider that provided a portion of the customized media stream.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the amount the user pays a media source provider depends on how much of a media stream provided by the media source provider was delivered to the user in the customized media stream.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the amount the user pays a media source provider depends on popularity of the media source provider.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein the amount the user pays a media source provider depends on bandwidth capability of the media source provider.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein the amount the user pays a media source provider depends on quality of a media stream provided by the media source provider.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of the user paying the aggregation provider for the customized media stream of the live televised event.

8. A method for a user to play a customized media stream of a live televised event on a media player, the method comprising the steps of:

the user specifying user preferences in the media player for generating the customized media stream of the live televised event;

the media player sending the user preferences to an aggregation provider external to the media player;

the media player requesting the customized media stream of the live televised event from the aggregation provider, the aggregation provider generating the customized media stream of the live televised event from a plurality of media streams according to the user preferences, each of the plurality of media streams being generated from the live televised event;

the media player receiving the customized media stream of the live televised event from the aggregation provider;

the media player playing the customized media stream of the live televised event; and

the user making a payment for the customized media stream of the live televised event to at least one of the aggregation provider and at least one media source provider that provided a portion of the customized media stream, wherein the payment to a selected media source provider depends on how much of a media stream provided by the selected media source provider was delivered to the user in the customized media stream, popularity of the selected media source provider, bandwidth capability of the selected media source provider, and quality of a media stream provided by the selected media source provider.