Video distribution systems and methods for multiple users

• US 8,843,970 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2011
• Issued: 09/23/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chanyu Holdings LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Chanyu Holdings LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Pearson, Larry B., Bridges, J. Bradley
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN BA, HOANG VU A
• Application Number:
  US13/018,043
• Publication Number:
  US 20110173656A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,331 Days
• Field of Search: 725/78, 725/59, 725/74, 725/25, 725/38, 725/87, 725/88, 348/734, 386/262, 709/206
• US Class Current: 725/83
• 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 21/41265 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 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42692 for reading from or writing on a volatile storage medium, e.g. Random Access Memory [RAM]
• 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 21/4383 Accessing a communication channel
• 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 21/4751 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 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/106 for domestic distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/147 Communication arrangements, e.g. identifying the communication as a video-communication, intermediate storage of the signals selecting H04Q

Abstract

A video distribution system includes a local network interface operable to modulate video data to frequency blocks for communication via a local network. A first frequency block of the frequency blocks is associated with a first user. The video distribution system also includes a metrics engine operable to track at least one metric associated with the first user based on the video data modulated to the first frequency block.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a local network interface device operable to modulate video data to frequency blocks for communication via a local network, wherein a first frequency block of the frequency blocks is associated with a first user;

a processor; and

a memory that stores a metrics engine module, wherein the metrics engine module is executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to track at least one metric associated with the first user based on the video data modulated to the first frequency block.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the memory further stores a graphical user interface (GUI) engine module that is executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to generate a display including information regarding the at least one metric.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the GUI engine module is further executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to send the display including the information regarding the at least one metric associated with the first user via a second frequency block that is associated with a second user.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the memory further stores data for media content, wherein the data for the media content includes the video data.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the memory further stores a messaging module, wherein the messaging module is executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to receive an electronic message addressed to a particular user and to provide information related to the electronic message via the local network interface device.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the messaging module is further executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to determine the particular user to which the electronic message is addressed and communicate the electronic message via a frequency block associated with the particular user.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the memory further stores data for mapping a plurality of users to a plurality of assigned frequency blocks.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the memory further stores an administration module, wherein the administration module is executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to generate an administration interface and to send the administration interface to a display device.

9. A method comprising:

a computer-based system storing data that are usable to associate a plurality of users with respective carrier frequencies, wherein at least two of the plurality of users are associated with two different carrier frequencies;

the computer-based system outputting a signal that includes a first video data stream, wherein the first video data stream has been modulated to a first carrier frequency associated with a first user, and wherein the modulating is at least partially based on the data.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the data associating the plurality of users with the respective carrier frequencies is stored at a memory of the computer-based system.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

the computer-based system receiving user authentication data, wherein the signal is output in response to the computer-based system authenticating the first user based on the user authentication data.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the signal is output based on media content stored at a memory of the computer-based system.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

the computer-based system receiving a change request; and

the computer-based system modulating, based on the change request, a second video data stream to the first carrier frequency associated with the first user.

14. A video distribution system comprising:

a processor;

a memory configured to store data linking a plurality of users with associated carrier frequencies; and

a first network interface device operable to output a signal for communication via a first network, the signal comprising a first video data stream modulated to a first frequency band associated with a first user, wherein the first video data stream is modulated based on the stored data linking the plurality of users with the associated carrier frequencies.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the memory stores a radio frequency communication module executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to receive a control signal from a remote control device, and wherein a second video data stream is modulated to the first frequency band based on the control signal.

16. The system of claim 14, further comprising a device that stores an access engine module, wherein the access engine module is executable by the device to authenticate that a user of the device is associated with the first frequency band before a second video data stream is modulated to the first frequency band.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the memory stores data for a block list associated with the first user, wherein the block list identifies content that the first user is prohibited to access, and wherein the processor is configured to compare content associated with the second video data stream to the block list before the second video data stream is modulated to the first frequency band.

18. The system of claim 14, further comprising a second network interface device operable to receive a plurality of video data streams from a second network, the plurality of video data streams including the first video data stream.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the first network includes a local area network and the second network includes a wide area network.

20. The system of claim 14, wherein the memory stores data for parental control settings, wherein the parental control settings include a limitation on expenses for access to the first video data stream by the first user.