Apparatus and method for distributing media content

• US 8,949,887 B2
• Filed: 12/10/2008
• Issued: 02/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Services Incorporated (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bajpay, Paritosh, Mehta, Neerav
• Primary Examiner(s): Bruckart, Benjamin R
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bantamoi, Anthony
• Application Number:
  US12/331,459
• Publication Number:
  US 20100146567A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,246 Days
• Field of Search: 386/125, 709/240, 725/95, 725/98
• US Class Current: 725/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6405 Multicasting data broadcast and multicast in packet switching networks H04L12/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6408 Unicasting
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a server having a controller to access multiple media content in response to a request to record the multiple media content from a first communication device, adjust a format of at least a portion of the multiple media content based at least in part on a user profile associated with the first communication device, and compile the adjusted multiple media content for delivery. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising

computer instructions which when executed by a processor causes the processor to perform operations comprising:

receiving from a first communication device a request for recording multiple media content;

obtaining multiple versions of each of the multiple media content, wherein a group of first versions of the multiple versions of the multiple media content has a lower resolution and more error correction data than a group of second versions of the multiple versions of the multiple media content;

accessing a user profile associated with the first communication device;

adjusting a format of a portion of the multiple media content to generate adjusted multiple media content based in part on the user profile;

concatenating the adjusted multiple media content that includes the group of second versions to generate second concatenated media content for delivery;

transmitting the second concatenated media content to the first communication device;

monitoring for a fault in delivery of the second concatenated media content to the first communication device;

responsive to a detection of the fault, concatenating the adjusted multiple media content that includes the group of first versions to generate first concatenated media content for delivery; and

responsive to the detection of the fault ceasing the transmitting of the second concatenated media content and commencing transmitting, of the first concatenated media content to the first communication device.

2. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 1, comprising computer instructions for receiving fault information from the first communication device wherein the detection of the fault is based on fault information.

3. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 1, comprising computer instructions for transmitting one of the first or second concatenated media content to a second communication device associated with the user profile, wherein the adjusting of the format is based on a format preference associated with a second communication device.

4. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 1, comprising computer instructions for:

monitoring behavior associated with the first communication device and storing information associated with the monitored behavior in the user profile; and

receiving fault information from a network element that monitors delivery, of the second concatenated -media content, wherein the detection of the fault is based on the fault information.

5. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 1, comprising computer instructions for transmitting search information to the first communication device based in part on prior recordings stored in the user profile.

6. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 1, wherein the group of first versions has more forward error correction data than the group of second versions, wherein an amount of the forward error correction data used in the first version is selected based on the user profile.

7. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 6, wherein the forward error correction data comprises one of block coding data, convolution coding data, concatenate coding data or turbo coding data.

8. A server, comprising:

a memory storing computer instructions; and

a controller coupled with the memory, wherein the controller when executing the computer instructions performs operations comprising;

obtaining multiple media content in response to a request to record the multiple media content from a first communication device, wherein the multiple media content comprises a group of first versions having lower resolution and more error correction data than a group of second versions;

adjusting a format of a portion of the multiple media content to generate adjusted multiple media content based in part on a user profile associated with the first communication device;

compiling the adjusted multiple media content including the group of second versions to generate second compiled media content for delivery;

monitoring for a fault in delivery, of the second compiled media content to the first communication device; and

responsive to a detection of the fault, compiling the adjusted multiple media content that includes the group of first versions to generate first compiled media content for delivery to the first communication device.

9. The server of claim 8, wherein the controller when executing the computer instructions performs operations comprising:

wirelessly transmitting the second compiled media content including the group of second versions to one of the first communication device or a second communication device in response to a request for playback received from one of the first communication device or the second communication device in an absence of a potential fault determination; and

wirelessly transmitting the first compiled media content including the group of first versions to one of the first communication device or the second communication device in response to the detection of the fault.

10. The server of claim 9, wherein the second communication device comprises a set top box, and wherein the adjusting of the format is based on compatible formats for a group of communication devices comprising the first and second communication devices.

11. The server of claim 8, wherein the controller is adapted to adjust the format into a plurality of formats that are each associated with a user preference from the user profile, and wherein the first and second compiled media content are a plurality of compiled media content for each of the plurality of formats.

12. The server of claim 8, wherein the controller is adapted to monitor recording behavior of a plurality of communication devices associated with the user profile.

13. The server of claim 12, wherein the controller is adapted to transmit search information associated with the request to record to the first communication device, and wherein the search information is determined based in part on the monitored recording behavior.

14. The server of claim 8, wherein the controller is adapted to:

commence delivery of one of the first or second compiled media content to the first communication device;

bookmark the one of the first or second compiled media content at a pause point when viewing is paused; and

commence delivery of the one of the first or second compiled media content to a second communication device from the pause point.

15. The server of claim 8, wherein the controller is adapted to adjust the format of the multiple media content for delivery to a dedicated channel of the first communication device.

16. A set top box comprising:

a memory storing computer instructions; and

a controller coupled to the memory, wherein the controller when executing the computer instructions performs operations comprising;

transmitting to a server a request for recording multiple media content;

transmitting to the server a playback request associated with the multiple media content;

receiving a second compilation of the multiple media content, wherein the compilation of the multiple media content comprises a second versions of the multiple media content, wherein the first version of the multiple media content has lower resolution and more error correction data than the second version of the multiple media content;

presenting the second version of the multiple media content on a display device;

monitoring for a fault in receiving the second compilation of the multiple media content;

responsive to a detection of the fault, transmitting fault information to the server; and

responsive to the transmitting of the fault information, receiving a first compilation of the multiple media content, the first compilation of the multiple media content having a format adjusted based on the user profile associated with the set top box, wherein the first compilation of the multiple media content comprises the first version of the multiple media content.

17. The set top box of claim 16, wherein the operations further comprise:

transmitting to the server a request for searching media content;

receiving search information from the server, the search information being based in part on the user profile associated with the set top box; and

present a selection of the media content based in part on the search information.

18. The set top box of claim 16, wherein the operations further comprise transmitting the second version of the multiple media content to a set top box in an absence of a potential fault determination.

19. The set top box of claim 18, wherein the operations further comprise,

responsive to the detection of the fault, transmitting the first version of the multiple media content to the set top box and ceasing transmitting of the second version to the set top box.

20. A mobile communication device, comprising:

a memory storing computer instructions; and

a controller coupled with the memory, wherein the controller when executing the computer instructions performs operations comprising;

transmitting to a server a request for recording media content; and

transmitting to the server a playback request associated with the media content, the playback request being for presentation of the media content on a display device of a set top box, the media content having a format adjusted by the server based on a user profile associated with the mobile communication device and the set top box, wherein the media content comprises first and second versions of the media content, wherein the first version has lower resolution and more error correction data than the second version;

monitoring for a fault in receiving the second compilation of the multiple media content;

responsive to a detection of the fault, transmitting fault information to the server; and

responsive to the transmitting of the fault information, receiving a first compilation of the multiple media content, the received first compilation of the multiple media content having a format adjusted based on the user profile associated with the set top box, wherein the first compilation of the multiple media content comprises the first version of the multiple media content.

21. A method, comprising:

obtaining, by the system including a processor, first and second versions of multiple media content in response to a request to record the multiple media content from a first communication device associated with a user, wherein the first version has lower resolution and more error correction data than the second version;

adjusting, by the system, a format of a portion of the multiple media content to generate an adjusted multiple media content based in part on user preferences associated with the first communication device and a second communication device associated with the user; and

compiling by the system, the adjusted multiple media content including the second version to generate second compiled media content for delivery;

monitoring for a fault in delivery of the second compiled media content; and

responsive to the detection of the fault, compiling, by the system, the adjusted multiple media content including the first version to generate first compiled media content for delivery to the first communication device.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

monitoring behavior associated with one of the first or second communication devices; and

determining the user preferences based in part on the monitored behavior.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising transmitting search information to the first communication device, wherein the search information is determined based in part on the monitored behavior.

24. The method of claim 21, further comprising receiving a notice of a potential fault determination from one of the first or second communication devices, wherein the detection of the fault is based on the notice.

25. The method of claim 21, further comprising delivering the first compiled media content to the first communication and bookmarking the first compiled media content for delivery to the second communication device.