Streaming digital video between video devices using a cable television system

• US 9,021,541 B2
• Filed: 10/14/2011
• Issued: 04/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ActiveVideo Networks, Inc. (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ActiveVideo Networks, Inc. (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Regis, Natalie, Tom, Mark, Marsavin, Andrey, Pavlovskaia, Lena Y.
• Primary Examiner(s): Goodarzi, Nasser
• Assistant Examiner(s): PIERORAZIO, MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US13/273,803
• Publication Number:
  US 20120204217A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,292 Days
• Field of Search: 725/32, 725/34, 725/36, 725/62, 725/103, 725/118, 725/135, 725/143, 725/89, 725/134, 725/42, 725/142, 725/116, 348/14.04, 348/14.08
• US Class Current: 725/116
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/78 CATV [Community Antenna Television] systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2221 being a cable television head-end CATV in broadcast systems H04H20/78
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2665 Gathering content from different sources, e.g. Internet and satellite
• 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 21/6118 involving cable transmission, e.g. using a cable modem
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6168 involving cable transmission, e.g. using a cable modem

Abstract

Systems and methods are presented that permit an individual to share digital video between video devices using a cable television system. A first video device streams digital video to a cable headend, which transcodes it and stitches it with other video content, such as a menuing system. The headend then transmits the digital video to a second video device, such as a set top box, for display. The data stream may be controlled using a standard set top box remote control, and the system may be used without purchasing additional hardware or software, or configuring a wireless local area network.

Claims

1. A method of streaming digital video between a first video device and a second video device, the first video device being connected to a public data network, wherein the second video device is connected to a cable television system having a cable network and a cable headend, the cable headend also being connected to the public data network, the second video device being controlled by a video device controller, the method comprising:

establishing a first bidirectional data channel from the first video device to the cable headend;

establishing a second bidirectional data channel over the cable network from the second video device to the cable headend, thereby permitting bidirectional data communication between the first video device and the second video device through the cable headend;

receiving a first data stream that includes the digital video at the cable headend from the first video device using the first bidrectional data channel;

forming a second data stream that includes a second video that is based on the digital video received in the first data stream; and

transmitting the second data stream from the cable headend to the second video device using the second bidirectional data channel, wherein playback of the second video is controlled by sending commands from the video device controller to the second video device for onward transmission to the first video device over the first and second bidirectional data channels.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the digital video includes audio data, moving image data, still image data, or any combination of these.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the digital video is encoded according to an MPEG specification.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first video device is a personal computer or a smartphone.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the second video device is a television or a set top box connected to a television and the device controller is a remote control.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the second data stream is a video stream transmitted from the headend to the second video device, and further comprising:

decoding the video stream at the television or set top box; and

displaying the second video on the television.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the second data stream is a video stream transmitted from the headend to the second video device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein forming the second data stream that includes the second video based on the digital video received in the first data stream further comprises transcoding of the received digital video into a format that is decodable by the second video device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the second video comprises a plurality of video frames, each video frame comprising a frame of the digital video stitched together with an interactive menu.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the second video comprises a plurality of video frames, each video frame comprising a frame of the digital video stitched together with information associated with the first video device.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the public data network is the Internet accessed through a cellular network.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second video devices are located within the same premises.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein no bidirectional data channel between the first and second video devices exists entirely within the premises.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing the first data channel comprises:

receiving from the first video device, a first request to establish the first bidirectional data channel, the first request having request parameters that include a unique identifier; and

authorizing the establishment of the first bidirectional data channel based on the request parameters.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the first request is received over either the public data network or over the cable network.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the unique identifier is a media access control (MAC) address that is uniquely associated with the first video device.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein establishing the second bidirectional data channel comprises:

receiving, from the second video device, a second request to establish the second bidirectional data channel, the second request having request parameters that include the unique identifier;

identifying the first video device using the received unique identifier; and

associating the second video device with the identified first video device.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling the playback of the second video is selected from a group consisting of:

establishing a video stream channel, tearing down the video stream channel, starting playback of digital video, stopping playback for the digital video, and selecting a different digital video source.

19. A tangible, non-transitory, data storage medium in which is stored computer program code for streaming digital video between a first video device and a second video device, the first video device being connected to a public data network, wherein the second video device is connected to a cable television system having a cable network and a cable headend, the cable headend also being connected to the public data network, the second video device being controlled by a video device controller, the storage medium comprising:

program code for establishing a first bidirectional data channel from the first video device to the cable headend;

program code for establishing a second bidirectional data channel over the cable network from the second video device to the cable headend, thereby permitting bidirectional data communication between the first video device and the second video device through the cable headend;

program code for receiving a first data stream that includes the digital video at the cable headend from the first video device using the first bidirectional data channel;

program code for forming a second data stream that includes a second video that is based on the digital video received in the first data stream; and

program code for transmitting the second data stream from the cable headend to the second video device using the second bidirectional data channel, wherein playback of the second video is controlled by sending commands from the video device controller to the second video device for onward transmission to the first video device over the first and second bidirectional data channels.

20. The tangible, non-transitory, data storage medium of claim 19, wherein the second data stream is a video stream transmitted from the headend to the second video device.