Method and system for collaborative broadcast and timeshifted viewing
First Claim
1. A system comprising:
- A) a receiving mechanism coupled to a content source for receiving data representing a content object;
B) a cloud storage server coupled to the receiving mechanism and configured for receiving into an associated network accessible memory a copy of data representing the content object received from the receiving mechanism; and
C) a plurality of viewer processes operably coupled over a network to the cloud storage server and the network accessible memory;
wherein each of the plurality of viewer processes is authorized to receive, from the receiving mechanism, data representing the content object from the content source and to store, within the cloud storage server, data representing a copy of the content object,wherein each of the plurality of viewer processes authorizes all other of the plurality of viewers processes to receive and store in the cloud storage server data representing the content object from the source on its behalf, andwherein each of the plurality of viewer processes authorizes all other of the plurality of viewers devices to receive data representing the content object from the source on its behalf.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A collaborative system for more efficiently viewing streamed content in a time shifted matter utilizes collaborative home set-top box (STB) home component (the home STB) and a cloud component (the cloud STB) and a receiving device, such as an antenna or cable component, all cooperatively shared among a community of users. The cloud STB may further comprise a network accessible distributed part and/or a cross licensed portion of other home STBs. The home STB may be connected to the cloud STB and other home STBs over any local or wide area network topology infrastructure, such as the Internet. A group of home STBs may be cross licensed to each other within a community of users sharing the same viewing rights to a collaboratively old copy of content retained either in the consort system or among a plurality of shared user systems. Various network infrastructure configurations and streaming techniques, including unicast, multicast, and upstream and downstream collaborative streaming, are proposed to optimize network bandwidth efficiency and increase viewing options.
7 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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A) a receiving mechanism coupled to a content source for receiving data representing a content object; B) a cloud storage server coupled to the receiving mechanism and configured for receiving into an associated network accessible memory a copy of data representing the content object received from the receiving mechanism; and C) a plurality of viewer processes operably coupled over a network to the cloud storage server and the network accessible memory; wherein each of the plurality of viewer processes is authorized to receive, from the receiving mechanism, data representing the content object from the content source and to store, within the cloud storage server, data representing a copy of the content object, wherein each of the plurality of viewer processes authorizes all other of the plurality of viewers processes to receive and store in the cloud storage server data representing the content object from the source on its behalf, and wherein each of the plurality of viewer processes authorizes all other of the plurality of viewers devices to receive data representing the content object from the source on its behalf. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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7. A method comprising:
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A) providing a collaborative cloud storage system comprising; i) a cloud storage server comprising a network interface process for receiving into an associated network accessible memory a copy of data representing a content object, ii) a plurality of viewer processes coupled over a network to a content source and to the cloud storage server and network accessible memory, and iii) a receiving mechanism for receiving from the content source the data representing the content object; B) receiving at the cloud storage server, from each of the plurality of viewer device processes, authorization for receiving, from the receiving mechanism, data representing the content object from the content source and to store, within the cloud storage server, data representing a copy of the content object. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 19, 20)
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Specification