Internet protocol broadcasting
First Claim
1. A method for handling streams multicast over a communications system having a communications path between a content provider and a plurality of users via a broadcast system, the communications path comprising a shared forward link over which bandwidth resources are shared during a multicast communication, the method comprising:
- receiving a metadata stream at a network interface system of a user terminal, the network interface system being configured to receive stream data from the content provider over the communications path at a lower layer subsystem, the lower layer subsystem being configured to determine whether to accept or ignore the stream data according to a stream identifier and to pass at least some of the stream data to a higher layer subsystem when it is determined to accept the stream data according to the stream identifier, the metadata stream being received in association with the stream identifier configured to direct the lower layer subsystem to accept the metadata stream and to pass metadata to the higher layer subsystem, and the metadata stream comprising the metadata configured to describe a plurality of content atoms to be subsequently communicated over a broadcast stream and to associate each of the plurality of content atoms with an atom identifier;
determining at the higher layer subsystem whether to accept the content atom as a function of a set of user preferences;
when it is determined to accept the content atom, communicating the atom identifier associated with the content atom from the higher layer subsystem to the lower layer subsystem;
receiving the content atom in association with the atom identifier over the broadcast stream subsequent to determining to accept the content atom; and
determining at the lower layer subsystem to accept the content atom as a function of the atom identifier.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods, apparatuses, and systems are provided for improving utilization of a communications system through various atom-based techniques for enhancing the viewing experience for Internet protocol content. Some embodiments exploit atom-based processing to determine which content atoms to broadcast (e.g., multicast) over which channels to which subscribers. Other embodiments make atom-based filtering, caching, and/or other determinations at the user terminal. For example, low-level (e.g., physical layer) filtering may be used to limit the amount of user-layer processing needed, and to facilitate delivery of content to those users most likely to desire that content. Still other embodiments allow users to create customized channels of cached content for viewing as a shared channel. Embodiments include techniques for addressing synchronization of channel content and viewing, and social networking, for subscribers to the shared channel. The shared channels may be further used to facilitate social networking among subscribers.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for handling streams multicast over a communications system having a communications path between a content provider and a plurality of users via a broadcast system, the communications path comprising a shared forward link over which bandwidth resources are shared during a multicast communication, the method comprising:
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receiving a metadata stream at a network interface system of a user terminal, the network interface system being configured to receive stream data from the content provider over the communications path at a lower layer subsystem, the lower layer subsystem being configured to determine whether to accept or ignore the stream data according to a stream identifier and to pass at least some of the stream data to a higher layer subsystem when it is determined to accept the stream data according to the stream identifier, the metadata stream being received in association with the stream identifier configured to direct the lower layer subsystem to accept the metadata stream and to pass metadata to the higher layer subsystem, and the metadata stream comprising the metadata configured to describe a plurality of content atoms to be subsequently communicated over a broadcast stream and to associate each of the plurality of content atoms with an atom identifier; determining at the higher layer subsystem whether to accept the content atom as a function of a set of user preferences; when it is determined to accept the content atom, communicating the atom identifier associated with the content atom from the higher layer subsystem to the lower layer subsystem; receiving the content atom in association with the atom identifier over the broadcast stream subsequent to determining to accept the content atom; and determining at the lower layer subsystem to accept the content atom as a function of the atom identifier. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A user terminal comprising a processor and a memory coupled to the processor for handling streams multicast over a communications system having a communication path between a content provider and a plurality of users via a broadcast system, the communications path comprising a shared forward link over which bandwidth resources are shared during a multicast communication, the user terminal further comprising:
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a physical layer communicatively coupled to a broadcast system that receives a metadata stream including stream data from a content provider over a communications path of the physical layer, wherein the physical layer determines whether to accept or ignore the stream data according to a stream identifier, wherein the metadata stream comprises metadata configured to describe a plurality of content atoms to be subsequently communicated over the broadcast system and to associate each of the plurality of content atoms with an atom identifier configured as a unique stream identifier, and wherein the physical layer accepts a content atom as a function of an associated atom identifier; and a user layer communicatively coupled to the physical layer that receives at least some of the stream data when the physical layer accepts the stream data according to the stream identifier, that determines whether to accept the content atom at the physical layer as a function of a set of user preferences, and that communicates the associated atom identifier to physical layer when it is determined to accept the content atom. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising computer readable instructions that, when executed by a processor coupled to the non-transitory computer readable storage medium cause a user terminal perform a method for handling streams multicast over a communications system via a broadcast system having a communications path between a content provider and a plurality of users, the communications path comprising a shared forward link over which bandwidth resources are shared during a multicast communication, the method comprising:
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receiving a metadata stream at a network interface system of a user terminal, the network interface system being configured to receive stream data from the content provider over the communications path at a lower layer subsystem, the lower layer subsystem being configured to determine whether to accept or ignore the stream data according to a stream identifier and to pass at least some of the stream data to a higher layer subsystem when it is determined to accept the stream data according to the stream identifier, the metadata stream being received in association with the stream identifier configured to direct the lower layer subsystem to accept the metadata stream and to pass metadata to the higher layer subsystem, and the metadata stream comprising the metadata configured to describe a plurality of content atoms to be subsequently communicated over a broadcast stream and to associate each of the plurality of content atoms with an atom identifier; determining at the higher layer subsystem whether to accept the content atom as a function of a set of user preferences; when it is determined to accept the content atom, communicating the atom identifier associated with the content atom from the higher layer subsystem to the lower layer subsystem; receiving the content atom in association with the atom identifier over the broadcast stream subsequent to determining to accept the content atom; and determining at the lower layer subsystem to accept the content atom as a function of the atom identifier. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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Specification