User controlled multi-device media-on-demand system

• US 9,161,087 B2
• Filed: 10/24/2011
• Issued: 10/13/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rovi Technologies Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rovi Technologies Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Katz, Neil, Semple, Bruce P., Stern, Edith H., Willner, Barry E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zhong, Jun Fei
• Application Number:
  US13/280,013
• Publication Number:
  US 20120047166A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,450 Days
• Field of Search: 725 86- 88, 725 91- 92, 725/78, 725/80
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23109 by placing content in organized collections, e.g. EPG data repository details of retrieval of video data and associated meta data in video databases G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2343 involving reformatting operations of video signals for distribution or compliance with end-user requests or end-user device requirements video transcoding H04N19/40; media packet handling at the source H04L65/762
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2393 involving handling client requests scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2402 Monitoring of the downstream path of the transmission network, e.g. bandwidth available traffic monitoring in data switching networks H04L43/00; monitoring data switching networks utilization H04L43/0876
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/242 Synchronization processes, e.g. processing of PCR [Program Clock References] arrangements for synchronising broadcast or distribution via plural systems in broadcast distribution systems H04H20/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25808 Management of client data terminal profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/303
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26208 the scheduling operation being performed under constraints
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2662 Controlling the complexity of the video stream, e.g. by scaling the resolution or bitrate of the video stream based on the client capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44209 Monitoring of downstream path of the transmission network originating from a server, e.g. bandwidth variations of a wireless network arrangements for maintenance or administration in data switching networks involving bandwidth and capacity management H04L41/0896
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47217 for controlling playback functions for recorded or on-demand content, e.g. using progress bars, mode or play-point indicators or bookmarks specific graphical features in visual interfaces H04N21/4312
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6582 Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8455 involving pointers to the content, e.g. pointers to the I-frames of the video stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A method for providing configurable access to media in a media-on-demand system also can include delivering the media to a first client device in a format compatible with the first client device; interrupting the delivery of the media; recording a bookmark specifying a position in the media where the interruption occurred; and resuming delivery of the media to a second client device, the resumed delivery beginning at a position in the media specified by the recorded bookmark. The method further can include identifying device properties for each of the first and second client devices; delivering the media to the first client device in a format compatible with the identified device properties for the first client device; and, delivering the media to the second client device in a format compatible with the identified device properties for the second client device.

Claims

1. A method of delivering media, comprising:

delivering media to a first device;

receiving, from the first device, a first request to pause the media at a first point in the media;

storing a bookmark for the media in response to the pause request, wherein the bookmark indicates a second point in the media that precedes the first point and is after a starting point of the media, and wherein the bookmark does not indicate the first point;

receiving, from a second device different from the first device, a second request to resume the media;

responsive to receiving the second request, accessing the bookmark to identify the second point; and

delivering the media to the second device beginning from the second point identified from the bookmark.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the bookmarked position precedes the first point by a set time offset.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising querying the bookmark in response to receiving the request to access the media from the second device.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising receiving a an identification of the second point in response to the querying.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the received bookmarked time precedes the first point by an offset.

6. A system for delivering media, comprising:

a server configured to;

deliver media to a first device;

receive, from the first device, a first request to pause the media at a first point in the media;

store a bookmark for the media in response to the pause request, wherein the bookmark indicates a second point in the media that precedes the first point and is after a starting point of the media, and wherein the bookmark does not indicate the first point;

receive, from a second device different from the first device, a second request to resume the media;

responsive to receiving the second request, access the bookmark to identify the second point; and

deliver the media to the second device beginning from the second point identified from the bookmark.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the bookmarked position precedes the first point by a set time offset.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the server is further configured to query the bookmark in response to receiving the request to access the media from the second device.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the server is further configured to receive an identification of the second point in response to the query.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the received bookmarked time precedes the first point by an offset.