Video display system

• US 9,210,361 B2
• Filed: 04/24/2012
• Issued: 12/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Skreens Entertainment Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Skreens Entertainment Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Todd, Marc
• Primary Examiner(s): Chokshi, Pinkal R
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gee, Alexander
• Application Number:
  US13/454,610
• Publication Number:
  US 20130278828A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,323 Days
• Field of Search: 725/109, 348/564, 348/565
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/21805 enabling multiple viewpoints, e.g. using a plurality of cameras
• 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 21/2365 Multiplexing of several video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25875 involving end-user authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; arrangements for secret or secure communication including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2665 Gathering content from different sources, e.g. Internet and satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/440272 for performing aspect ratio conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4438 Window management, e.g. event handling following interaction with the user interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/454 Content or additional data filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4753 for user identification, e.g. by entering a PIN or password cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4781 Games
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4786 e-mailing message switching systems, e.g. electronic mail systems H04L51/00
• 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 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4858 for modifying screen layout parameters, e.g. fonts, size of the windows
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/45 Picture in picture , e.g. displaying simultaneously another television channel in a region of the screen

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a system for multiplexing (i.e. combining multiple signals into one signal) both a plurality of video content (live and deferred time) and multiple video access mediums (such as cable television, satellite, internet video (clips, programming and movies), video games, DVD players, etc.) in a viewer friendly manner to enhance entertainment and other entertainment possibilities. The output of a selected video content is seen in a container known as a video container. Multiple video containers can be resized and positioned on a large screen television or other display device under viewer control. Control of video containers'"'"' video content or other content viewed, audio, and a host of other properties are done via web page controls or preferably connected mobile devices such as smart phones, tablets or other devices.

Claims

1. A video display system comprising:

a computerized media processing unit configured to receive at least a plurality of content including at least one of video, audio, graphics, and internet content from a plurality of heterogeneous content sources providing such content, and configured to combine the plurality of content from the plurality of content sources to generate and output a single video signal receivable by a display device;

wherein the video signal output by the media processing unit comprises a plurality of video containers all displayable on the display device simultaneously with independently variable size and position under the control of a user, wherein each of the plurality of video containers is capable of simultaneously displaying video content independent of the size, position, and video content of the other of the plurality of video containers, and is capable of being sized without regard to an aspect ratio of the content received from the corresponding content source; and

a computing device separate from the display device and comprising at least one of a tablet computer and a smartphone in communication with the media processing unit, wherein the computing device has a touch screen interface that displays a representation of the plurality of video containers as arranged on the display device and which is configured to receive touch screen command inputs from a user to control, in near real time, the size, position, and access to the content of each of the plurality of video containers on the display device.

2. The video display system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of heterogeneous content sources comprises a non-video internet source and at least one of:

an internet video source, a cable video source, a satellite video source, a DVD video source, a security camera video source, a video conferencing source, and a video game video source.

3. The video display system of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of audio devices, each in communication with the media processing unit, each of the plurality of audio devices configurable to select and provide an audio output of a video content from one of the plurality of video containers, the audio device capable of changing the audio output to correspond to any one of the plurality of video containers in near real-time.

14. The video display system of claim 1, wherein the video content of two or more of the plurality of video containers is related.

15. The video display system of claim 1, wherein the displayed video containers may be positioned and repositioned in near real-time.

16. The video display system of claim 1, wherein the content of a given video container continues to be responsive to interactions with the content source providing the source content.

17. The video display system of claim 1, wherein the video containers are logical containers capable of manipulating heterogeneous source content with arbitrary size and shape.

18. The video display system of claim 17, wherein the plurality of video containers have one or more of the unique properties of container type, content filters, list of channels with location, point of sale data, and permissions for viewer log-in.

19. The video display system of claim 1 wherein the display device is multiple display devices.

20. The video display system of claim 19 wherein the multiple display devices display different portions of the output video signal.

27. The video display system of claim 1, wherein one of the plurality of heterogeneous content sources comprises a video game video source.

28. The video display system of claim 1, further wherein each video container is capable of being positioned on the display device without regard to a respective position of the other of the plurality of video containers.

30. The video display system of claim 1, wherein the touch screen command inputs include a pinch gesture and a drag and drop gesture to control the size and position of the plurality of video containers on the display device.

31. The video display system of claim 1, wherein the computerized media processing unit comprises reconfigurable hardware configured to combine the plurality of content from the plurality of content sources.

4. A video container system comprising:

a display device;

a communications network;

a computerized media processing unit configured to receive at least a plurality of content selected from video, audio graphics, and internet content from a plurality of heterogeneous content sources comprising a non-video internet source and at least one of;

an internet video source, a cable video source, a satellite video source, a DVD video source, a security camera video source, a video conferencing source, and a video game video source and configured to combine the plurality of content from the plurality of heterogeneous content sources to generate and output a single video signal receivable by a display device, the single video signal comprising a plurality of video containers all displayable on the display device simultaneously with variable size and position under the control of a user, wherein each of the plurality of video containers is capable of simultaneously displaying video content independent of the size, position, and the plurality of video content of the other of the plurality of video containers;

wherein each of the plurality of video containers is capable of being sized without regard to an aspect ratio of the content received from the corresponding content source; and

wherein the media processing unit comprises;

a transcoder module configured to receive the plurality of content from the heterogeneous sources and configured to output a formatted video signal;

a formatting module in communication with the transcoder module, the formatting module configured to instruct the transcoder module as to which of the plurality of heterogeneous sources to present in which one of the plurality of video containers, and as to the form of the presentation on the display device of each of the plurality of video containers in response to user commands from a network computing device separate from the display device and comprising at least one of a tablet computer and a smartphone in communication with the formatting module, wherein the network computing device has a touch screen interface that displays a representation of the plurality of video containers as arranged on the display device and which is configured to receive touch screen command inputs from a user to control, in near real time, the size, position, and access to the content of each of the plurality of video containers; and

a streaming module in communication with the transcoder module and the communications network, the streaming module configured to receive the formatted video signal output from the transcoder module, and to output the video signal as a streaming data output to the display device.

5. The video container system of claim 4 wherein the formatting module is configured to resize the content of the plurality of heterogeneous video sources to display within the associated plurality of video containers.

6. The video container system of claim 4 further comprising a plurality of audio devices, each in communication with the media processing unit, each of the plurality of audio devices configurable to select and provide an audio output of a video content from one of the plurality of video containers, the audio device capable of changing the audio output to correspond to any one of the plurality of video containers in near real-time.

7. The video container system of claim 4, wherein a video container further includes one or more of the properties for filtering video content selected from the group including container type, list of channels with location, point of sale data, and permissions for viewer log-in.

8. The video container system of claim 4 further comprising a data storage module in communication with the media processing unit wherein the data storage module is configured to store a quantity of viewer data relating to one or more users.

9. The video container system of claim 4 further comprising an advertising module, the advertising module being in communication with the media processing unit, and outputting a signal comprising a video container comprising advertisement video.

10. The video container system of claim 9 wherein the advertisement video is synchronized with at least one of the plurality of video content displayed in the plurality of video containers.

11. The video container system of claim 4 further comprising an input module, the input module configured to receive an input from a user responding to an interactive video content output by the streaming module, the input module in communication with the communications network and media processing unit.

21. The video container system of claim 4 wherein the formatting module is configured to format the plurality of video containers by changing a plurality of video content in the plurality of video containers.

22. The video container system of claim 4 wherein the formatting module is configured such that the displayed video containers communicate programmatically or via user interaction with one or more other displayed video containers.

23. The video container system of claim 22 wherein the video content of two or more of the plurality of video containers is related and the formatting module is configured such that commands from a remote controller with respect to one of the plurality of related video containers results in changes to two or more of the plurality of video containers with related video content.

24. The video container system of claim 23 wherein the video content of the related video containers is from more than one of the plurality of heterogeneous sources.

25. The video container system of claim 4 wherein one of the plurality of video content comprises a live entertainment network broadcast, and wherein another one of the plurality of video content comprises a live internet video broadcast.

26. The video container system of claim 25 wherein the video content of one of the related video containers comprises an advertisement video.

12. A method of providing output of a plurality of video content for presentation on a display device, the method comprising:

receiving a plurality of video, graphics, and internet content from a plurality of heterogeneous sources into a transcoder module, the transcoder module configured to receive, interpret and combine the plurality of content from the plurality of heterogeneous sources to generate and output a single video output signal, the video output signal comprising a plurality of video containers, each of the plurality of video containers comprising one of the plurality of video content and displayable with variable size and position on a display device under the control of a user wherein each of the plurality of video containers is capable of simultaneously displaying video content independent of the size, position and video content of the other of the plurality of video containers, and is capable of being sized without regard to an aspect ratio of the content received from the corresponding content source;

receiving a formatting command into a formatting module, the formatting command being received over a communications network from the user in response to user commands to a network computing device separate from the display device, comprising at least one of a tablet computer and a smartphone, wherein the network computing device has a touch screen interface that displays a representation of the plurality of video containers as arranged on the display device and is configured to receive touch screen command inputs from a user to control, in near real time, the size, position, and access to the content of each of the plurality of video containers;

transmitting a signal from the formatting module to the transcoder module, the signal instructing the transcoder module of which of the plurality of video streams to present in each of the plurality of video containers, and instructing the transcoder module of the proper format of the plurality of video containers;

receiving the video output signal from the transcoder module by a streaming module; and

outputting the video output signal by the streaming module, the streaming module outputting the video output signal in a streaming data format to a communications network.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising the steps of:

providing a social interface, the social interface allowing communication between a first user and a second user; and

providing a video container transfer module, the video container transfer module allowing the first user to share a video content of one of the plurality of video containers with the second user.

32. The method of claim 12, wherein the touch screen command inputs include a pinch gesture and a drag and drop gesture to control the size and position of the plurality of video containers on the display device.

29. A video display system comprising:

a computerized media processing unit configured to receive at least a plurality of content including at least one of video, audio, graphics, and internet content from a plurality of heterogeneous content sources providing such content and configured to combine the plurality of content from the plurality of content sources to generate and output a single video signal receivable by a display device;

wherein the video signal output by the media processing unit comprises a plurality of video containers all displayable on the display device simultaneously with variable size and position under the control of a user, wherein each of the plurality of video containers is capable of simultaneously displaying video content independent of the size, position, and video content of the other of the plurality of video containers, and is capable of being positioned on the display device without regard to a respective position of the other of the plurality of video containers; and

a network computing device separate from the display device and comprising at least one of a tablet computer and a smartphone in communication with the media processing unit, wherein the network computing device is configured to receive touch screen command inputs including a pinch gesture and a drag and drop gesture from a user to control the size, position, and access to the content of each of the plurality of video containers.