Media bridge apparatus and methods

• US 9,300,919 B2
• Filed: 07/27/2010
• Issued: 03/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Inventors: Cholas, Chris, Helms, William L., Markley, Jeffrey P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Flynn, Nathan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Parra, Omar S
• Application Number:
  US12/844,739
• Publication Number:
  US 20100313226A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,072 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 21/26258 for generating a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlist, or scheduling item distribution according to such list retrieval of multimedia data based on playlists G06F16/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4332 by placing content in organized collections, e.g. local EPG data repository interfaces, Database management systems or updating for information retrieval G06F16/23; details of retrieval of video data and associated meta data in video database G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4402 involving reformatting operations of video signals for household redistribution, storage or real-time display details of conversion of video standards at pixel level H04N7/01; video transcoding H04N19/40; adapting incoming signals to the display format of the display terminal G09G5/005; media handling at the source in data packet switching networks H04L65/764
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47214 for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for content, media and data delivery and access between devices of a premises and one or more portable media devices. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a media bridge between a portable media device (PMD) and a user'"'"'s home network and/or home devices (e.g., set-top boxes, DVRs, etc.)). The apparatus is adapted to convert content stored on a PMD to a format capable of being rendered on a home device which may then store or playback the content. Control of the presentation is also provided by the bridging apparatus. The apparatus may also be adapted to transfer content from the home device to the PMD for storage or playback. In another embodiment, the apparatus may function within a home network having a trusted domain to provide content between a plurality devices on the network (and in the domain) and the PMD.

Claims

1. Apparatus configured to distribute media content within a network, said apparatus comprising:

a first interface configured to receive a plurality of media content in a first format from said network;

at least one transcoding apparatus configured to transcode said plurality of media content from said first format to a second format;

a storage apparatus configured to store said plurality of content in said first format and in said second format;

at least one processor configured to generate information relating to said received plurality of media content, said information comprising at least an indicator configured to indicate individual ones of said plurality of media content being identified as unsuitable for duplication resulting in more than one viewable copy; and

a second interface configured to transmit at least one of said plurality of media content in said second format for storage on at least one portable media device;

wherein said processor is further configured to, upon said transmission of said at least one of said plurality of media content in said second format, cause said at least one of said plurality of content in said first format to be made unviewable.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said storage of said media content on said at least one portable media device persists indefinitely when said at least one portable media device is removed from communication with said apparatus.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one authentication apparatus configured to authenticate said at least one portable media device prior to said transmission of said media content thereto.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said transmission of said media content occurs while maintaining digital rights management (DRM) requirements of said media content.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least one portable media device comprises at least one of:

a video player application;

cellular telephony interface; and

/or

a music player application.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said receipt of said plurality of media content occurs via a consumer premises device in communication with said apparatus, said consumer premises device configured to receive said plurality of media content from said network.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first format comprises Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG)-2 encoding, and said second format comprises Advanced Audio Coding (AAC) encoding.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said information comprises a content listing or menu.

9. A method of providing access to media content associated with a storage entity to a portable client device via a premises network, said method comprising:

generating a list relating to a plurality of media content stored on said storage entity;

prioritizing said plurality of media content according to a quality-of-service (QOS) policy;

making said list accessible to said portable client device, said portable client device selecting to access at least one of said plurality of media content;

discovering one or more copy protection rules associated with said at least one of said plurality of media content; and

implementing said one or more copy protection rules and said QOS policy to;

selectively provide or not provide a copy of said at least one of said plurality of media content to said portable client device based at least in part on said rules and in part on said QOS policy; and

selectively enable or not enable said portable client device to play back said at least one of said plurality of media content from said storage entity based at least in part on said rules and in part on said QOS policy.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising performing at least one conversion of said at least one of said plurality of media content, said at least one conversion comprising a conversion of said content from a first encoded format of said content stored at said storage entity and to a second encoded format utilized by said portable client device.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein when said one or more copy protection rules indicates said at least one of said plurality of media content may be copied freely, or may be copied once, performing said step of selectively providing said copy of said at least one of said plurality of media content to said portable client device.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein when said one or more copy protection rules indicates said at least one of said plurality of media content may not be copied, performing said step of selectively enabling said portable client device to play back said at least one of said plurality of media content from said storage entity, said portable client device not being provided said copy of said at least one of said plurality of media content.

13. A method of distributing media content within a network, said method comprising:

receiving, by a first device, a plurality of media content in a first format from said network;

transcoding said media content from said first format to a second format;

generating information related to said plurality of received media content, said information comprising a duplication indicator for indicating content that cannot become a source of multiple viewable copies;

providing said information to a portable media device in communication with said first device;

transmitting said media content in said second format for storage on said portable media device;

marking said media content as un-viewable on said first device, in response to the transmitting said media content to said portable media device; and

in response to receiving an indication that said media content is no longer residing on said portable media device, unmasking said media content as un-viewable on said first device.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising authenticating said at least one portable media device prior to said transmission of said media content thereto.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein said transmitting of said media content occurs while maintaining digital rights management (DRM) requirements of said media content.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein said first format comprises Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG)-2 encoding, and said second format comprises Advanced Audio Coding (AAC) encoding.

17. An apparatus configured to distribute media content within a network, said apparatus comprising:

a first interface configured to communicate with said network;

a storage apparatus; and

a processor configured to execute at least one computer program, said at least one computer program comprising a plurality of instructions which are configured to, when executed;

receive, by a first device, a plurality of media content in a first format from said network;

transcode said media content from said first format to a second format;

generate information related to said plurality of received media content, said information comprising a duplication indicator for indicating content that cannot become a source of multiple viewable copies;

provide said information to a portable media device in communication with said first device;

transmit said media content in said second format for storage on said portable media device;

mark said media content as un-viewable on said first device, in response to the transmission of said media content to said portable media device; and

in response to receipt of an indication that said media content no longer resides on said portable media device, unmark said media content as un-viewable on said first device.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said plurality of instructions are further configured to, when executed, authenticate said at least one portable media device prior to said transmission of said media content thereto.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said transmission of said media content occurs during maintenance of digital rights management (DRM) requirements of said media content.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said first format comprises MPEG 2 encoded data, and said second format comprises Advanced Audio Coding (AAC) encoded data.