User controlled multi-device media-on-demand system

• US 9,307,291 B2
• Filed: 07/13/2011
• Issued: 04/05/2016
• 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:
  US13/181,915
• Publication Number:
  US 20120008917A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,728 Days
• Field of Search: 725/87, 725/88, 725/91, 725/98, 725/93
• 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 to multiple devices, comprising:

delivering media to a first device;

receiving, from the first device, an indication to bookmark a first position in the media delivered to the first device;

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

receiving, from a second device different from the first device, a request to access the media while the media is delivered to the first device;

responsive to the request, accessing the bookmark to identify the second position; and

delivering the media to the second device beginning from the second position in the media while the media is simultaneously delivered to the first device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second devices are compatible with different media formats.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising converting the media from a first format compatible with the first device to a second format compatible with the second device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein media is delivered to the second device at the second position in the media different than a third position in the media simultaneously delivered to the first device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the indication to bookmark the first position in the media further comprises receiving a format of the media presented on the first device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the indication to bookmark the first position in the media further comprises receiving a device type and configuration information for the first device.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a request from the second device to terminate the delivery of media to the first device.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising verifying authentication of the first and second devices, wherein the first and second devices are associated with a user.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an indication to bookmark a third position in the media delivered to the first device; and

receiving an indication to bookmark a fourth position in the media delivered to the second device.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the second position precedes the first position by at least one of a set time offset and a variable time offset.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the variable time offset is determined to compensate for transitory delay in receiving the indication to bookmark from the first device.

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

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising receiving an identification of the second position in response to the querying.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein the bookmark is stored in a memory of a server.

24. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing the bookmark at a first server and at a second server.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein accessing the bookmark to identify the second position comprises accessing the bookmark from one of the first server and the second server.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising receiving a selection of one of the first server and the second server for accessing the bookmark.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the bookmark comprises a time code, and wherein the selection of one of the first server and the second server is received if the time code of the bookmark stored at the first server does not match the time code of the bookmark stored at the second server.

10. A system for presenting media on multiple devices, comprising:

a server configured to;

deliver media to a first device;

receive, from the first device, an indication to bookmark a first position in the media delivered to the first device;

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

receive, from a second device different from the first device, a request to access the bookmarked media while the media is delivered to the first device;

responsive to the request, access the bookmark to identify the second position; and

deliver the media to the second device beginning from the second position in the media while the media is simultaneously delivered to the first device.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the first and second devices are compatible with different media formats.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the server is further configured to convert the media from a first format compatible with the first device to a second format compatible with the second device.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein media is delivered to the second device at the second position in the media different than a third position in the media simultaneously delivered to the first device.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the server is further configured to receive a format of the media presented on the first device.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the server is further configured to receive a device type and configuration information of the first device.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the server is further configured to receive a request from the second device to terminate the delivery of media to the first device.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the server is further configured to verify authentication of the first and second devices, wherein the first and second devices are associated with a user.

18. The system of claim 10, wherein the server is further configured to:

receive an indication to bookmark a third position in the media delivered to the first device; and

receive an indication to bookmark a fourth position in the media delivered to the second device.

28. The system of claim 10, wherein the second position precedes the first position by at least one of a set time offset and a variable time offset.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the variable time offset is determined to compensate for transitory delay in receiving the indication to bookmark from the first device.

30. The system of claim 10, wherein the server is further configured to query the bookmark in response to receiving the request to access the media from the second device.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the server is further configured to receive an identification of the second position in response to the querying.

32. The system of claim 10, wherein the bookmark is stored in a memory of the server.

33. The system of claim 10, wherein the server is a first server, and wherein the server is further configured to store the bookmark at the first server and at a second server.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the server configured to access the bookmark to identify the second position comprises the server configured to access the bookmark froth one of the first server and the second server.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the server is further configured to receive a selection of one of the first server and the second server for accessing the bookmark.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein the bookmark comprises a time code, and wherein the selection of one of the first server and the second server is received if the time code of the bookmark stored at the first server does not match the time code of the bookmark stored at the second server.