Method and television for use in a multimedia system

• US 9,456,248 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2014
• Issued: 09/27/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Pixelworks Incorporated
• Original Assignee: VIXS Systems Incorporated (Pixelworks Incorporated)
• Inventors: Laksono, Indra
• Primary Examiner(s): Parra, Omar S
• Application Number:
  US14/514,804
• Publication Number:
  US 20150095935A1
• Time in Patent Office: 713 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/21 Server components or server architectures
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2143 located in a single building, e.g. hotel, hospital or museum arrangements specially adapted for plural spots in a confined site in broadcast systems H04H20/63; adaptations for transmission by electric cable for domestic distribution in television systems H04N7/106
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23 Processing of content or additional data; Elementary server operations; Server middleware
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234 Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing of video streams or manipulating encoded video stream scene graphs
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234309 by transcoding between formats or standards, e.g. from MPEG-2 to MPEG-4 or from Quicktime to Realvideo conversion of standards in analog television systems H04N7/01
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234363 by altering the spatial resolution, e.g. for clients with a lower screen resolution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2393 involving handling client requests scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25816 involving client authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• 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 21/41265 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 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• 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 21/4363 Adapting the video stream to a specific local network, e.g. a Bluetooth® network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4383 Accessing a communication channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44 Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing a video clip retrieved from local storage with an incoming video stream or rendering scenes according to encoded video stream scene graphs
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/440263 by altering the spatial resolution, e.g. for displaying on a connected PDA
• 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 21/4542 Blocking scenes or portions of the received content, e.g. censoring scenes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/472 End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content end-user interfaces for retrieving video data from a database G06F16/739; network services for supporting unicast streaming H04L65/612
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 : for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4826 : using recommendation lists, e.g. of programs or channels sorted out according to their score
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6168 : involving cable transmission, e.g. using a cable modem
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6175 : involving transmission via Internet broadcast-related systems characterised by the transmission system being the Internet H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6181 : involving transmission via a mobile phone network arrangements for providing broadcast or conference services to substation in data switching networks in combination with wireless systems H04L12/189; wireless uplink channel access H04W74/004
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64322 : IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 : Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 : by receiver means only

Abstract

A multimedia server receives a plurality of programs of a multimedia source. The multimedia server includes a tuning module to receive the plurality of programs and to select a set of programs from the plurality of programs based on a set of program select commands that is derived from select requests. A program mixer mixes the set of programs into a stream of program data. One or more transceiving modules transmit the stream of program data on to corresponding communication paths and receive the select requests. A client module produces the select requests for one or more clients. The client module includes a selection module to produce at least one of the select requests. A network interface controller transmits at least one of select requests to the multimedia server and receives the stream of program data via the communication path or paths in response.

Claims

1. A television comprising:

a video display device;

a tuner, coupled to the video display device, configured to respond to commands from a user to tune one of a plurality of high definition digital broadcast channels received by the tuner for decoding and display by the video display device;

a network interface for communicating with a multimedia server via a network protocol, wherein the network interface includes a wireless transceiver; and

a processing module that executes at least one access application, the processing module operable to;

generate authentication data associated with the television, wherein the multimedia server authenticates the television based on the authentication data;

generate a first video request, the first video request identifying a video on demand selection; and

command the network interface to send the first video request to the multimedia server, wherein the multimedia server sends a first video stream that includes the video on demand selection to the television in accordance with pause and rewind commands received from the television, and wherein the multimedia server adapts a video quality of the first video stream based on an alternative video resolution selected by the television;

wherein the network interface receives the first video stream from the multimedia server for decoding and display by the video display device.

2. The television of claim 1 wherein the processing module is operable to:

generate a second video request, the second video request identifying a video program recorded by a digital video recorder and digitally stored in a memory of the digital video recorder, wherein the digital video recorder is separate from the multimedia server; and

command the network interface to send the second video request to the digital video recorder, wherein the network interface receives, from the digital video recorder, a second video stream that includes the video program;

wherein the video display device is further operable to decode and display the video program.

3. The television of claim 1 wherein the video display device is further operable to display a video program recorded and stored in a compressed video format by a set top box associated with the user of the television.

4. The television of claim 1 wherein the multimedia server is a set top box associated with the user of the television and wherein at least one video program is recorded and stored in a compressed video format by the set top box associated with the user of the television.

5. The television of claim 1 wherein the multimedia server is coupled to a set top box associated with the user of the television, wherein at least one video program is recorded and stored in a compressed video format by the set top box associated with the user of the television and wherein at least one command from the television is set to the set top box via the multimedia server that includes a second video request to the set top box, wherein the set top box generates a second video stream in response thereto.

6. The television of claim 1 wherein the multimedia server generates the first video stream in accordance with parental controls associated with the user of the television.

7. The television of claim 1 wherein the first video request is generated based on a favorite channels list associated with the user of the television.

8. A method for use with a television, the method comprising:

responding to commands from a user to tune one of a plurality of high definition digital broadcast channels received by a tuner for decoding and display by a video display device;

communicating with a multimedia server via a network interface and in accordance with a network protocol;

generating authentication data associated with the television, wherein the multimedia server authenticates the television based on the authentication data;

generating a first video request, the first video request identifying a video on demand selection; and

sending the first video request to the multimedia server, wherein the multimedia server sends a first video stream that includes the video on demand selection to the television in accordance with pause and rewind commands received from the television, and wherein the multimedia server adapts a video quality of the first video stream based on an alternative video resolution selected by the television; and

receiving, via the network interface, the first video stream from the multimedia server for decoding and display by the video display device.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the method further comprises:

generating a second video request, the second video request identifying a video program recorded by a digital video recorder and digitally stored in a memory of the digital video recorder, wherein the digital video recorder is separate from the multimedia server;

sending the second video request to the digital video recorder, wherein the network interface receives, from the digital video recorder, a second video stream that includes the video program; and

decoding and displaying the video program on the television.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the video display device is further operable to display a video program recorded and stored in a compressed video format by a set top box associated with the user of the television.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein the multimedia server is a set top box associated with the user of the television and wherein at least one video program is recorded and stored in a compressed video format by the set top box associated with the user of the television.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein the multimedia server is coupled to a set top box associated with the user of the television, wherein at least one video program is recorded and stored in a compressed video format by the set top box associated with the user of the television and wherein at least one command from the television is sent to the set top box via the multimedia server that includes a second video request to the set top box, wherein the set top box generates a second video stream in response thereto.

13. The method of claim 8 wherein the multimedia server generates the first video stream in accordance with parental controls associated with the user of the television.

14. The method of claim 8 wherein the first video request is generated based on a favorite channels list associated with the user of the television.

15. A television comprising:

a video display device;

a tuner, coupled to the video display device, configured to respond to commands from a user to tune one of a plurality of high definition digital broadcast channels received by the tuner for decoding and display by the video display device;

a network interface for communicating with a multimedia server via an internet protocol; and

a processing module that executes at least one access application, the processing module operable to;

generate authentication data associated with the television, wherein the multimedia server authenticates the television based on the authentication data;

generate a first video request based on a favorite channels list associated with the user of the television, the first video request identifying a video selection; and

command the network interface to send the first video request to the multimedia server, wherein the multimedia server generates a first video stream that includes the video selection in accordance with parental controls associated with the user of the television, and sends the first video stream to the television in accordance with pause and rewind commands received from the television, and wherein the multimedia server adapts a video quality of the first video stream based on an alternative video resolution selected by the television;

wherein the network interface receives the first video stream from the multimedia server for decoding and display by the video display device.

16. The television of claim 15 wherein the processing module is operable to:

generate a second video request, the second video request identifying a video program recorded by a digital video recorder and digitally stored in a memory of the digital video recorder, wherein the digital video recorder is separate from the multimedia server; and

command the network interface to send the second video request to the digital video recorder, wherein the network interface receives, from the digital video recorder, a second video stream that includes the video program;

wherein the video display device is further operable to decode and display the video program.

17. The television of claim 15 wherein the video display device is further operable to display a video program recorded and stored in a compressed video format by a set top box associated with the user of the television.

18. The television of claim 15 wherein the multimedia server is a set top box associated with the user of the television and wherein at least one video program is recorded and stored in a compressed video format by the set top box associated with the user of the television.

19. The television of claim 15 wherein the multimedia server is coupled to a set top box associated with the user of the television, wherein at least one video program is recorded and stored in a compressed video format by the set top box associated with the user of the television and wherein at least one command from the television is set to the set top box via the multimedia server that includes a second video request to the set top box, wherein the set top box generates a second video stream in response thereto.

20. The television of claim 15 wherein the network interface includes a wireless transceiver that operates in accordance with a wireless local area network protocol.