Method and apparatus for automatically associating media segments with broadcast media streams

• US 9,681,160 B2
• Filed: 06/22/2012
• Issued: 06/13/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tout
• Original Assignee: Tout
• Inventors: Downing, Michael, McIntire, John P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Srivastava, Vivek
• Assistant Examiner(s): Celani, Nicholas
• Application Number:
  US13/530,274
• Publication Number:
  US 20120331169A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,817 Days
• Field of Search: 709231
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23614 Multiplexing of additional data and video streams arrangements for simultaneous broadcast of plural pieces of information H04H20/28
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; 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 21/2665 Gathering content from different sources, e.g. Internet and satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2668 Creating a channel for a dedicated end-user group, e.g. insertion of targeted commercials based on end-user profiles information retrieval from the Internet by querying with filtering and personalisation G06F16/9535; arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast H04H20/10; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; adaptation of message content in packet-switching networks H04L51/063
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/278 Content descriptor database or directory service for end-user access details of content or meta data based information retrieval of video data in video databases G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4722 for requesting additional data associated with the content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8133 specifically related to the content, e.g. biography of the actors in a movie, detailed information about an article seen in a video program
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8456 by decomposing the content in the time domain, e.g. in time segments

Abstract

A method for creating a compound media stream includes obtaining a first media segment, obtaining a first matching criterion, and automatically associating the first media segment with an existing media stream to produce the compound media stream.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

storing a first video segment provided by a first user over a content distribution network, wherein the first video segment is tagged with a first set of metadata that includes a first tag specifying a venue at which the first video segment was filmed, and wherein the first video segment is stored in a database that limits respective durations of all video segments stored in the database, including the first video segment, to no longer than a defined maximum length;

identifying, using a processor, a live broadcast media stream that depicts the venue at which the first video segment was filmed by matching a second tag in a second set of metadata tagging the live broadcast stream to the first tag, wherein the live broadcast media stream is provided by a second user;

updating, using the processor, the live broadcast media stream to include the first video segment, thereby producing an updated live broadcast media stream;

identifying a third user who has indicated that he or she is currently present at the venue at which the first video segment was filmed;

responsive to the identifying the third user, distributing a hyperlink over the content distribution network to a mobile device operated by a third user to alert the third user to the existence of the updated live broadcast media stream; and

streaming the updated live broadcast media stream over the content distribution network to the mobile device operated by the third user upon activation of the hyperlink by the mobile device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the live broadcast media stream is longer in duration than the first video segment.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second user is a media broadcaster.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the live broadcast media stream is a news broadcast.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the news broadcast includes live footage of an event occurring at the venue at which the first video segment was filmed.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the first user is an attendee of the event, other than the media broadcaster.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting comprises:

delivering the live broadcast media stream, as updated, to the second user for distribution to consumers.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein a duration of the live broadcast media stream is unlimited and a duration of the updated live broadcast media stream is unlimited.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein a third tag included in the first set of metadata specifies a time period during which the first video segment was filmed.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein a third tag included in the first set of metadata specifies a time period during which the first video segment was received by a server.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the updated further comprises:

adding additional content other than the first video segment to the live broadcast media stream.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

subsequent to the streaming, updating the live broadcast media stream to include a second video segment different from the first video segment.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein a third tag included in the first set of metadata identifies an event that is depicted in the first video segment.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein a current location of the third user is dynamically changeable.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the first video segment is received from a communication device that also recorded the first video segment.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the venue is a public place.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the hyperlink is distributed to the third user without the third user explicitly requesting.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing a second video segment provided by a fourth user over the content distribution network, wherein the second video segment is tagged with a third set of metadata that includes a third tag identifying a venue at which the second video segment was filmed, wherein the second video segment is stored in the database;

detecting that the third tag matches the first tag; and

updating the updated live broadcast media stream to include the second video segment.

12. A non-transitory computer readable medium containing an executable program, where the executable program causes a processor to perform operations comprising:

storing a first video segment provided by a first user over a content distribution network, wherein the first video segment is tagged with a first set of metadata that includes a first tag specifying a venue that at which the first video segment was filmed, and wherein the first video segment is stored in a database that limits respective durations of all video segments stored in the database, including the first video segment, to no longer than a defined maximum length;

identifying a live broadcast media stream that depicts the venue at which the first video segment was filmed by matching a second tag in a second set of metadata tagging the live broadcast stream to the first tag, wherein the live broadcast media stream is provided by a second user;

updating, using the processor, the live broadcast media stream to include the first video segment, thereby producing an updated live broadcast media stream;

identifying a third user whose current presence at the venue at which the first video segment was filmed has been indicated in a profile associated with the third user;

responsive to the identifying the third user, distributing a hyperlink over the content distribution network to a mobile device operated by a third user to alert the third user to the existence of the updated live broadcast media stream; and

streaming the updated live broadcast media stream over the content distribution network to the mobile device operated by the third user upon activation of the hyperlink by the mobile device.

13. A system, comprising:

a processor; and

a computer readable medium containing an executable program that causes the processor to perform operations comprising;

storing a first video segment provided by a first user over a content distribution network, wherein the first video segment is tagged with a first set of metadata that includes a first tag specifying a venue at which the first video segment was filmed, and wherein the first video segment is stored in a database that imposes a limit on respective durations of all video segments stored in the database, including the first video segment, to no longer than a defined maximum length;

identifying a live broadcast media stream that depicts the venue at which the first video segment was filmed by matching a second tag in a second set of metadata tagging the live broadcast stream to the first tag, wherein the live broadcast media stream is provided by a second user;

updating, using the processor, the live broadcast media stream to include the first video segment, thereby producing an updated live broadcast media stream;

identifying a third user whose current presence at the venue at which the first video segment was filmed has been indicated in a profile associated with the third user;

responsive to the identifying the third user, distributing a hyperlink over the content distribution network to a mobile device operated by a third user to alert the third user to the existence of the updated live broadcast media stream; and

streaming the updated live broadcast media stream over the content distribution network to the mobile device operated by the third user upon activation of the hyperlink by the mobile device.