Combined broadcast and backchannel delivery of streaming content

• US 9,743,140 B2
• Filed: 07/27/2015
• Issued: 08/22/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: White, Payton R., Detwiler, Stephen C., Zalewski, Gary M.
• Primary Examiner(s): GREENE, JOSEPH L
• Application Number:
  US14/810,233
• Publication Number:
  US 20160192001A1
• Time in Patent Office: 757 Days
• Field of Search: 709231
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/611 for multicast or broadcast systems for broadcast or conference H04L12/18; arrangements for broadcast or distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/00; arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time H04H60/00; selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS], H04W4/06
• 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 21/26258 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 21/42607 for processing the incoming bitstream
• 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 7/24 Systems for the transmission of television signals using pulse code modulation H04N21/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/52 Systems for transmission of a pulse code modulated video signal with one or more other pulse code modulated signals, e.g. an audio signal or a synchronizing signal assembling of a multiplex stream by combining a video stream with other content or additional data, remultiplexing of multiplex streams, insertion of stuffing bits into the multiplex stream, assembling of a packetised elementary stream at server side H04N21/236; disassembling of a multiplex stream, remultiplexing of multiplex streams, extraction or processing of Service Information, disassembling of packetised elementary stream at client side H04N21/434
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/54 the signals being synchronous H04N21/23602, H04N21/23614, H04N21/2365, H04N21/2368, H04N21/4341, H04N21/4342, H04N21/4347, H04N21/4348 take precedence

Abstract

Streaming content may be delivered through a combination of broadcast and a backchannel. A desired streamlet may be selected from the packet of information and presented with a display. A remainder of a data stream associated with the streamlet may be requested and received from via a backchannel while the desired streamlet is being presented. The remaining data stream may then be presented with the display.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

a) selecting a desired streamlet from a packet of information from a broadcast signal containing one or more streamlets and a table of contents associated with the streamlets, wherein the table of contents includes information identifying what content is available within the packet of information, wherein each said streamlet is an ordered grouping of multiple data packets that correspond to a presentable portion of a larger unit of streaming data that is associated with the streamlet;

b) presenting the desired streamlet with a display associated with the receiving device;

c) requesting a remainder of the larger unit of streaming data associated with the desired streamlet by the receiving device from a data stream source separate from the broadcast source while the desired streamlet is being presented;

d) receiving the remainder of the larger unit of streaming data associated with the desired streamlet via a backchannel from the data stream source while the desired streamlet is being presented, wherein the backchannel is implemented by a mode of communication other than a broadcast signal from a broadcast source that transmitted the packet of information; and

e) presenting the remainder of the larger unit of streaming data associated with the desired streamlet with a display associated with the receiving device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein c) includes requesting the remainder of the data stream associated with the desired streamlet through the backchannel.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising before a) storing the information packet in a memory associated with the receiving device.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the broadcast signal is a digital broadcast signal.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the packet of information includes two or more streamlets.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the information included in the table of contents identifies what content is available in each of the two or more streamlets.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein a) includes selecting the desired streamlet from among the two or more streamlets using the information in the table of contents.

8. An apparatus for receiving streaming content, comprising:

a computer processor;

a memory coupled to the processor;

a backchannel communication link coupled to the processor; and

a set of computer executable instructions that when executed by the processor cause the receiving device to implement a method for receiving streaming content, the method comprising;

a) selecting a desired streamlet from a packet of information from a broadcast signal containing one or more streamlets and a table of contents associated with the streamlets, wherein the table of contents includes information identifying what content is available within the packet of information, wherein each said streamlet is an ordered grouping of multiple data packets that correspond to a presentable portion of a larger unit of streaming data that is associated with the streamlet;

b) presenting the desired streamlet with a display coupled to the processor;

c) requesting a remainder of the larger unit of streaming data associated with the desired streamlet by the receiving apparatus from a data stream source separate from the broadcast source while the desired streamlet is being presented;

d) receiving the remainder of the larger unit of streaming data associated with the desired streamlet through the backchannel communication link from the data stream source while the desired streamlet is being presented, wherein the backchannel is implemented by a mode of communication other than a broadcast signal from the broadcast source; and

e) presenting the remainder of the larger unit of streaming data associated with the desired streamlet with the display.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the information packet is stored in the memory.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a motion sensor coupled to the processor, wherein the apparatus is configured to receive an updated packet of information in response to a trigger signal from the motion sensor.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a tuning device coupled to the processor.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the tuning device is configured to receive a digital broadcast signal.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the packet of information includes two or more streamlets.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the information included in the table of contents identifies what content is available in each of the two or more streamlets.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein b) includes selecting the desired streamlet from among the two or more streamlets using the information in the table of contents.

16. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising the display coupled to the processor.

17. A method for distributing streaming content, comprising:

a) receiving or generating a packet of information containing one or more streamlets and a table of contents associated with the streamlets, wherein the table of contents identifies content available within the packet of information, wherein each of the one or more streamlets comprises a portion of a corresponding one or more larger data streams; and

b) broadcasting the packet of information in the form of a digital broadcast signal.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the table of contents includes information usable by a broadcast receiving device to obtain a data stream associated with one or more of the streamlets in the data packet.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein at least one streamlet includes information usable by a broadcast receiving device to obtain a data stream associated with at least one streamlet.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein a) includes broadcasting the packet of information via a rotational scheme wherein an entire streamlet of the packet is broadcast before a subsequent streamlet of the packet is broadcast.

21. The method of claim 20 the packet of information is broadcast repetitively.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein a) includes broadcasting the packet of information via an interweaving scheme wherein initial portions of each streamlet in the packet of information are broadcast in order, followed by the table of contents, followed by subsequent portions of each of the streamlets, followed again by the table of contents.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein broadcast of the packet of information according to the interweaving scheme repeats after a last portion of each individual streamlet has been broadcast.

24. The method of claim 17, wherein a) includes broadcasting the packet of information via a tiered scheme, wherein the streamlets in the packet of information are broadcast at a repetition rate based on a tiered prioritization, wherein streamlets of a lower priority are sent at a longer periodicity than streamlets of a higher priority.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the packet of information repeats itself after a last streamlet in the packet and the table of contents have been broadcast.

26. The method of claim 17, wherein a) includes broadcasting the table of contents with an expiration, wherein the expiration informs a receiving device to receive an updated packet of information upon the expiration of the table of contents.

27. A digital broadcast system, comprising:

a) broadcaster configured to receive or generate a packet of information containing one or more streamlets and a table of contents associated with the streamlets, wherein the table of contents identifies content available within the packet of information, wherein each of the one or more streamlets comprises a portion of a corresponding one or more larger data streams; and

b) a transmitter configured to broadcast the packet of information in the form of a digital broadcast signal.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the table of contents includes information usable by a broadcast receiving device to obtain a data stream associated with one or more of the streamlets in the data packet.

29. The system of claim 27, wherein at least one streamlet includes information usable by a broadcast receiving device to obtain a data stream associated with at least one streamlet.

30. The system of claim 27, wherein the transmitter is configured to broadcast the packet of information via a rotational scheme wherein an entire streamlet of the packet is broadcast before a subsequent streamlet of the packet is broadcast.

31. The system of claim 27, wherein the transmitter is configured to broadcast the packet of information via an interweaving scheme wherein portions of each streamlet in the packet of information are broadcast in order, followed by the table of contents, followed by subsequent portions of the individual streamlets, followed again by the table of contents, until each streamlet has been received by the user in full.

32. The system of claim 27, wherein the transmitter is configured to broadcast the packet of information via a tiered scheme, wherein the streamlets in the packet of information are broadcast at a repetition rate based on a tiered prioritization, wherein streamlets of a lower priority are sent at a longer periodicity than streamlets of a higher priority.

33. The system of claim 27, wherein the table of contents includes an expiration, wherein the expiration informs a receiving device to receive an updated packet of information upon the expiration of the table of contents.