Placeshifting of adaptive media streams
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method executable by a home device to placeshift an adaptive media stream comprising a plurality of segments to a remote device via a network, the method comprising:
- initiating a gateway by the home device that allows a connection to be established from the remote device to the home device via the network;
receiving a series of segment requests from the remote device at the home device via the connection to the remote device, wherein each of the series of segment requests identifies one of the plurality of segments of the adaptive media stream available from a content source, and wherein the identified segment of the adaptive media stream is selected by the remote device;
obtaining, by the home device, the segment that is identified in each of the series of segment requests from the content source so that the home device obtains the segment that is selected by the remote device from the content source; and
forwarding each of the segments requested by the remote device and received from the content source to the remote device to thereby allow the remote device to assemble each of the segments of the adaptive media stream that were previously identified by the remote device and obtained from the content source via the home device for playback of the adaptive media stream on the remote device.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems, devices and methods are provided to support placeshifting of adaptive media streams. A home device acts as an intermediary that passes requests for segments of an adaptive stream from a remote device to a content source. The content source responds with the requested segments, which are forwarded to the remote device. A connection service may be provided to facilitate placeshifting sessions between home and remote devices.
36 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A method executable by a home device to placeshift an adaptive media stream comprising a plurality of segments to a remote device via a network, the method comprising:
-
initiating a gateway by the home device that allows a connection to be established from the remote device to the home device via the network; receiving a series of segment requests from the remote device at the home device via the connection to the remote device, wherein each of the series of segment requests identifies one of the plurality of segments of the adaptive media stream available from a content source, and wherein the identified segment of the adaptive media stream is selected by the remote device; obtaining, by the home device, the segment that is identified in each of the series of segment requests from the content source so that the home device obtains the segment that is selected by the remote device from the content source; and forwarding each of the segments requested by the remote device and received from the content source to the remote device to thereby allow the remote device to assemble each of the segments of the adaptive media stream that were previously identified by the remote device and obtained from the content source via the home device for playback of the adaptive media stream on the remote device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A home device to provide a placeshifted media stream comprising a plurality of segments to a remote device, the home device comprising:
-
an interface to a network; and a processor configured to; initiate a gateway via the interface that allows a connection to be initiated from the remote device to the home device; receive a series of segment requests via the connection to the remote device, wherein each of the series of segment requests identifies one of the plurality of segments of the adaptive media stream available from a content source that is selected by the remote device; obtain the segment selected by the remote device that is from the content source on behalf of the remote device; and forward each of the obtained segments from the home device to the remote device to thereby allow the remote device to assemble each of the segments of the adaptive media stream that were previously identified and requested by the remote device and obtained from the content source via the home device for playback of the adaptive media stream on the remote device. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
-
-
12. A method executable by a remote media player device that communicates on a network and that is operable by a user, the method comprising:
-
receiving a selection of a media program available from a content source on the network that is to be played back for the user, wherein the selected media program is represented by an adaptive media stream comprising a series of segments that is viewable on the remote media player device; contacting a connection service on the network to locate a home device that is associated with the user and that is distinct from the content source; after locating the home device, the remote media player device selecting particular segments of the adaptive media stream representing the selected media program and requesting the particular segments selected by the remote media player device from the home device to thereby allow the home device to obtain the particular segments of the adaptive media stream representing the selected program from the content source; receiving the particular segments of the media stream from the home device at the remote media player device; and assembling the segments of the media stream that were identified and requested by the remote media player device and received from the content source via the home device by the remote media player device for playback of the selected media program to the user. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A remote media player device to play back an adaptive media stream comprising a plurality of segments for a user, the remote device comprising:
-
an interface to a network; and a processor configured to; receive a selection of a media program available from a content source on the network that is to be played back for the user, wherein the selected media program is represented by an adaptive media stream comprising a series of segments; contact a connection service on the network to locate a home device that is associated with the user and that is distinct from the content source; select, after locating the home device, particular segments of the adaptive media stream representing the selected media program; request the particular segments from the home device to thereby allow the home device to obtain the requested particular segments of the adaptive media stream selected by the remote media player device from the content source; receive the particular segments of the media stream obtained from the content source by the home device from the home device; and assemble the segments of the adaptive media stream that were selected and requested from the content source via the home device and received by the remote media player device for playback of the selected media program available from the content source to the user. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
-
Specification