Online forum for video distribution

• US 9,756,397 B1
• Filed: 12/10/2010
• Issued: 09/05/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Minerva Networks, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Minerva Networks, Inc.
• Inventors: Bonomi, Mauro, Fritsch, Jean-Georges, Sweeney, Patrick James, Osborne, Randolph, Morris, Jr., Charles Francis, Majors, Reed, Degrange, Francis Michel, Locke, Ian, Ng, Johnny C. Y., Cao, Yousheng, Liu, Li, Do, Nam Phu Thanh, Howe, Ronald D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Cai
• Application Number:
  US12/965,803
• Time in Patent Office: 2,461 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/72 using electronic programme guides [EPG] focusing on identifying broadcast space time H04H60/39 ; menu type display of EPG in television receivers H04N21/47
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2221 being a cable television head-end CATV in broadcast systems H04H20/78
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2543 Billing , e.g. for subscription services payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; e-commerce G06Q30/00; arrangements for billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/21
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25866 Management of end-user data customer care in data networks H04L41/5077
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2747 Remote storage of video programs received via the downstream path, e.g. from the server
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4333 Processing operations in response to a pause request
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• 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 21/47214 for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4854 for modifying image parameters, e.g. image brightness, contrast
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/60 Network structure or processes for video distribution between server and client or between remote clients; Control signalling between clients, server and network components; Transmission of management data between server and client , e.g. sending from server to client commands for recording incoming content stream; Communication details between server and client
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/816 involving special video data, e.g 3D video
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/147 Communication arrangements, e.g. identifying the communication as a video-communication, intermediate storage of the signals selecting H04Q
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/165 Centralised control of user terminal subsequent to an upstream request signal H04N7/17345; Registering at central by two-way working H04N7/17309
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17336 Handling of requests in head-ends

Abstract

Systems and methods for an online forum for video distribution are provided. A video file having a first format is received from a first client. The received video file is converted from the first format to a second format and is stored on a server, where the converted video file is accessible to a second client.

Claims

1. A method for providing an online forum for video distribution, the method comprising:

receiving video content having a first format from a first client via a network, wherein the video content comprises a user-provided video;

providing a plurality of format options in response to a video request received from a second client, wherein each format option corresponds to a version of the video content having different replay characteristics;

receiving a format selection from the plurality of format options by the second client;

automatically converting the received video content from the first format to a second format that complies with the received format selection;

verifying that the video content comprises a user-provided video;

storing the converted video content on a server, the converted video content being accessible by the second client and stored in a searchable archive on the server, wherein the searchable archive comprises a customer-specific personal vault maintained on the server, the personal vault being a personal rental space storing any of a personal video library, a personal journal, a calendar, address books, a bookmark, and combinations thereof, wherein the bookmark maintains a list of indexes identifying where indexed programs are stored in the personalized rental space; and

delivering the converted video content to the second client in the second format, wherein the second client is associated with a secondary account of the personal vault, the secondary account having restricted access to the personal vault relative to the first client.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the converted video content is associated with a webpage, the method further comprising:

receiving media information associated with the webpage from the second client, wherein the media information comprises at least one comment; and

associating the received media information with the webpage.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the webpage further comprises a link to related video content.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a bookmark request associated with the converted video content from the second client;

storing an indicator of the converted video content in a bookmark list associated with a second client account in response to receiving the bookmark request; and

providing the bookmark list to the second client when the second client account is accessed, the indicator being a hyperlink to the converted video content.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising providing access to the converted video content when authorization is received from the second client.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein a plurality of quality options comprises a plurality of versions of a represented media asset that can be delivered to the second client at different bit rates, wherein the delivering from the server comprises delivering a version of the converted video content at a bit rate corresponding to a quality selection.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein delivering the converted video content to the second client comprises streaming the converted video content to the second client via a web browser.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein delivering the converted video content to the second client comprises granting access to the second client to download the converted video content to storage that is accessible by the second client.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the received video content comprises content from the Internet, wherein the automatically converting the received video content from the first format to the second format comprises transcoding the received video content into a native format.

17. The method according to claim 1, further comprising, displaying on an electronic program guide a current time bar for the converted video content, wherein the current time bar is generated according to a current time in a media delivery center, further wherein a number of hours before or after the current time bar are displayed, the number of hours before or after the current time bar being configured by a viewer.

18. The method according to claim 1, wherein delivering the converted video content to the second client in the second format comprises forwarding the converted video content to the second client, the second client being associated with the secondary account, wherein the converted video content is forwarded to the second client from an adult account.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the adult account and the secondary account are sub-accounts of a family account.

10. A system for providing an online forum for video distribution, the system comprising:

a media delivery center that communicates with a first client via a network and with a second client via the network; and

a processor for executing instructions stored in memory to;

receive video content having a first format from the first client, wherein the video content comprises a user-provided video;

provide a plurality of format options in response to a video request received from a second client, wherein each format option corresponds to a version of the video content having different replay characteristics;

receive a format selection from the plurality of format options by the second client;

automatically convert the received video content from the first format to a second format that complies with the received format selection;

verify that the video content comprises a user-provided video;

store the converted video content in the memory, the converted video content being accessible by the second client and stored in a searchable archive within the memory, wherein the searchable archive comprises a customer-specific personal vault maintained on the server, the personal vault being a personal rental space storing any of a personal video library, a personal journal, a calendar, address books, a bookmark, and combinations thereof, wherein the bookmark maintains a list of indexes identifying where indexed programs are stored in the personalized rental space; and

deliver the converted video content to the second client in the second format, wherein the second client is associated with a secondary account of the personal vault, the secondary account having restricted access to the personal vault relative to the first client.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the converted video content is associated with a webpage, the processor being further configured to execute instructions stored in memory to:

receive media information associated with the webpage from the second client, wherein the media information comprises at least one comment; and

associate the received media information with the webpage.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the webpage further comprises a link to related video content.

13. The system of claim 10, the processor being further configured to execute instructions stored in memory to:

receive a bookmark request associated with the converted video content from the second client;

store an indicator of the converted video content in a bookmark list associated with a second client account in response to receiving the bookmark request; and

provide the bookmark list to the second client when the second client account is accessed, the indicator being a hyperlink to the converted video content.

14. The system of claim 13, the processor being further configured to execute instructions stored in memory to provide access to the converted video content when authorization is received from the second client.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein plurality of quality options comprises a plurality of versions of represented media asset that can be delivered to the second client at different bit rates, wherein the instructions stored in memory to deliver from the server comprise instructions stored in memory to deliver a version of the converted video content at a bit rate corresponding to quality selection.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein instructions stored in memory to deliver the converted video content to the second client comprise instructions stored in memory to stream the converted video content to the second client via a web browser.