Aggregation of multiple media streams to a user

• US 10,032,199 B2
• Filed: 12/07/2012
• Issued: 07/24/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Cragun, Brian J., Garbow, Zachary A., Paterson, Kevin G., Pederson, Candace T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Minh Chau
• Application Number:
  US13/708,646
• Publication Number:
  US 20130097642A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,055 Days
• Field of Search: 709220-223
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0603 Catalogue ordering
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0621 Item configuration or customization
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23418 involving operations for analysing video streams, e.g. detecting features or characteristics television picture signal circuitry for scene change detection H04N5/147; filtering for image enhancement G06T5/00; methods or arrangements for recognising scenes G06V20/00; arrangements characterised by components specially adapted for monitoring, identification or recognition of video in broadcast systems H04H60/59
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25808 Management of client data terminal profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/303
• 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 21/8405 represented by keywords
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus

Abstract

A media stream aggregation mechanism receives and analyzes multiple media streams and creates an aggregate media stream output based on user preferences. In this manner a media provider that uses the media stream aggregation mechanism potentially may provide a customized presentation to each user based on user preferences. By providing the aggregation of multiple media streams to a user, the user'"'"'s experience is customized according to user preferences.

Claims

1. A method for an aggregation provider to provide an aggregated media stream to a user, the method comprising the steps of:

a media source provider that has a portable media source agreeing with the aggregation provider to provide a media stream from the portable media source that satisfies a media content specification that specifies how the media source provider provides the media stream of a live televised event, wherein the media content specification comprises device type of the portable media source, data type generated by the portable media source, media quality that specifies minimum resolution of the media stream generated by the portable media source, event type of the live televised event, and a plurality of views that each specify a direction for pointing the portable media source when generating the media stream of the live televised event;

the media source provider supplying the media stream of the live televised event to the aggregation provider based on the media content specification;

the aggregation provider analyzing embedded metadata in the media stream received from the media source provider, and determining based on the embedded metadata whether the media stream satisfies the media content specification;

when the media stream received from the media source provider does not satisfy the media content specification, not using the media stream in the aggregated media stream;

when the media stream received from the media source provider satisfies the media content specification, using at least a portion of the media stream in the aggregated media stream; and

sending the aggregated media stream to the user.

2. A method for a media aggregation provider to provide an aggregated media stream to a user, the method comprising the steps of:

agreeing with a plurality of media source providers to receive a plurality of media streams of a live televised event from a plurality of media sources controlled by the plurality of media source providers based on a media content specification that comprises device type of the portable media source, data type generated by the portable media source, media quality that specifies minimum resolution of the media stream generated by the portable media source, event type of the live televised event, and a plurality of views that each specify a direction for pointing the portable media source when generating the media stream of the live televised event;

receiving a request from the user for the aggregated media stream of the live televised event based on user preferences specified by the user, wherein the user preferences including minimum segment length, minimum quality, event, and location that specifies a point of view;

receiving at least two media streams for the live televised event from at least two of the plurality of media sources;

analyzing embedded metadata in each of the at least two media streams to determine based on the embedded metadata which of the at least two media streams satisfy the media content specification;

for each of the at least two media streams that satisfy the media content specification, processing the at least two media streams that satisfy the media content specification and generating therefrom the aggregated media stream according to media stream characteristics that include information regarding each of the plurality of media streams and according to the user preferences

sending the aggregated media stream to the user.