Method of transitioning content on user devices

• US 10,477,255 B2
• Filed: 05/08/2012
• Issued: 11/12/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mimik Technology Canada Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Mimik Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Sharif-Ahmadi, Seyed M., Arjomandi, Fay
• Primary Examiner(s): Bruckart, Benjamin R
• Assistant Examiner(s): Doshi, Akshay
• Application Number:
  US13/466,854
• Publication Number:
  US 20130125014A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,744 Days
• Field of Search: 725114, 725141
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/40 of multimedia data, e.g. slideshows comprising image and additional audio data retrieval of still image data G06F16/50; retrieval of audio data G06F16/60; retrieval of video data G06F16/70
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0835 One way packet loss
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0847 Transmission error
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0888 Throughput
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/756 adapting media to device capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/765 intermediate
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 for remote control or remote monitoring of applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1021 based on client or server locations
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/56 Provisioning of proxy services store-and-forward switching systems in data switching networks H04L12/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/565 Conversion or adaptation of application format or content adding application control or application functional data H04L67/561
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/42 Dynamic individual rates per user
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23113 involving housekeeping operations for stored content, e.g. prioritizing content for deletion because of storage space restrictions storage management, e.g. defragmentation G06F3/0604; snloading stored programs G06F9/445; housekeeping operations in file systems, e.g. deletion policies G06F16/10; buffering arrangements in a network node or in an end terminal in packet networks H04L49/90
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2343 involving reformatting operations of video signals for distribution or compliance with end-user requests or end-user device requirements video transcoding H04N19/40; media packet handling at the source H04L65/762
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25833 involving client hardware characteristics, e.g. manufacturer, processing or storage capabilities allocation of resources considering hardware capabilities in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/5044; allocation of resources considering software capabilities in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/5055
• 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 21/4183 : providing its own processing capabilities, e.g. external module for video decoding
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4263 : involving specific tuning arrangements, e.g. two tuners
• 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 21/4335 : Housekeeping operations, e.g. prioritizing content for deletion because of storage space restrictions storage management, e.g. defragmentation G06F3/0604; unloading stored programs G06F9/445; storage management in file systems G06F16/10; buffering arrangements in a network node or in an end terminal in packet networks H04L49/90
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 : Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/437 : Interfacing the upstream path of the transmission network, e.g. for transmitting client requests to a VOD server flow control in data networks H04L47/10; streaming protocols, e.g. RTP or RTCP, H04L65/65; scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests in data packet switching networks H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4402 : involving reformatting operations of video signals for household redistribution, storage or real-time display details of conversion of video standards at pixel level H04N7/01; video transcoding H04N19/40; adapting incoming signals to the display format of the display terminal G09G5/005; media handling at the source in data packet switching networks H04L65/764
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/440245 : the reformatting operation being performed only on part of the stream, e.g. a region of the image or a time segment
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44204 : Monitoring of content usage, e.g. the number of times a movie has been viewed, copied or the amount which has been watched monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; protecting generic digital content where the protection is independent of the precise nature of the content G06F21/10; arrangements for monitoring the use made of the broadcast services in broadcast systems H04H60/31
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44213 : Monitoring of end-user related data arrangements for monitoring the users' behaviour or opinions in broadcast systems H04H60/33
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44218 : Detecting physical presence or behaviour of the user, e.g. using sensors to detect if the user is leaving the room or changes his face expression during a TV program methods or arrangements for recognising human body or animal bodies or body parts G06V40/10; methods or arrangements for acquiring or recognising human faces, facial parts, facial sketches, facial expressions G06V40/16; methods or arrangements for recognising movements or behaviour G06V40/20; arrangements for identifying users in broadcast systems H04H60/45
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44226 : on social networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 : involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; 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 21/458 : Scheduling content for creating a personalised stream, e.g. by combining a locally stored advertisement with an incoming stream; Updating operations, e.g. for OS modules ; time-related management operations arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast or during the distribution H04H20/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4667 : Processing of monitored end-user data, e.g. trend analysis based on the log file of viewer selections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 : using movement velocity, acceleration information

Abstract

A method for a user to view a content stream on a first user device and transition to viewing the content on a second user device. The method includes presenting the content on the first user device that is connected and registered to a serving node. The serving node multiplexing the content, the multiplexed content streaming to the first user device through the serving node. The method further includes presenting a selectable menu option on the first user device for the user to continue viewing the content on the second user device registered to the serving node. The serving node continue to stream the multiplexed content to the second user device.

Claims

1. A method for a user to view content on a first user device and transition to viewing said content on a second user device, the method comprising:

presenting said content on said first user device, said first user device connected and registered to a serving node, said serving node transcoding said content for said first user device, said content streaming to said first user device through said serving node, wherein said content comprises different types of video content;

presenting a first selectable menu on said first user device for said user to select a start time and an end time of the content;

presenting a second selectable menu on said first user device for said user, with menu options;

to continue viewing said content on the second user device registered to said serving node, and

to continue viewing said content on the first user device and on the second user device, concurrently;

transcoding, by said serving node, upon a selection by said user to view said content on said second user device or on the first user device and the second user device, concurrently, said content for said second user device or for the first user device and the second user device, wherein said transcoding comprises encoding said content, wherein said encoding comprises extracting macroblock (MB) and block information from a bitstream of said content, wherein the MB and block information comprises a coding mode, a picture type, and DCT coefficients, wherein said encoding further comprises selectively reusing the MB and block information, and wherein the transcoding further comprises reusing motion information in the bitstream of the content;

reformatting, by said serving node, upon the selection by said user to view said content on said second user device, said transcoded content for said second user device in real-time, wherein the reformatting comprises identifying abilities of a player associated with said second user device;

multiplexing, by said serving node, said reformatted content, wherein said multiplexing comprises;

extracting another content from a specific content database, wherein the another content is rating information about the bitstream of said content, and

overlaying the another content to said reformatted content; and

continuing to stream, by said serving node, said multiplexed content to said second user device, or said transcoded content to the first user device and the second user device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said serving node transrates said content for said first user device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said serving node formats said content for said first user device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said serving node transrates said content for said second user device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said serving node is a Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) located at premises of the user.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein upon a selection by said user, said content is displayed simultaneously on both said first user device and said second user device.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said content is obtained from a source on the Internet.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said content is obtained from a television tuner in said serving node.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said content stops streaming on said first user device when said content is displayed on said second user device.

10. A system for transitioning content from a first user device to a second user device, the system comprising:

a serving node comprising a television tuner, a connection to the Internet, a transcoder module, and a transrating module,

wherein when the content is being streamed to said first user device, said serving node is configured to transcode the content for the first user device, wherein the content comprises different types of video content,

wherein said serving node is further configured to present a first selectable menu on said first user device for selecting a start time and an end time of the content,

wherein said serving node is further configured to present a second selectable menu on said first user device with;

a first menu option for viewing the content on said second user device, and

a second menu option for viewing the content on the first user device and the second user device, concurrently,

wherein upon a selection from said second selectable menu for viewing said content on said second user device or for viewing said content on said first user device and said second user device, concurrently, said serving node is further configured to transcode said content, for said second user device or for the first user device and the second user device, and communicate said transcoded content, to said second user device or to the first user device and the second user device, wherein to transcode said content, said transcoder module is configured to encode said content, wherein to encode said content, said transcoder module is configured to extract macroblock (MB) and block information from a bitstream of said content, wherein the MB and block information comprises a coding mode, a picture type, and DCT coefficients, wherein to encode said content, said transcoder module is further configured to selectively reuse the MB and block information, wherein to transcode said content, said transcoder module is further configured to reuse motion information in the bitstream of the content when transcoding said content for said second user device or for the first user device and the second user device, wherein upon the selection from said second selectable menu for viewing said content on said second user device, said serving node is further configured to reformat said transcoded content for said second user device in real-time, wherein to reformat said transcoded content, said serving node is configured to identify abilities of a player associated with said second user device, wherein said serving node is further configured to multiplex said reformatted content, wherein to multiplex said reformatted content, said serving node is configured to extract another content from a specific content database, wherein the another content is rating information about the bitstream of said content, and wherein to multiplex said reformatted content, said serving node is further configured to overlay the another content to said reformatted content.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the serving node is further configured to transrate said content for said first user device.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the serving node is further configured to transrate said content for said second user device.