System for providing content, management, and interactivity for thin client devices

• US 20020013852A1
• Filed: 04/24/2001
• Published: 01/31/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Intellectual Ventures Assets 186 LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Intellectual Ventures Assets 186 LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Janik, Craig
• Application Number:
  US09/841,268
• Publication Number:
  US 20020013852A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/231
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2856 Access arrangements, e.g. Internet access asynchronous transfer mode networks H04L12/5601; broadband local area networks H04L12/2801; optical access or distribution networks H04Q11/0067; access to open networks H04L12/5691; digital subscriber line end-user equipment and bit-level processing of data on a PSTN-based network H04M11/00; home network gateways H04L12/2834; wireless access networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2861 Point-to-multipoint connection from the data network to the subscribers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2876 Handling of subscriber policies group policies management H04L41/0893
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2898 Subscriber equipments DSL modems H04M11/062; cable modems H04L12/2801
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/103 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/104 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/401 wherein the services involve a main real-time session and one or more additional parallel real-time or time sensitive sessions, e.g. white board sharing or spawning of a subconference
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/289 Intermediate processing functionally located close to the data consumer application, e.g. in same machine, in same home or in same sub-network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services
• 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: H04L 67/567 Integrating service provisioning from a plurality of service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/568 Storing data temporarily at an intermediate stage, e.g. caching
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/62 Establishing a time schedule for servicing the requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 : in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 : having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4135 : external recorder interface circuits between an apparatus for recording television signals and a television receiver H04N5/775
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 : embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4143 : embedded in a Personal Computer [PC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4331 : Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 : involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4437 : Implementing a Virtual Machine [VM] virtual machines in general G06F9/45533
• 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 21/478 : Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4825 : using a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlists
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8113 : comprising music, e.g. song in MP3 format
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8153 : comprising still images, e.g. texture, background image

Abstract

A system is provided for delivering Internet and digital content to a variety of thin client devices. A web portal for accessing and selecting content is used in conjunction with graphical user interfaces on a personal computer for setting up and controlling the content channels. The user interfaces, scheduling, and communication management are controlled by a system control software application running on a local server with an Internet connection. A high speed local area network provides for streaming content from the Internet or local server to thin client devices. A digital audio playback device is connected to the local server via the local area network connection and decodes streamed audio files, and converts them into analog audio signals for input into a conventional stereo. Digital content is streamed automatically from the local server to another Internet playback device, based on end user content preferences and schedule selections.

Claims

1. A system for channeling content to computer devices, comprising in combination,

a connection to the Internet,

a local server with a mass storage device,

a web site for providing access to content selections,

a means for associating a content selection for streaming with a client device,

a local area network connecting the local server to a client device, and

a client device for receiving and decoding content selections.

2. The system of claim 1 where the client device is a digital audio decoder.

3. The system of claim 1 where the means for associating a content selection for streaming with a client device is a drag and droppable content object.

4. The system of claim 1 where the mass storage device is a personal computer.

5. The system of claim 1 where the mass storage device is a storage gateway.

6. The system of claim 1 where the mass storage device is a storage gateway peripheral.

7. The system of claim 1 where the local area network is a wireless network.

8. The system of claim 1 where the client device is a webpad.

9. A method for delivering digital content from to client computer devices including:

a. Associating a content selection with a client device.

b. Activating the streaming of the content selection to the client device, via a local storage device.

10. The method of claim 9 where the association between a content selection and a client device is a drag and drop interface between and web page and a content editor on a PC.

11. The method of claim 9 where the client device is a digital audio decoder.

12. The method of claim 9 where the activation of the streaming of the content selection is performed at the client device.

13. The method of claim 9 where the local storage device is a storage gateway.

14. The method of claim 9 where the local storage device is a storage gateway peripheral.

15. A system for channeling content to client devices, comprising in combination,

a local computing and mass storage device comprising a hard disk drive, a

microprocessor, and a local area network connection,

a broadband connection for connecting the local computing device to the Internet,

Content objects located on a web page on the Internet,

a means for associating content objects located on the Internet with content object editors on the local computing device whereby content represented by content objects is downloaded and stored on the local computing device, and,

a means for streaming content stored on the local computing device to client devices.

16. The system of claim 15 where the local computing device is a storage gateway.

17. The system of claim 15 where the local computing device is a storage gateway peripheral.

18. The system of claim 15 where the means for associating content objects on the Internet with content object editors on the local computing device is a drag and drop interface.

19. The system of claim 15 where the client device is a audio playback device.

20. The system of claim 15 where the client device is a webpad.