Media content distribution system and method

• US 20040255327A1
• Filed: 06/12/2003
• Published: 12/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Resource Consortium Limited, LLC
• Original Assignee: Digital Deck, Inc.
• Inventors: Scheelke, Erik Arthur
• Application Number:
  US10/461,142
• Publication Number:
  US 20040255327A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/86
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2834 Switching of information between an external network and a home network access arrangements H04L12/2856
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2836 Protocol conversion between an external network and a home network controlling appliance services of a home automation network from a device located outside the home and the home network H04L12/2818; protocol conversion H04L69/08; adaptation of digital video signals for transport over a specific home network H04N7/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0817 by checking functioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1043 Gateway controllers, e.g. media gateway control protocol [MGCP] controllers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4821 using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64723 Monitoring of network processes or resources, e.g. monitoring of network load traffic related reporting in data switching networks H04L43/062
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/20 Adaptations for transmission via a GHz frequency band, e.g. via satellite

Abstract

A media content distribution system comprising a media source unit for transmitting media content, a media destination unit for receiving media content, and a media management unit for accepting inputs from the media source unit and outputting to the media destination unit. The system allows for redirecting media content directly from the media source unit to the media destination unit by an alternating path when the media management unit fails. The distribution system further includes a set of protocols and behaviors in the media source unit and the media destination unit to insure that in the case of failure by the media management unit, the media source unit and the media destination unit will become aware of the failure and redirect the media content along an alternate path to the user.

Claims

1. A media content distribution system comprising:

a) a media source unit for transmitting media content;

b) a media destination unit for receiving the media content;

c) a media management unit for accepting inputs from the media source unit and directing the media content to the media destination unit along a first path; and

d) means for redirecting the media content from the media source unit to the media destination unit along an alternate path in case the media management unit fails.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the media content is produced from a satellite or cable service provider.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the media content is produced from radio.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the media content is produced from a computer.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the media content is produced from a consumer electronic device, such as a DVD player, VCR, CD player, cassette player or laserdisc player.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the media source unit is a transmitter unit.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the media destination unit is a receiver unit.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the media management unit is a switcher or computer.

9. The system of claim 1, further including an encoder means for encoding the media content from the media source unit.

10. The system of claim 1, further including a decoder means for decoding the media content from the media destination unit.

11. The system of claim 1, further including means for keeping track in memory the media source unit requested in response to when the media management unit fails.

12. The system of claim 1, further including an output device coupled to the media destination unit.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the output device is a television or LCD panel.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the output device is a computer or stereo receiver.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the alternate path is a back-up media management unit.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the alternate path is a direct signal path.

17. A method of distributing media content, comprising the steps of:

a) transmitting media content from a media source unit to a media management unit;

b) receiving the media content from the media management unit along a first path; and

c) redirecting the media content from the media source unit to a media destination unit along an alternate path in case tie media management unit fails.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the media content is produced from a satellite or cable set top box.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the media content is produced from radio.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the media content is produced from a computer.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the media content is produced from a consumer electronic device, such as a DVD player, VCR, CD player, cassette player or laserdisc player.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein the media source unit is a transmitter unit.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein the media destination unit is a receiver unit.

24. The method of claim 17, wherein the media management unit is a switcher or computer.

25. The method of claim 17, further including an encoder means for encoding the media content from the media source unit.

26. The method of claim 17, further including a decoder means for decoding the media content from the media destination unit.

27. The method of claim 17, further including means for keeping track in memory the media source unit requested in response to when the media management unit fails.

28. The method of claim 17, wherein the media destination unit outputs the media content to an output device.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the output device is a television or LCD panel.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein the output device is a computer or stereo receiver.

31. The method of claim 17, wherein the alternate path is a back-up media management unit.

32. The method of claim 17, wherein the alternate path is a direct signal path.

33. A media content distribution system comprising:

a) means for transmitting media content from a media source unit to a media management unit;

b) means for receiving the media content from the media management unit along a first path; and

c) means for redirecting the media content from the media source unit to the media destination unit along an alternate path in case the media management unit fails.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the media content is produced from a satellite or cable set top box.

35. The system of claim 33, wherein the media content is produced from radio.

36. The system of claim 33, wherein the media content is produced from a computer.

37. The system of claim 33, wherein the media content is produced from a consumer electronic device, such as a DVD player, VCR, CD player, cassette player or laserdisc player.

38. The system of claim 33, wherein the media source unit is a transmitter unit.

39. The system of claim 33, wherein the media destination unit is a receiver unit.

40. The system of claim 33, wherein the media management unit is a switcher or computer.

41. The system of claim 33, further including an encoder means for encoding the media content from the media source unit.

42. The system of claim 33, further including a decoder means for decoding the media content from the media destination unit.

43. The system of claim 33, further including means for keeping track in memory the media source unit requested in response to when the media management unit fails.

44. The system of claim 33, further including an output device coupled to the media destination unit.

45. The system of claim 44, wherein the output device is a television or LCD panel.

46. The system of claim 44, wherein the output device is a computer or stereo receiver.

47. The system of claim 33, wherein the alternate path is a back-up media management unit.

48. The system of claim 33, wherein the alternate path is a direct signal path.