Methods, systems, and storage mediums for providing multi-viewpoint media sharing of proximity-centric content

• US 20050188399A1
• Filed: 02/24/2004
• Published: 08/25/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Tischer, Steven
• Granted Patent: US 8,171,516 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/21805 enabling multiple viewpoints, e.g. using a plurality of cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25875 involving end-user authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; arrangements for secret or secure communication including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• 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 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4751 for defining user accounts, e.g. accounts for children
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4753 for user identification, e.g. by entering a PIN or password cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4788 communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/16 Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments of the invention relate to methods, systems, and storage mediums for providing multi-viewpoint, media-sharing activities related to proximity-centric media content associated with an event whereby the media-sharing activities are performed via portable communications devices. The method includes identifying an alternate feed of media content by a first portable communications device that was captured by a second portable communications device at the event. The method also includes performing real-time auditioning of the media content by the first portable communications device for assessing a vantage point of the media content with respect to the event. The method further includes receiving the alternate feed of media content at the first portable communications device in response to a request transmitted by the first portable communications device. The first portable communications device and the second portable communications device are in geographic propinquity of the event.

Claims

1. A method for providing multi-viewpoint media-sharing activities related to proximity-centric media content associated with an event, said media-sharing activities performed via portable communications devices, said method comprising:

identifying an alternate feed of media content by a first portable communications device, said alternate feed of media content captured by a second portable communications device at said event;

performing real-time auditioning of said media content by said first portable communications device operable for assessing a vantage point of said media content with respect to said event; and

receiving said alternate feed of media content at said first portable communications device in response to a request transmitted by said first portable communications device;

wherein said first portable communications device and said second portable communications device are in geographic propinquity of said event.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting said media content received by said first portable communications device via said alternate feed to a remote communications device.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said remote communications device includes at least one of:

a portable telephone;

a wireline telephone;

a desktop computer;

a laptop computer; and

a personal digital assistant.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein said remote communications device comprises an information generation component, said information-generation component performing measurements;

wherein said information-generation component comprises at least one of;

an altimeter operable for measuring altitude of said portable communications device;

an accelerometer operable for measuring speed of a target subject;

a global positioning system operable for identifying and transmitting physical coordinates of said portable communications device;

a temperature-measuring sensor operable for measuring internal or ambient temperature;

a motion-measuring sensor operable for detecting movement;

a biometrics sensor; and

a sound-measuring sensor;

wherein said measurements are transmittable by said portable communications device.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein said alternate feed of media content comprises at least one of:

a video stream;

a digital image; and

voice data.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein said alternate feed of media content comprises at least one of:

altitude;

speed;

physical coordinates;

temperature;

movement;

biology phenomena; and

sound.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said portable communications devices comprise at least one of a:

cellular telephone;

personal digital assistant;

digital camera phone; and

video camera phone.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said portable communications devices include an information-generation component, said information-generation component performing measurements;

wherein said information-generation component comprises at least one of;

an altimeter operable for measuring altitude of said portable communications device;

an accelerometer operable for measuring speed of a target subject;

a global positioning system operable for identifying and transmitting physical coordinates of said portable communications device;

a temperature-measuring sensor operable for measuring internal or ambient temperature;

a motion-measuring sensor operable for detecting movement;

a biometrics sensor; and

a sound-measuring sensor;

wherein said measurements are transmittable by said portable communications devices.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said identifying an alternate feed of media content is accomplished via a sensor on said second portable communications device, said sensor transmitting a broadcast signal via a peer-to-peer network operable for enabling said first portable communications device to discover it.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said identifying an alternate feed of media content is accomplished by a telecommunications system that identifies portable communications devices that are proximally close and providing contact information to said portable communications devices.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said performing real-time auditioning of said media content includes:

receiving via transmission said alternate feed of media content; and

evaluating desirability of said alternate feed of media content for a limited time before making a determination whether to accept said alternate feed of media content.

12. A method for providing multi-viewpoint media-sharing activities related to proximity-centric media content associated with an event, comprising:

providing an alternate feed of media content to a portable communications device, said alternate feed of media content provided by a multi-network relay system associated with said event in response to a request to access said alternate feed of media content;

wherein said portable communications device is in geographic propinquity of said event.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising

providing an alternate feed of media content to a remote communications device, said alternate feed of media content provided by a multi-network relay system associated with said event in response to a request to access said alternate feed of media content.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

providing supplemental content to said portable communications device, said supplemental content comprising at least one of;

advertising data;

future event information;

discount offers on event merchandise; and

interviews conducted with an event host.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

providing collaborative capabilities to said portable communications device, said collaborative capabilities including at least one of;

opinion polling;

contest participation; and

voting functions.

16. A storage medium encoded with machine-readable computer program code for providing multi-viewpoint media-sharing activities related to proximity-centric media content associated with an event, said media-sharing activities performed via portable communications devices, said storage medium including instructions for causing said portable communication device to implement a method comprising:

identifying an alternate feed of media content by a first portable communications device, said alternate feed of media content captured by a second portable communications device at said event;

performing real-time auditioning of said media content by said first portable communications device operable for assessing an optimal vantage point of said media content with respect to said event; and

receiving said alternate feed of media content at said first portable communications device in response to a request transmitted by said first portable communications device;

wherein said first portable communications device and said second portable communications device are in geographic propinquity of said event.

17. The storage medium of claim 16, further comprising instructions for causing said portable communications device to implement:

transmitting said media content received by said first portable communications device via said alternate feed to a remote communications device.

18. The storage medium of claim 17 wherein said remote communications device includes at least one of:

a portable telephone;

a wireline telephone;

a desktop computer;

a laptop computer; and

a personal digital assistant.

19. The storage medium of claim 17, wherein said remote communications device comprises an information generation component, said information-generation component performing measurements;

wherein said information-generation component comprises at least one of;

an altimeter operable for measuring altitude of said portable communications device;

an accelerometer operable for measuring speed of a target subject;

a global positioning system operable for identifying and transmitting physical coordinates of said portable communications device;

a temperature-measuring sensor operable for measuring internal or ambient temperature;

a motion-measuring sensor operable for detecting movement;

a biometrics sensor; and

a sound-measuring sensor;

wherein said measurements are transmittable by said portable communications device.

20. The storage medium of claim 18, wherein said alternate feed of media content comprises at least one of:

a video stream;

a digital image; and

voice data.

21. The storage medium of claim 19, wherein said alternate feed of media content comprises at least one of:

altitude;

speed;

physical coordinates;

temperature;

movement;

biology phenomena; and

sound.

22. The storage medium of claim 16, wherein said portable communications devices comprise at least one of a:

cellular telephone;

personal digital assistant;

digital camera phone; and

video camera phone.

23. The storage medium of claim 22, wherein said portable communications devices include an information-generation component, said information-generation component performing measurements;

wherein said information-generation component comprises at least one of;

an altimeter operable for measuring altitude of said portable communications device;

an accelerometer operable for measuring speed of a target subject;

a global positioning system operable for identifying and transmitting physical coordinates of said portable communications device;

a temperature-measuring sensor operable for measuring internal or ambient temperature;

a motion-measuring sensor operable for detecting movement;

a biometrics sensor; and

a sound-measuring sensor;

wherein said measurements are transmittable by said portable communications devices.

24. The storage medium of claim 16, wherein said identifying an alternate feed of media content is accomplished via a sensor on said second portable communications device, said sensor transmitting a broadcast signal via a peer-to-peer network operable for enabling said first portable communications device to discover it.

25. The storage medium of claim 16, wherein said identifying an alternate feed of media content is accomplished by a telecommunications system that identifies portable communications devices that are proximally close and providing contact information to said portable communications devices.

26. The storage medium of claim 16, wherein said performing real-time auditioning of said media content includes:

receiving via transmission said alternate feed of media content; and

evaluating desirability of said alternate feed of media content for a limited time before making a determination whether to accept said alternate feed of media content.

27. A storage medium for providing multi-viewpoint media-sharing activities related to proximity-centric media content associated with an event, said storage medium including instructions for causing a server to implement a method, comprising:

providing an alternate feed of media content to a portable communications device, said alternate feed of media content provided by a multi-network relay system associated with said event in response to a request to access said alternate feed of media content;

wherein said portable communications device is in geographic propinquity of said event.

28. The storage medium of claim 27, further comprising instructions for causing said server to implement:

providing an alternate feed of media content to a remote communications device, said alternate feed of media content provided by a multi-network relay system associated with said event in response to a request to access said alternate feed of media content.

29. The storage medium of claim 27, further comprising instructions for causing said server to implement:

providing supplemental content to said portable communications device, said supplemental content comprising at least one of;

advertising data;

future event information;

discount offers on event merchandise; and

interviews conducted with an event host.

30. The storage medium of claim 27, further comprising instructions for causing said server to implement:

providing collaborative capabilities to said portable communications device, said collaborative capabilities including at least one of;

opinion polling;

contest participation; and

voting functions.

31. A system for providing multi-viewpoint media-sharing activities related to proximity-centric media content associated with an event, comprising:

a first portable communications device;

a second portable communications device in geographic propinquity of said first portable communications device; and

a multi-viewpoint media access system executing on said first portable communications device and said second portable communications device;

wherein said multi-viewpoint media access system performs;

identifying an alternate feed of media content, said alternate feed of media content originating from said second portable communications device at said event;

receiving a request to perform real-time auditioning of said media content by said first portable communications device operable for assessing a vantage point of said media content with respect to said event; and

upon selecting said alternate feed of media content by said first portable communications device, receiving said alternate feed at said first portable communications device.

32. The system of claim 31, further comprising an information-generation component residing on at least one of said first portable communications device and said second portable communications device, said information-generation component performing measurements and including at least one of:

an altimeter operable for measuring altitude of said portable communications device;

an accelerometer operable for measuring speed of a target subject;

a global positioning system operable for identifying and transmitting physical coordinates of said portable communications device;

a temperature-measuring sensor operable for measuring internal or ambient temperature;

a motion-measuring sensor operable for detecting movement;

a biometrics sensor; and

a sound-measuring sensor;

wherein said measurements are transmittable by said portable communications device.