USER CONTROLLED MULTI-DEVICE MEDIA-ON-DEMAND SYSTEM

• US 20070011709A1
• Filed: 07/20/2006
• Published: 01/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Rovi Technologies Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Katz, Neil, Stern, Edith, Willner, Barry, Semple, Bruce
• Application Number:
  US11/458,930
• Publication Number:
  US 20070011709A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/87
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23109 by placing content in organized collections, e.g. EPG data repository details of retrieval of video data and associated meta data in video databases G06F16/739
• 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 21/2393 involving handling client requests scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2402 Monitoring of the downstream path of the transmission network, e.g. bandwidth available traffic monitoring in data switching networks H04L43/00; monitoring data switching networks utilization H04L43/0876
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/242 Synchronization processes, e.g. processing of PCR [Program Clock References] arrangements for synchronising broadcast or distribution via plural systems in broadcast distribution systems H04H20/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25808 Management of client data terminal profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/303
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26208 the scheduling operation being performed under constraints
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2662 Controlling the complexity of the video stream, e.g. by scaling the resolution or bitrate of the video stream based on the client capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44209 Monitoring of downstream path of the transmission network originating from a server, e.g. bandwidth variations of a wireless network arrangements for maintenance or administration in data switching networks involving bandwidth and capacity management H04L41/0896
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47217 for controlling playback functions for recorded or on-demand content, e.g. using progress bars, mode or play-point indicators or bookmarks specific graphical features in visual interfaces H04N21/4312
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6582 Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8455 involving pointers to the content, e.g. pointers to the I-frames of the video stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A method for providing configurable access to media in a media-on-demand system also can include delivering the media to a first client device in a format compatible with the first client device; interrupting the delivery of the media; recording a bookmark specifying a position in the media where the interruption occurred; and resuming delivery of the media to a second client device, the resumed delivery beginning at a position in the media specified by the recorded bookmark. The method further can include identifying device properties for each of the first and second client devices; delivering the media to the first client device in a format compatible with the identified device properties for the first client device; and, delivering the media to the second client device in a format compatible with the identified device properties for the second client device.

Claims

1. A method for providing configurable access to media in a media-on-demand system comprising the steps of:

delivering the media to a first client device through a first communications link;

recording a bookmark specifying a position in the media; and

delivering the media to a second client device through a second communications link, said delivery to said second client device beginning at said position specified by said recorded bookmark.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

identifying device properties for each of said first and second client devices; and

,

delivering the media to said first and second client devices through said respectively established first and second communications links, the media delivered in a format compatible with said identified device properties.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the media is stored in a media-on-demand server (MODS) and delivered to said first and said second client devices via said first and said second communications link respectively.

4. The method according claim 3, wherein said step of delivering the media to said first client device via said first communications link, comprises:

receiving the media from said MODS in an intermediate server;

in said intermediate server, converting the media to a format compatible with said identified device properties of said first client device; and

delivering said converted media to said first client device via said first communications link.

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein said step of delivering the media to a second client device via said second communications link, comprises:

receiving the media in an intermediate server from said MODS;

in said intermediate server, converting the media to a format compatible with said identified device properties of said second client device; and

delivering said converted media to said second client device via said second communications link.

6. The method according claim 3, further comprising:

storing the media in selected ones of a plurality of media-on-demand servers, each MODS in said plurality of media-on-demand servers storing the media in at least one format compatible with a selected device type;

selecting a MODS for delivering the media to said first client device, said selected MODS having stored thereon the media in a format compatible with said first client device; and

delivering from said selected MODS the media in a format compatible with said first client device.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein said selecting step further comprises:

determining if a MODS is available for delivering the media to said first client device in a format compatible with said first client device;

if it is determined that a MODS is not available for delivering the media to said first client device in a format compatible with said first client device, selecting a MODS for delivering the media to said first client device, said selected MODS containing the media in a standard format, and converting the media in said standard format to a format compatible with said first client device.

8. The method according claim 3, further comprising:

storing the media in selected ones of a plurality of media-on-demand servers, each MODS in said plurality of media-on-demand servers storing the media in at least one format compatible with a selected device type;

selecting a MODS for delivering the media to said second client device, said selected MODS having stored thereon the media in a format compatible with said second client device; and

delivering from said selected MODS the media in a format compatible with said second client device.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein said selecting step further comprises:

determining if a MODS is available for delivering the media to said second client device in a format compatible with said second client device;

if it is determined that a MODS is not available for delivering the media to said second client device in a format compatible with said second client device, selecting a MODS for delivering the media to said second client device, said selected MODS containing the media in a standard format, and converting the media in said standard format to a format compatible with said second client device.

10. A user-controlled media-on-demand system comprising:

a media-on-demand server (MODS) for delivering media to client device sessions;

a first communications link between said MODS and a first client device session;

a second communications link between said MODS and a second client device session; and

,

a bookmark in said MODS specifying a position in said delivered media;

said MODS delivering media to said first client device session over said first communications link;

said MODS delivering said media to said second client device session over said second communications link beginning at said position specified by said bookmark.

11. The system according claim 10, wherein said first and second client device sessions reside in first and second client devices respectively.

12. The system according claim 10, wherein said first and second client device sessions reside in a single client device.

13. The system according claim 11, further comprising:

an intermediate server disposed between said MODS and said first and second client devices;

said intermediate server receiving said delivered media from said MODS;

said intermediate server identifying device properties for each of said client devices;

said intermediate server converting said delivered media to a media format compatible with said identified device properties for each client device; and

said intermediate server delivering said converted media to said client devices.

14. The system according claim 12, further comprising:

an intermediate server disposed between said MODS and said single client device;

said intermediate server receiving said delivered media from said MODS;

said intermediate server identifying device properties for said single client device;

said intermediate server converting said delivered media to a media format compatible with said identified device properties for said single client device; and

said intermediate server delivering said converted media to said single client device.

15. The system according to claim 10, further comprising:

a plurality of media-on-demand servers, each said MODS in said plurality of media-on-demand servers storing media in at least one format compatible with specific device properties; and

,

an intermediate server;

said intermediate server identifying device properties of a client device containing a client device session;

said intermediate server selecting a MODS in said plurality of media-on-demand servers for delivering said media to said client device;

said selected MODS storing said media in a format compatible with said identified device properties;

said selected MODS delivering said media to said client device in said format compatible with said identified device properties.

16. The system according claim 15, further comprising:

a backup MODS for storing media in a standard format; and

,

a conversion filter in said intermediate server;

said intermediate server determining if a MODS in said plurality of media-on-demand servers is available for delivering said media to a client device in a format compatible with said client device;

said intermediate server selecting said backup MODS if it is determined that no MODS is available for delivering media to said client device in a format compatible with said client device;

said backup MODS delivering said media to said intermediate server in said standard format;

said intermediate server converting said media to a format compatible with said client device in said conversion filter.

17. A method for providing configurable access to media in a media-on-demand system comprising:

delivering the media to a first client device in a format compatible with said first client device;

interrupting said delivery of said media;

recording a bookmark specifying a position in the media when said interruption occurred; and

resuming delivery of the media to a second client device, said resumed delivery beginning at a position in the media specified by said recorded bookmark.

18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising the steps of:

identifying a device type for each of said first and second client devices;

delivering the media to said first client device in a format compatible with said identified device type for said first client device; and

,

delivering the media to said second client device in a format compatible with said identified device type for said second client device.

19. A machine readable storage having stored thereon, a computer program having a plurality of code sections for providing configurable access to media in a media-on-demand system, said code sections executable by a machine for causing the machine to perform the steps of:

delivering the media to a first client device in a format compatible with said first client device;

interrupting said delivery of said media;

recording a bookmark specifying a position in the media where said interruption occurred; and

resuming delivery of the media to a second client device, said resumed delivery beginning at a position in the media specified by said recorded bookmark.

20. The machine readable storage according to claim 19, further comprising the steps of:

identifying a device type for each of said first and second client devices;

delivering the media to said first client device in a format compatible with said identified device type for said first client device; and

,

delivering the media to said second client device in a format compatible with said identified device type for said second client device.

21. A method for providing configurable access to media in a media-on-demand system comprising the steps of:

delivering the media to a first client device session through a first communications link;

recording a bookmark specifying a position in the media; and

delivering the media to a second client device session through a second communications link, said delivery to said second client device session beginning at said position specified by said recorded bookmark.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein said first and second client device sessions reside in a single client device.

23. The method according to claim 22, further comprising the steps of:

identifying device properties for said single client device; and

,

delivering the media to said first and second client device sessions in said single client device through said respectively established first and second communications links, the media delivered in a format suitable for said identified device properties.

24. The method according to claim 22, wherein the media is stored in a media-on-demand server (MODS) and delivered to said first and said second client device sessions via said first and said second communications link respectively.

25. The method according claim 24, wherein said step of delivering the media to said first and second client device sessions via said first and second communications links, comprises:

receiving the media from said MODS in an intermediate server;

in said intermediate server, converting the media to a format compatible with said identified device properties of said single client device; and

delivering said converted media to said first and second client device sessions via said first and second communications links respectively.

26. The method according claim 24, further comprising:

storing the media in selected ones of a plurality of media-on-demand servers, each MODS in said plurality of media-on-demand servers storing the media in at least one format compatible with a selected device type;

selecting a MODS for delivering the media to said single client device, said selected MODS having stored thereon the media in a format compatible with said single client device; and

delivering from said selected MODS the media in a format compatible with said single client device.

27. The method according to claim 26, wherein said selecting step further comprises:

determining if a MODS is available for delivering the media to said single client device in a format compatible with said single client device;

if it is determined that a MODS is not available for delivering the media to said single client device in a format compatible with said single client device, selecting a MODS for delivering the media to said single client device, said selected MODS containing the media in a standard format, and converting the media in said standard format to a format compatible with said single client device.