Techniques For Client Device Dependent Filtering Of Metadata

• US 20110219097A1
• Filed: 03/01/2011
• Published: 09/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation (Dolby Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation (Dolby Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Crockett, Brett Graham
• Application Number:
  US13/037,577
• Publication Number:
  US 20110219097A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/16 Combinations of two or more digital computers each having at least an arithmetic unit, a program unit and a register, e.g. for a simultaneous processing of several programs coordinating program control therefor G06F9/52; in regulating and control system G05B
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/303 Terminal profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2353 specifically adapted to content descriptors, e.g. coding, compressing or processing of metadata
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4884 for displaying subtitles
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses for media data communication for improved bandwidth utilization are provided. A client device communicates profile information to a server. The server maintains media content data and first metadata category information associated with the media content data. Based upon the profile information, a determination is made as to whether the client device is to utilize the first metadata category information. If to be utilized, media content data as well as the first metadata category information is provided to the client device. If a non-utilization determination is made, media content data is provided without the first metadata category information. In exemplary embodiments, first metadata category information can relate to any of the following: closed captioning, speaker virtualization, three dimensional rendering, global positioning, audio and/or video codecs, volume control, and the like.

Claims

1. A method for media data communication by a computerized server, the method comprising:

receiving profile information of a client device by the computerized server;

maintaining media content data, first metadata category information and second metadata category information, the first and second metadata category information each associated with the media content data;

determining, based on the profile information, whether the client device is to utilize either the first metadata category information or the second metadata category information;

based upon a determination of utilization of the first metadata category information, transmitting the media content data and the first metadata category information to the client device without transmitting the second metadata category information; and

based upon a determination of utilization of the second metadata category information, transmitting the media content data and the second metadata category information to the client device without transmitting the first metadata category information.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first metadata category information includes a parameter for closed caption rendering of the media content data, and the second metadata category information includes a parameter for audio signal processing.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the first metadata category information includes a parameter for audio speaker virtualization, and the second metadata category information includes a parameter for audio headphone playback.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the first metadata category information includes a parameter for three dimensional (3D) rendering of the media content data, and the second metadata category information includes a parameter for two dimensional (2D) rendering of the media content data.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the client device is at least one of a cellular telephone, home network modem, netbook computer, portable computer, electronic book reader, standalone set-top box, digital video recorder (DVR), portable music player, and television set.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the transmitting is performed at least in part over at least one of a wireless network, cellular network, cable television network, orbiting satellite network, digital subscriber line network, local area network, wide area network, and Internet.

7. A method for media data communication by a computerized server, the method comprising:

receiving profile information of a client device by the computerized server;

maintaining media content data and first metadata category information, the first metadata category information associated with the media content data;

determining, based on the profile information, whether the client device is to utilize the first metadata category information;

based upon a determination of utilization of the first metadata category information, transmitting the media content data and the first metadata category information to the client device; and

based upon a determination of non-utilization of first metadata category information, transmitting the media content data without the first metadata category information to the client device.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the client device is at least one of a cellular telephone, home network modem, netbook computer, portable computer, electronic book reader, standalone set-top box, digital video recorder (DVR), portable music player, and television set.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the transmitting is performed at least in part over at least one of a wireless network, cellular network, cable television network, orbiting satellite network, digital subscriber line network, local area network, wide area network, and Internet.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein the first metadata category information includes a parameter for rendering a closed caption for the media content data.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein the first metadata category information includes a parameter for applying Dolby Volume®

processing to an audio signal.

12. The method of claim 7 wherein the first metadata category information includes a parameter for audio speaker virtualization.

13. The method of claim 7 wherein the first metadata category information includes a parameter for audio headphone utilization.

14. The method of claim 7 wherein the first metadata category information includes a parameter for three dimensional (3D) rendering of video.

15. The method of claim 7 wherein the first metadata category information includes a parameter for a global positioning system (GPS).

16. The method of claim 7 wherein the profile information uniquely identifies the client device.

17. The method of claim 7 wherein the profile information identifies authorized services available to the client device from the server.

18. The method of claim 7 wherein the profile information identifies an available function on the client device.

19. The method of claim 7 wherein the profile information is received indirectly by the computerized server from the client device.

20. A method for media data communication by a client device, the method comprising:

transmitting profile information of the client device to a computerized server, the profile information indicating an accessible function of the client device; and

receiving media content data and first metadata category information associated with the media content data from the computerized server, the first metadata category information including a parameter used by the accessible function;

wherein the client device does not receive second metadata category information associated with the media content data from the computerized server, the second metadata category information including a parameter unused by the accessible function.

21. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium, comprising software instructions, which when executed by one or more processors cause performance of the method recited in claims 20.

22. An apparatus for media data communication, the apparatus comprising:

a receiver for receiving profile information of a client device by the computerized server;

a database for maintaining media content data and first metadata category information, the first metadata category information associated with the media content data;

a processor for determining, based on the profile information, whether the client device is to utilize the first metadata category information;

based upon a determination of utilization of the first metadata category information, a transmitter for transmitting the media content data and the first metadata category information to the client device; and

based upon a determination of non-utilization of first metadata category information, the transmitter for transmitting the media content data without the first metadata category information to the client device.

23. An apparatus for media data communication, the apparatus comprising:

a means for receiving profile information of a client device by the computerized server;

a means for maintaining media content data and first metadata category information, the first metadata category information associated with the media content data;

a means for determining, based on the profile information, whether the client device is to utilize the first metadata category information;

based upon a determination of utilization of the first metadata category information, a means for transmitting the media content data and the first metadata category information to the client device; and

based upon a determination of non-utilization of first metadata category information, the means for transmitting the media content data without the first metadata category information to the client device.

24. A method for media data communication by a client device, the method comprising:

transmitting profile information of the client device to a computerized server, the profile information indicating that audio playback is muted for the client device; and

receiving media content data and first metadata category information associated with the media content data from the computerized server, the first metadata category information including a parameter for closed captioning;

wherein the client device does not receive second metadata category information associated with the media content data from the computerized server, the second metadata category information including a parameter for audio playback.