IP-based scheduling and control of digital video content delivery

• US 7,765,573 B1
• Filed: 03/08/2005
• Issued: 07/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Embarq Holdings Company LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Owens, Steven B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kelley; Christopher
• Assistant Examiner(s): MENGESHA, MULUGETA A
• Application Number:
  US11/074,861
• Time in Patent Office: 1,967 Days
• Field of Search: 725/86, 725 91- 92, 725/103, 725114-115, 725/138, 725144-145
• US Class Current: 725/86
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/21 Server components or server architectures
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/222 Secondary servers, e.g. proxy server, cable television Head-end provisioning of proxy services in data packet switching networks H04L67/56
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2225 Local VOD servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23 Processing of content or additional data; Elementary server operations; Server middleware
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/262 Content or additional data distribution scheduling, e.g. sending additional data at off-peak times, updating software modules, calculating the carousel transmission frequency, delaying a video stream transmission, generating play-lists scheduling strategies for dispatcher in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/4881; arrangements for scheduling broadcast services or broadcast-related services H04H60/06; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10; establishing a time schedule or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/62
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2747 Remote storage of video programs received via the downstream path, e.g. from the server
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/278 Content descriptor database or directory service for end-user access details of content or meta data based information retrieval of video data in video databases G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42661 for reading from or writing on a magnetic storage medium, e.g. hard disk drive
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4331 Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4332 by placing content in organized collections, e.g. local EPG data repository interfaces, Database management systems or updating for information retrieval G06F16/23; details of retrieval of video data and associated meta data in video database G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• 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 21/462 Content or additional data management, e.g. creating a master electronic program guide from data received from the Internet and a Head-end, controlling the complexity of a video stream by scaling the resolution or bit-rate based on the client capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72

Abstract

An audiovisual system is provided for a facility having a facility distribution system with a plurality of channels receivable throughout the facility. A plurality of digital media storage devices store digital content files and each reproduce a respective digital content file as respective analog output signals. Each of the respective analog output signals is coupled to respective channels of the facility distribution system. A main server system is coupled to a LAN and provides a directory of subscribed content items in a content library accessible over a WAN. The main server system maintains respective listings of downloaded content items corresponding to each of the digital media storage devices, wherein the main server system is accessible to a user for initiating reproduction of a selected subscribed content item at a selected time. The main server system initiates transfer of the selected subscribed content item from the content library if not listed in a respective listing of downloaded content items for one of the digital media storage devices which is available at the selected time.

Claims

1. An audiovisual system for a school facility having a facility distribution system with a plurality of channels receivable throughout said facility, wherein said school facility further includes a local-area network (LAN) adapted to be coupled to a wide-area network (WAN), said audiovisual system comprising:

a plurality of media play devices for reproducing media signals from prerecorded media including at least subscribed content items in separate classrooms within said school facility, said plurality of media play devices being coupled to respective channels of said facility distribution system;

a plurality of digital media storage devices for storing digital content files including the subscribed content items and for each reproducing a respective digital content file as respective analog output signals, each of said respective analog output signals being coupled to respective channels of said facility distribution system;

a main server system coupled to said LAN, wherein said main server system provides a directory of the subscribed content items in a content library accessible over said WAN, wherein the directory includes a content tree, the content tree is hierarchically assembled to interactively link data and information from an educational standard syllabi to data and information of subject matter topics and the data and information of the subject matter topics to data and information of education standards, respectively, wherein the content tree is interactive for allowing the user to navigate the content tree and select any of the subscribed content items associated with each of the education standards, wherein said main server system maintains respective listings of downloaded content items corresponding to each of said digital media storage devices, wherein said main server system is accessible to a user for initiating reproduction of a selected subscribed content item at a selected time, wherein said main server system initiates transfer of said selected subscribed content item from said content library if not listed in a respective listing of downloaded content items for one of said digital media storage devices which is available at said selected time, and wherein said main server system includes a media device scheduling component for designating scheduled times for utilizing a selected media play device to send said reproduced media signal to a selected channel in said facility distribution system; and

a media controller device coupled to said LAN, said media play devices, and said digital media storage devices for controlling playing of a selected one of said devices in response to commands from said user receiving said selected subscribed content item via a corresponding channel of said facility distribution system.

2. The audiovisual system of claim 1 wherein said main server system sends said directory to said user via said LAN together with a status of each of the subscribed content items, and wherein the subscribed content items are associated with each of a plurality of classroom activities.

3. The audiovisual system of claim 2 wherein said status comprises an indication of the subscribed content items being stored in one of said digital media storage devices.

4. The audiovisual system of claim 3 wherein said indication comprises a time remaining to complete a transfer of an item in the process of being transferred from said content library to one of said digital media storage devices.

5. The audiovisual system of claim 1 further comprising:

a subscriber database in communication with the main server, the subscriber database operable to assemble the directory for each of a plurality of subscribers utilizing data included in the educational standard syllabi, the subject matter topics, and the education standards, wherein the data includes a title and summary for each of the subscribed content items; and

a VOD client at a user location within said school facility for receiving a network stream via said LAN, said network stream corresponding to said selected digital content file on a respective digital media storage device.

6. The audiovisual system of claim 5 further comprising:

a digital encoder coupled to a respective analog output of said respective digital media storage device for generating said network stream.

7. The audiovisual system of claim 5 further comprising:

a personal computer coupled to said LAN for including said VOD client and producing video and audio in response to said network stream.

8. The audiovisual system of claim 7 further comprising:

an audiovisual projector coupled to said personal computer to project said video at said user location.

9. The audiovisual system of claim 1 wherein said content library is subscription based and wherein said main server system identifies a subscription for said school facility when initiating transfer of said selected subscribed content item.

10. The audiovisual system of claim 9 wherein said subscribed content items include a plurality of content items corresponding to respective educational standard syllabi, wherein the educational standard syllabi are set by a state, and wherein the subscribed content items are video clips, animations, audio recordings, and media presentations approved for classroom activities.

11. The audiovisual system of claim 1 wherein said media signals reproduced by said plurality of media play devices are comprised of analog media signals and wherein said audiovisual system further comprises a plurality, of RF modulators for RF modulating said analog media signals and said analog output signals onto said plurality of channels of said facility distribution system.

12. The audiovisual system of claim 10 wherein the content tree is linked in an expandable form to a database storing the directory.

13. The audiovisual system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of media devices, the plurality of digital media storage devices, the main server, and the media controller device are located within the school facility, wherein said WAN is comprised of the Internet, wherein the media device scheduling component is:

a resource scheduling media control software database (RSCS), the RSCS database being operable to display a schedule listing availability of the plurality of media devices and the plurality of digital media storage devices and reserving, editing or deleting usage of the plurality of media devices and the plurality of digital media storage devices.

14. A method of distributing audiovisual content within an education facility having a facility distribution system with a plurality of channels receivable throughout said facility, wherein said facility further includes a local-area network (LAN) adapted to be coupled to a wide-area network (WAN), said method comprising the steps of:

a user accessing a locally-stored directory of subscribed content items, wherein the directory includes a content tree, the content tree is hierarchically assembled in an expandable form to interactively link data and information from an educational standard syllabi to data and information of subject matter topics and the data and information of the subject matter topics to data and information of education standards, respectively, wherein the content tree is interactive for allowing the user to navigate the content tree and select any of the subscribed content items corresponding, wherein all of said subscribed content items are stored in a content library accessible over said WAN, and wherein some of said subscribed content items are stored in a respective one of a plurality of digital media storage devices in said facility distribution system from previous transfer from said content library;

said user selecting a subscribed content item for reproduction during a selected class period via one of a plurality of digital media storage devices in said facility distribution system;

checking whether said selected content item is presently stored in a one of said digital media storage devices which is available at said selected class period;

if not presently stored in an available digital media storage device then transferring said selected content item to an identified digital media storage device available at said selected class period;

at said selected class period reproducing said selected content item onto a respective channel of said facility distribution system and viewing at a desired location within said facility.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of:

during said transfer, displaying to said user a remaining time to complete said transfer.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of

controlling playing of said selected content item in real-time from a classroom corresponding to the location of the user in response to commands from said user coupled to said digital media storage device by a media controller device within said LAN.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein said education facility is an educational campus and wherein said subscribed content items include a plurality of content items corresponding to respective standard educational syllabi, wherein the content tree is linked in an expandable form to a database storing the directory.

18. The method of claim 14 further comprising the steps of:

updating said content library and said directory with new content items in response to addition of the new content in the content library by a content provider; and

transferring an updated version of the directory from said content library for local storage, wherein the subscribed content items are associated with each of a plurality of classroom activities.

19. The method of claim 14 wherein said selected class period is a future time, said method further comprising the step of:

comparing a current time with said selected class period and initiating said reproduction of said selected content item when said current time matches a time associated with said selected class period.

20. A method of distributing media content within an education facility having

a facility distribution system with a plurality of channels receivable throughout the facility, wherein the facility further includes a local-area network (LAN) adapted to be coupled to a wide-area network (WAN), said method comprising the steps of:

a user accessing a locally-stored directory of subscribed content items in a class room of the education facility, the subscribed content items being associated with each of a plurality of classroom activities, the directory being assembled for the user, wherein the directory includes a content tree displayable to the user, the content tree being hierarchically assembled in a browsable interface linking an educational syllabi, to subject matter topics, to the education standards respectively, the content tree being so assembled and displayable to enable the user to;

navigate the directory and identify and select the subscribed content items corresponding to classroom activities, the educational syllabi are linked to expanded data and information associated with the subject matter topics, wherein the subject matter topics are linked to expanded data and information associated with the education standards, wherein the education standards are linked to expand the subscribed content items associated with each of the education standards, wherein the hierarchical organization of the content tree corresponds to a classroom of the education facility, the content tree including a plurality of hyperlinks corresponding to each of the subscribed content items, wherein all of said subscribed content items are stored in a content library accessible over said WAN a status of availability of each of the subscribed content times available in the content tree being displayed to the user, wherein the directory communicates with one or more databases to assemble the directory utilizing a title and summary for each of the subscribed content times, and wherein some of said subscribed content items are stored in a respective one of a plurality of digital media storage devices in said facility distribution system from previous transfer from said content library;

said user selecting a subscribed content item for reproduction during a selected class period via one of a plurality of digital media storage devices in said facility distribution system;

updating the directory with new content corresponding to the educational syllabi in response to addition of the new content in the content library by a content provider;

determining whether said selected content item is presently stored in a one of said digital media storage devices which is available at said selected class period;

displaying availability of the plurality of media devices and the plurality of digital media storage devices for reserving, editing or deleting scheduled usage of the plurality of media devices and the plurality of digital media storage devices;

transferring said selected content item to an identified digital media storage device available during said selected class period in response to determining said selected content item is not presently stored in an available digital media storage device then, an indicator of the download status being displayed to the user during the transferring;

at said selected class period reproducing said selected content item onto a respective channel of said facility distribution system and viewing at a desired location within said facility; and

receiving user input for controlling playback of said selected content item from the classroom during said selected class period.