System and method for adaptive content rendition

• US 7,796,190 B2
• Filed: 08/15/2008
• Issued: 09/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Labs Incorporated (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Liu, Zhu, Renger, Bernard S., Basso, Andrea, Gibbon, David C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Warren; David S.
• Application Number:
  US12/192,760
• Publication Number:
  US 20100042235A1
• Time in Patent Office: 760 Days
• Field of Search: 84600-602, 348/77, 348/94, 348/116, 348/445
• US Class Current: 348/445
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/60 Network streaming of media packets
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2389 Multiplex stream processing, e.g. multiplex stream encrypting
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4135 external recorder interface circuits between an apparatus for recording television signals and a television receiver H04N5/775
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4147 PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4385 Multiplex stream processing, e.g. multiplex stream decrypting
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4402 involving reformatting operations of video signals for household redistribution, storage or real-time display details of conversion of video standards at pixel level H04N7/01; video transcoding H04N19/40; adapting incoming signals to the display format of the display terminal G09G5/005; media handling at the source in data packet switching networks H04L65/764
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44218 Detecting physical presence or behaviour of the user, e.g. using sensors to detect if the user is leaving the room or changes his face expression during a TV program methods or arrangements for recognising human body or animal bodies or body parts G06V40/10; methods or arrangements for acquiring or recognising human faces, facial parts, facial sketches, facial expressions G06V40/16; methods or arrangements for recognising movements or behaviour G06V40/20; arrangements for identifying users in broadcast systems H04H60/45
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4436 Power management, e.g. shutting down unused components of the receiver power management in computer systems G06F1/3203; hibernate or awake process in computer systems G06F9/4418
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4516 involving client characteristics, e.g. Set-Top-Box type, software version or amount of memory available
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4524 involving the geographical location of the client retrieval from the Internet by querying based on geographical locations G06F16/9537; systems specially adapted for using geographical information in broadcast systems H04H60/70; protocols in which the network application is adapted for the location of the user terminal in communication control or processing H04L67/52; services making use of the location of users or terminals in wireless networks H04W4/02; locating users or terminals in wireless networks H04W64/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and computer readable-media for adaptive content rendition, the method comprising receiving media content for playback to a user, adapting the media content for playback on a first device in the user'"'"'s first location, receiving a notification when the user changes to a second location, adapting the media content for playback on a second device in the second location, and transitioning media content playback from the first device to second device. One aspect conserves energy by optionally turning off the first device after transitioning to the second device. Another aspect includes playback devices that are “dumb devices” which receive media content already prepared for playback, “smart devices” which receive media content in a less than ready form and prepare the media content for playback, or hybrid smart and dumb devices. A single device may be substituted by a plurality of devices. Adapting the media content for playback is based on a user profile storing user preferences and/or usage history in one aspect.

Claims

1. A method of adaptive content rendition, the method comprising:

receiving media content for playback to a user;

adapting the media content for playback on a first device in a first location of the user;

receiving a notification when the user changes to a second location;

adapting via a processor the media content according to its video format for playback based at least in part on display characteristics of a second device in the second location; and

transitioning media content playback from the first device to the second device such that video adapted media content is displayed on the second device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein playback devices are dumb devices which receive media content already prepared for playback, smart devices which receive media content in a less than ready form and prepare the media content for playback, or hybrid smart and dumb devices.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second device is substituted by a plurality of devices.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising sensing user movement based on media content analysis and individual user analysis in order to transition on a user-specific basis.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein adapting the media content includes adding or removing elements of the media content based on the output capabilities of each device in the user'"'"'s location.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the devices blend and/or composite media content from more than one user in the same location.

7. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising turning off the first device after transitioning to the second device optionally to conserve energy.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein transitioning includes simultaneous playback of one or more media elements on the first and second devices for a limited time.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein adapting the media content for playback is based on a user profile storing user preferences and/or usage history.

10. The method of claim 9, the method further comprising:

establishing and updating patterns of location changes based on usage history and current location data coming from a sensor network;

anticipating when the user is likely to change to a second location; and

adapting the media content for playback in advance of the user moving to the second location.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the user profile is stored in a central location, is stored on one or more playback devices, or both.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the user manually signals a change to a second location.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein a third device assists in sensing when a desired specific user changes location.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the third device assists based on one or more of usage logs, physical proximity to the desired specific user, biometric identification, and other sensors.

15. A system for adaptive content rendition, the system comprising:

a first module configured to receive media content for playback to a user;

a second module configured to adapt the media content for playback on a first device in a first location of the user;

a third module configured to receive a notification when the user changes to a second location;

a fourth module configured to adapt via a processor the media content according to its video format for playback based at least in part on display characteristics of a second device in the second location; and

a fifth module configured to transition media content playback from the first device to the second device such that video adapted media content is displayed on the second device.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising a sixth module configured to sense user movement based on media content analysis and individual user analysis in order to transition on a user-specific basis.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the fifth module further simultaneously plays back one or more media elements on the first and second device for a limited time.

18. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program having instructions for adaptive content rendition, the instructions comprising:

receiving media content for playback to a user;

adapting the media content for playback on a first device in a first location of the user;

receiving a notification when the user changes to a second location;

adapting via a processor the media content according to its video format for playback based at least in part on display characteristics of a second device in the second location; and

transitioning media content playback from the first device to the second device such that video adapted media content is displayed on the second device.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein their instructions further comprise sensing user movement based on media content analysis and individual user analysis in order to transition on a user-specific basis.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein transitioning includes simultaneous playback of one or more media elements on the first and second device for a limited time.