Systems and methods for implementing a content object access point

• US 8,112,449 B2
• Filed: 08/01/2003
• Issued: 02/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Casey, Steven M., Phillips, Bruce A.
• Primary Examiner(s): TIMBLIN, ROBERT M
• Application Number:
  US10/632,661
• Publication Number:
  US 20050027715A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,112 Days
• Field of Search: 707/101, 707/104.1, 707/100, 707/103, 707/828, 707/805, 707801-803, 709/221, 709/209, 379/265.09, 715/239, 715/248, 715/249, 725/44, 725/47
• US Class Current: 707/802
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/40 of multimedia data, e.g. slideshows comprising image and additional audio data retrieval of still image data G06F16/50; retrieval of audio data G06F16/60; retrieval of video data G06F16/70
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/907 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually

Abstract

Systems and methods for accessing and distributing content objects. Various of the systems and methods utilize a number of content object entities that can be sources and/or destinations for content objects. A combination of abstraction and distinction engines can be used to access content objects from a source of content objects, format and/or modify the content objects, and redistribute the modified content object to one or more content object destinations. In some cases, an access point is included that identifies a number of available content objects, and identifies one or more content object destinations to which the respective content objects can be directed.

Claims

1. A method for utilizing content objects by a content access point within a customer'"'"'s premises, wherein the method comprises:

creating, at the content access point, a first list of available content objects and a respective format of each available content object, wherein the content access point is implemented by a demarcation device that isolates the customer'"'"'s premises network from a provider'"'"'s network, the demarcation device comprising a broadband modem;

creating, at the content access point, a second list of content object entities and one or more respective formats that each content object entity is capable of supporting;

creating, at the content access point, a guide indicating available content objects and, for each particular available content object, one or more content object entities to which that particular content object can be directed, based at least in part on the first list and the second list, each of the one or more content object entities being a separate device that is capable of displaying that particular content object;

accessing, with the content access point, a first content object from a first content object entity within the customer'"'"'s premises, wherein the first content object is in a first content format compatible with the first content object entity and wherein the first content object is selected from a group consisting of a voicemail object, an email object, a video object, an audio object, and an Internet web page;

abstracting, with the content access point, the first content object to create a second content object in an abstract format, wherein the abstract format is compatible with a plurality of content formats;

distinguishing, at the content access point, the second content object to create a third content object, wherein the third content object is in a second content format that is compatible with a second content object entity within the customer'"'"'s premises, wherein the third content object is selected from a group consisting of a voicemail object, an email object, a video object, an audio object, and an Internet web page, and wherein the third content object is different from the first content format; and

providing, from the content access point, the third content object to the second content object entity.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

accessing a fourth content object from a third content object entity wherein the fourth content object is in a third content format compatible with the third content object entity, wherein the fourth content object is selected from a group consisting of a voicemail object, an email object, a video object, an audio object, a document object, and an Internet web page, and wherein the fourth content object is different from the first content format and the second content format;

abstracting the fourth content object to create a fifth content object; and

combining the fifth content object with the second content object, wherein the combination of the second and fifth content objects are distinguished to create the third content object.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first content object is a video object, and wherein the fourth content object is an audio object.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein abstracting the first content object includes separating an audio portion from a video portion of the video object.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the first content object is a video object, and wherein the fourth content object is an Internet object.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the first content object entity is selected from a group consisting of an appliance control system, a telephone information system, a storage medium including video objects, a storage medium including audio objects, an audio stream source, a video stream source, a human interface, the Internet, and an interactive content entity.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the second content object entity is selected from a group consisting of an appliance control system, a telephone information system, a storage medium including video objects, a storage medium including audio objects, an audio stream source, a video stream source, a human interface, the Internet, and an interactive content entity.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the first content object entity is different from the second content object entity.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the third content object entity is selected from a group consisting of an appliance control system, a telephone information system, a storage medium including video objects, a storage medium including audio objects, an audio stream source, a video stream source, a human interface, the Internet, and an interactive content entity.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the first content object entity is different from the second content object entity and the third content object entity.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

identifying a content object associated with one of the first plurality of content object entities that has expired; and

removing the identified content object.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the first content object is a video object, wherein abstracting the first content object includes removing a visual portion of the video object, and wherein the second content object includes an audio portion of the video object.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the first content object comprises a voicemail and the third content object comprises an email.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the first content object comprises an email and the third content object comprises a voicemail.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

limiting access to the first and second content objects to conform with terms of a license to the first content object.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the demarcation device is incorporated within a premises network interface device (“

NID”

) that is affixed to an external wall of the customer'"'"'s premises.

17. A content access point for utilizing content objects by a content access point within a customer'"'"'s premises, the content access point comprising:

a processor; and

a storage medium having stored thereon a set of instructions for controlling operation of the content access point, the set of instructions comprising;

instructions for creating a first list of available content objects and a respective format of each available content object, wherein the content access point is located within a demarcation device that isolates the customer'"'"'s premises network from a provider'"'"'s network;

instructions for creating, at the content access point, a second list of content object entities and one or more respective formats that each content object entity is capable of supporting;

instructions for creating, at the content access point, a guide indicating available content objects and, for each particular available content object, one or more content object entities to which that particular content object can be directed, based at least in part on the first list and the second list, each of the one or more content object entities being a separate device that is capable of displaying that particular content object;

instructions for accessing a first content object from a first content object entity within the customer'"'"'s premises, wherein the first content object is in a first content format compatible with the first content object entity and wherein the first content object is selected from a group consisting of a voicemail object, an email object, a video object, an audio object, and an Internet web page;

instructions for abstracting the first content object to create a second content object in an abstract format, wherein the abstract format is compatible with a plurality of content formats;

instructions for distinguishing the second content object to create a third content object, wherein the third content object is in a second content format that is compatible with a second content object entity within the customer'"'"'s premises, wherein the third content object is selected from a group consisting of a voicemail object, an email object, a video object, an audio object, and an Internet web page, and wherein the third content object is different from the first content format; and

instructions for providing the third content object to the second content object entity;

wherein the content access point is implemented by a demarcation device that isolates the customer'"'"'s premises network from a provider'"'"'s network, the demarcation device comprising a broadband modem.