Digital living network alliance (DLNA) server that serves contents from IVL services

• US 8,396,941 B2
• Filed: 08/05/2008
• Issued: 03/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Douillet, Ludovic, Sugivama, Nobukazu, Tao, David
• Primary Examiner(s): THIAW, CATHERINE B
• Application Number:
  US12/221,588
• Publication Number:
  US 20100036907A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,680 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709217-219, 709/231
• US Class Current: 709/218
• 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: G06F 16/44 Browsing; Visualisation therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/765 intermediate
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• 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 21/2393 involving handling client requests scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2665 Gathering content from different sources, e.g. Internet and satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/436 Interfacing a local distribution network, e.g. communicating with another STB or one or more peripheral devices inside the home
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/437 Interfacing the upstream path of the transmission network, e.g. for transmitting client requests to a VOD server flow control in data networks H04L47/10; streaming protocols, e.g. RTP or RTCP, H04L65/65; scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests in data packet switching networks H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/643 Communication protocols network streaming protocols, e.g. real-time transport protocol [RTP] or real-time control protocol [RTCP], H04L65/65
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64322 IP

Abstract

Audio and video (A/V) content information is acquired from each of a group of web-based servers located outside of a home network. The A/V content information identifies A/V content stored in association with each of the group of web-based servers. The A/V content information acquired from each of the group of web-based servers is aggregated. The aggregated A/V content information is provided to a DLNA client device within the home network. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Claims

1. A method of aggregating audio and video (A/V) content located outside a Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) home network for access within the DLNA home network, comprising:

at a DLNA-Internet bridging proxy server located outside of the DLNA home network;

acquiring A/V content information from each of a plurality of web-based servers located outside of a home network, where the A/V content information identifies A/V content stored in association with each of the plurality of web-based servers and where each item of A/V content information acquired from each of the plurality of web-based servers comprises a received uniform resource identifier (URI) to an item of A/V content;

mapping each received URI to a local reference URI;

aggregating the A/V content information acquired from each of the plurality of web-based servers with the mapped local reference URI to each item of A/V content;

providing the aggregated A/V content information to a DLNA client device within the home network;

detecting a request for the item of A/V content associated with one mapped local reference URI;

mapping the one mapped local reference URI to the received URI to the item of A/V content stored in the associated one of the plurality of web-based servers; and

retrieving, in response to the request for the item of A/V content, the item of A/V content from the associated one of the plurality of web-based servers located outside of the home network that stores the item of A/V content using the received URI to the item of A/V content.

2. The method according to claim 1, where acquiring the A/V content information comprises requesting the A/V content information from the plurality of web-based servers located outside of the home network and receiving the A/V content information from each of the plurality of web-based servers.

3. The method according to claim 2, where requesting the A/V content information from the plurality of web-based servers located outside of the home network comprises generating a web protocol A/V content information request associated with each of the plurality of web-based servers and sending the associated web protocol A/V content information request to each of the plurality of web-based servers.

4. The method according to claim 3, where generating the web protocol A/V content information request associated with each of the plurality of web-based servers comprises generating a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP)-based message associated with each of the plurality of web-based servers.

5. The method according to claim 3, where acquiring the A/V content information comprises receiving a web protocol A/V content information response from each of the plurality of web-based servers each including the A/V content information acquired from each of the plurality of web-based servers.

6. The method according to claim 1, where aggregating the A/V content information acquired from each of the plurality of web-based servers comprises storing the A/V content information acquired from each of the plurality of web-based servers with local A/V content information that represents A/V content stored within a locally-accessible A/V content storage medium.

7. The method according to claim 1, where aggregating the A/V content information acquired from each of the plurality of web-based servers comprises forming the A/V content information acquired from each of the plurality of web-based servers into a hierarchical representation navigable by a user of the DLNA client device.

8. The method according to claim 7, where providing the aggregated A/V content information to the DLNA client device within the home network comprises providing the hierarchical representation to the DLNA client device.

9. The method according to claim 8, where providing the hierarchical representation to the DLNA client device comprises generating a DLNA content list message representing the hierarchical representation and sending the DLNA content list message to the DLNA client device.

10. The method according to claim 1, where providing the aggregated A/V content information comprises providing the local reference URI associated with each item of A/V content information to the DLNA client device.

11. The method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving a list of provisioned web-based servers from which the plurality of web-based servers is selected.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising receiving the list of provisioned web-based servers from an Internet video link (IVL) provisioning server.

13. The method according to claim 1, where the A/V content information acquired from each of the plurality of web-based servers further comprises a URI to a thumbnail image associated with the item of A/V content.

14. The method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving a DLNA request from the DLNA client device for an item of A/V content identified by an item of the aggregated A/V content information.

15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising converting the DLNA request to a web protocol request including the item of the aggregated A/V content information and requesting the item of A/V content from the associated one of the plurality of web-based servers using the web protocol request.

16. The method according to claim 15, where converting the DLNA request to the web protocol request comprises mapping the local reference uniform resource identifier (URI) associated with the requested item of A/V content to a URI associated with a storage location for the requested item of A/V content at the associated one of the plurality of web-based servers.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

receiving the item of A/V content from the associated one of the plurality of web-based servers as at least a part of a web protocol response;

converting the web protocol response to a DLNA response including the item of A/V content; and

sending the DLNA response including the item of A/V content to the DLNA client device.

18. The method according to claim 1, where acquiring the A/V content information from each of a plurality of web-based servers is performed in response to a DLNA request for A/V content information received from the DLNA client device.

19. A Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA)-Internet bridging proxy server device for aggregating audio and video (A/V) content located outside a DLNA home network for access within the DLNA home network, comprising:

a memory adapted to store representations of A/V content; and

a processor forming a portion of the DLNA-Internet bridging proxy server device located outside of the DLNA home network, where the DLNA-Internet bridging proxy server device is programmed to;

acquire A/V content information from each of a plurality of web-based servers located outside of a home network, where the A/V content information identifies A/V content stored in association with each of the plurality of web-based servers and where each item of A/V content information acquired from each of the plurality of web-based servers comprises a received uniform resource identifier (URI) to an item of A/V content;

map each received URI to a local reference URI;

aggregate the A/V content information acquired from each of the plurality of web-based servers with the mapped local reference URI to each item of A/V content;

store the aggregated A/V content information to the memory;

provide the aggregated A/V content information to a DLNA client device within the home network;

detect a request for the item of A/V content associated with one mapped local reference URI;

map the one mapped local reference URI to the received URI to the item of A/V content; and

retrieve, in response to the request for the item of A/V content, the item of A/V content from the associated one of the plurality of web-based servers located outside of the home network that stores the item of A/V content using the received URI to the item of A/V content.

20. The device according to claim 19, where, in being programmed to acquire the A/V content, the processor is programmed to request the A/V content information from the plurality of web-based servers located outside of the home network and receive the A/V content information from each of the plurality of web-based servers.

21. The device according to claim 20, where, in being programmed to request the A/V content information from the plurality of web-based servers located outside of the home network, the processor is programmed to generate a web protocol A/V content information request associated with each of the plurality of web-based servers and send the associated web protocol A/V content information request to each of the plurality of web-based servers.

22. The device according to claim 21, where, in being programmed to generate the web protocol A/V content information request associated with each of the plurality of web-based servers, the processor is programmed to generate a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP)-based message associated with each of the plurality of web-based servers.

23. The device according to claim 21, where, in being programmed to acquire the A/V content information, the processor is programmed to receive a web protocol A/V content information response from each of the plurality of web-based servers each including the A/V content information acquired from each of the plurality of web-based servers.

24. The device according to claim 19, where, in being programmed to aggregate the A/V content information acquired from each of the plurality of web-based servers, the processor is programmed to store the A/V content information acquired from each of the plurality of web-based servers with local A/V content information that represents A/V content stored within the memory.

25. The device according to claim 19, where, in being programmed to aggregate the A/V content information acquired from each of the plurality of web-based servers, the processor is programmed to form the A/V content information acquired from each of the plurality of web-based servers into a hierarchical representation navigable by a user of the DLNA client device.

26. The device according to claim 25, where, in being programmed to provide the aggregated A/V content information to the DLNA client device within the home network, the processor is programmed to provide the hierarchical representation to the DLNA client device.

27. The device according to claim 26, where, in being programmed to provide the hierarchical representation to the DLNA client device, the processor is programmed to generate a DLNA content list message representing the hierarchical representation and send the DLNA content list message to the DLNA client device.

28. The device according to claim 19, where, in being programmed to provide the aggregated A/V content information, the processor is programmed to provide the local reference URI associated with each item of A/V content information to the DLNA client device.

29. The device according to claim 19, where the processor is further programmed to receive a list of provisioned web-based servers from which the plurality of web-based servers is selected and to store the list within the memory.

30. The device according to claim 29, where processor is further programmed to receive the list of provisioned web-based servers from an Internet video link (IVL) provisioning server.

31. The device according to claim 19, where the A/V content information acquired from each of the plurality of web-based servers further comprises a URI to a thumbnail image associated with the item of A/V content.

32. The device according to claim 19, where the processor is further programmed to receive a DLNA request from the DLNA client device for an item of A/V content identified by an item of the aggregated A/V content information.

33. The device according to claim 32, where the processor is further programmed to convert the DLNA request to a web protocol request including the item of the aggregated A/V content information and request the item of A/V content from the associated one of the plurality of web-based servers using the web protocol request.

34. The device according to claim 33, where, in being programmed to convert the DLNA request to the web protocol request, the processor is programmed to map the local reference uniform resource identifier (URI) associated with the requested item of A/V content to a URI associated with a storage location for the requested item of A/V content at the associated one of the plurality of web-based servers.

35. The device of claim 33, where the processor is further programmed to:

receive the item of A/V content from the associated one of the plurality of web-based servers as at least a part of a web protocol response;

convert the web protocol response to a DLNA response including the item of A/V content; and

send the DLNA response including the item of A/V content to the DLNA client device.

36. The device according to claim 19, where the processor is programmed to acquire the A/V content information from each of a plurality of web-based servers in response to a DLNA request for A/V content information received from the DLNA client device.

37. A Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) audio and video (A/V) content aggregation device for aggregating content located outside a DLNA home network for access within the DLNA home network, comprising:

a memory adapted to store representations of A/V content;

a processor located outside of the DLNA home network programmed to;

receive the list of provisioned web-based servers located outside of a home network from an Internet video link (IVL) provisioning server;

select a plurality of web-based servers from the list of provisioned web-based servers located outside of the home network;

generate a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP)-based A/V content information request message associated with each of a plurality of web-based servers, where the A/V content information identifies A/V content stored in association with each of the plurality of web-based servers;

send the HTTP-based A/V content information request message to each of a plurality of web-based servers;

receive an HTTP response message including the A/V content information associated with each of the plurality of web-based servers from each of the plurality of web-based servers;

form the A/V content information received from each of the plurality of web-based servers into a hierarchical representation;

aggregate the hierarchical representation of the A/V content information received from each of the plurality of web-based servers;

combine the aggregated hierarchical representation with a hierarchical representation of local A/V content information that represents A/V content stored within the memory;

store the combined aggregated hierarchical representation of the A/V content information to the memory;

generate a DLNA content list message representing the combined aggregated hierarchical representation of the A/V content information; and

send the DLNA content list message to a DLNA client device within the home network.

38. A method of aggregating audio and video (A/V) content located outside a Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) home network for access within the DLNA home network, comprising:

at a DLNA-Internet bridging proxy server located outside of the DLNA home network;

acquiring A/V content information from each of a plurality of Internet-accessed Internet-based servers located outside of a home network, where the A/V content information identifies A/V content stored in association with each of the plurality of Internet-accessed Internet-based servers and where each item of A/V content information acquired from each of the plurality of Internet-accessed Internet-based servers comprises a received uniform resource identifier (URI) to an item of A/V content;

mapping each received URI to a local reference URI for the respective item of A/V content without locally storing the respective item of A/V content;

aggregating the A/V content information acquired from each of the plurality of Internet-accessed Internet-based servers with the mapped local reference URI to each item of A/V content;

providing the aggregated A/V content information to a DLNA client device within the home network;

detecting a request for the item of A/V content associated with one mapped local reference URI;

mapping the one mapped local reference URI to the received URI to the item of A/V content stored in the associated one of the plurality of Internet-accessed Internet-based servers; and

retrieving, in response to the request for the item of A/V content, the item of A/V content from the associated one of the plurality of Internet-accessed Internet-based servers located outside of the home network that stores the item of A/V content using the received URI to the item of A/V content.