Patent Application
20150010290
Not applicable.
The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for presenting media content to end users, and more specifically, to identifying media relating to a primary media at a personal video recorder.
Multimedia entertainment systems include multiple components interconnected to provide the audio and visual information to a user. In addition to a display, e.g., television or projector, systems include a separate set top box that may include a tuner and service provider-specific signal processing and subscription functionality. Systems may also include components for recording media for later playback. Such recording components include a personal video recorder (PVR), which is a device or application software for recording media, usually in digital format, onto a storage medium such as a disk drive. A PVR can be integrated with the tuner.
When a user wishes to record video content on a PVR system, the user instructs the PVR system to record a program selected from an electronic programming guide (EPG). The PVR system receives the instructions, which include an identification number of the selected program, and schedules the recording of the selected program.
The PVR system often stores and associates the EPG information to the recorded programming, and the recorded EPG information is later retrieved by the end users who wish to browse their library of recordings and/or retrieve a recording. The PVR does not, however, record additional content related to the selected program. Additional content can include, for example, promotional material that may be of interest and informative to the user.
In addition to recording EPG information, conventional systems do not provide a capability of associating additional content with the selected program and recording the associated content from a channel on which the selected program is shown.
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for identifying media content relating to a primary media recordable on a Personal Video Recorder, PVR. In accordance with one embodiment, a method for identifying media content relating to a primary media recordable on a Personal Video Recorder, PVR, includes receiving an identifier of the primary media and identifying secondary media available at a media source. The primary media is recordable on the PVR and the identified secondary media is different than the primary media and is associated with the identifier of the primary media.
In accordance with an aspect of this embodiment, the method includes recording the identified secondary media based on a condition. In accordance with another aspect of this embodiment, the condition is a user-selected option to record the identified secondary media. In accordance with yet another aspect of this embodiment, the condition is a quantity of requested secondary media. In accordance with still another aspect of this embodiment, the method includes recording the primary media based on a second condition that includes a user-selected option associated with the identified secondary media. In accordance with another aspect of this embodiment, the method includes recording the identified secondary media if the secondary media has not been previously recorded on the PVR. In accordance with yet another aspect of this embodiment, the method includes monitoring a media stream for secondary media, wherein the media stream is the media source. In accordance with still another aspect of this embodiment, the method includes parsing metadata of the secondary media and determining that the secondary media is associated with the identifier of the primary media based on the parsed metadata. In accordance with another aspect of this embodiment, the identifying the secondary media includes parsing the identifier of the primary media to determine a location of the secondary media, retrieving the secondary media from the determined location, and recording the retrieved secondary media. In accordance with yet another aspect of this embodiment, the primary media is from a first media source different than the media source of the secondary media.
In accordance with another embodiment, a Personal Video Recorder, PVR, for identifying media content relating to a primary media includes an interface and a processor. The interface is configured to receive an identifier of the primary media. The processor is in communication with the interface and configured to identify secondary media available at a media source, wherein the identified secondary media is different than the primary media and is associated with the identifier of the primary media.
In accordance with another aspect of this embodiment, the processor is further configured to record the identified secondary media based on a condition. In accordance with still another aspect of this embodiment, the processor is further configured to record the identified secondary media if the secondary media has not been previously recorded. In accordance with yet another aspect of this embodiment, the apparatus further includes a second interface in communication with the processor. The second interface is configured to receive a media stream that is different than the media source. The processor is further configured to monitor the media stream for secondary media. In accordance with still another aspect of this embodiment, the processor is further configured to parse metadata of the secondary media and determine whether the secondary media is associated with the identifier of the primary media based on the metadata. In accordance with another aspect of this embodiment, the processor is further configured to parse the identifier of the primary media to determine a location of the secondary media, retrieve the secondary media from the determined location, and record the retrieved secondary media. In accordance with yet another aspect of this embodiment, the apparatus further includes a first media interface in communication with the processor and a second media interface in communication with the processor. The first media interface is configured to receive the primary media. The second media interface is configured to receive the secondary media. The second media interface is different than the first media interface.
In accordance with another embodiment, an apparatus for providing media for a Personal Video Recorder, PVR, has a processor and a serializer. The processor is configured to determine an identifier of a primary media. The serializer is in communication with the processor and is configured to add the determined identifier to a secondary media different than the primary media and associated with the primary media.
In accordance with another aspect of this embodiment, the apparatus further includes a media interface in communication with the serializer and configured to stream the serialized identifier and secondary media as streamed media. In accordance with yet another aspect of this embodiment, the apparatus further includes a media interface in communication with the serializer. The media interface is configured to provide the secondary media in response to a request that includes the identifier of the primary media. In accordance with still another aspect of this embodiment, the processor is further configured to determine a second identifier of the secondary media, and the serializer is further configured to add the determined second identifier to the secondary media. In accordance with another aspect of this embodiment, the processor is further configured to determine the second identifier of the secondary media, and the apparatus further includes a media interface in communication with the serializer. The media interface is configured to provide the secondary media in response to a request that includes the second identifier of the secondary media.
Before describing in detail exemplary embodiments that are in accordance with the present invention, it is noted that the embodiments reside primarily in combinations of apparatus components and processing steps related to identifying and storing secondary media associated with primary media recordable on a personal video recorder (PVR). Accordingly, the system and method components have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein.
As used herein, relational terms, such as “first” and “second,” “top” and “bottom,” and the like, may be used solely to distinguish one entity or element from another entity or element without necessarily requiring or implying any physical or logical relationship or order between such entities or elements.
In embodiments described herein, the joining term, “in communication with” and “connected to,” and the like, may be used to indicate electrical and data communication, which may be accomplished by physical contact, induction, electromagnetic radiation, radio signaling, infrared signaling or optical signaling, for example. The above methods of achieving electrical and data communication are non-limiting and mentioned only for illustration. One having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that multiple components may interoperate and modifications and variations are possible of achieving the electrical and data communication.
Referring to the drawing figures in which like reference designators refer to like elements,
The components described hereinabove may be in communication with each other and other components over a network 21. According to some exemplary embodiments, the network 21 may be a local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), the Internet, combination of the above or other form, or direct, packetized or circuit switched communication.
An exemplary gateway 14 is disclosed with reference to
The header parser 22 parses a data stream and/or packet headers for data including metadata and parameter listings. ID generator 24 generates an identification that may be assigned to programming and promotional material. Content recognition module 26 analyzes video content, audio content and/or metadata of programming and/or promotional material, and determines content information (e.g., actors, music, length) of the programming and/or promotional material. Context identifier 28 analyzes video content, audio content and/or metadata of programming and/or promotional material, and determines context information (genre, time period) of the programming and/or promotional material. The content and context information may be saved as metadata or in storage 32 as relating to the programming and/or promotional material. The metadata may be saved as header or trailer information that is combined or serialized by the serializer 30 to the programming and/or promotional material (primary or secondary media). According to some exemplary embodiments, aspects of the gateway 14 may be implemented in hardware on a processor 38 or as a combination of hardware and software. Code to implement aspects of gateway 14 including the functions of the processor 38 can be stored in storage 32.
The MUX/DEMUX 34 provides multiplexing and demultiplexing functionality for signals transmitted and received by the interface 33 of the gateway 14. The MOD/DEMOD 36 handles actual signal modulation and demodulation of the signals transmitted and received by the interface 33. The gateway 14, studio promotion server 15, set top box 16 and display 18 are in communication with a network 21, which may be configured to provide broadcast, multicast and/or unicast transmissions to nodes on the network 21.
According to some exemplary embodiments, the gateway 14 may include one or more media interfaces 33 wherein a first media interface 33 provides transmission of primary media and a second, different media interface 33 provides transmission of secondary media. According to some exemplary embodiments, the gateway 14 may include a packetizer (not shown), which packages the multimedia data into packets for transmission from the media interface on a packet network such as the Internet.
According to some exemplary embodiments, the gateway 14 may provide primary or secondary media in response to a request including a media ID. The media ID may unique identify or otherwise aid in identification of the primary or secondary media, which may have a primary media ID or a secondary media ID, respectively. Similarly, according to other exemplary embodiments, the gateway 14 may provide the primary media in response to a request including the secondary media ID, and the gateway 14 may provide the secondary media in response to a request including the primary media ID.
An exemplary set top box 16 is described with reference to
An exemplary process for associating a secondary media with a primary media and storing the secondary media is described with reference to
According to some exemplary embodiments, a pointer or address to the secondary media may be recorded at the set top box 16. The pointer or address may be, for example, a uniform resource identifier (URI) that indicates a location where the secondary media may be retrieved or streamed. Furthermore, the PVR may include functionality to recognize that the same media (either primary or secondary media) may be shown multiple times and the PVR can choose one of the multiple instances that is earliest in time, highest in quality, or does not interfere with a conflicting another scheduled recording (in the event the set top box 16 is not capable of simultaneous recordings). According to still other exemplary embodiments, the PVR may be configured to record a predetermined or user-selectable number of secondary media.
According to some exemplary embodiments, the primary media is recorded after a user has further made an additional selection to confirm recording the primary media after the user has had an opportunity, for example, to review at least one secondary media.
An exemplary process for identifying the secondary media is described with reference to
A determination is made whether the secondary media is associated with the primary media based on the parsed metadata of the secondary media (block 72). If, for example, the explicit or derived reference ID that is parsed from the metadata of the secondary media is equal to or derived from the primary reference ID, it is determined that the secondary media is associated with the primary media. The secondary media associated with the primary media is retrieved, for example, from the media stream or from a location identified in the secondary media ID or an associated location, e.g., URI (block 74).
Another exemplary process for identifying the secondary media is described with reference to
It will be appreciated that the primary media and the secondary media maybe retrieved from same or different media streams/locations in blocks 62, 72 and 80.
An exemplary transport stream is described with reference to
It will be appreciated that the parameter list may include fewer or more data. It will also be appreciated that the metadata may be a parameter list, a structured data header, or binary data, for example.
The present invention can be realized in hardware, or a combination of hardware and software. Any kind of computing system, or other apparatus adapted for carrying out the methods described herein, is suited to perform the functions described herein. A typical combination of hardware and software could be a specialized computer system, having one or more processing elements and a computer program stored on a storage medium that, when loaded and executed, controls the computer system such that it carries out the methods described herein. The present invention can also be embedded in a computer program product, which comprises all the features enabling the implementation of the methods described herein, and which, when loaded in a computing system is able to carry out these methods. Storage medium refers to any volatile or non-volatile storage device.
Computer program or application in the present context means any expression, in any language, code or notation, of a set of instructions intended to cause a system having an information processing capability to perform a particular function either directly or after either or both of the following a) conversion to another language, code or notation; b) reproduction in a different material form.
It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described herein above. In addition, unless mention was made above to the contrary, it should be noted that all of the accompanying drawings are not to scale. A variety of modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, which is limited only by the following claims.
