Patent Application
20180316953
The present disclosure generally relates to streaming content over a communication network. More particularly, the present disclosure concerns integrating media content from multiple communication networks.
The Telecommunications Act of 1996 mandated conventional TV broadcasters to transition from analog broadcasting (National Television System Committee (NTSC) formats) to digital broadcasting (Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) formats) and ushered in a new era for telecommunications networks as well as a convergence of telecommunication systems into a single broadband network. In addition to the legislative mandates, advances in network connectivity, speed, convenience, and the like, support an ever increasing community of online consumers who can access media content over networks, such as the Internet.
Indeed, more and more consumers watch movies or listen to music through their video and audio streaming devices, and many streaming service providers (e.g., PlayStation™ Vue, Netflix™, Hulu™, Roku™, etc.) offer online media content that competes with traditional cable TV service provider content. But licensing local content (e.g., local TV news, other local channels, etc.) by streaming service providers often proves complex and expensive.
Accordingly many streaming service providers do not offer local content. In turn, consumers who subscribe to and choose one streaming service provider amongst the multitude of competing service providers (in order to avoid expensive monthly service charges) also forego local content. Therefore, there is a need in the art for integrating different types media content, including local content and subscriber content.
In one exemplary embodiment, this disclosure provides a method for integrating local content and subscriber content, which are now described with respect to an integrated media device. The integrated media device performs steps or operations of the method including, for example, determining a local channel is available over an over-the-air (OTA) communication network and receiving subscriber content a subscriber channel over a first communication network. Often, the first communication network represents the Internet, which may be different than the OTA communication network. The integrated media device further provides metadata content for display by a client device, such as a mobile device, a tablet, a television, and the like. Notably, the metadata content includes information for the subscriber channel and the local channel such as titles, summaries, character cast, and the like. In addition, the integrated media device receives a request for local content associated with the local channel and tunes an antenna (e.g., one of its network interfaces) to receive the local content over the OTA network. The integrated media device also transcodes the local content into streaming content and provides the streaming content to one or more client devices connected to a local access (LAN) network such as a home WiFi network.
In another embodiment, an integrated media system employs techniques to integrate and stream local content and subscriber content. For example, the integrated media system includes a network interface to communicate over one or more communication networks, a processor coupled to the network interface and adapted to execute one or more processes, and a memory configured to store a process executable by the processor. The process (when executed by the processor) operates to determine a local channel is available over an over-the-air (OTA) communication network and also receive subscriber content a subscriber channel over a first communication network. Notably, in some aspects, the first communication network represents the Internet and is different than the OTA communication network. The process further operates to provide metadata content for display by a client device, such as a mobile device, a tablet, a television, and the like. Here, the metadata content includes information for the subscriber channel and the local channel. In addition, the process further operates to receive a request for local content associated with the local channel, and tune the network interface (e.g., an antenna) to receive the local content over the OTA network. The process further transcodes the local content into streaming content which is provided to one or more client devices connected to a local access (LAN) network such as a home WiFi network.
In yet another embodiment, a tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable media includes software or instructions to be executed by a processor. The processor executes the software and performs operations such as determining at least one local channel is available over an over-the-air (OTA) communication network and receiving subscriber content for at least one subscriber channel over a first communication network. Notably, the first communication network may be different than the OTA communication network, as discussed. The operations also include providing metadata content for display by a client device. Similar to the above discussed embodiments, the metadata content includes information for the at least one subscriber channel and the at least one local channel. In addition, the operations also include receiving a request for local content associated with the at least one local channel, tuning a network interface (e.g., an antenna) to receive the local content over the OTA network, transcoding the local content into streaming content, and providing the local content to one or more client devices connected to a local access (LAN) network.
As mentioned, the OTA communication network may be different than the first communication network. In such embodiments, the methods, systems, and computer-readable media include respective operations to receive the metadata over the first communication network and match the metadata content to the subscriber channel and the local channel (which local channel includes local content received over the OTA communication network).
As used herein, the term “user” refers to a user of an electronic device(s) and actions performed by the user in the context of computer software shall be considered to be actions to provide an input to electronic device(s) to cause the electronic device to perform steps or operations embodied in computer software. As used herein, the terms “stream”, “content”, and/or “channel” generally refer to digital media data. As used herein, the terms “network” and “communication network” are synonymous and generally refer to a group of devices in communication with each other.
As discussed in greater herein, the subject disclosure relates to techniques for streaming content over a communication network, and more specifically, to integrating and streaming local media content and subscriber media content. For example, in one aspect of this disclosure, an integrated media device (e.g., or system, platform, etc.) determines at least one local channel is available over an over-the-air (OTA) communication network and receives subscriber content for at least one subscriber channel over a first communication network (e.g., the Internet). Notably, the first communication network supports over-the-top (OTT) content/providers of audio, video, and other media content. The integrated media device further provides metadata content for display by one or more client devices connected to a local access network (LAN). The metadata content can include, for example, information for the at least one subscriber channel as well as information for the at least one local channel. The integrated media device also receives a request (e.g., from one of the client devices) for local content associated with the at least one local channel and tunes a network interface (e.g., an antenna) to receive the local content over the OTA network. The integrated media device further transcodes the local content into streaming content (e.g., Advanced Video Coding data), and hosts, broadcasts, or otherwise provides the local content to one or more client devices connected to the local access network (LAN). These and other features are described in greater detail herein and with reference the drawings.
Referring to the figures,
Communication links 125 represent wired links or shared media links (e.g., wireless links, PLC links, etc.) where certain devices/nodes (e.g., routers, servers, switches, client devices, etc.) may communicate with other nodes, based on distance, signal strength, current operational status, location, etc. Those skilled in the art will understand that any number of nodes, devices, links, etc. may be used in the communication networks shown, and further the view illustrated by
Data packets 140 represent network traffic/messages which are exchanged between networks and network devices using predefined network communication protocols such as certain known wired protocols, wireless protocols (e.g., IEEE Std. 802.15.4, WiFi, Bluetooth®, etc.), PLC protocols, or other shared-media protocols where appropriate. In this context, a protocol consists of a set of rules defining how the devices or nodes interact with each other. Further, various protocols may support one or more media content formats and data, such Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) formats, Advanced Video Coding (AVC) data, Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) data, and the like.
In addition,
Network interface(s) 210 contain the mechanical, electrical, and signaling circuitry for communicating data over links coupled to one or more networks shown in
Memory 240 comprises a plurality of storage locations that are addressable by processor 220 for storing software programs and data structures associated with the embodiments described herein. For example, memory 240 can include a tangible (non-transitory) computer-readable medium, as is appreciated by those skilled in the art.
Processor 220 may comprise necessary components, elements, or logic adapted to execute the software programs and manipulate data structures 245, which are stored in memory 240. An operating system 242, portions of which are typically resident in memory 240, and is executed by processor 220 to functionally organizes the device by, inter alia, invoking operations in support of software processes and/or services executing on the device. These software processes and/or services may comprise an illustrative “media integration” process/service 244. Note that while process/service 244 is shown in centralized memory 240, the process/service may be configured to operate in a distributed communication network.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that other processor and memory types, including various computer-readable media, may be used to store and execute program instructions pertaining to the techniques described herein. Also, while the description illustrates various processes, it is expressly contemplated that various processes may be embodied as modules configured to operate in accordance with the techniques herein (e.g., according to the functionality of a similar process). Further, while the processes have been shown separately, those skilled in the art will appreciate that processes may be routines or modules within other processes. For example, processor 220 can include one or more programmable processors, e.g., microprocessors or microcontrollers, or fixed-logic processors. In the case of a programmable processor, any associated memory, e.g., memory 240, may be any type of tangible processor readable memory, e.g., random access, read-only, etc., that is encoded with or stores instructions that can implement program modules, e.g., a module having spectator channel process 244 encoded thereon. Processor 220 can also include a fixed-logic processing device, such as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or a digital signal processor that is configured with firmware comprised of instructions or logic that can cause the processor to perform the functions described herein. Thus, program modules may be encoded in one or more tangible computer readable storage media for execution, such as with fixed logic or programmable logic, e.g., software/computer instructions executed by a processor, and any processor may be a programmable processor, programmable digital logic, e.g., field programmable gate array, or an ASIC that comprises fixed digital logic, or a combination thereof. In general, any process logic may be embodied in a processor or computer readable medium that is encoded with instructions for execution by the processor that, when executed by the processor, are operable to cause the processor to perform the functions described herein.
As illustrated, integrated media system 300 includes OTT network 105 (e.g., the Internet), which hosts online media content such as OTT content, including, for example, subscriber content, represented by “subscriber channels” 320a, 320b (collectively, subscriber channels 320) and metadata content 321. Notably, the OTT content may be transmitted to LAN device 310 over OTT network 105 as AVC data, as is appreciated by those skilled in the art.
OTA network 110 hosts over-the-air content, which includes, for example, local content associated with respective local channels, represented by “local channels” 330a, 330b, 330c (collectively, local channels 330). In operation, integrated media device 305 receives local content (e.g., ATSC data) using an antenna, transcodes the local content from ATSC data to AVC data (e.g., H.264/MPEG-4 AVC) to form streaming content which can be hosted over LAN 115—here, integrated media device 305 is directly coupled to LAN device 310 using a hardwire communication link for broadcasting/hosting streaming content over LAN 115. However, it is also appreciated that integrated media device 305 may be wirelessly coupled to one or more devices in LAN 115, as is appreciated by those skilled in the art.
With respect to user perspective, a user interacts with a client device—here, client device 120—which is coupled to a display (e.g., TV display). Client device 120, operatively provides streaming content (e.g., media content for local and subscriber channels) to the display. In particular, client device 120 receives local content associated with local channels 330, subscriber content associated with subscriber channels 320, and metadata content 321 over LAN 115. Client device 120 communicates with integration device 305 to determine local channel availability—here, local channels 330, including local channels 330a, 330b, 330c. In some embodiments, however, client device 120 may determine local channel availability based on content received from OTT network 105 (or from other networks (not shown)) and/or the local channel availability may be determined by integration device 305 and sent to client device 120 over LAN 115.
Client device further matches metadata content 321 (e.g., from OTT network 105) for respective local channels 330. For example, metadata content 321 can include content from third party media service providers such as Tribune Media Services (TMS) providers, Gemstar TVGuide providers, and the like. In some embodiments, client device 120 may receive metadata content 321 for local channels 330 from OTA network 110 (or from other networks (not shown)).
Client device 120 provides metadata content 321 for local channels 330 and subscriber channels 320 to the display (as shown), and the user may select one or more channels to watch. Once selected, client device 120 sends a request for the corresponding local/subscriber channel (and/or content) over LAN 115. If the request corresponds to subscriber channels 320, client device 120 requests subscriber content from OTT network 105. If the request corresponds to local channels 330, client device 120 requests local content from OTA network 110 from integration device 305, which (in turn) hosts or broadcasts the local content over LAN 115, as discussed above.
While certain devices shown in
In addition, integrated media device 305 receives an OTA broadcast signal 405 from OTA content providers in OTA network 110. The broadcast signal includes local channel content (e.g., ATSC: MPEG2-TS data). Integrated media device 305 can determine local channel availability based on this broadcast signal, and may generate, at signal 415, advertisements for available local channels. These advertisements are further sent, at signal 420, to LAN device 310 for broadcast over LAN 115 to one or more client devices 120.
As discussed, client devices 120 compile and present metadata content for subscriber channels as well as local channels on a display. A user selects one of the channels for viewing, which causes the client device to send a request for content, at signal 425—here, signal 425 requests content for local channel 330a. Signal 425 is sent over LAN 115 to LAN device 310, which forwards signal 425 to integrated media device 305. Integrated media device 305 receives the request and tunes, at signal 430, one or more of its network interfaces (e.g., an antennae, etc.) to local channel 330a to receive corresponding local content. Integrated media device 305 receives the corresponding local content and transcodes, at signal 435, the corresponding local content into streaming content (e.g., ATSC: MPEG2-TS data into H.264/MPEG-4 AVC data, etc.). Integrated media device 305 further sends the transcoded data (e.g., streaming content) at signal 440 to LAN device 310 for broadcast to one or more client devices 120. Notably, any device connected to LAN device 310 over LAN 115 may receive the transcoded data or streaming content. Further, it is appreciated integrated media device 305 may have more than one network interface or antenna, which allows integrated media device 305 to tune to more than one local channel and provide transcoded data or streaming content regarding the same.
The integrated media system further matches, at step 825, at least a first portion of the metadata content to the at least one subscriber channel, and matches, at step 830 at least a second portion of the metadata content to the at least one local channel. For example, as discussed above (and shown in
As discussed, a user selects a subscriber channel or a local channel for viewing. Here, step 840, indicates the user selects one of the local channels for viewing, which corresponds to the integrated media system receiving a request for local content associated with the selected local channel. The integrated media system further tunes, at step 845, one of its network interfaces (e.g., an antenna) to receive the local content over the OTA network.
Typically, the local content is broadcast over the OTA network as Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) data and, as discussed, the integrated media system transcodes, at step 850, the local content into streaming content (e.g., from Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) data to Advanced Video Coding (AVC) data), and provides, at step 855, the streaming content to one or more client devices connected over a local network (e.g., a local access network such as LAN 110). For example, the integrated media system and/or a LAN device (e.g., LAN device 310) can host, broadcast, or otherwise transmit the streaming content to client devices connected to the LAN. Notably, the streaming content may be sent over the LAN using, for example, HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) protocols, a Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP (DASH) protocols, or the like.
Procedure 800 subsequently ends at step 860, but may continue on to step 810 where the integrated media system determines one or more local channel are availabe over the OTA network, as discussed above. Collectively, the steps in procedure 800 describe techniques to integrate and stream local content and subscriber content over a private network (e.g., a LAN), which obviates conventional choices consumers make between local media content and subscriber media content when transitioning from cable TV service providers to online service providers.
It should be noted that certain steps within procedures 800 may be optional, and further, the steps shown in
The techniques described herein, therefore, integrate subscriber content (e.g., data corresponding to subscriber channels) available from OTT service providers and local content (e.g., data corresponding to local channels) available over OTA networks in one streaming service/platform. In this fashion, the techniques herein provide a seamless viewing experience where a user may select subscriber channels or local channels.
While there have been shown and described illustrative embodiments that integrate local content and subscriber content, it is to be understood that various other adaptations and modifications may be made within the spirit and scope of the embodiments herein. For example, the embodiments have been shown and described herein with relation to certain systems, platforms, devices, and modules performing specific operations. However, the embodiments in their broader sense are not as limited, and may, in fact, such operations and similar functionality may be performed by any combination of the devices shown and described.
The foregoing description has been directed to specific embodiments. It will be apparent, however, that other variations and modifications may be made to the described embodiments, with the attainment of some or all of their advantages. For instance, it is expressly contemplated that the components and/or elements described herein can be implemented as software being stored on a tangible (non-transitory) computer-readable medium, devices, and memories such as disks, CDs, RAM, and EEPROM having program instructions executing on a computer, hardware, firmware, or a combination thereof.
Further, methods describing the various functions and techniques described herein can be implemented using computer-executable instructions that are stored or otherwise available from computer readable media. Such instructions can comprise, for example, instructions and data which cause or otherwise configure a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or special purpose processing device to perform a certain function or group of functions. Portions of computer resources used can be accessible over a network. The computer executable instructions may be, for example, binaries, intermediate format instructions such as assembly language, firmware, or source code.
Examples of computer-readable media that may be used to store instructions, information used, and/or information created during methods according to described examples include magnetic or optical disks, flash memory, USB devices provided with non-volatile memory, networked storage devices, and so on. In addition, devices implementing methods according to these disclosures can comprise hardware, firmware and/or software, and can take any of a variety of form factors. Typical examples of such form factors include laptops, smart phones, small form factor personal computers, personal digital assistants, and so on.
Functionality described herein also can be embodied in peripherals or add-in cards. Such functionality can also be implemented on a circuit board among different chips or different processes executing in a single device, by way of further example. Instructions, media for conveying such instructions, computing resources for executing them, and other structures for supporting such computing resources are means for providing the functions described in these disclosures.
Accordingly this description is to be taken only by way of example and not to otherwise limit the scope of the embodiments herein. Therefore, it is the object of the appended claims to cover all such variations and modifications as come within the true spirit and scope of the embodiments herein.
