Patent Application
20140280869
Consumers are increasingly demanding rich multimedia content that requires distribution of a large amount of data over a network. Multimedia content may provide consumers with video content, audio content, and data content. Multimedia content is typically delivered as a composite asset that includes video, audio, and data.
Existing systems can be wasteful of bandwidth resources, for example, delivering portions of the multimedia content that a consumer does not desire to receive (e.g., audio in a language the consumer does not speak), or delivering multimedia content almost indefinitely, unless a consumer takes some affirmative action to end delivery. Transporting of undesired or unneeded content is wasteful, and may result in degraded performance.
Accordingly, there remains a need to improve bandwidth utilization, and to balance user demands for multimedia content against network performance.
The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects as described herein. The summary is not an extensive overview of all aspects. It is neither intended to identify key or critical elements nor to delineate the scope of the present disclosure. The following summary merely presents various example concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description below.
In some embodiments, systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer readable media may be configured for establishing at least one session for delivery of multiple components of a multimedia content item. For example, first and second transmissions of data fragments corresponding to first and second components, may be received, synchronized, and presented for rendering of the multimedia content item. An inactivity event may be identified subsequent to the rendering; and, subsequent to the identifying of the inactivity event, a session may be maintained in an active state. In some examples, delivery of a first transmission of data fragments may be stopped, or a lower bandwidth version of the first component may be requested and/or provided.
This summary is not intended to identify critical or essential features of the disclosures herein, but instead merely summarizes certain features and variations thereof. Other details and features will also be described in the sections that follow.
Some features herein are illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings and in which like reference numerals refer to similar elements.
In the following description of the various embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration various embodiments in which the disclosure may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural and functional modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure.
Network 100 may be a telecommunications network, a multi-service operator (MSO) network, a cable television (CATV) network, a cellular network, a wireless network, an optical fiber network, a coaxial cable network, a hybrid fiber-coaxial (HFC) network, or any other type of information distribution network or combination of networks. For example, network 100 may be a cellular broadband network communicating with multiple communications access points, such as wireless communications tower 130. In another example, network 100 may be a coaxial system comprising a cable modem termination system (CMTS) communicating with numerous gateway interface devices (e.g., gateway interface device 111 in example home 102a). In another example, the network 100 may be a fiber-optic system comprising optical fibers extending from an optical line terminal (OLT) to numerous optical network terminals (ONTs) communicatively coupled with various gateway interface devices. In another example, the network 100 may be a digital subscriber line (DSL) system that includes local office 103 communicating with numerous gateway interface devices. In another example, network 100 may be an HFC network in which Internet traffic is routed over both optical and coaxial communication paths to a gateway interface device in or near a user's home. Various aspects of the disclosure may operate on one or more of the networks described herein or any other network architectures now known or later developed.
Network 100 may use a series of interconnected communication links 101 (e.g., coaxial cables, optical fibers, wireless links, etc.) to connect premises such as homes 102 or other user environments to local office 103. Communication links 101 may include any wired communication links, wireless communication links, communications networks, or combinations thereof. For example, portions of communication links 101 may be implemented with fiber-optic cable, while other portions of communication links 101 may be implemented with coaxial cable. Communication links 101 may also include various communications components such as splitters, filters, amplifiers, wireless components, and other components for communicating data. Data may include, for example, internet data, voice data, weather data, media content, and any other information. Media content may include, for example, video content, audio content, media on demand, video on demand, streaming video, television programs, text listings, graphics, advertisements, and other content. A media content item may represent an individual piece of media content, such as a particular movie, television episode, online video clip, song, audio recording, image, or any other data. In some instances, a media content item may be fragmented into segments, such as a plurality of two-second video fragments that may be separately addressed and retrieved.
Local office 103 may transmit downstream information signals onto communication links 101, and premises such as home 102 may receive and process those signals. In certain implementations, communication links 101 may originate from local office 103 as a single communications path, and may be split into any number of communication links to distribute data to homes 102 and various other destinations. Although the term home is used by way of example, homes 102 may include any type of user environment, such as single family homes, apartment complexes, businesses, schools, hospitals, parks, and other environments and combinations of environments.
Local office 103 may include interface 104, which may be a computing device configured to manage communications between devices on the network of communication links 101 and backend devices, such as server 105, computing device 106 (e.g., server), and server 107. For example, interface 104 may be a cable modem termination system (CMTS). The termination system may be as specified in a standard, such as, in an example of an HFC-type network, the Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS) standard, published by Cable Television Laboratories, Inc. The termination system may be configured to transmit data over one or more downstream channels or frequencies to be received by various devices, such as modems in homes 102, and to receive upstream communications from those modems on one or more upstream frequencies.
Local office 103 may include one or more network interfaces 108 for communicating with one or more external networks 109. One or more external networks 109 may include, for example, one or more telecommunications networks, Internet Protocol networks, cellular communications networks (e.g., Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), and any other 2nd, 3rd, 4th and higher generation cellular communications networks), cellular broadband networks, radio access networks, fiber-optic networks, local wireless networks (e.g., Wi-Fi, WiMAX), satellite networks, and any other networks or combinations of networks.
Local office 103 may include a variety of servers that may be configured to perform various functions. Local office 103 may include one or more push servers 105 for generating push notifications to deliver data, instructions, or both to devices that are configured to detect such notifications. Local office 103 may include one or more servers 106 configured to provide content (e.g., media content) to devices. Computing device 106 may be a network server or content server storing content items. Local office 103 may include one or more application servers 107.
Homes 102 such as home 102a may include an interface 120, which may include device 110, for communicating on communication links 101 with local office 103, one or more external networks 109, or both. For example, device 110 may be a coaxial cable modem (for coaxial cable links 101), a broadband modem (for DSL links 101), a fiber interface node (for fiber-optic links 101), or any other device or combination of devices. In certain implementations, device 110 may be a part of, or communicatively coupled to, gateway interface device 111. Gateway 111 may be, for example, a wireless router, a set-top box, a computer server, or any other computing device or combination.
Gateway interface device 111 may be any computing device for communicating with device 110 to allow one or more other devices in example home 102a to communicate with local office 103, one or more external networks 109, or other devices communicatively coupled thereto. Gateway 111 may include local network interfaces to provide communication signals to client devices in or near example home 102a, such as television 112, set-top box 113, personal computer 114, laptop computer 115, wireless device 116 (e.g., a wireless laptop, a tablet computer, a mobile phone, a portable gaming device), vehicular computing system 117 (e.g., a mobile computing system, navigation system, or entertainment system in an automobile, marine vessel, or aircraft) and any other device.
Device 200 may include one or more output devices, such as a display 206, such as an external monitor or television, and may include one or more output device controllers 207, such as a video processor. In some embodiments, device 200 may include one or more user input devices 208, such as a remote control, keyboard, mouse, touch screen, microphone, or any other input device.
Device 200 may also include one or more network interfaces, such as network input/output (I/O) interface 210 to communicate with an external network 209. The network interface may be a wired interface, wireless interface, or a combination of the two. In some embodiments, network I/O interface 210 may include a cable modem, and network 209 may include the communication links 101 shown in
Each multimedia content item may be stored as discrete components, rather than as a single asset. For example, a multimedia content item may include multiple video components 304, multiple audio components 306, multiple data components 308, and other components 311. In an embodiment, other components 311 may be signals, messages, or other envisioned or future developed data. Each video component 304 may correspond to a different version of video for the multimedia content item. For example, a first version may be high definition (HD) video, a second version may be a left eye view for three dimensional (3D) video, a third version may be a right eye view for three dimensional (3D) video, and a fourth version may be standard definition video. Video components may also be different formats of video, where a first component may be a large version of video and a second version may be a small-format or thumbnail version. In an example, small-format versions may be used for presenting a mosaic of the video using multiple display screens, where each screen presents a different portion of full-screen video. In the example shown in
Each audio component 306 may correspond to a different version of audio for a multimedia content item. For example, if the multimedia content item is of a sporting event, a first version may be audio of a home team's television announcer, a second may be audio of a home team's radio announcer, a third version may be audio of a visiting team's television announcer, and a fourth version may be audio of a visiting team's radio announcer. In another example, a first version of audio may correspond to a left channel and a second version may correspond to a right channel, and so forth. Audio components may also correspond to different languages. In the example shown in
Each data component 308 may include data provided from one or more sources. A data component may, for example, support interactive applications, alternate languages, closed captioning, etc. For example, a first data component may include real-time statistics of a sporting event, a second data component may include closed captioning text, a third data component may include comments posted on a social networking website, a fourth data component may include data streamed from a webserver (e.g., real-time stock quotes). In the example shown in
To provide a multimedia content item, computing device 106 may establish a session with device 110 (or device 401,
A session may transport multiple transmissions (e.g. multiple streams) of data fragments, where each transmission corresponds to one component. By separating multimedia content items into discrete components, computing device 106 may establish one transmission per component, thereby only delivering desired components of the multimedia content item. This may result in savings of bandwidth, and may permit computing device 106 to halt sending of a transmission for a particular component, or sending a lower bandwidth version, if inactivity is detected. Further, separating multimedia content items into discrete components advantageously permits a single multimedia content item to be stored on, and delivered from, multiple servers 106. Data fragments of each component may include synchronization information to permit synchronizing of the video, audio, and data upon receipt.
Upon selection of a particular multimedia content item, multimedia GUI 500 may present components available for selection. In example, user may provide input to device 401 to select multimedia content item 502B. Multimedia GUI 500 may then display component selection field 504. Component selection field 504 may permit selection between one or more video components in field 506, audio components in field 508, and data components in field 510 associated with the selected multimedia content item. More than one component may be selected within each of fields 506, 508, and 510. For example, a user may select both video component 1 and video component 2 in video selection field 506. Component selection field 504 may also permit selection in fields 512, 514, and 516 of what device is to receive each of the selected components. For example, a user may select to have video component 1 provided to first and second devices, video component 2 provided to a third device, and not to have video component 3 provided to any device. In another example, a user may select to only receive audio component 1, and not to receive any of the video components or data components. A user may also revise their selections in Multimedia GUI 500 over time. For example, a user may initially select English audio, and midway through presentation of the multimedia content item, may change the selection to be Spanish audio.
In an example with reference to
Referring again
Subsequent to receiving request 406, computing device 106 may then communicate with device 401 to establish a session. Computing device 106 may include, for example, a session resource manager (SRM). Each session may transport one or more data transmissions. For example, if a user selected two video components and one audio component, computing device 106 may establish a session to transport three data transmissions. To establish a session, computing device 106 may communicate a network location from which device 401 is to obtain a component. The network location may be a network address of a device other than the computing device 106, to permit establishing of sessions with multiple servers 106 that collectedly provide components of a single multimedia content item. The components may be available from multiple locations to enable efficient use of storage and network transmission resources.
After a session is established, device 401 may receive transmissions of data fragments for each of the components. A data fragment may be a packet, a cell, a frame, or other manner of transporting a portion of data from a source to a destination over a network. Each data fragment may include synchronization information and a transmission identifier. For example, fragments of each of the audio, video, and data components may include synchronization information specifying a time stamp. Device 401 may reassemble the components for presentation based on data fragments of the different components having a time stamp that includes a common value. Device 401 may also cache a predetermined amount of data prior to presentation to reduce any issues with latency, problems with a network transmission path delivering data from computing device 106 to device 401, and to allow for inter-fragment skew when the fragments are being synchronized for presentation.
The transmission identifier may identify to which transmission a data fragment belongs. For example, if a session transports a video transmission, an audio transmission, and a data transmission, the video transmission may have a first identifier, the audio transmission may have a second identifier, and the data transmission may have a third identifier. Device 401 may use the transmission identifier to distinguish between the transmissions. By transporting only the components the user requests, the amount of bandwidth used to transport the multimedia content item may be reduced.
To efficiently use network bandwidth, device 401 (or other device, e.g., laptop computer 115) may monitor for inactivity events while presenting the multimedia content item. An inactivity event may be a determination that a user is not viewing or not listening to the multimedia content item currently being provided, or that the user is using the device 401 to do something besides viewing or listening to the multimedia content item. In an example, device 401 may include an activity timer for monitoring activity within a predetermined amount of time and may identify an inactivity event at the expiration of the timer. Device 401 may reset the timer each time that a reset trigger is identified. Example reset triggers may include a user responding to a prompt generated by the multimedia content item, changing a volume setting, etc. Device 401 may be controlled by a remote control. The remote control may include an accelerometer (or other motion detection sensor) to determine user presence and activity. Device 401 may periodically receive motion data from the remote control and, if the data indicates a predetermined amount of motion, device 401 identify such movement as an activity event and reset the timer. Device 401 may also be coupled to other types of motion detectors (e.g., infrared, laser, etc.) to determine user presence and activity. Additional activities may include program selection or a change in a setting such as a channel setting.
When multiple devices are being used to present a multimedia content item, activity detected at any of the devices may be used reset the activity timer. For example, and with reference to
Device 401 may also warn the user that the activity timer is about to expire at a predetermined amount of time before expiration. To warn the user that the activity timer is about to expire, device 401 may present a pop-up window, play an audible warning, display a light, cause a device to vibrate, etc., or otherwise notify the user of the pending expiration. Messages may also be arranged serially to provide an early warning, then final warning of an impending bandwidth management action. When multiple devices are synchronized and presenting the multimedia content item, messages may be sent to any or all of the participating devices to verify there is an active user. For example, with reference to
With reference again to
In other example aspects, device 401 may identify an inactivity event based on user action suggesting lack of interest in a multimedia content item being presented. For example, device 401 may be presenting a multimedia content item in a first GUI. If a user causes a second GUI to obscure at least a predetermined amount of the first GUI, device 401 may identify this action as an inactivity event. Device 401 may also initiate activity timer upon detecting that the at least a predetermined amount of the first GUI has been obscured. If the timer expires, device 401 may identify an inactivity event. Subsequent to identifying an inactivity event, device 401 may communicate reduction request 412 to instruct computing device 106 to halt sending of data fragments of the video component, or to send a reduced bandwidth version.
In further example aspects, device 401 may identify an inactivity event based on monitoring whether an external device (e.g., external display monitor) presenting a component has been turned off. If device 401 determines that the external device has been turned off, device 401 may identify this action as an inactivity event. Device 401 also may initiate activity timer upon detecting that the external device has been turned off. If the timer expires, device 401 may identify an inactivity event. Subsequent to identifying an inactivity event, device 401 may communicate reduction request 412 to instruct computing device 106 to halt sending of data fragments of the component being presented by the external device.
Computing device 106 may also monitor network conditions between device 401 and computing device 106 to determine whether to stop sending components to device 401, or whether to send reduced bandwidth versions of certain components. For example, computing device 106 may include a bandwidth utilization detector to monitor current bandwidth utilization relative to total available utilization. Computing device 106 may compare current bandwidth utilization to one or more predetermined thresholds. If current bandwidth utilization exceeds a particular predetermined threshold, computing device 106 may identify a component requiring the greatest amount of bandwidth for delivery, and may halting sending that component or may provide a lower bandwidth version of that component. Upon the current bandwidth utilization falling below the particular predetermined threshold, computing device 106 may resume sending the higher bandwidth version.
Even though computing device 106 may halt sending one or more transmissions of data fragments for one or more components, computing device 106 may keep the session active with device 401. In an example, computing device 106 may halt sending of a transmission of video data fragments via the session, but may maintain the session in an active state. For example, at active state may indicate that computing device 106 has reserved a predetermined amount of network bandwidth, even though computing device 106 is no longer communicating a transmission of data fragments for a particular component. Keeping the session active may permit faster resumption of sending data fragments to the device, as compared to having to re-establish the session.
When resumption of a transmission is desired, device 401 may communicate a component resumption request 414 to computing device 106 identifying the corresponding component. For example, computing device 106 may have halted transmission of a transmission of data fragments for a video component, and device 401 may request that the transmission be restored. Device 401 may communicate the resumption request 414 in response to identifying an activity event. An activity event may be input provided by the user and/or may be detected by device 401. In an example, device 401 may detect an activity event based on user presence, activity, a device being turned back on, etc. For example, device 401 may have instructed computing device 106 to halt sending of a component due to an external device being turned off. Device 401 may detect that the external device has been turned back on, and then may communicate the resumption request 414. In another example, device 401 may detect user movement and/or presence using a motion detection sensor, an accelerometer, etc., and then communicate request 404. In a further example, device 401 may determine that a GUI in which a video component is being presented is no longer obscured by a second GUI, and may then communicate request 404. In response to receiving request 414, computing device 106, at block 416, may resume sending a transmission of data fragments to the device 401 for the corresponding component.
Upon resumption, computing device 106 may send data fragments of the component based on a current location in time within the multimedia content item. For example, computing device 106 may have halted sending of video data fragments, but continued to communicate audio data fragments. Computing device 106 may determine a current time stamp of the audio data fragments being sent and send the video data fragments having the current and subsequent time stamps.
In another example, computing device 106 may resume sending data fragments for all of the components based on the time at which the activity timer expired. This may permit the user to resume viewing or listening to the multimedia content item from the time he or she may have stopped being able to do so. For example, a multimedia content item may be thirty minutes long and the activity timer expired thirteen minutes into the content. Computing device 106 may resume sending data fragments for all of the components at the thirteen minute mark. Computing device 106 may also resume sending data fragments a predetermined amount of time before the activity timer expired, such as, for example, at a last time the activity timer was reset. The user may also use device 401 to specify the time at which to resume sending data fragments.
With reference again to
At block 602, the method may include establishing at least one session for delivery of at least a first component and a second component of a multimedia content item. At block 604, the method may include receiving, during the at least one session, a first transmission of data fragments of the first component and a second transmission of data fragments of the second component. The transmissions may be a stream, file based, or any other type of transmission. At block 606, the method may include synchronizing the first transmission of data fragments and the second transmission of data fragments, and presenting the synchronized data fragments for rendering of the multimedia content item. At block 608, the method may include identifying an inactivity event subsequent to the rendering. At block 610, the method may include, subsequent to the identifying of the inactivity event, maintaining the at least one session in an active state and performing one of: requesting that delivery or providing a message that subsequently causes the first transmission of data fragments be stopped, or requesting delivery of a lower bandwidth version of the first component. The method may then end, or may return to any of the preceding blocks.
The various features described above are merely non-limiting examples, and can be rearranged, combined, subdivided, omitted, and/or altered in any desired manner. For example, features of the servers can be subdivided among multiple processors and computing devices.
Any of the above-mentioned functional components may be implemented with at least one processor and at least one memory. The functional components may include hardware that may execute software and/or be configured in hardware to perform specific functions. The software may be stored on a computer-readable medium in the form of computer-readable instructions. A computer may read those computer-readable instructions, and in response perform various steps as defined by those computer-readable instructions. Thus, any functions attributed to any of the components of
While embodiments have been described with respect to specific examples including presently preferred modes of carrying out the invention, those skilled in the art will appreciate that there are numerous variations and permutations of the above described systems and techniques. Thus, the spirit and scope of the invention should be construed broadly as set forth in the appended claims.
