Patent Application
20050076092
Not Applicable.
Not Applicable.
A portion of the material in this patent document is subject to copyright protection under the copyright laws of the United States and of other countries. The owner of the copyright rights has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the United States Patent and Trademark Office publicly available file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. The copyright owner does not hereby waive any of its rights to have this patent document maintained in secrecy, including without limitation its rights pursuant to 37 C.F.R. § 1.14.
1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally pertains to content distribution, and more particularly to systems and methods of sharing of audio and/or video content over a remote communication medium and providing access to that content over a virtual channel.
2. Description of Related Art
Consumers are being inundated with content from media and advertising channels over television, radio, and the Internet. Home lives often seem to center around the television set with average viewing times per individual exceeding many hours per day. However, individuals find it increasingly difficult amidst their busy schedules to maintain contact with family and friends.
The current availability of cameras, video recorders, and the like provide an affordable mechanism for registering and recording content for events in our lives, yet this content is not readily shared with our friends and family. Although audio and/or video content, after being properly formatted may be attached to an email, or put up on a web site, for sharing with other parties, the process is complicated and involves a number of steps. Individuals that do not regularly log onto their personal computer systems, or that are not computer savvy, often struggle with attempting to communicate in this manner. Additionally, persons receiving email are subject to battling with unwanted solicitations, or “SPAM”, making it difficult to wade through all the unsolicited garbage to find content from actual friends and family. Current trends in the convergence of the personal computer and video recorder and/or television have not simplified peer-to-peer content sharing.
Therefore, a need exists for a system and method of sharing audio and/or video content with friends and family that is easy to use, while not being subject to “SPAM” from advertisers and other organizations and individuals that the user does not wish to receive content from. The present invention satisfies those needs, as well as others, and overcomes the deficiencies of previously developed content sharing systems and methods.
The present invention is a system and method of sharing content (i.e. audio and/or video) in which content may be received from selected parties over a common communication medium and easily played back at the user's discretion over a virtual channel. As used herein, the term “virtual channel” refers to a channel which can be “tuned” to an internal or media storage location for playback of the content as opposed to a broadcast or cable channel.
In general terms, the invention comprises a receiver configured to automatically receive content from at least one preauthorized sender. Once received, the content is locally stored on internal or external media storage and indexed for later retrieval and playback over a virtual channel. A user interface provides a list of channels for playback, which can include one or more broadcast channels, cable channels, and virtual channels. The user tunes to a virtual channel, rather than a broadcast or cable channel, to access the stored content.
By way of example, and not of limitation, each virtual channel is identified by a descriptor for channel selection. The user can then access the virtual channel through an electronic program guide (EPG) by scrolling through a list of channels which can include broadcast channels, cable channels, and virtual channels. Examples of electronic program guides with virtual channels can be found in published U.S. Patent Application No. 2002/0157100 and published U.S. Patent Application No. 2002/0157098, both of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Alternatively, the user can enter a number or code on a local or remote keypad to select the virtual channel directly. When a virtual channel is selected, the system accesses a storage location for playback instead of accessing a broadcast or cable tuner. Accordingly, the system provides a low overhead approach for peer-to-peer or client/server content sharing, which overcomes the numerous steps and complications that arise when attempting to share content as email attachments or web site content.
By way of further example, in one embodiment of the invention content is distributed to a destination associated with a known party or select group of parties. Prior to storing the content, the destination authorizes the identity of the sending party, either directly or indirectly. Preferably, a notification in the form of one or more electronic program guide (EPG) entries is generated for the destination user. The notification can be preferably selected by the user for accessing the associated content, such as playing a video file on an attached television set.
The present invention overcomes a number of the obstacles that arise in maintaining contact and sharing life's many events with friends and family. The invention may be implemented within a set-top box, or other electronics, such as video recorders, televisions, personal computers, and the like. Content may be communicated utilizing telephone lines, cable networks, powerline networks, Internet, wireless connectivity, wired connections, or combinations thereof. Content from advertisers and other unwanted third parties is not stored, whereby the system is not subject to SPAM. The invention addresses current societal trend and can prevent people from losing “touch” with one another, such as friends and family.
The present invention may also be utilized in commercial environments, such as for collecting video feeds from remote reporters, documenting events, situations, or conditions from field personnel, and so forth. It is also contemplated that at the discretion of the user, this present system can form the basis of an opt-in or push form of advertising wherein users set specific criteria that an advertisement must fulfill prior to being selected, for example: (1) responding to a query and containing a matching code, (2) responsive to one or more items on a “shopping list” or similar structure, (3) forwarded by selected individuals, (4) inclusive of a sufficient level of incentives (i.e. electronic cash), along with alternatives and combinations thereof.
In general, the system provides a mechanism for content distribution that takes advantage of the fact that the television is often the centerpiece of the home environment, which increasingly is supported by wideband connections for both uploading and downloading of content. (Although the system may be utilized with connections having insufficient bandwidth to support real-time content transfers of video and/or audio, it may also be utilized on slower connection for non-real-time content transfers.) Typically, the communication link between the sender and receiver is established when the sender desires to push content to a given receiver, or group of receivers.
The communication link (medium) may comprise any convenient form of remote data transfer infrastructure, such as selected from the group consisting of telephone networks, the Internet, cable television networks, powerline networks, wireless connectivity, and directly wired links. By way of example, the communication link between systems may be established utilizing existing infrastructure within POTS telephones (plain old telephone system), xDSL telephone services, ISDN telephone services, cable television links, Internet links, wireless links, wired links (i.e. WAN or LAN), and other mechanisms and combinations thereof upon which an upload/download connection may be established.
An intermediary server may be employed for transfer and storage, but the connection may also be made directly without utilizing a separate server. For example, the contents may be stored until requested by the user, wherein the need for content storage can be fully or partially shifted from user equipment to that of service providers.
The content may be communicated in any desired format, such as MPEG-4, which provides a preferred scalable communication standard. Additionally, the availability of inexpensive storage media, such as hard disk drives, and removable storage devices facilitate implementation of this content communication system. The system may generally be considered a form of video (and/or audio) mail controlled through a content listing, such as an electronic program guide (EPG). The system preferably utilizes this channel paradigm for the content transfers allowing users to interact with the system in an intuitive manner where content is selected by channel.
The system may operate to provide either a peer-to-peer connection between users (groups, and so forth), or in a client/server mode in which content may be accessed over a wider portion of the network or all of the network. The content distributed by the system is “source pushed” with the user at the receiving end selecting what, when, and if to play the received content.
A transmitter may be incorporated within any content receiving device to allow communicating content back toward an originator, or to other peers. The transmitter is preferably configured with means of encoding source address information about said first peer location, or other form of authentication information. The transmitter is generally configured for attachment to input elements selected from the group of input devices consisting of: video cameras, digital still cameras, video recorders, video cassette recorders, video playback systems, digital video disk systems, audio recording systems, audio playback systems, and so forth and combinations thereof.
The system may be generally considered an apparatus for accessing content shared by peers over a communication medium, comprising: (1) content storage, (2) a communications interface, such as a receiver or transceiver, (3) a playback interface (i.e. video and/or audio), and (4) means for automatically authenticating which content is to be stored in response to a determination as to whether the content has arrived from a user selected peer. A control processor preferably orchestrates the operations of the other elements, including the means for automatic selection of content based on user configuration.
The functions may be integrated within existing systems (i.e. set-top boxes, PCs, and so forth) or may be implemented within a separate component. Aspects of the present invention may be embodied as programming that is executable on systems that provide content communication over a communication medium, content storage, and user program selection means. Distribution of programming according to the invention may be through the distribution of media, including disks, content downloads, and so forth.
The device is connected through a back-channel to the communication medium, which may be selected from the group of remote data transfer infrastructures consisting of telephone networks, the Internet, cable television networks, powerline networks, wireless networks, and directly wired links. It should be appreciated that the device may be configured with one or more of these interfaces so that users may select the desired interface, for instance based on availability or cast factors.
Content that does not match user selected criteria, such as being found within a list of peer addresses or codes, is not stored so that the user is not burdened with unwanted solicitations or other unwanted content. Peer addresses can be directly authenticated based on their originating address, such as caller ID on a telephone line, or IP address when content communicated over the Internet. Peer addresses can be indirectly authenticated based on a username, user code, unit code, password code, identifier from smart card, biometric identifier, other metrics, or combinations thereof that compare favorable with information stored during configuration of the destination system prior to downloading the content. For example a unique ID code associated with a smart card can be transmitted to a remote system as an authentication token that is compared with data stored at the remote location, thereby preventing the storage of unsolicited content.
Preferred embodiments of the invention further comprise means for rendering notification of content which has been stored on the content storage element. By way of example, an electronic program guide is displayed on associated video devices, such as a television. Utilizing an interactive notification within the embodiment allows for rapid and intuitive access (i.e. playback) of the received content in response to interacting with the notification, such as by clicking on it when it is the current cursor context. The program guide generally comprises a listing of channels and associated content, within which a notification of received content is presented. The content notification may include content description, content length value (given as a time length value or a file length value), information about when the content was recorded, and information as to when the content was received.
The apparatus of the invention may be implemented within a separate device, or integrated within a set-top box, television system, audio system, gaming system, personal computer system, or combinations thereof. Content storage may be provided within fixed media (i.e. hard disk drive) or removable media (i.e. R/W DVD), or stored remotely on an intermediary server accessible to the device. It should be appreciated that the present invention may be configured as programming executable on the control processor within conventional set-top boxes or other hardware having the requisite storage and communication interfacing described herein.
The means for automatically selecting content may comprise a computer element and programming configured for execution on the computer element for, (a) establishing communication with a source of video and/or audio content over said communication medium, (b) authenticating the access rights of the content source as a user selected peer, (c) initiating a download of content from the content source, and (d) storing the content received from the content source within the data storage element for user selected playback.
One of the methods of the present invention may be generally described as a method of distributing content over a network, comprising: (1) inputting audio and/or video content using an input device; (2) addressing a recipient destination within a first device; (3) transmitting the audio and/or video content through a back-channel of the first device to the destination over a communication medium; (4) authenticating that the audio and/or video content transmitted by the first device, that is to be received by the second device, has been authorized by a user of the second device; (5) receiving the audio and/or video content over a back-channel of a second device at the destination; and (6) playing the audio and/or video content from the second device. The audio and/or video content is preferably stored within the second device (or in association with it such as in a server) prior to play back of the content.
The method preferably includes generating a notification of the receipt of the audio and/or video content on a program guide displayed by the second device. The invention allows the user to play back content with minimal overhead, and without the need to log onto the Internet and process email attachments.
This system and method may be implemented in a number of alternative ways and a number of aspects of the system and method are described herein.
An aspect of the invention is to provide a method of keeping in touch with friends and family through sharing of audio and video content.
Another aspect of the invention is to provide a virtual channel through which a user can access shared content.
Another aspect of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method which enables peer-to-peer sharing of events via audio and video content through utilizing the familiar interface of a TV channel.
Another aspect of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method which enables a user to share content over either broadband or non-broadband connections.
Another aspect of the present invention is to enable peer-to-peer content sharing utilizing existing hard disk recorder technology in a video mail application format.
Another aspect of the invention is providing peer-to-peer sharing of audio and/or video content over a communications medium, such as the telephone, cable, powerline, wireless, or Internet networks.
Another aspect of the invention is to provide access to content sent by a peer without the user being required to log onto the internet, access emails, and play attachments.
Another aspect of the invention is to provide audio and/or video content access from peers for which notification and control is provided through a programming guide.
Another aspect of the invention is to provide authentication that content is from user selected sources prior to storing content at a destination device.
Another aspect of the invention is to provide authentication of content based on the address of the source, such as telephone caller ID, or Internet IP address.
Another aspect of the invention is to provide authentication of content in response to matching of identifiers, passwords, or similar qualifiers, between the content sent to a destination and user selected qualifiers.
Another aspect of the invention is to provide a peer-to-peer content sharing device whose functions can be readily integrated within set-top boxes, television sets, video recording systems, personal computer systems, and other forms of consumer electronics.
Another aspect of the invention is to seamlessly integrate content from peer sources into traditional television programming selection mechanisms.
Further aspects of the invention will be brought out in the following portions of the specification, wherein the detailed description is for the purpose of fully disclosing preferred embodiments of the invention without placing limitations thereon.
The invention will be more fully understood by reference to the following drawings which are for illustrative purposes only:
Referring more specifically to the drawings, for illustrative purposes the present invention is embodied in the apparatus, systems and methods generally shown in
The system allows sharing of content between users over a communication link, such as television cable, telephone linkage, powerline connection, wireless channel, wired link, or other form of electronic communication channel. Examples of content that may be shared between users, such as friends, family, groups, clubs, fellow hobbyists, and so forth include videos, photos, audio, and other forms of electronic content. Preferably the content appears to the receiver as a virtual channel which by way of example and not of limitation, may appear as a television channel (i.e. channel 135) such as within an associated programming guide that lists information about the received content and which preferably can be interacted with for accessing the content.
The communication of content between sender and receiver utilizing the present invention may be executed in real time or non-real time. It is contemplated that the availability of bandwidth between sender and receiver will largely determine whether real time rate transmission is performed, however, it should be appreciated that numerous other factors can come into play. Furthermore, data transfer may take place at rates that exceed real time when high bandwidth connections are available.
Communicating content at a rate equal to or exceeding the real-time communication rate (i.e. signal bandwidth of video being captured) allows the user to begin viewing the content immediately after the connection is established with the sender. In contrast, utilizing a transmission rate that is less than real time, generally requires that the content be viewed after all, or at least a portion of the content has been stored at the destination, for instance within a data storage element such as a hard disk drive or similar mass storage element. Real-time communication may take place over a leased channel, owner channel, cable system, powerline network, high speed telephone connection (i.e. xDSL, ISDN, fiber, etc.), or other communication link having a bandwidth suited to the content to be transmitted.
The content transmitted between sender and receiver is preferably encoded by the sender, such as for security and to compact the data for transmission. By way of example and not of limitation, video content may be encoded according to the MPEG-4 standard. Furthermore, data within the transmitted content, or a header or similar communication handshake preceding the transmission of content, preferably provides secure information that may be utilized by the receiver to determine if the content is to be accepted from the sender. For example source address information, routing path, pass codes, similar forms of additional information or combinations thereof, may be utilized for qualifying content for storage at the receiver.
Sender 12 is configured with one or more electronic content sources 20 and/or input devices, such as a video camera 22, video player 24 (e.g., DVD or VCR player), or other sources of video and/or audio content, which generates electronic content to be communicated to peer 14. Sources 20 are shown connecting by way of an appropriate interface 26 to a content storage subsystem 28 configured for storing and accessing electronic content. Content storage subsystem 28 is preferably implemented within a set-top box unit, however, the general functionality described herein may be implemented within a separate unit or integrated within other devices such as televisions, video recorder systems, personal computer systems, or other systems capable of storing electronic content.
Content storage subsystem 28 comprises a first interface 30 (IF1) to which input and output devices may be connected. This interface is preferably configured for performing short distance communication, such as between components in a local system, or local network. This input/output interface 30 may comprise any desired type of I/O interface over which the audio, video, and/or data content may be received or transmitted, such as IEEE 1394 interface protocol, DVI interface, analog audio-video input, and so forth.
Electronic storage 32 provides a means for storing electronic content, such as by way of a disk drive storage media or removable media, however, it should be appreciated that other forms of electronic data storage may be utilized, such as solid state memories (i.e. Flash memory), and so forth.
A second interface 34 provides a means for interfacing with remote devices, such as over distributed networks, which can be referred to as a back-channel. This long distance back-channel interface 34 is shown connected for convenience through a demarcation connection box 44 (i.e. cable junction box, telephone access point, etc.) providing a physical interface from devices in the home, office, or other physical location, to remote services.
A control unit 36 within the content storage subsystem is configured for transferring electronic content from electronic storage 32 and may be configured for controlling aspects of interfaces 30, 34. The controller preferably includes at least one processing unit (CPU, MPU, DSP) and may be configured for performing a plurality of content storage, control, and/or manipulation functions. The information received and transmitted from content storage subsystem 28 may be processed by control unit 36, stored by a disk drive 32, and transmitted by I/O interfaces at whatever speed is required. By way of example, control unit 36 may perform processing which may include formatting and packetizing of the data associated with the content in a predetermined manner.
A system bus 38 is shown connecting the elements within content storage subsystem 28, although control and data may be alternatively routed between system blocks using separate busses or separate control and data lines. System bus 38 is preferably a parallel bus, however, a serial bus, hybrid serial and parallel bus, optical bus, or any other electronic signal transfer mechanism may be utilized. External access to system bus 38 and/or controller 36 is shown by way of interface 40 to medium 42 which can support additional forms of communication. It will be appreciated that processed content from the system may be supplied to a respective destination by any supported interface, such as either through interface 40 and transmission medium 42 or through back-channel interface 34 connected to communications link 16.
The back-channel may be routed through a modem within interface 34 that is connected to a telephone line (such as a “plain old telephone service” connection (POTS line), a cable modem coupled to a cable TV line, a DSL modem coupled to a DSL connection, an integrated services digital network (ISDN) line, a powerline connection communicating over AC powerline connections, an Ethernet connection to a network of two devices or more, a wireless connection to a network, or other electronic communication channel. It should be appreciated that a number interfaces types may be supported for a given user site, allowing the user to select a desired communication standard based on bandwidth availability and cost factors. Examples of common standards include telephone modem, xDSL modem, cable modem, satellite modem, other wired or wireless connections for creating a channel between two or more devices. The destination may be a service provider, a server, an ISP host, another content storage subsystem 28, and so forth.
At receiver 14, electronic content is received through a second demarcation connection box 44′ into a second content storage subsystem 28′. An output device 46, or devices, such as a high definition television set 48 provide a means for outputting the received content (audio, video, etc.) to the recipient. The system is preferably configured for displaying information about the electronic content received from sender 12 on the display 50 of television set 48, such as within a channel menu, or program guide. A remote control device 52 is shown for controlling playback of the content by the user.
To simplify the ongoing system description, content storage subsystem 28 will herein be generally referred to as a set-top box (STB) which contains the functionality of the present invention along with any other desired functionality or combinations of functionality that may be integrated within a set-top box. It should be appreciated, however, that the present invention may be implemented within other forms of electronic equipment configured for communicating with a remote device.
Set-top box (STB) 28 is preferably configured for providing bi-directional communication over a transmission medium 16. By way of example and not of limitation, bi-directional communication can be implemented using asymmetrical communication techniques, such as utilizing dual communication media with a first media for the uplink and a second media for the downlink. STB 28 may be configured with its own Universal Resource Locator (URL) assigned for providing addressability by the head-end and by internet users.
The media server 54 and EPG server 58 are shown coupled by transmission medium 16 to STB 28. The transmission medium 16 may include, for example, a conventional coaxial cable network, a fiber optic cable network, telephone system, twisted pair, a satellite communication system, a powerline communication system, a radio frequency (RF) system, a microwave or other wireless systems, a combination of wired and wireless systems or any of a variety of known electronic transmission mediums. In the case of a cable television network, transmission medium 16 is commonly realized at the subscriber's premises as a coaxial cable that is connected to a suitable cable connector at the rear panel of STB 28. In the case of a Direct Satellite System (DSS), STB 28 is often referred to as an Integrated Receiver Decoder (IRD). In the case of a DSS system, the transmission medium is a satellite transmission at an appropriate microwave band, and which is typically received by a satellite dish antenna with an integral Low Noise Block (LNB) that serves as a down-converter to convert the signal to a lower frequency for processing by STB 28.
Output 46 from the system is exemplified by a television 48 (tuner and monitor), such as a digital television having a display 50 for displaying programming, an EPG, and the like. STB 28 may be coupled to television 48 and/or various other input 20 and output 46 audio/visual devices. Furthermore, one or more internet appliances 70 may be connected by an appropriate interface 26, which can be any suitable analog or digital interface, typically a local (short haul) interface. In one embodiment, interface 26 conforms to an interface standard such as the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 1394 standard.
The STB 28 may include a central processing unit (CPU) and memory such as Random Access Memory (RAM), Read Only Memory (ROM), flash memory, mass storage such as a hard disc drive, floppy disc drive, optical disc drive, or may accommodate other electronic storage media, and so forth. Such memory and storage media is suitable for storing data as well as instructions for programmed processes for execution on the CPU, as will be discussed later. Information and programs stored on the electronic storage media or memory may also be transported over any suitable transmission medium 26 as illustrated in the figure.
STB 28 may include circuitry or programming suitable for audio and/or video decoding and processing, for example the decoding of video data compressed in accordance with a compression standard such as the Motion Pictures Experts Group (MPEG) standard. Alternatively, components of STB 28 may be incorporated into television set 48 itself, thereby eliminating the need for a separate STB 28. Furthermore, a computer unit, such as one having an integrated television tuner may be substituted for television 48 and STB 28 without departing from the teachings of the present invention.
By way of example, STB 28 may be coupled to devices such as a personal computer, TV tuner, video cassette recorder, camcorder, digital camera, personal digital assistant and other audio/visual or Internet related devices. In addition, a data transport architecture, such as that set forth by an industry group which includes Sony Corporation® and which is known as the Home Audio-Video Interoperability (HAVi™) architecture may be utilized to enable interoperability among devices on a network regardless of the manufacturer of the device. This enables formation of a home network system wherein electronic devices and Internet appliances are compatible with each other. The STB 28 is preferably configured to run an operating system suitable for a home network system such as the Aperios™ real time operating system by Sony Corporation, although other operating systems may be alternatively utilized.
STB 28 preferably includes an infrared (IR) receiver 72 for receiving IR signals from an input device such as remote control 74. Alternatively, it is noted that many other control communication methods may be utilized besides IR, such as wired or wireless radio frequency, and so forth. In addition, it can be readily appreciated that IR input device 72 may be substituted with any device suitable for controlling STB 28, for instance a remote control, personal digital assistant, laptop computer, keyboard or computer mouse. In addition, an input device in the form of a control panel located on television unit 48 or STB 28 can be provided.
Audio packets from the demultiplexer 80 (those identified with an audio PID) are decrypted and forwarded to an audio decoder 82 where they may be converted to analog audio to drive a set of speakers (i.e. a stereo or home theater multiple channel audio system) or other audio system 84 (e.g. stereo or home theater multiple channel amplifier and speaker systems) or may simply provide decoded audio output 86. Video packets from demultiplexer 80 (those identified with a video PID) are decrypted and forwarded to a video decoder 88. In a similar manner, data packets from demultiplexer 80 (those identified with a data PID) are decrypted and forwarded to a data decoder 90.
Decoded data packets from data decoder 90 are sent over system bus 92 to central processing unit (CPU) 94, which controls operations within the STB. It should be appreciated that the CPU may be implemented with any convenient form of electronic controller such as programmable elements that may comprise at least one CPU, MPU, or the like. CPU 94 can thus access the decoded data from data decoder 90 via system bus 92. Video data decoded by video decoder 88 is passed to a graphics processor 96, which is a processing element optimized for rapidly manipulating graphics data. Graphics processor 96 is particularly useful in processing graphics intensive data associated with Internet browsing, gaming and multimedia applications such as those associated with MHEG (Multimedia and Hypermedia information coding Experts Group) set-top box applications. It should be noted, however, that the function of graphics processor 96 may be unnecessary in some set-top box designs having lower capabilities, wherein the functionality of graphics processor 96 may be executed by CPU 94, such as in applications where the decoded video is passed directly from the demultiplexer 80 to a video encoder. Graphics processor 96 is coupled to system bus 92 and operates under the control of CPU 94.
STB 28 may incorporate a smart card reader 98 for communicating with a so called “smart card”, often serving as a Conditional Access Module (CAM). The CAM typically includes its own separate control processor (CPU) along with associated memory (i.e. RAM and ROM). Smart card reader 98 may be utilized for coupling system bus 92 of STB 28 to the smart card serving as a CAM (not shown). Smart card based CAMs are typically utilized for authenticating users and transactions carried out by the user, and/or the authorization of services and the storage of authorized cryptography keys. For example, the CAM can be used to provide the key for decoding incoming cryptographic data for content that the CAM determines the user is authorized to receive.
STB 28 can operate in a bi-directional communication mode so that data and other information can be transmitted not only from the head-end of the system to the end user, or from a service provider to the end user of STB 28, but also, from the end user upstream using an out-of-band channel. In one embodiment, such data passes through system bus 92 to a modulator 100 through the tuner (operating as a return path OOB tuner) and out through the transmission medium 16. This capability may be utilized to provide a mechanism for STB 28 and/or its user to send information to the head-end (e.g. service requests or changes, registration information, etc.) as well as to provide fast outbound communication with the Internet or other services provided at the head-end to the end user.
STB 28 may include any of a plurality of I/O (Input/Output) interfaces represented by I/O interfaces 102 that permit interconnection of I/O devices to STB 28. By way of example, and not limitation, a serial RS-232 port 104 can be provided to enable interconnection to any suitable serial device supported by the internal software of STB 28. Similarly, communication with compatible devices can be provided via an Ethernet port 106, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) port 108, an IEEE 1394 (so-called firewire or i-link) or IEEE 1394 wide port 110, S-video port 112 or infrared port 114. Such interfaces can be utilized to interconnect STB 28 with any of a variety of accessory devices such as storage devices, audio and/or visual devices 120, gaming devices (not shown), Internet Appliances, along with any other desired electronic devices and/or equipment.
Additionally, peripherals may be connected to I/O interface 102 of STB 28, common peripherals by way of illustration comprising a modem (i.e. dial-up, cable, DSL or other technology modem) connected through modem port 116 to facilitate high speed or alternative access to the Internet or other data communication functions. In one preferred embodiment, modem port 116 is that of a DOCSIS (Data Over Cable System Interface Specification) cable modem to facilitate high speed network access over a cable system, and port 116 is appropriately coupled to the transmission medium 16 embodied as a coaxial cable. Consequently, STB 28 can perform bi-directional communication via the DOCSIS cable modem with STB 28 being identified by a unique URL (Universal Resource Locator).
A PS/2 or other keyboard/mouse/joystick interface 118 can be provided to simplify data entry to STB 28. User interface inputs support devices for capturing user data and control entry, such as menu navigation utilizing pointing devices. It should be appreciated that set-top boxes, televisions, gaming consoles, video record and playback system, and similar interactive systems already provide a user interface for user control.
STB 28 may also incorporate one or more video outputs 120 that can provide direct connection to a television set, or similar video display (or recording) device. In one embodiment, video output 120 is configured to provide composite video formatted as NTSC (National Television System Committee) video. An embodiment may be configured with video output 120 implemented to provide a direct connection to graphics processor 96 or the demultiplexer/descrambler 80 instead of through system bus 92 as illustrated in the exemplary block diagram. S-Video signals from output 112 can be similarly provided without passing through system bus 92 if desired in other embodiments.
Infrared port 114 can be embodied as an infrared receiver 72 as illustrated in
STB 28 may include a disc drive interface 122 and disc drive mass storage 124 for user storage of content and data as well as providing storage of programs operating on CPU 94. STB 28 may additionally, or alternatively, include floppy disc drives, CD ROM drives, CD RNV drives, DVD drives, solid-state “drives”, holographic drives, and other means of electronic data storage (not shown). To perform computer operations, CPU 94 is coupled through system bus 92 to memory 126. Memory 126 is shown comprising memory 128 for retaining an operating system, memory 130 for retaining a browser 132, along with stack, buffering, and other uncommitted memory 134. Memory 126 may comprise any suitable memory technology including Random Access Memory (RAM), Read Only Memory (ROM), Flash memory, Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EEPROM), other forms of electronic storage elements, and combinations thereof.
While the above exemplary system including STB 28 is illustrative of the basic components of a digital set-top box suitable for use with the present invention, the architecture shown should not be considered limiting since many variations of the hardware configuration are possible without departing from the present invention. Furthermore, the invention may be embodied in programming operable on a system having the necessary hardware functionality, such as within a set-top box unit.
Considering the operation of STB 28, an appropriate operating system such as Sony Corporation's Aperios™ real time operating system is generally loaded into, or is permanently stored within, active memory 128 along with the appropriate drivers for communication with the various interfaces. Along with the operating system and associated drivers, STB 28 would preferably be operated with software for a browser retained in active memory 130 which may permanently reside in non-volatile storage, such as ROM or EEPROM. The browser software typically operates as the mechanism for viewing not only web pages on the internet, but also serves as the mechanism for viewing an Electronic Program Guide (EPG) formatted as an HTML document. The browser stored in memory 130 may be optionally configured according to the invention for providing mechanisms for viewing normal programming (wherein normal programming is viewed as an HTML video window—often occupying the entire area of a television screen).
Although set-top box software architectures can vary depending upon the operating system, these systems generally incorporate hardware interface layers in their lowest system layer. Above the hardware interface layer is traditionally an operating system layer as previously described. The software architectures of modern STBs have generally evolved to include a next layer referred to as “middleware”, permitting STB applications to execute across multiple platforms substantially without regard for which operating system is in place. Currently, middleware standards have been evolving around JavaScript and HTML (HyperText Markup Language) virtual machines. At the top layer of the system software is the application layer where user applications and the like reside (e.g. browsing, email, EPG, Video On Demand (VOD), rich multimedia applications, pay per view, etc.). The current invention can be utilized with any suitable set-top box software architecture.
The user at STB2 can optionally configure their system for selective content receipt by setting access rights as exemplified by block 190 of
Content to be shared is input by User1 as shown in block 150 of
During this time STB2 is retained in a standby mode awaiting receipt of content as per block 192 of
After User1 defines, or otherwise selects, the destination for the content then STB1 initiates contact with STB2 as depicted in block 152 of
As the communication is received by STB2, STB2 checks the call type as represented by block 194 of
STB1 waits while checking for an answer from STB2, such as according to predefined time limits, as depicted in block 154. If no answer from STB2 is detected within the time limits, then STB1 generates an error message and ends as shown in block 156 of
Access rights are authorized by STB2 as shown in block 196 of
If access rights are checked as per block 198 of
If STB1 detects at block 158 of
STB1 is subject to interruption of the transfer as shown by block 164, for example disruption of the communication channel by an incoming phone call, physical disconnection, and so forth. If an interrupt occurs STB1 moves to a new state represented by block 166 saving the information (including download status and progress information so that the download need not restart from the beginning upon subsequent reconnection) and then moves to and end state as per block 172. If an interrupt was not detected in block 164 of
STB2 checks for an interruption as per block 202 of
It will be appreciated that the system can be configured in various ways for the convenience of the user. For example, the system may be configured to display content upon selecting the associated channel, or even immediately upon receipt of that content. It should also be appreciated that the present system may be configured for displaying and controlling content selection in a number of alternative ways, such as depending on the application to which the system is applied.
Although the description above contains many details, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. Therefore, it will be appreciated that the scope of the present invention fully encompasses other embodiments which may become obvious to those skilled in the art, and that the scope of the present invention is accordingly to be limited by nothing other than the appended claims, in which reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless explicitly so stated, but rather “one or more.” All structural, chemical, and functional equivalents to the elements of the above-described preferred embodiment that are known to those of ordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and are intended to be encompassed by the present claims. Moreover, it is not necessary for a device or method to address each and every problem sought to be solved by the present invention, for it to be encompassed by the present claims. Furthermore, no element, component, or method step in the present disclosure is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether the element, component, or method step is explicitly recited in the claims. No claim element herein is to be construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for.”
This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/508,793 filed on Oct. 2, 2003, incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60508793 | Oct 2003 | US |
