Video and digital multimedia acquisition and delivery system and method
3 claims: 1 independent, 2 dependent
- 1ビデオ及びマルチメディア・コンテンツを取得し配送する方法であって、 コンテンツ・ダウンロード・リクエストをユーザ端末からアグリゲータが受け取るステップと、 前記リクエストが前記アグリゲータに格納されているコンテンツに対するリクエストか遠隔コンテンツ・サーバに格納されているコンテンツに対するリクエストかを、アグリゲータが判断するステップと、を含み、 前記リクエストが遠隔コンテンツ・サーバに格納されているコンテンツに対するものである場合には、 前記アグリゲータが、前記コンテンツ・ダウンロード・リクエストを前記遠隔コンテンツ・サーバに配送するステップと、 前記コンテンツが直接に配送されるか間接に配送されるかを前記遠隔コンテンツ・サーバが判断するステップであって、前記遠隔コンテンツ・サーバに格納されているコンテンツを直接配送することが、コンテンツを前記アグリゲータを通してルーティングすることなしに前記遠隔コンテンツ・サーバから前記ユーザ端末にコンテンツを提供することを 含み、前記遠隔コンテンツ・サーバに格納されているコンテンツを間接に配送することが、コンテンツを前記アグリゲータを介して前記遠隔コンテンツ・サーバから前記ユーザ端末に提供することを含む、 前記ステップと、を含み、 前記コンテンツが直接に配送される場合には、 前記遠隔コンテンツ・サーバが、前記遠隔コンテンツ・サーバから前記ユーザ端末まで通信リンクを確立するステップと、 前記遠隔コンテンツ・サーバが前記リクエストされたコンテンツを前記ユーザ端末に配送するステップと、 前記遠隔コンテンツ・サーバが前記ユーザ端末への配送を確認するステップと、 前記コンテンツが配送されたことを示す指示を、前記遠隔コンテンツ・サーバが、前記アグリゲータにローカルなデータベース及び遠隔サーバ・データベースの少なくとも一方に送信するステップと、を含む、ことを特徴とする方法。
- 2請求項1記載の方法であって、前記リクエストが、前記アグリゲータに格納されたコンテンツに対するものである場合、 前記リクエストされたコンテンツに関連するメタデータを、前記アグリゲータが解析するステップと、 前記解析されたメタデータに基づき、前記リクエストされたコンテンツの現在のフォーマットが、前記ユーザ端末に適合した第1のフォーマットセット内のものかを、前記アグリゲータが判断し、前記リクエストされたコンテンツの現在のフォーマットが、前記第1のフォーマットセット内のものでない場合、前記リクエストされたコンテンツを前記第1のフォーマットセット内のフォーマットに、前記アグリゲータが再フォーマットするステップと、 前記アグリゲータが、前記リクエストされたコンテンツを 暗号化するステップ と、 1又は複数の広告を、前記アグリゲータが、前記リクエストされたコンテンツに組入れるステップと、を含んでおり、 前記1又は複数の広告の1又は複数は、前記ユーザ端末のユーザに関連づけられたユーザプロファイルに基づいて前記ユーザ端末のユーザに向けられている、ことを特徴とする方法。
- 3請求項1記載の方法において、前記リクエストが前記遠隔コンテンツ・サーバに格納されているコンテンツに対するものであり前記リクエストされたコンテンツが間接的に配送される場合、 前記アグリゲータが、前記遠隔コンテンツ・サーバから前記リクエストされたコンテンツを取得するステップと、 前記リクエストされたコンテンツが前記アグリゲータでローカルに記憶されるべきかどうかを、前記アグリゲータが判断するステップと、を含み、 前記リクエストされたコンテンツが前記アグリゲータでローカルに記憶されると判断された場合、 前記リクエストされたコンテンツのフォーマットを、前記アグリゲータが判断するステップと、 前記リクエストされたコンテンツのフォーマットが、前記アグリゲータでローカルにコンテンツを記憶するために使用されるフォーマットである第2のフォーマットセット内でない場合、前記リクエストされたコンテンツを、前記アグリゲータが再フォーマットするステップと、 前記リクエストされたコンテンツを、前記アグリゲータが記憶するステップと、を含み、 前記リクエストされたコンテンツに関連するメタデータを、前記アグリゲータが解析するステップと、 前記解析されたメタデータに基づき、前記リクエストされたコンテンツの現在のフォーマットが、前記ユーザ端末に適合した第1のフォーマットセット内のものかを、前記アグリゲータが判断し、前記リクエストされたコンテンツの現在のフォーマットが、前記第1のフォーマットセット内のものでない場合、前記リクエストされたコンテンツを、前記アグリゲータが前記第1のフォーマットセット内のフォーマットに再フォーマットするステップと、 前記アグリゲータが、前記リクエストされたコンテンツを 暗号化するステップ と、 1又は複数の広告を、前記アグリゲータが、前記リクエストされたコンテンツに組入れるステップと、を含んでおり、 前記1又は複数の広告の1又は複数は、前記ユーザ端末のユーザに関連づけられたユーザプロファイルに基づいて前記ユーザ端末のユーザに向けられていることを特徴とする方法。
Independent claims3
99 paragraphs, as filed
The present invention relates to a television program and digital multimedia delivery system incorporating an intelligent and flexible program search and delivery mechanism.
The cable television delivery system has significantly expanded the set of programs available to television viewers compared to those provided by radio broadcasting systems. As a result, satellite television delivery systems, and in particular digital satellite broadcast systems, further expand consumer viewing options. In the near future, digital broadcast television systems will offer more programming options to consumers.
In addition to TV programs delivered via the TV program delivery system, other programs and events can be sent to consumers. These other programs and events include wired and wireless streaming video, narrowband to broadband transitions, digital audio programming, and other multimedia data.
<p> Unfortunately, consumers are still limited in their options for watching TV due to the local and regional nature of the TV delivery system. For example, Boston broadcasters offer programs on local interests to Massachusetts people, while Seattle broadcasters offer different programs to people in the Seattle area. .. Boston residents usually can't watch Seattle shows other than those offered at the national level.</p><p> In addition to this local and regional market separation, many other sources of programming and events are not available in certain viewing areas. These other sources include audio programs, streaming videos, local or limited television programs (eg, educational television programs provided by the Weekly Education Department) and other programs.</p><p> Even if a program is available in the local viewing area, the viewer may not be aware of its existence. This situation is the result of a large number of available programs combined with limited program menus and announcements. This is because the program guide cannot list all available programs, the program change may not be reflected in the program guide, and the program guide may be incorrect. Moreover, the more comprehensive the program guide, the more difficult it is for viewers to look at different parts while searching the program guide to find the program they want.</p>
<p> The problems mentioned above are solved by the video and digital multimedia aggregator systems and methods disclosed in this application. Program content is packaged and delivered by this system, including any content that can be delivered in digital formats, such as video, television, radio, audio, multimedia, computer software, and e-books. Is included.</p><p> The aggregator includes a request and result processing server, a search engine server coupled to the request and result processing server, and a content acquisition server coupled to the request and result processing server. The request and result processing server receives the request for the program, the search engine server searches for the program, and the content acquisition server acquires the program for delivery to the user. The request and result processing server includes a search request processor that receives information related to the user's search request and provides that information to the search result form builder that creates the electronic search request. Search requests can be increased by adding additional search terms and descriptions to the search request using the Content Search Recommendation Engine. The aggregator also provides a decoder that decodes the program content and program metadata from the remote source to be stored in the aggregator, and a encoder that encodes the content menu and the program to deliver to the user. Including. Aggregators also include content crawlers, such as content crawlers, that search for program content in digital communication networks.</p><p> The search engine server searches at least the local content database. The local database has at least two file types. Content files include complete program content files. For example, the 1997 movie Titanic can exist in the local content database as a complete program content file. The complete program content file may also contain reference content or metadata that contains additional information related to the content. Such additional information in the reference content includes program rate specifications, program descriptions, video clips, program lengths, formats (eg, 4x3 TV or 16x9 movie orientation, etc.) ) And other information may be included in the program description. Other information includes billing information and digital rights management information, viewing statistics including the number of views, the date and time of viewing, and the ID of the user who viewed the program, and advertisements are inserted while viewing the program. Advertising information that allows for, other information, etc.</p><p> The additional information in the reference file may be provided to the system user in whole or in part. For example, the aggregator may provide a description of the program and accompanying video clips to selected system users. Reference files may be used by aggregators for system management purposes. For example, for billing and digital rights management information, an appropriate fee is collected from the system user, and the collected fee is paid to the right holder of the content.</p><p> Remote content crawlers continually search digital communications networks for content to provide to aggregators. The content provided to the aggregator can be stored in the form of an entire content file. For example, the content can include an entire movie, a television program or an e-book. Alternatively, the content provided to the aggregator can also be a reference to a content file that is stored or made available at some remote location. For example, the content can be a reference to the future and a live sporting event that will be available to system users. This sporting event may be offered temporarily free of charge as part of a tolled sporting package, or it may be offered as a free event. In the above example, the content may be stored in the aggregator and then provided to the system user. In the example of a live sporting event, the aggregator remembers the live sporting event and provides the sporting event as a replay in addition to facilitating live viewing of the sporting event. it can.</p>
<figref num="1">It is a block diagram of the main components of the content search, packaging and delivery system.</figref><figref num="2">It is a block diagram of the main components of a content search, packaging and delivery system configured to deliver content to a set-top terminal.</figref><figref num="3">FIG. 6 is a block diagram of key components of a content search, packaging and delivery system configured to deliver content to a personal computer terminal.</figref><figref num="4">FIG. 6 is a block diagram of content search, packaging and delivery system components showing subsystems of aggregator, user terminal and remote content server.</figref><figref num="5">An overview of the request and result processing server subsystem and the components that this processing server interacts with as part of the content search, packaging and delivery system.</figref><figref num="6">An overview of the content acquisition server subsystem and the components that this acquisition server interacts with as part of the content search, packaging and delivery system.</figref><figref num="7">An overview of the content delivery server subsystem and the components that this content delivery server interacts with as part of the content search, packaging and delivery system.</figref><figref num="8">An overview of the database administrator subsystem as part of the content search, packaging and delivery system.</figref><figref num="9A">FIG. 9A shows a flow chart illustrating program content delivery from an aggregator or remote content server to a user terminal.</figref><figref num="9B">FIG. 9B shows a flow chart illustrating program content delivery from an aggregator or remote content server to a user terminal.</figref><figref num="9C">FIG. 9C shows a flow chart illustrating program content delivery from an aggregator or remote content server to a user terminal.</figref><figref num="10">It is an overview of the components of a content search, packaging and delivery system, which is another embodiment for aggregators, user terminals and remote content sources.</figref><figref num="11">An overview of the content acquisition system and the components that the content acquisition system interacts with as part of the content search, packaging and delivery system.</figref><figref num="12">It outlines a remote content integration system and a content acquisition system in which this remote content integration system interacts as part of a content search, packaging and delivery system.</figref><figref num="13">An overview of the content delivery system and the components that the content delivery system interacts with as part of the content search, packaging and delivery system.</figref><figref num="14">An outline of a local content source that provides content to a content delivery system as part of a content search, packaging and delivery system.</figref><figref num="15">It outlines the subsystems of a communication system and the components that the communication system interacts with as part of a content search, packaging and delivery system.</figref><figref num="16">It outlines a subsystem of a content transmission system that is part of a communication system and a subsystem of a wide area distribution system that is part of a content search, packaging and delivery system.</figref><figref num="17">It is a block diagram of the operation module of the content acquisition method which may exist in the content acquisition system of FIG.</figref><figref num="18">It is a block diagram of the operation module of the content delivery method which may exist in the content delivery system of FIG.</figref><figref num="19">It is a block diagram of the operation module of the communication method which may exist in the communication system of FIG.</figref>
The detailed description below refers to the accompanying drawings, but the same reference numbers refer to the same components.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system 200 that searches, packages, and delivers content. Content packaged and delivered by System 200 includes video, television, radio, audio, multimedia, computer software and e-books. The components of the system 200 include an aggregator 201 and a user terminal 202, which are connected using a wide area distribution system 203. Other components include a remote content server 204 that exchanges data with the aggregator 201 using a wide area network / internet 205 connection, and an external content source 232 that provides other content data to the aggregator 201. There is. The user terminal 202 interacts with the video display system 207, the audio playback system 208, the audio / video recording system 209, the user input device 214, the e-reader 230, and other devices in the user's home environment. Can incorporate a connection to the home network 229 for. Alternatively, one or more or all of the video display system 207, the audio playback system 208, the audio / video recording system 209, and the e-book reader 230 may be separate components coupled to the user terminal 202. ..
System 200 allows the user to enter search parameters such as keywords and category headings and have the aggregator 201 use these parameters to find content from many sources, package it, and deliver it to user terminal 202. It will be possible. Such requests and content delivery are collectively represented as telephone lines, coaxial cables, fiber optic cables, wireless connections, satellite networks, terrestrial broadcasting systems, wide area networks, the Internet, physical media distribution and wide area distribution system 203. It is sent via a communication link that includes other communication media, rather than a limited enumeration. Figure 4 shows a number of content sources, including, but not limited to, aggregator local storage 254, local streaming source 262, remote content storage 258, and remote streaming storage. 259 is included. In one embodiment, the local streaming source 262 consists of audio and video channels delivered using a cable headend system that includes an aggregator 201.
Upon receiving a user's search request, System 200 performs a search for almost all active and scheduled radio and television channels around the world, but the search targets movies and records. It also includes archived sources of video and audio programs such as audio sources, other multimedia sources, software and e-book content. In one embodiment, System 200 searches Internet websites and other online databases. Then, the user can select the program to be downloaded and other contents based on the search result. In one embodiment, the download and delivery process either by making its content available on specific channels of cable television or other broadcast systems, or by using digital communication protocols such as the Internet standard TCP / IP. It can be done by using and transmitting the content. In addition, the Content Search, Packaging and Delivery System 200 provides stored information about the user's current search parameters, previous searches and previously selected content downloads, and other user-specific or relationships. Based on the analysis of certain information, a list of recommended content can be created and provided. System 200 also uses an email message and / or an on-screen message announcement that the scheduled program will be broadcast at a specific time prior to the start time, the selected program. Can inform users about the availability of and other content. System 200 supports one or more digital rights management (DRM) systems, which track the copyright and usage rights associated with downloaded content, make appropriate claims to the user's account, and license and license. Providing royalties and fees to content providers. The system 200 allows the user to collect what kind of information.
An overview of an embodiment of the system 200 is shown in FIG. 2, where the user terminal 202 is a set-top terminal 206 that communicates with the aggregator 201 via a cable television system headend 210. Utilizes the high bandwidth coupled cable system 216 of the cable television system headend 210. Further, the set-top terminal 206 system includes a tuner 228, a demultiplexer 231 and a video display system 207, an audio playback system 208, an audio / video recording system 209, a user input device 214, and an electronic book reader 230. Includes a connection to the user's home network 229. These components are used to tune, select, watch, listen and store audio and video programs and other content delivered by the search, packaging and delivery system 200. Figure 2 also shows a communication path from one or more remote content servers 204 directly to the set-top terminal 206 over the wide area network / Internet 205, which is the route to the aggregator 201 and the cable. Bypassing the TV system headend 210. This route can be used when the requested content is available from the remote content server 204 in the requested format and is authenticated to be delivered directly to the user. In another embodiment, the aggregator 201 is co-located with the cable television headend 210 acting as the wide area distribution system 203, which allows the cable television system to act as the user's Internet service provider. It is the same as when there is.
An overview of another embodiment of System 200 is shown in Figure 3. In this embodiment, the user terminal 202 is a personal computer terminal 211 that communicates with the aggregator 201 via an internet service provider / cable television system headend 215. In this case, the content is delivered by a cable headend acting as an Internet Service Provider (ISP). The personal computer terminal 211 also provides a video display system 207, an audio playback system 208, an audio / video recording system 209, a user input device 214, an e-reader 230, and a connection to a home network 229. Can include. In addition, there is a communication path from one or more remote content servers 204 directly to the personal computer terminal 211 via the wide area network / Internet 205. This route is the Aggregator 201 and Internet Service Provider / Cable TV System Headend 215 if the requested content has the requested format and is authenticated to be delivered directly to the user. Bypass with.
Users can receive video and audio programs (ie, content) in a number of different ways. First, the tuner 228 in the user terminal 202 shown in FIG. 2 can simply be tuned to the desired program, or the demultiplexer 231 can program from within the digital multiplex. Select to display the program at the appropriate time. However, the desired program may not be broadcast by the user's cable TV system headend 210, and the user wants to watch the program provided by the local headend, but subscribes to it. It may not be. For example, a boxing match broadcast on a premium channel that the user does not normally receive. In such an example, the program is delivered to the user by an aggregator 201 using a telephone line, fiber optic transmission line or other communication medium, or using a cable television system headend 210. Can be done. In one embodiment, the aggregator 201 can supply a desired program to a user by obtaining the program from US and foreign program delivery systems and delivering the program to the system user. Therefore, the user can also access the program outside the user's nearest viewing area.
FIG. 4 shows in more detail an embodiment of the system 200 and system components. At the user's location, the user terminal 202 includes a tuner 228, a demultiplexer 231 and a user terminal processor 227, a user local storage 212, and a user local database 213. Combined to the user terminal 202 are a user input device 214, a video display system 207, an audio playback system 208, an audio / video recording system 209, an e-book reader 230, and a connection to a home network 229. And.
The user terminal 202 is coupled to the aggregator 201 via the wide area distribution system 203 and further to a remote program source via the wide area network / Internet 205. Remote program sources include a remote streaming source 259 and a remote central storage 258. The remote program source also includes a remote database 261 and a remote server database 260 via the remote content server 204.
The aggregator 201 may include a communication server 250 that communicates with the user terminal 202 via the wide area distribution system 203. The communication server 250 receives inputs from the request and result processing server 300, the content delivery server 450, and the system administrator 500. The content delivery server 450 receives inputs from the encoder and content formatter 253 and the content acquisition server 400. The content delivery server 450 also accesses the aggregator local storage 254 and the local streaming source 262. Finally, the content delivery server 450 provides output to the system administrator 500.
The coder (coder) and content formatter 253 receive input from the content acquisition server 400, the aggregator local storage 254, and the local streaming source 262. The system administrator 500 receives input from the content delivery server 450 and communicates with the content acquisition server 400, the request and result processing server 300, the search engine server 350, and the aggregator archive 255. The decoder and content formatter 252 are coupled to the content acquisition server 400. Finally, the network gateway 251 couples the components of the aggregator 201 to the remote content server 204 via the wide area network / internet 205.
The content received by the aggregator 201 is input to the formatter 253. The formatter 253 reformats all input content into a format that is easily received by one or more user terminals 202 that are operably connected to the delivery system 200. Further, the formatter 253 can store a whole or partial copy of the content in the aggregator local storage 254 in a compressed form. The aggregator 201 can also be provided in real time, depending on the content, such as a boxing match. In one embodiment, if a large number of users desire one particular live program, the cable television system headend 210 broadcasts the program to each individual user via the wide area distribution system 203 ( Instead of broadcasting), the program can be broadcast to a specific channel available to all requesters. "Digital Broadcast Program See U.S. Patent Application No. 09 / 191,520 entitled "Ordering." This US patent application is incorporated in this application with respect to the details of broadcast program delivery.
Aggregator 201 can also implement a screening process that limits the number of programs captured to programs that have viewers above a given threshold. In fact, the aggregator 201 includes a filter that passes only programs that meet the calligraphy selection criteria. This filter has the function of screening content to exclude specific items such as adult content.
System Administrator 500 records how much the fee must be paid to whom. For example, the aggregator 201 determines to whom copyright fees and other fees should be paid when a program is broadcast.
User terminal 202 may be a television, set-top terminal 206, personal computer terminal 211 (see Figure 3) or any device capable of receiving digital or analog data, some combination of these. But it may be. The user terminal 202 is provided with a user input device 214 that not only communicates search criteria to the system 200 but also controls various other functions of the user terminal while moving through the menu system of the user terminal. There is. User local storage 212 is used to store and archive content for later access to one or more removable and / or fixed storage devices or media. Detachable storage media include, but are not limited to, magnetic tapes, magnetic disks, optical disks and modules, and electronic memory cartridges. User Local Database 213 is a repository of all information about a user's profile and account. User profile and account information are not limited to, but are allowed access to the user name, password, personal information that the user has approved for memory, billing information, and the account. Includes other users, past search criteria, past content download information, and library information about stored content. As a consumer protection, the user terminal 202 sees the information stored in the user local database 213 and modifies the data fields, which data fields in the main system database in the aggregator 201. It is possible to choose whether to report. These, but not limited to, fields containing account numbers and billing information can also prevent this level of user access.
User terminal processor 227 includes a central processing unit and all relevant hardware, software and firmware that perform all operations within user terminal 202. These operations are not limited, but manage communication with the aggregator 201 and other devices connected by the network, process search and download requests, display search and download results, and use the user. Manage and control communication with local storage 212 and local database 213, respond to user interactions with a graphical user interface (GUI) menu, and use a variety of audio and video output devices. It includes playback of selected program content, realization of the user portion of the digital rights management method, and management of the user's account and billing. Tuner 228 and Demultiplexer 231 play audio / video from channels available in one or more cable television systems 216 and / or satellite systems and / or other delivery systems such as off-air broadcast receivers. -Used to select a channel. The term "off-air" as used herein means that a broadcast signal can be received via a public broadcast wave (air wave) by using an appropriate antenna. means.
In some embodiments, the user terminal 202 may incorporate selected features of the aggregator 201. For example, the user terminal 202 may include a small metadata crawler, an aggregator, program content, and program metadata storage.
The user terminal 202 communicates with the aggregator 201 by using the wide area distribution system 203. Inside the aggregator 201, the communication server 250 functions as an interface point with the wide area distribution system 203 for the purpose of managing major communications with system users. The communication server 250 routes the incoming user request and related user information to the request and result processing server 300, and routes to the end user via the search result and content download and wide area distribution system 203. Route billing information from the internal customer billing server of System Administrator 500 to the end user. The request and result processing server 300 performs basic processing and routing related to a user search request, a content download request, a management information request, a search result, a recommendation of related contents, and a program announcement. Execute.
FIG. 5 shows the individual subsystems of the request and result processing server 300. The types of requests from the system include, but are not limited to, program and other content search requests, content download requests based on the results of preceding searches, and management information requests. Requests for management information are either automatically generated by user terminal 202 or manually initiated by the system user. When a management request is received, the request receiver and router 301 open a dialog with database administrator 502 (see Figure 8) inside system administrator 500 to retrieve the requested system user's management data. , The data is routed to the user terminal 202 via the communication server 250. The search request and the content download request are routed to the search request processor 303 and the content download request processor 302, respectively. Processors 302 and 303 open a dialog with database administrator 502 and verify that the user's request has been authenticated. If the user's request has not been authenticated, the processor (302 or 303) has sent a message to the user via the request receiver and router 301 and the communication server 250, and the request has been denied to the user. Tell. The processor (302 or 303) then logs the event using System Administrator 500. Once the request is authenticated, the processor (302 or 303) formats the request as needed and routes the content download request to the content acquisition server 400 and the search request to the search engine server 350. ..
In response to the program download request, the content acquisition server 400 submits the schedule and availability information for the selected content to the database administrator 502 in the system administrator 500, and the database administrator 502 then , This schedule and availability information is routed to the scheduled program and content availability prompt and notification processor 306 in the request and result processing server 300. Scheduled Program and Content Availability Prompts and Announcements Processor 306 then initiates to the user some form of prompt and / or notification that the selected content is available at a particular time. This notification can take various forms, including but not limited to on-screen pop-up windows, audible notifications, email notifications, instant messages, and automated telephone notifications. .. The exact format and timing of prompts and / or announcements is user-customizable and is based on whether the content is scheduled, broadcast continuously, or available for download at any time. In one embodiment, when the selected program is about to be broadcast or is available for viewing on television, a prompt is sent by the server 300 to inform the user when the program will be broadcast. In the case of an on-screen prompt, a mechanism is provided that allows the user to hyperlink to the program selected from that prompt. For search requests, the search engine server 350 requests and results processing a data package containing appointments, availability, and descriptive information for all content entries that are determined to meet the search criteria. Returned to server 300.
In addition to searching for content that includes criteria entered by the system user, Content Search Recommendation Server 304, in collaboration with Search Engine Server 350, engages users in a variety of ways, including categories and themes. You can recommend the content you are using. The details of the content search recommendation engine 304 are shown in FIG. For example, if the user wants to watch a program about Titanic, the content search recommendation engine 304, in addition to recommending a program about Titanic, such as a program about a non-Titanic ship or an e-book. You can recommend or announce content other than. Similarly, if the search criteria include Johnny Weissmullerwo, the actor who appeared in the Tarzan movie, the Content Search Recommendation Engine 304 will have a show about Tarzan with another actor other than Johnny Weissmuller. Other content can be recommended. In addition, the content search recommendation engine 304 recommends programs that should be viewed based on past search criteria entered by the user, in addition to information about the content actually downloaded by the user. For example, if the search criteria include Johnny Wisemüller, and this user has searched and downloaded many sports-related shows in the past, the Content Search Recommendation Engine 304 is a jungle pool television series. In addition to Tarzan films and other content that are directly related to Johnny Wisemüller, we would recommend programs and other content that include swimming and sports history and biographical programs. If the user is searching for and receiving Tarzan movies, the Content Search Recommendation Engine 304 is likely to recommend an e-book by Edgar Rice Burrough. Such e-books can be downloaded to user terminal 202 using wide area network / internet 205, bypassing aggregator 201. It is capable or can be compiled into the aggregator 201 for delivery to user terminal 202. The e-book delivery system is described in U.S. Patent No. 5,986,690 entitled "Electronic Book Selection and Delivery System" to Hendricks and U.S. Patent Application No. 09 / 289,957 entitled "Electronic Book Alternative Delivery Ststem" which is pending at the same time. Has been done. The content recommendation function of the aggregator was filed on August 3, 2001, and is explained in "Video and Digital Multimedia Aggregator" and "Video and Digital Multimedia Aggregator Content Suggestion Engine" which are pending at the same time. These are incorporated in this application.
Returning to FIG. 5, all search results are sent by the search engine server 350 based on the user search criteria and the recommended search criteria, and the search in the request and result processing server 300. Result format Sent to builder 305. Search result format The builder 305 formats the results for transmission to the user terminal 202 via the communication server 250. Search Results Format Builder 305 uses a prioritized list of user search results and recommended search results to enrich the search results with program, schedule, and availability information. The request and result processing server 300 then encrypts the search result and sends it from 674 to the user terminal 202 via the communication server 250. At the user terminal 202, a prompt is displayed that allows the user to display the returned result on top of the video display system 207 or the e-book reader 230.
The search results are then displayed on the user's video display system 207 in various formats. This format includes, but is not limited to, hierarchical listings based on relevance to search criteria and displays similar to electronic programming guidance based on available time and content source. The user can choose from a variety of result display formats and can reformat the result data upon request. In one embodiment, the user can select one of the search criteria or a program attribute, and the results can be sorted based on this selection. For example, if a large number of program types are returned, the user can select "Documentary" and the results can be listed so that the documentary program comes out first. The display of results indicates whether the selection of a particular program is the result of a user-defined search criterion or the ability of the system to recommend content. The user may display only the results from the user search, only the results of the recommended content search, or both. In one embodiment, the entire menu system can be implemented with audible prompts and lists, and can also be adapted to users with visual disabilities. In such a scenario, the input method can be voice recognition, tactile recognition such as a remote control device having a Braille Braille input pad, a combination of these methods, and the like.
As shown in FIG. 4, the network gateway 251 functions as a communication system between the aggregator 201 and the wide area network / Internet 205 and, therefore, as a remote content server 204. The network gateway 251 supports any pull in widespread use for connecting to the wide area network / internet 205 and acts as a security firewall between the aggregator 201 and the wide area network / internet 205. The network gateway 251 routes the search and content download information from the aggregator 201 to one or more remote content servers 204, and the search results and content from the remote content server 204 and other internet sources to the aggregator 201. Route back to.
The content acquisition server 400 receives a content download request from the request and result processing server 300, as shown in detail in FIG. The content acquisition server 400 includes a content request processor and router 401, and a remote content download processor 402. The download request is made by the user asking for content selection from the source. This includes, but not limited to, previous program searches, rescheduled events, e-book guides, e-book and computer software lists, advertisements, promotions, related internet websites, etc. Is done. Generally, a download request is accompanied by a source of content and data indicating whether the content is local or remote. Requests for content that is only available from remote sites are routed to network gateway 251 and then to the appropriate remote source. Remote sources include, but are not limited to, remote content storage 258 and remote streaming source 259, as shown in FIG. The remote content server 204 confirms the request and returns the content via the wide area network / Internet 205. If the program content has the proper format and is approved for direct delivery to the user, the content is routed to the user terminal 202 via the wide area network / internet 205 and the wide area distribution system 203. To. During this transfer, management data regarding billing and delivery authorization is returned to the aggregator.
The unformatted and unauthenticated program delivered directly from the remote source is transmitted via the network gateway 251 to the remote content download processor 402 included in the content acquisition server 400. The remote content download processor 402 buffers or caches program content while managing download connections to remote sources. Program content is then routed to a decoder and content formatter 252, which decodes various industrial formats and compression methods and delivers the decrypted data and associated metadata. And for local storage, encode into one or more suitable content formats. The processed program content is routed to the content delivery server 450 together with the user ID and routing data, and the server 450 manages the delivery of the content to the user terminal 202 via the communication server 250 and the wide area distribution system 203. The content delivery server 450 is shown in detail in FIG.
Requests for programs available from local sources are routed directly to the local content request processor 451 inside the content delivery server 450. The local content request processor 451 initiates delivery of content from a local source. Local sources include, but are not limited to, aggregator local storage 254 and aggregator local streaming sources. Local content request processor 451, and the content encoder and file Four routes to Matta 253. In one embodiment, the local streaming source 262 can include any of the cable television channels available in the cable television system headend 210 with the aggregator 201 in the housing. If the program content does not have the format and coding scheme requested by the user, the encoder and content formatter 253 (Figure 4) will deliver the program content format and coding to the user for delivery. To execute. The content is then sent to the content delivery processor 453, which manages the delivery of the content to the user terminal 202 via the communication server 250 and the wide area distribution system 203.
During the content acquisition and delivery process, the content delivery processor 453 monitors and verifies that the program content delivered matches the original content download request. It receives the program and user metadata from the content acquisition server 400 via the local content request processor 451 and receives the received data as the metadata of the actually requested content, the program request and This can be done by comparing with the actual delivered content received during the download process. The confirmation is then recorded in System Administrator 500. In one embodiment, when content delivery processor 453 commands ad processor 456 to deliver a particular ad to program content and it is delivered to a system user, based on user information and content metadata. Can be inserted. The advertisement is retrieved from the aggregator local storage 254 or is already present on the user terminal 202. The method of directing advertisements to users is "Targeted" which is pending at the same time. It is described in US Patent Application No. 09 / 054,419 entitled "Advertising Using Television Delivery System" and US Patent Application No. 08 / 160,280 entitled "Method and MFP for Targeted Advertising". These are incorporated in this application. Confirmation of program delivery is also sent to database administrator 502 for recording in the aggregator local database 501.
Similarly, if the content is copyrighted, the user is granted certain rights, and no one else is prohibited from using the copyrighted content, the content delivery processor 453 is digital. The rights management processor 454 can be instructed to implement a digital rights management (DRM) method. The DRM method controls how digital content is used, and moreover, but not limited to, whether the content can be stored in the user terminal 202, copied to another system, or sent to other users. It includes whether it is okay, whether it can be transferred to a removable medium, whether it can be converted to a different digital file format or code or method, and so on. The DRM method can use digital encryption technology to stress copyright protection if necessary. In such a case, the digital rights management processor 454 can instruct the content delivery processor 453 to route the program content to the encryption processor 455 together with the encrypted data. The encryption processor 455 encrypts the program content and returns the content to the content delivery processor 453 for transmission to the end user. In this type of scenario, the authenticated user terminal 202 has the information necessary to decode and output the program content. In addition, the user terminal 202 contains information necessary to enforce any DRM scheme applied to the particular content.
While delivering program content other than the program broadcast via the connected cable television system 216, the user terminal 202 identifies the user terminal 202 and confirms that appropriate data has been delivered before delivery. Responds continuously to the content delivery processor 453, which indicates that should continue. When the download is stopped by the user, the user terminal 202 notifies the content delivery processor 453, and the processor 453 stops the delivery.
When the requested program is successfully delivered, the content delivery server 450 results in a customer billing server 506 and a copyright billing server 507 within System Administrator 500 (not shown in Figure 4). To record. Customer billing server 506 determines if the delivery of content requires additional billing to the customer's account, enters this in the billing record, and records it in database administrator 502 (Figure 8). To do. System Administrator 500 was filed on August 3, 2001 and is described in detail by a concurrent US patent application called "Video and Digital Multimedia Aggregator." This US patent application is incorporated in this application.
The system user can initiate a content search request by entering a number of different types of search criteria using a number of different options for the input device or method. Search criteria can be entered via keywords related to the characteristics of the program content, including, but not limited to, subject, author, title, performer or performer, director and / or description of the content. The search can be based on the type or format of the program, including, but not limited to, movies, television series, documentaries, sports programs, radio conversation programs, radio music programs, and the like. Users are not limited, but are specific to action, drama, history, education, youth, adults, current events, nature, live events, classical, jazz, rock and other music categories, consumer issues, political issues, and region-specific. It can be based on the subject category, including content. Search criteria can also be entered based on the time of day, channel and / or content provider. The user can also enter a free-form question using a simple language pattern. In each case, different search criteria can be used separately or together with other criteria to narrow down the content search. As an example, you can enter "Titanic" as a keyword, "Documentary" as a program type, and "Which company made Titanic" as a free-form question.
The user interacts with the user terminal 202 and uses one or more of a plurality of user input devices 214, including, but not limited to, those shown in FIG. input. User input device 214 includes keyboard 220, keypad 221, mouse or joystick 222, handheld computer 223, touch screen tablet 224, handheld remote control device 225, user terminal voice recognition system 219, input device voice recognition system 226. And electronic book reader 230 and the like.
The program content can be delivered in multiple ways, and the user can also consume the program in multiple ways. Audio and / or video content can be viewed and / or listened to simultaneously in the case of broadcast delivery over a cable television system, as well as during Internet delivery of data streams or files containing programs. .. Also, the user can memorize the content as soon as the content is delivered, regardless of whether the user consumes the content during delivery, and thus the user terminal during and after delivery. Non-linear playback of content in 202 is possible. Non-linear playback means that the user can stop, start, pause (pause), rewind, slow down, and speed up the playback of video or audio content. In one embodiment, the program is delivered from system 200 in less time than it takes to consume the program and is saved in user local storage 212 at any time thereafter. In the case of real-time broadcasts, the storage method is stored on magnetic tape using an audio / video recording system 209 such as a video cassette recorder, or a computer hard disk drive or other digital. It can be stored in the user local storage 212 as a digital file such as a data storage medium. Once the user stores a large number of programs in the user local storage 212, the user terminal 202 stores and configures the content through a series of simple GUIs that resemble the collection state of an audio / video library. To be able to. Storage management can be automated by user definition, preset, or both. (Copyright Digital Audio-Visual Council (DAVIC), DAVIC 1. See Revised 6.0 of TV Anytime and TV Anywhere (TV Anytime and TV Anywhere) with 5 specifications. This is incorporated in this application. See here for simultaneous viewing and storage, non-linear playback, non-real-time delivery, content storage and management, etc. )
In one embodiment, the user terminal 202 integrates into a home network 229 that functions in the user's home, whether or not it is configured as a set-top terminal 206, a personal computer terminal 211, or a combination thereof. be able to. This makes it possible to consume program content on many nodes in the house. Here, many nodes are composed of an auxiliary user terminal and / or a personal computer having various combinations of the video display system 207, an audio reproduction system 208, an audio / video recording system 209, and the like. The primary user terminal 202 performs a program search and download request from another network node and subsequent downloaded programs in a baseband video network such as an Ethernet (registered trademark) network or digital data. Route to one of the requesting nodes in the network. The auxiliary node has a combination of user input devices 214 that control this system and initiates program requests and downloads. In one embodiment, the handheld remote controller 225 uses radio frequency transmission to remotely control the primary user terminal 202 to deliver the program to the remote video display system 207.
Once the download request is processed and authenticated, the content download request process is either authenticated remote download request form 768 or authenticated local download request form 769. Creates and sends its authenticated download request to Content Delivery Server 450, which uses the basic Content Delivery Process 800 shown in Figures 9A, 9B and 9C to provide content. Achieve delivery. Since the authenticated remote download request form 768 or the authenticated local download request form 769 has been received, the content delivery server 450 is in routine 801 to see if the request is local or remote. Determine if it exists and route the request form appropriately (routine 802 for remote requests, routine 819 for local requests).
If the request is satisfied remotely, the execution of routine 802 causes the message to be transmitted to the remote content server 204 and start delivering the program content. In routine 803, the download request is parsed and the remote content server 204 determines if the content can be delivered directly to the user without being returned via the aggregator 201. If the content is not specified to be delivered directly to the user, routine 804 is executed, which establishes a communication link with the main content acquisition server 400 via the network gateway 251. And the transmission of the requested program is started. In the case of a program being broadcast in real time, the program can exist in the form of audio / video streams from various remote streaming sources 259. Non-real-time programs can exist in the form of compressed audio / video files delivered from remote content storage 258. When the content delivery process begins, the start of Routine 806 initiates the process in System Administrator 500 that analyzes the content metadata to determine if the program should be stored in Aggregator Local Storage 254. .. System Administrator 500 is a specific program based on, for example, whether the program is a live event such as a sporting event or a music concert that may be requested to be downloaded in the future. Determine if should be stored locally. Alternatively, the program is not stored locally and the current request may represent a predetermined number of users requesting content requesting remote delivery.
If the program delivered from the remote content server 204 is stored in the aggregator local storage 254, the program metadata is parsed (routine 807) and the content exists in the proper format for local storage. It is judged whether or not it is done. The aggregator 201 can be configured to store the content in one or more specific formats that balance the highest quality of program content delivered to the user with the available storage space. In one embodiment, one or more of the selected storage formats support fast delivery to system users while at the same time making the most efficient use of the resources of the aggregator local storage 254. Can be done. If it is determined that the content meets the format requirements required for local storage, processing proceeds to routine 810. If the content does not meet the format requirements, the content stream and / or file is routed to the decoder and content formatter 252 (routine 808). In routine 809, the decoder and content formatter 252 decodes the incoming data and extracts digital and / or analog data that represents the content and its metadata. The decoder and content formatter 252 then reformatts the content into the formats and encodings required for local storage. When the storage routine 810 is executed, the properly formatted program content is stored in the aggregator local storage 254. Is remembered in. And the processing of the content and the new location are the aggregator Recorded in local database 501.
Whether or not the content is recorded locally, Routine 811 analyzes the metadata of the program content to determine if the content is in a format and encoding suitable for delivery to the user. The format and coding scheme for delivery may differ from that used for local storage, in order to match the specific parameters of the user's download request. The user, but not limited to, the method of playback, the type of program, whether the user wants to remember the content, the type of connection that the user terminal 202 has up to the aggregator 201 or the remote content server 204. Specific formats and encodings may be requested depending on considerations including bandwidth and bandwidth. If it is determined that the content meets the format requirements for delivery to the user, processing proceeds to routine 814. If the content does not meet the format criteria, the content stream and / or file is routed by routine 812 to the decoder and content formatter 252, along with the required format and coding parameters. In routine 813, the decoder and content formatter 252 decodes the incoming data and extracts digital and / or analog data representing the content and its metadata. The decoder and content formatter 252 then reformatts the content into the format and coding scheme required for delivery to the user. Processing then proceeds to routine 823 for delivery, which will be described later after the processing path is common to both remote and local content delivery.
Returning to block 803 in FIG. 9A, the remote content server 204 establishes a communication link with the user terminal 202 (routine) if it is specified that the program content is delivered directly to the user terminal. 815), deliver the content file or broadcast the program directly to the user terminal 202 (routine 816). After the completion of delivery is confirmed by Routine 816, Routine 817 records the completion of delivery in the remote server database 260, and the program content requested to the content acquisition server 400 in the aggregator 201 is successfully delivered. Notify that it has been delivered to the user. The process then moves to system administrator 500 (routine 828), which will be described later when the process path is common for each delivery type.
If the program download request is satisfied by the local aggregator 201, execution of routine 801 advances processing to routine 819 in the local content request processor 451 of the content delivery server 450. Here, the metadata of the program content is analyzed to determine if the content is in a format and encoding suitable for delivery to the user. If the content does not meet the formatting requirements for delivery to the user, processing proceeds to routine 822. If the format and coding scheme are appropriate, execution of routine 820 retrieves program content from the aggregator local storage 254 or the appropriate local streaming source 262, and the program is in the required format. And with encoding parameters, it is routed to the decoder and content formatter 252. In routine 821, the decoder and content formatter 252 decodes the incoming data to extract digital and / or analog data representing the content and its metadata. The decoder and content formatter 252 then reformatts the content into the format and coding scheme required for delivery to the user. Execution of Routine 822 retrieves a properly encoded and formatted program content file and / or stream, whether directly from a local source or from a decoder and content formatter 252, and brings this content to content. Route to delivery server 450.
By executing Routine 823, the content delivery server 450 will receive the user's profile information and content metadata regardless of whether the program content is delivered by the local aggregator 201 from a remote source or a local source. And, if applicable, instruct the Digital Rights Management (DRM) processor 454 to apply the appropriate DRM method to its content delivery. If the DRM method involves encrypting the program content for delivery, the program content is routed to the encryption processor 455, which goes through an encryption algorithm that uses the appropriate user encryption key. Processes digital content data and returns the encrypted data to the content delivery server 450.
The content delivery server 450 then parses the metadata and user information in routine 824 and, if applicable, orders the ad processor 456 to include any suitable ad in the delivery. .. The ad is then retrieved from the Aggregator Local Database 501 and packaged with the delivery of the show content. In one embodiment, the ad processor 456 has already delivered a particular ad to user terminal 202 for storage, and judging from user data, retrieves that ad to user terminal 202 at the appropriate time. Insert a placeholder for your ad that tells you to display it.
When the routine 825 is executed, the content delivery server 450 orders the communication server 250 to establish a communication link with the user terminal 202 via the wide area distribution system 203, and the content receiving process 850 is started. The content delivery processor 453 delivers the content to the user terminal 202 via the communication server 250 and the wide area distribution system 203 (routine 826). Execution of Routine 827 confirms the exact delivery of the program content to the user, and when the delivery is complete, records the successful delivery to System Administrator 500. Content delivery takes place in real time in the case of broadcast programs or live or scheduled program streams, where the content is delivered faster or slower than real-time viewing and played at a time selected by the user. When it is stored by the user terminal 202 as such, it is done in non-real time. (For further details on simultaneous viewing and storage, non-linear playback, non-real-time delivery and content storage and management, see Copyright Digital Audio-Visual Council (DAVIC), DAVIC 1.5 Specification, Anytime TV Anywhere TV (See Rev. 6.0 of TV Anytime and TV Anywhere, which is incorporated in this application.)
Whether the program is delivered by the local aggregator 201 or the remote content server 204, processing proceeds to routine 828 in system administrator 500, where the user profile and content metadata are analyzed. It is determined whether the user will be charged or the content provider will pay for the content delivery. If there is no need for billing, routine 829 terminates the process. If billing or charges are applicable, Routine 830 routes user information, appropriate content metadata, and content provider information to System Administrator 500, which System Administrator 500 uses. Into the billing process represented by Routine 900.
If the content is required to be delivered to the user in a suitable digital encoding, compression and file format prior to delivery, the program content is processed by the encoder and content formatter 253. The encoder and content formatter 253 use digital compression technology to improve existing transmission capabilities. There are many digital compression algorithms present, and it is possible that algorithms will be developed in the future that will result in improved capabilities and the signal quality required of the system 200. These algorithms generally use one or more of the three basic digital compression techniques. That is, (1) intra-frame (intra-frame) compression, (2) inter-frame (frame-to-frame) compression, and (3) intra-carrier compression or a combination of two or more techniques. The coder and content formatter 253 of the content search, packaging and delivery system 200 can be enhanced as a module to include any developing and future technologies deemed preferred. In addition, any one or more combinations of these techniques can be used.
In one embodiment, only one digital compression standard is used for the delivery system 200, but different levels of compression can be used when delivering a program to a user requesting a particular program. For example, when a program is sent using the HDTV format, a smaller compression ratio is used than when the program is sent using a standard video format. The reason for this is that the HDTV format requires more digital data for each piece of content. Since the HDTV format requires more digital data, it requires more bandwidth for transmission and can increase delivery costs. Therefore, the quality of the delivered video can be variable depending on the charges charged to the users of System 200.
FIG. 10 shows a component system of another embodiment of the aggregator 201 that emphasizes the content acquisition and content delivery capabilities of the content search, packaging and delivery system 200. In this embodiment of the aggregator 201, the acquisition of remote content is performed by the content acquisition system 405, and the delivery of the system user's content is achieved by the content delivery system 460, which works with the communication system 280. Also, in this embodiment of the aggregator 201, one or more remote content servers 204 and a remote database 261 connected to the network gateway 251 (FIG. 4) via the wide area network / internet 205 are remote content. May be included in source 410. Aggregator local storage 254 and local streaming source 262 may also be included in local content source 470. Although not shown in FIG. 10, the user terminal 202 is one of the user terminal processor 227, the tuner 228, the demultiplexer 231 and the user local storage 212, or the user local database 213. Includes multiple (see Figure 4). The user terminal 202 includes a user input device 214, a video display system 207, an audio / video playback system 208, an audio / video recording system 209, and an e-book reader 230, as shown in FIG. It can be coupled to the input and output system 233 and the home network 229. The decoder and content formatter 252 and the encoder and content formatter 253 shown in FIG. 4 are similar or identical in function, software configuration and / or hardware configuration. In one embodiment, the decoder and content formatter 252 and the encoder and content formatter 253 are implemented by a single subsystem represented by the codec and content formatter 270 shown in FIG. It has been. In another embodiment, the decoder and content formatter 252 and the encoder and content formatter 253 may each include one or more codecs and content formatters 270.
FIG. 11 shows the components of the content acquisition system 405, including a content acquisition server 400, one or more content acquisition routers 406, and one or more content acquisition receiver systems 408. FIG. 11 also shows the components that the content acquisition system 405 interacts with as part of the content search, packaging and delivery system 200. The one or more content acquisition receiver systems 408 may further consist of one or more acquisition receivers 411, an acquisition demodulator 412, and an acquisition demultiplexer 413. The content acquisition server 400 is composed of the same components as shown in FIG. 6 and performs the same functions as described above with reference to FIG. 6, but with one or more content acquisition routers 406 and content. An additional point is that it has interfaces with one or more components of the acquisition receiver system 408, controls them, and communicates with the content delivery system 460 and one or more remote content source 410 systems. Content is obtained from other similar aggregator systems connected to the wide area network / Internet 205 and / or via one or more of various telecommunications channels 409 and is shown in FIG. As such, it is designated as the remote aggregator system 240. Also, as will be described later, the content acquisition server 400 is from the remote content server 204 via the network gateway 251 connected to the wide area network / Internet 205 and / or one of the various remote communication channels 409 or Get content via multiple. Another remote content source integrates various program content and is connected to the content acquisition receiver system 408 via a coaxial cable system or other suitable means, including one or more remote communication channels 409. There can be one or more remote cable television headends 421. The remote content source 410 is one or more remote integration systems.
The content acquisition receiver system 408 is received from one or more remote content integration systems 415 via one or more remote communication channels 409 and / or via network gateway 251 and wide area network / Internet 205. And receive remote content. Remote content reception is performed by the content acquisition server 400 by one or more remote content integration systems 415, one or more remote content servers 204, one or more remote aggregator systems 240, and / or one or more. Respond to content download requests transmitted to the remote cable TV headend 421. The remote communication channel 409 includes various communication channels and / or a communication system that connects one or more content acquisition receiver systems 408 to one or more remote content sources 410. The telecommunications channel 409 may be one or more of microwave systems, satellite systems, optical systems, wide area networks and / or the Internet, coaxial cable systems, telephone systems, wireline systems, and / or wireless systems. , Includes two or more combinations.
The remote communication channel 409 includes any communication infrastructure system capable of transmitting the desired content from the remote content source 410 to the content acquisition system 405. This means that the content is compatible with analog and / or digital audio, analog and / or digital video, multimedia data, text data, or other content search, packaging and delivery system 200. It doesn't matter if it's a content type or format. The telecommunications channel 409 connects the content acquisition system 405 to one or more distant content sources 410 and / or a collection of distant content sources 410 that can be distributed over a large geographic area. Any particular group of remote content sources 410 may contain only one of the indicated systems included in FIG. 11 or any combination of two or more of the indicated systems. .. Systems that support telecommunications channel 409 are scalable to support transmission protocols and methods that have not yet been developed and can be dynamically allocated on demand. Transmission of content requests and management data from content acquisition server 400 to one or more remote content sources 410 by network gateway 251 via wide area network / internet 205, as shown in FIG. It is via a supported channel or through one or more control and data channels that occupy the same communication path as one or more of the remote communication channels 409. For example, the content acquisition server 400 receives from the request and result processing server 300 a request to download content available from one of the remote content integration systems 415, and authenticates and provides content identification information using an internet connection. , Can be transmitted to the remote content integration system 415. Remote content management
In addition to receiving content data from one or more remote content sources 410 based on a particular user request, the remote content data is sent to the content acquisition system 405 on a schedule and / or continuously. Can be transmitted. For example, each match by a sports team can be scheduled to be delivered to the content acquisition system 405 and / or a regional broadcast sports channel can be continuously delivered to the content acquisition system 405. It can also be transmitted to.
The remote content server 204 comes from the remote streaming source 259 and the remote content storage 258 via the wide area network / internet 205 and the network gateway 251 as shown above in FIGS. 4 and 11. Content data can be provided to the content acquisition server 400. In addition, one or more remote aggregator systems 240 can provide content from a variety of sources via the wide area network / Internet 205 and the network gateway 251. In one embodiment, the remote content server 204 and the remote aggregator system 240 use one or more digital protocols transmitted over one or more of the remote communication channels 409 to acquire and receive content. Can be provided to machine system 408. In another embodiment, the remote content server 204 may include one or more audio and / or video playback servers.
In FIG. 11, a signal containing content received from a remote source by one or more content acquisition receiver systems 408 is first sent to one or more acquisition receivers 411. The acquisition receiver 411 receives an electronic signal from one or more communication channels and routes the signal to one or more acquisition demodulators 412. The acquisition demodulator 412 acts on the received electronic signal to filter analog and / or digital content data streams from one or more demodulated carriers using one or more demodulation schemes. Do. The demodulated signal then separates the basic stream of content data or individual channels from one or more multi-channel streams. The content data stream is then sent to one or more content acquisition routers 406 and routed to one or more codecs and content formatters 270 and / or content delivery server 450 as needed. The content acquisition server 400 manages and controls one or more subsystems of the content acquisition receiver system 408. In one embodiment, two or more functions performed by the components in the content acquisition receiver system 408 are performed within a device or group of devices to perform each step or function of the content receiving process. However, discrete components are no longer needed. The content acquisition server 400 communicates with one or more subsystems of the content acquisition receiver system 408, identifies and manages available resources of the content acquisition receiver system 408, and hardware and hardware of the content acquisition receiver system 408. / Or configure parameters for software reception, demodulation, and demultiplexing operations, and the routing information and operations required for the content acquisition receiver system 408 to receive, demodulate, and demultiplex content from various sources. Transmit with parameters. The content acquisition server 400 also has one or more content acquisition routes.
The content acquisition server 400 uses one or more content acquisition routers 406 to make logical and / or physical circuit connections for the transmission of content data between the various subsystems shown in FIG. Establish dynamically. Content acquisition router 406 operates under the command of content acquisition server 400 and is required to carry content that supports one or more receive, demodulate, and / or demultiplex operations. Establish and manage connections. In Figure 11, the interconnection between subsystems is shown by some two connecting lines and a series of points between these two lines. Such practices are used in some of the support drawings, where one or more connections or circuits exist between one or more connected subsystems at any given time, and two connected subs. It shows that the number of connections between systems fluctuates. Each connection of connection or circuit comprises one or more logical and / or one or more physical connections between software and / or hardware modules. The physical routing configuration required to transmit analog content uses industrial standard and / or custom components such as circuit switching equipment, matrix switches, distribution amplifiers, signal splitters, input and output ports, patch bays, etc. Can be achieved. The logical routing required for the transmission of digital content is supported by Content Acquisition Server 400 and / or System Administrator 500 as part of Content Search, Packaging and Delivery System 200. It can be achieved using one or more digital packet transport protocols running on an area network. In one embodiment, the functionality of the content acquisition router 406 is realized by one or more subsystems, functionally and / or physically external to the content acquisition system 405, and is a subsystem of the aggregator 201 (Figure). (Not shown in 4). In another embodiment, the functionality of the content acquisition router 406 is realized by one or more subsystems and is functionally and / or physically external to the aggregator 201, and thus with the aggregator 201 and its subsystems. Connects to Content Acquisition Router 406 or an equivalent system via an external interface (not shown in FIG. 4). The connections and the logical and physical routing routes of such connections, both inside the content acquisition system 405 and outside the content acquisition system 405, may be adapted to fewer or more content routes as needed. It also varies as needed to adapt to the various source and destination combinations required at any given time. These routes are created or modified on a request basis by the content acquisition server 400 and can also be modified before and / or during receive, demodulation and / or demultiplexing operations.
If the remote content received by the content acquisition system 405 does not have the proper format for delivery and / or storage, the content is routed to the codec and content formatter 270 for proper processing. The Codec and Content Formatter 270 are described in more detail in a US patent application filed on the same day and pending simultaneously entitled "Video and Digital Multimedia Aggregator Content and Coding Formatting". One or more remote contents and / or remotely acquired if the remote content received by the content acquisition system 405 has the appropriate format and / or encoding for delivery and / or storage. The transport stream containing the content is properly routed to the content delivery system 460 for delivery to the end user and / or storage in the aggregator local storage 254.
The remote content integration system 415, detailed in FIG. 12, to one or more aggregator 201 systems based on system user requests, specific program schedules, and / or content source identifiers or properties. Receives and integrates one or more of various content sources within a particular geographic area for the transmission of. In one embodiment, one or more content acquisition systems 405 are connected to one or more geographically dispersed remote content integration systems 415 via one or more various remote communication channels 409. The remote content integration system 415 includes one or more remote program sources 416, one or more program receivers 425, a remote content router 432, and one or more remote communication channels 409 connected to one or more. Includes various combinations of subsystems and components, including remote content transmission system 440 and remote content control processor 435. Many configurations of the remote content integration system 415 are present with the subsystems and components of FIG. 12, which show a representative set and configuration of subsystems and components. "Integrated system" is a general term applied to any content set and retransmission system that provides content to the Aggregator 201 system. At a minimum, the integrated system 415 can consist of one remote program source 416 and one remote content transmission system 440 connected to the remote communication channel 409.
The remote program source 416 is, but is not limited to, one or more remote television and radio sources 417, a remote satellite source 418, a remote microwave source 419, a remote audio and video studio 420, and a remote physical medium. Reproduction system 422 and may be included. The remote program receiver 425 is, but not limited to, a remote off-air receiver 427, a remote satellite receiver and decoder 428, a remote microwave receiver 429, a remote audio / video processor, mixer, and / or router 430. Can include. Depending on the number and type of remote program sources 416 and remote program receivers 425, the remote content integration system 415 delivers remote content signals from one or more remote program receivers 425 to one of the remote content transmission systems 440. Alternatively, the remote content router 432 that routes and distributes to multiple components and / or subsystems may or may not be used. In one embodiment, the remote content integration system 415 does not require a separate remote content router 432, but instead produces the output of one or more remote program receivers 425 and one or more remote content transmission systems 440. Connect directly to the input of the component of. Depending on the number and type of remote program source 416 and remote program receiver 425, the remote content integration system 415 utilizes the remote content control processor 435 to utilize the various components and subsystems of the remote content integration system 415. And to configure and control. The remote content control processor 435 is connected to the content acquisition system 405 via a subsystem and / or component of the remote content transmission system 440 and one or more remote communication channels 409 to relate to the content acquisition, integration and transmission process. Exchange data.
The remote content transmission system 440 may include, but is not limited to, one or more remote content encoders 441, a remote content multiplexer 442, a remote content modulator 443, and a remote content transmitter 445. The input of one or more components of the remote content transmission system 440 is from the remote content router 432 and / or one or more content files and / or directly from the one or more remote program receivers 425. Receive a remote content transport stream. One or more remote content transmitters 445 are connected to one or more remote communication channels 409 for transmission to the content acquisition system 405 in the aggregator 201. One or more remote content encoders (encoders) 441 act on one or more content files and / or content transport streams to act on one or more proprietary and / or standard formats and encodings. Apply the method. The one or more remote content multiplexers 442 then act on two or more content signals to multiplex these signals into a single decoded signal transmitted over a channel carrier. One or more content signals are acted upon and modulated by one or more remote content modulators 443 and transmitted over one or more remote communication channels, regardless of encoding and / or multiplexing. To be one or more intermediate and / or carrier frequencies suitable for. The one or more modulated content signals are then routed through one or more remote content transmitters 445 for proper frequency conversion and / or amplification, and the signals are routed through one or more content acquisition systems. Infused over one or more telecommunications channels 409 carrying up to 405. In one embodiment, the two or more functions performed by the components in the remote content transmission system 440 are performed by a single device or group of devices, and thus each step or step of the process of the transmission system.
Among the remote program sources 416 shown in Figure 12, remote television and radio sources 417 are one or more off-air radios and / or televisions available anywhere in a number of geographically dispersed markets. Including broadcasting. Remote satellite sources 418 include, but are not limited to, direct broadcast satellite (DBS) systems, digital audio radio services (DARS), programs from one or more radio and television distribution services, broadcast network satellite feeds, and ad hoc. Audio from content providers using one or more proprietary and / or standard formats, such as video feeds used, distance learning and / or other signals distributed by satellites such as public programming services. And / or includes video signals. The remote microwave source 419 includes audio, video, and / or data services distributed over the microwave network between points, and includes a single content signal such as a regional television, or 2 Includes multiplexing of analog and / or digital content source signals above. Remote Audio and Video Studio 420 includes one or more various radio-based and / or television-based studios and other audio and video providing one or more digital and / or analog content feeds. Including studio. Remote Studio 420 includes live on-site broadcasts such as coverage of sporting events and / or news events. The remote physical medium playback system 422 is a program existing on physical media including, but not limited to, magnetic tapes, optical discs, vinyl records, movie films and other undeveloped media for storing and playing program content. Includes various audio and / or video systems that play. Content feeds from Remote Audio and VideoStudio 420 perform various processing functions on audio and video signals of source content that meet the content requirements for transmission. To. Audio / video processing features include adjusting audio levels, synthesizing and / or separating audio and / or video signals, and adjusting video brightness and chrominance.
FIG. 13 shows the components of the content delivery system 460, including a content delivery server 450, one or more content delivery routers 461, and one or more content delivery receiver systems 463. FIG. 13 also shows the components that the content delivery system 460 interacts with as part of the content search, packaging and delivery system 200. One or more content delivery receiver systems 463 may further include one or more local off-air receivers 465, local satellite receivers and demodulators 466, local microwave receivers 467, local audio / video processors, Includes mixer and / or router 468. Content delivery server 450 contains the same components as shown in FIG. 7 and performs the same functions as described above with reference to FIG. 7, but one or more content delivery routers 461, one or more. It has and / or has an interface with one or more components of the local content source 475 and has added the ability to control them. These are detailed in FIG.
In FIG. 13, a signal containing content received from the local content source 475 by one or more content delivery receiver systems 463 includes audio, video and / or other content that may be delivered by the aggregator 2011. Alternatively, one or more content delivery receiver systems 463 that extract multiple baseband content files and / or data streams act. Content data is then sent to one or more content delivery routers 461 to one or more codecs and content formatters 270, content delivery server 450, and / or communication system 280, as needed. Be routed. The content delivery server 450 manages and controls one or more subsystems of the content delivery receiver system 463 and the local content source. The content delivery server 450 communicates with one or more subsystems of the content delivery receiver system 463 to identify and manage the resources of the available content delivery receiver system 463 and hardware the content delivery receiver system 463. The routing information and behavior required for the content delivery receiver system 463 to receive, demodify, demultiplex, and process content from various local content sources 475, which make up the ware and / or software module. Transmit with parameters. Content delivery server 450 communicates with one or more components of local content source 475 to identify and access desired local content data and identify and manage available local content resources. It configures the hardware and / or software modules of the local content source 475 and transmits routing information and operating parameters. The content delivery server 450 also communicates with one or more content delivery routers 461 to interact with the various subsystems of the content delivery receiver system 463 and one or more coordinates.
If the local content accessed by the content delivery system 460 does not have the proper format and / or encoding for delivery, the content will have one or more codecs and content for proper processing. -Routed to formatter 270. The codec and content formatter 270 are described in more detail in a US patent application filed on the same day and pending at the same time entitled "Video and Digital Multimedia Aggregator Content and Coding Formatting". Includes one or more remote content files and / or local content if the local content accessed by the content acquisition system 460 has the appropriate format and / or encoding for delivery. The transport stream is properly routed to communication system 280 for transmission to one or more end users.
One or more content files and / or content data streams delivered to one or more system users are designated for processing by the content delivery server 450, such as digital rights management, encryption and / or advertising. Apply other services to content data. Content specified for digital rights management processing, encryption and / or addition of advertising data may be routed to communication system 280 for delivery to system users by one or more content delivery routers 461. , Routed to the content delivery server 450. Inside the content delivery server 450, these services are integrated with the content data by the digital rights management processor 454, the encryption processor 455 and / or the ad processor 456, as described above with reference to FIG. Applies to content regardless of whether the source is local or remote. After the specified service has been applied, the content delivery server 450 routes the processed content data back to one or more content delivery routers 461 and sends it back to the communication system 280. The content delivery server 450 integrates metadata and / or other user information about the applied service with the content data or incorporates it into a separately transmitted file or data file to communicate the communication system 280. To one or more user terminals 202.
The content acquisition server 400 uses one or more content delivery routers 461 to make logical and / or physical circuit connections to transmit content data between the various subsystems shown in FIG. Is dynamically established. Content delivery router 461 operates under the direction of content acquisition server 400 to support one or more receive, demodulate and / or demultiplex operations and between subsystems required to transfer content. Includes one or more hardware systems and one or more software modules that establish and manage interconnects. In Figure 13, some of the interconnections between subsystems are shown as two connecting lines and a series of dots between these two lines, which is one or more connected subsystems. It shows that there is one or more connections or circuits at any given time between them, and that the number of connections between the two connected subsystems varies. Each collection of connections or circuits contains one or more logical and / or one or more physical connections between software and / or hardware modules. The physical routing configurations required to transfer analog content include circuit switching devices, matrix switches, distribution amplifiers, signal splitters, input and output ports, patch bays, and one or more industrial standards and / or custom. Can be achieved using the components of. The logical routing required for the transfer of digital content is supported by Content Delivery Server 450 and / or System Administrator 500 as part of Content Search, Packaging and Delivery System 200. This can be achieved using one or more digital packet transport protocols running on the area network. Connections and the logical and physical routing routes of such connections are, as needed, and delegated to adapt to fewer or more content routes. It varies as needed to adapt to the various source and destination combinations required at the time of the day. These routes are created or modified on a request basis by the Content Delivery Server 450 and can also be modified before and / or during receive, demodulation and / or demultiplexing operations.
As shown in FIG. 14, local content sources 475 include, but are not limited to, one or more local television and radio sources 477, local satellite sources 478, and local microwave sources 479. It may include a local audio and video playback server 481, a local audio and video studio 482, and a local physical media playback system 483 that may be connected to the aggregator local storage 254. As shown in FIG. 13, the content delivery receiver system 463 includes, but is not limited to, local off-air receiver 465, local satellite receiver and decoder 466, local microwave receiver 467, local audio / It may include a video processor, mixer, and / or router 468. Within the local content source 475 shown in Figure 14, the local television and radio source 477 is one or more off-air available in one or more markets geographically close to the aggregator 201 system. -Includes radio and / or television broadcasts. Local satellite sources 478 are, but are not limited to, programs from direct broadcast satellite (DBS) systems, digital audio radio services (DARS), one or more radio and television distribution services, broadcast network satellite feeds, ad hoc. From content providers using one or more proprietary and / or standard formats, such as video feeds, distance learning and / or other signals distributed by satellites such as public programming services. Includes audio and / or video signals. The local microwave source 479 includes one or more audio, video, and / or data services distributed over a microwave network between points to provide a single content signal, such as a regional television. Includes or includes multiplexing of two or more analog and / or digital content source signals. Local audio / video playback server 481 Includes computer-based systems that can access content stored in Aggregator Local Storage 254 on a request or request basis and / or on an appointment basis. The playback server 481 retrieves content data from the aggregator local storage 254 and stores, but is not limited to, MPEG audio and / or video, Internet protocol encapsulated audio and / or video. Convert to one or more formats for delivery, including baseband audio and / or video, and DBS audio and / or video. Local Audio / Video Studio 482 includes one or more various radio-based and / or television-based studios and other audio and / or analog content feeds that provide one or more digital and / or analog content feeds. Including video studio. Local Studio 482 includes live on-site broadcasts such as coverage of sporting events and / or news events. The local physical media playback system 483 is a program existing on physical media including, but not limited to, magnetic tapes, optical discs, vinyl records, movie films and other undeveloped media for the storage and playback of program content. Includes various audio and / or video systems that play. The local cable television headend 484 includes any audio, video, and / or data service provided by the local cable television headend 484 in one or more different formats. Content feeds from local audio and video studios 482, local physical media playback systems 422, and / or local cable television headends 484 provide audio and video of source content that meets content requirements for transmission. Performs various processing functions on the signal. Audio / video processing function, audio
FIG. 15 shows the components of communication system 280 that are part of another embodiment of the aggregator 201 shown in FIG. FIG. 15 also shows the components that communication system 460 interacts with as part of the content search, packaging and delivery system 200. Inside the aggregator 201, the communication system 280 functions as an interface to the wide area distribution system 203 for the purpose of managing major communications to system users. Communication system 280 also interacts with request and result processing server 300, content delivery system 460 and system administrator 500. The communication system 280 routes the input user search and download request and related user information to the request and result processing server 300, and sends the search result and content download to the end user via the wide area distribution system 203. It routes and routes billing information to and from the customer billing server 506 in System Administrator 500 to and to the end user. The communication system 280 receives a content data file and / or a content data transport stream from the content delivery system 460 and transfers these content file and signal to one or more via the wide area distribution system 203. It transmits to the user terminal 202.
As shown in FIG. 15, the components of communication system 280 include communication server 250, one or more content transmission routers 281, one or more content transmission systems 283, one or more user data transceivers 285 and Includes physical media creation unit 287. The communication server 250 communicates with the content delivery system 460 to transfer content data to one or more content transmission systems 283 via the content transmission router 281 and one or more via the wide area distribution system 203. Coordinate for delivery to user terminal 202. The data transferred for coordination of content data transmission between the communication server 250 and the content delivery system 460 includes, but is not limited to, content routing parameters and addressing, content format metadata, and content. Size and / or duration metadata, identification and operation parameters for the target content transmission system 283, identification and operation parameters for one or more channels inside the wide area distribution system 203 used for transmission, and content. Includes identification and addressing information for one or more user terminals 202 designated for receiving data.
The communication server 250 uses one or more content transmission routers 281 to make logical and / or physical circuit connections for the transmission of content data between the various subsystems shown in FIG. Is dynamically established. The content transmission router 281 operates under the direction of the communication server 250 to establish and manage the interconnection between the subsystems required to transfer the content from the content delivery system 460 to the content transmission system 283. In Figure 15, the interconnection between subsystems is shown by some two connecting lines and a series of dots (dots) between these two lines. Such a practice states that at any given time there is one or more connections or circuits between one or more connected subsystems and the number of connections between the two connected subsystems varies. It is shown that. Each connection of connection or circuit comprises one or more logical and / or one or more physical connections between software and / or hardware modules. The physical routing configuration required to transmit analog content uses industrial standard and / or custom components such as circuit switching equipment, matrix switches, distribution amplifiers, signal splitters, input and output ports, patch bays, etc. Can be achieved. The logical routing required for the transmission of digital content is supported by communication server 250 and / or system administrator 500 as part of content search, packaging and delivery system 200 in one or more local areas. It can be achieved using one or more digital packet transport protocols running on the network. In one embodiment, the functionality of the content transmission router 281 is realized by one or more subsystems, functionally and / or physically external to the communication system 280, and is a subsystem of the aggregator 201 (Figure 4 in Figure 4). Can not be shown). In another embodiment, the content transmission router 2 The functions of 81 are realized by one or more subsystems and are functionally and / or physically external to the aggregator 201, so that the aggregator 201 and its subsystems are external interfaces (see FIG. 4). Connect to the content acquisition router 281 or an equivalent system via (not shown). The number of connections and the logical and physical routing paths of such connections, both inside communication system 281 and outside content acquisition system 405, needs to be adapted to fewer or more content paths. It varies accordingly and as needed to adapt to the various source and destination combinations required at any given time. These routes are created or modified on a request basis by the communication server 250 and can be modified as needed before and / or during content transmission.
The communication server 250 communicates with one or more components and / or subsystems inside the content transmission system 283 to identify and manage available content transmission resources, and the hardware and / or software of the content transmission system. A module is configured to transmit the routing information and operating parameters required for the content transmission system to multiplex, modulate, encode, process and transmit content to one or more user terminals 202 via the wide area distribution system 203. To do. As detailed in FIG. 16, the output of the content transmission system 283 can be coupled to various components and / or subsystems of the wide area distribution system 203. The wide area distribution system 203 includes various communication systems and / or transmission paths that connect one or more content transmission systems 283 to one or more user terminals 202. Wide area distribution system 203 is included in coaxial cable television systems, satellite systems, off-air broadcast channels, optical systems, wide area networks and / or Internet systems, telephone systems, fiber systems, wireline systems and / or wireless systems. Includes one or more of the above, or a combination of two or more. The wide area distribution system 203 has content from the communication system 280 to one or more user terminals 202 in the aggregator 201, such as analog and / or digital audio, analog and / or digital video, multimedia data, text. The desired content can be transmitted regardless of any other content type or format compatible with the data, content search, packaging and delivery system 200.
FIG. 16 shows a typical content transmission system 283 and a wide area distribution system 203. The content transmission system 283 includes one or more content transmission encoders 310, a content transmission multiplexer 311, a content transmission modulator 312, an off-air transmitter 315, a satellite transmitter 316, a wireless system transmitter 317, and a cable. -Includes a headend transmitter 318 and a digital protocol transmission server 319. One or more digital protocol transmission servers 319 is one or more standards for transmitting content files and data streams over various cables, fibers, satellites, wires and / or wireless circuits. Includes computing systems that can be encapsulated in standard and / or proprietary digital protocols. In one embodiment, the digital protocol transmission server 319 is in standard Internet Protocol (IP) format for transmitting content data to user terminals via an IP gateway and associated Internet channel. Encapsulate. Wide area distribution system 203 includes television and radio broadcasting antenna 325, satellite uplink antenna 326, radio distribution antenna 327, coaxial cable, optical fiber, twisted pair transmission infrastructure 330, and one or more digital protocols. Includes a transmission gateway 332 and associated communication channels and circuits that connect the content transmission system 283 to the user terminal 202. In FIG. 16, the content transmission router 281 is shown to exist both inside and outside the boundaries of the content transmission system, and one or more hardware systems and / or software including the content transmission router 281. Modules and related functions are those that have a decentralized nature and include a content transmission router 281 that is partially or wholly present inside the communication system 280 and / or one or more content transmission systems 283. Is shown. Therefore, the content transmission router 28
Inside the content transmission system 283, one or more content transmission coders 310 are of content data as required for transmission by the content transmission system 283 via one or more communication channels and / or circuit 335. Perform the final encoding. The coding performed by the content transmission coder 310 includes, but is not limited to, scrambling, interleaving, and forward error correction coding such as Reed-Solomon, concatenation and spread spectrum coding. Two or more content data signals are combined by one or more content transmission multiplexers 311 and multiple content channels and / or signals are transmitted simultaneously on one transmission carrier. Such multiplexed signals allow the content transmission system to perform many program and / or content downloads to one or more user terminals simultaneously over one transmission path. The multiplexed signal includes user terminal 202 addressing and authentication data, which is desired by the particular user terminal 202, ignoring the content intended to be consumed by the other user terminal 202. Allows access to parts or channels within them. One or more content signals, even if encoded and / or multiplexed, modulate the content data signal over one or more carrier frequencies suitable for transmission over one or more communication channels. Operated by multiple content transmission modulators 312. The one or more modulated content signals are then frequency-converted and / or appropriate for transmission using one or more components of the wide area distribution system 203 that transmit the signal to one or more user terminals 202. Routed through one or more content transmitters for amplification. In one embodiment, two or more of the functions performed by the internal components of the content transmission system 283 are performed by a single device or group of devices, each of which is a transmission system process.
Wide area distribution system 203 is co-located with communication system 280 of aggregator 201, in addition to allocated public and / or private infrastructure elements and elements co-located with one or more user terminals 202. Contains a number of elements. As shown in FIG. 16, the elements of the wide area distribution system 203 co-located with the content delivery system 283 of the communication system 280 include one or more television and radio broadcast antennas 325, satellite uplink antennas. 326, radio distribution antenna 327, coaxial cable and / or fiber optic transmission infrastructure 330 are included. Elements of wide area distribution system 203, including allocated public and / or private infrastructure elements (not shown in Figure 16), are physical space, satellite, and radio transmissions that represent public airwave support broadcasts. Includes one or more communication satellites orbiting one or more orbits, one or more distributed parts of coaxial cable, fiber optics, telephones, and / or one or more in a twisted pair wire communication network. Elements of wide area distribution system 203 (not shown in FIG. 16) co-located with one or more user terminals 202 include receiving elements that receive television and radio broadcast signals, satellite and other wireless transmissions, Includes various analog and / or digital signals transmitted over one or more distributed parts of a coaxial cable, fiber optic, telephone and / or twisted pair wire communication network.
The content transmission system 283, the wide area distribution system 203, and the receiving element in the same position as the user terminal are scalable, capable of interacting with many different types of communication systems, and advanced for content transmission. It provides system users with the flexibility of content search, packaging and integration with yet-developed broadcast and transmission systems compatible with content delivery by the delivery system 200. Since the communication system 280 jointly with the wide area distribution system 203 can simultaneously deliver the content via two or more communication systems and / or routes, the user terminal 202 simultaneously delivers the content via different communication channels. Can be received. The determination of which content is transmitted via which communication system or route is made by the communication system 280 and, without limitation, the availability of bandwidth between various communication channels, the availability of content to be delivered. Based on factors including format and required bandwidth, overall system load, and source and target location and / or identifier (ID).
The communication system 280 includes one or more user data transceivers 285 that include software and / or hardware modules capable of transmitting and receiving data other than content data to and from the aggregator 201 and user terminal 202. including. The user data transceiver 285 connects the communication server 250 via the wide area distribution system 203, but is not limited to a user content search request and a content download request, and a notification prompt regarding the availability of the requested content. , User profile data, user history and usage data, billing information, advertisements, program schedule data, service availability data, and one or more user terminals for the transfer of data including other management information. Connect to 202. In one embodiment, the user data transceiver 285 comprises one or more computer server systems operably connected to one or more communication channels in the wide area distribution system 203. The transmission of user data from the communication server 250 to one or more user terminals 202 by the user data transceiver 285 is via one or more separate and dedicated communication channels, or as one or more of content transmissions. It may occupy the same transmission path. In one embodiment, the transmission of user data is multiplexed with the content data. Depending on the type of communication channel used to connect the given user terminal 202 to the communication system 280, the user data transceiver 285 transfers the data to one of the wide area distribution systems 203, such as the digital protocol transmission gateway 332. Or it may be transmitted directly via multiple components, or it may be transmitted via one or more of the content transmission systems 283, such as one or more of satellite transmitters 316 and / or wireless system transmitters 317. is there. In one embodiment, the forward transmission path from communication system 283 to user terminal 202 is a return from user terminal 202 to communication system 283. It may be different from the transmission path. For example, the user terminal 202 receives user data such as a content search result in a state of being multiplexed with another content download delivered using a satellite transmission path, such as a user profile and historical data. User data is uploaded using an internet connection via one of the digital protocol transmission gateways 332, and so on.
Content can also be delivered to system users through the exchange of physical media such as videotapes, digital video discs (DVDs) and / or CD-ROMs. To support physical delivery of content, communication system 280 may also incorporate physical media creation unit 287 (shown in FIG. 16). It can also connect to the communication server 250 to receive instructions and parameters for creating a physical content medium, and connect to a content transmission router 281 to receive content data stored on the physical medium. The physical media creation unit 287 can be fully or partially automated and may or may not require human interaction and / or supervision. The communication server 280 transmits the creation parameters to the creation unit 287, including, but not limited to, the identifier of the content recorded on the physical medium, the type of physical medium used, and the content received on the physical medium. Includes identifying information about the system user to do, routing information for source content data, and packaging and physical delivery information. The content transmission router 281 then routes the appropriate content data to one or more components of the physical media creation unit 287 for recording on the physical media. Physical media for content delivery include, but are not limited to, magnetic tapes, optical discs, removable computer disks, other undeveloped media for storage and consumption of program content, and the like. One example is a digital copy of the Tarzan movie Posta and Edgar Rice. A DVD containing one or more Tarzan films with an e-book version of the corresponding book by Burroughs. The physical medium is delivered to the system user via the physical medium distribution channel 289, as shown in FIG. Physical media distribution channel 289 functions with the consent of one or more carriers and / or system 200 operators specific to US mail, private carriers, content search, packaging and delivery systems. There are retail outlets and so on. In one embodiment, one or more physical media creation units 287 are located far away from the aggregator 201 and communication system 280, and the creation parameters and content data are passed through a channel in the wide area distribution system 203. And it is received from the communication server 250.
FIG. 17 is a diagram of a processing module including a content acquisition method 600 that exists in one or more components of the content acquisition system 405 and controls the operation of the content acquisition system 405 shown in FIG. The content acquisition method 600 is combined with one or more other processing modules in the content acquisition method 600, and is a master that manages the configuration and operation of one or more other processing modules in the content acquisition method 600. Includes acquisition system processing module 601. The master acquisition system processing module 601 is connected to other systems of the aggregator 201 in an operable manner and communicates and interacts with them. Other systems include, but are not limited to, network gateway 251, system administrator 500, request and result processing server 300, content delivery system 460, and one or more codecs and content formatters 270. .. In one embodiment, the processing modules in content acquisition method 600 are interconnected using a bus topology, allowing up to dynamic interconnection between all processing modules for communication routing. Supports logical addressing of modules. The master acquisition system processing module 601 is coupled to the content request receiver 603 that communicates with the request and result processing server 300, and receives a request for downloading remote content. The content request receiver 603 identifies the information in the request required to act on the content request to obtain and deliver the requested content. This analysis includes recording user information, verifying user authentication, identifying requested content and format requirements, and creating and allocating a list of tasks required to meet download requests. The content request analysis module 605 provides a content download request data routing module. Combined with Jules 607, Module 607 provides appropriate content download request data via Wide Area Network (WAN) / Internet Gateway Interface Module 609 to one or more remote content sources 410 (Figure 11). Route and / or transmit to. The WAN / Internet gateway interface module 609 interacts with the network gateway 251 between the content acquisition method 600 via the wide area network / internet 205 and one or more remote content sources 410. Make communication easier.
During the capture process, the content appointment and availability information routing module 611 submits the appointment and availability information for the selected content to database administrator 502 in system administrator 500, and the recipient receives it. , This appointment and availability information is routed to the scheduled program and content availability prompt and notification processor 306 in the request and result processing server 300 (FIG. 5). Also during the acquisition process, the user data and management data routing module 613 transfers data about the system user and other management processes to one or more processors in the system administrator 500, the content acquisition system. Route to 405 and / or one or more user terminals 202. Such user and management data includes user search and download request history, billing information, content copyright data, digital rights management data, and advertising data.
The remote content download management and monitoring module 615 is combined with the system processing module 601, WAN / Internet gateway interface module 609, remote communication channel configuration and management module 631 with one or more remote content sources 410. Communicate to manage the transfer and / or download of content from the remote content source 410 to the content acquisition system 405. The remote content format and metadata analysis module 617 compares the content format information with the metadata associated with the remote content against download and / or storage format requirements, and the remote content is one or more systems. It is determined whether it needs to be sent to one or more codecs and content formatters 270 prior to delivery to the storage in the user and / or aggregator local storage 254. The format and metadata analysis module 617 then communicates the encoding and format requirements to the master acquisition system processing module 601 for use in the content routing configuration. System processing module 601 is coupled to remote content router configuration and control module 619, which controls one or more hardware and / or software components of one or more content acquisition systems 405. Establish and manage logical and / or physical circuit connections for transmitting content data between the various subsystems shown in.
The remote reception system parameter definition module 621 is combined with the master acquisition system processing module 601 and other modules inside the content acquisition method 600, using download request data and data on available remote content1 Alternatively, define the remote reception system parameters required for the configuration and control of multiple content acquisition receiver systems 408. The remote reception system parameter is used by the remote reception system resource polling module 623 to identify the resources of the content acquisition receiver system 408 that are requested and available to satisfy the content acquisition request. Once the receiving system resource has been identified, the remote receiving system configuration module 625 uses the resource identification data and the receiver system parameters to receive one or more content acquisition receiver systems that receive the requested remote content. Consists of 408. When one or more receiver systems 408 are configured, the remote receiver system management and monitoring module 627 supervises the receiver system 408 during the transfer of remote content and master acquisition system processing modules 601 and 1 or Multiple remote content sources Communicate with remote content sources 410 to content acquisition system 405 and finally via content acquisition router 406 to content delivery system 460 and communication system 280. Guarantee proper delivery of remote content for transmission to one or more system users.
The remote content source parameter definition and transmission module 629 is combined with system processing 601 and other modules in the content acquisition method 600 to provide download request data and available remote content and / or remote content. Using data about source 410, one or more remote content sources 410 deliver remote content to one or more content acquisition receiver systems 408, and one or more remote content sources set these parameters. Transmit to 410. The remote communication channel configuration and management module 631 is combined with the master acquisition system process 601 and one or other modules, using download request data and remote content source parameters and definition data to provide remote content. Is configured and managed by one or more remote communication channels 409 to be transmitted to the content acquisition system 405. The remote communication channel configuration and management module 631 also communicates with one or more remote content sources 410 between one or more remote content sources 410 and one or more content acquisition receiver systems 408. Facilitates the configuration of one or more telecommunications channels 409.
The remote content receiving module 633 is coupled to one or more modules inside the content acquisition method 500, receives signals containing remote content from one or more remote communication channels 409, and receives these signals from the remote content demodating module 635. Route to. Module 635 acts on the received electronic signal to filter analog and / or digital content data streams from one or more modulated carriers using one or more modulation schemes. The remote content demodulation module 635 then routes one or more demodulated signals to the remote content demodulation module 637. Module 637 separates the basic stream or individual channels of content data from one or more multi-channel streams and provides remote content router configuration and control to transmit this data to other suitable subsystems. Make it available for module 619.
FIG. 18 is a diagram of a processing module that includes a content delivery method 700 that resides in one or more components of the content delivery system 460 shown in FIG. 13 and controls the operation of the content delivery system 460. The content delivery method 700 is a master delivery system process that is combined with one or more other processing modules in the content delivery method 700 and manages the configuration and operation of one or more other processing modules in the content delivery method 700. Includes module 701. The delivery system processing module 701 is an aggregator that includes, but is not limited to, a system administrator 500, a communication system 280, a content acquisition system 405 and one or more codecs and a content formatter 270 and one or more local content sources 475. Operablely connected, communicated and interacted with other 201 systems. In one embodiment, the processing modules in Content Delivery Method 700 are interconnected using a bus topology that allows up to dynamic interconnection between all processing modules for communication routing. Supports logical addressing of modules. The master delivery system processing module 701 requests delivery of locally available content to one or more aggregator 201 system users request and result processing server 300 (Figure 5) and / or content request. It is coupled to the local content request receiver 703, which receives electronic requests from the processor and router 401 (Figure 6). The local content request receiver 703 is coupled to the local content request analysis module 704. Module 704 acts on a local content delivery request to identify one or more local content sources 475 that can provide the requested content and deliver it to one or more system users. Identify the information in the required request. Local Content Request
Local content delivery management and monitoring module 707 is combined with system processing module 601 and one or more local content sources 475 to transfer and / or deliver from local content source 475 to content delivery system 460. To manage. The local content format and metadata analysis module 705 compares the format information with the metadata associated with the local content to the delivery format requirements so that the local content is delivered to one or more system users. Determine if it needs to be routed to one or more codecs and content formatters 270 before. The format and metadata analysis module 705 then communicates the encoding and format requirements to the master delivery system processing module 701 so that it can be used in the content routing configuration. During the local content delivery process, the user data and management data routing module 711 provides data about system users and other management processes to system administrator 500, content delivery system 460 and / or one or more. Route to one or more processors in user terminal 202. Such user and management data includes user search and download request history, billing information, content copyright data, and digital rights management and advertising data. The system processing module 701 is coupled to the content delivery router configuration and control module 713. Module 713 controls one or more hardware and / or software components of one or more content delivery routers 461 to transmit content data between the various subsystems shown in FIG. Therefore, establish and manage logical and / or physical circuit connections.
Delivery receiver system parameter definition module 705 is combined with system processing 601 and other modules in content delivery method 700, using download request data and available local content, one or more. Defines the delivery receiver system parameters required for the configuration and control of the content delivery receiver system 463. The delivery receiver system parameters are then used by the delivery receiver system resource polling module 717 to identify the requested and available content delivery receiver system 463 resources that satisfy the content delivery request. .. Once the delivery receiver system resource is identified, the delivery receiver system configuration module 719 uses the resource identification data and the delivery receiver system parameters to configure one or more content delivery receiver systems 463. , Receive the requested local content. After one or more delivery receiver systems 463 are configured, delivery receiver system management and monitoring module 721 supervises receiver system 463 while local content is transferred and is a master delivery system processing module. Proper delivery of content to communication system 280 via content delivery router 461 for communication with 601 and one or more local content sources 475 for transmission to one or more system users. Guarantee.
The local content source parameter definition and transmission module 729 is combined with the system processing module 701 and other modules in the content delivery method 700 to provide download request data and available local content and / or local. Configuration and / or behavior required for one or more local content sources 475 to deliver local content to one or more content delivery receiver systems 463 using data about content source 475. Define parameters and transmit these parameters to one or more local content sources 475. Local Content Receiving and Combining Module 723 is coupled to one or more modules in Content Delivery Method 700 and contains files and / or data transformers containing local content from one or more local content sources. It receives the port stream, performs all necessary decryption of the content, and routes these signals to the local content processing module 725. The local content processing module 725 includes adjusting the audio level, synthesizing and / or separating audio and / or video signals, and adjusting the brightness and chrominance of the video required for delivery for the content data. Perform the initial function. The local content audio and video playback module 727 is combined with one or more other modules of content delivery method 700 to access the audio and video content stored in the aggregator local storage 254 for this content. Is available as one or more audio and / or video streams routed to communication system 280 for delivery to one or more system users.
As a result of processing performed by content delivery modules such as request analysis module 704 and local content format and metadata analysis module 705, system processing module 701 has one or more content files and / or data transports. -It can be determined that the stream requires the application of digital rights management methods, encryption methods and / or advertisements. Applying these attributes to the delivered content is performed by the Digital Rights Management Module 731, the Encryption Module 733, and the Advertising Module 735, respectively. Digital Rights Management Module 731 by specifying specific and / or restricted rights that define how content providers can use content to one or more system users. Acts to protect reserved copyrights. For example, a user is allowed to play a particular program an unlimited number of times, but is not allowed to copy the program to removable media. The encryption module 733 applies one or more encryption methods to the delivered content to prevent the content from being received by anyone other than the intended system user, the recipient. When encryption is used, a system user authorized to receive encrypted content will have certain digital information, such as an encryption key, required to decrypt the content by user terminal 202. The ad module 735 integrates various types of ads with content data and delivers them to system users, and / or an ad place used to insert or overlay ads into the delivered content by user terminal 202. Holders can be incorporated to ensure that ads are downloaded earlier and are present on user terminal 202.
FIG. 19 is a diagram of a processing module that is present in one or more components of the communication system 280 shown in FIG. 15 and includes a communication method 740 that controls the operation of the communication system 280. The communication method 740 is coupled to one or more other processing modules in the communication method 740 and manages the configuration and operation of one or more other processing modules in the communication method 600 to manage the aggregator 201. Includes a master communication system processing module 741 that transmits content, user and management data from the system to one or more user terminals 202 and transmits user and management data from one or more user terminals 202 to the aggregator 201. The communication system processing module 741 also operates with other systems of the aggregator 201, including, but not limited to, system administrator 500, request and result processing server 300, content delivery system 460 and wide area distribution system 203. Possible to connect, communicate and interact. In one embodiment, the processing module in communication method 740 has a bus topology that allows up to dynamic interconnection between all of this processing module and supports logical addressing of the module for communication routing. Used to be interconnected.
The system processing module 741 is coupled to the user data receiving module 743 and the user data transmission module 745, which are part of the user data transceiver 285 shown in FIG. The user data receiving module 743 has an interface with the wide area distribution system 203 and receives incoming user data transmitted by one or more user terminals 202. The user data receiving module 743 inspects incoming user data to determine the type of message received and routes accordingly. For example, information that updates the profile of a system user is routed to system administrator 500, and program search and download requests are routed to request and result processing server 300. The user data transmission module 745 is coupled to the system processing module and other modules of the communication method 740 to transmit user and management data from the aggregator 201 system to one or more user terminals 202. The transmitted user data is program availability notification, program search result, advertisement, program reservation, billing information, and other management information.
The system processing module 741 controls one or more hardware and / or software components of one or more content transmission routers 281 to provide content data among the various subsystems shown in FIG. Establish and manage logical and / or physical circuit connections for transmission of. The system processing module 741 analyzes the content delivery requirements and configures one or more content transmission systems 283 to determine the system parameters required to meet the content delivery content transmission system parameter definition module 751. Combined with. The transmission system parameters are then used by the content transmission system resource polling module 753 to identify the necessary and available content transmission system 283 resources that satisfy the content delivery. Once the transmission system resources have been identified, the content transmission system configuration module 755 uses the resource identification data and transmission parameters to configure one or more content transmission systems 283 to distribute the content to one or more users. Deliver to terminal 202. After one or more content transmission systems 283 have been configured, the content transmission system management and monitoring module 757 oversees the transmission system during content transfer and is among the master communication system processing module 741 and the communication method 740. Communicate with one or more other modules to ensure proper delivery of content to one or more system users via wide area distribution system 203.
The transmission coding module 761 is in one or more content transmission systems 283 and is combined with the system processing module 741 and other modules in the communication method 740 to provide one or more coding schemes, one or more. Applies to multiple content files, content data streams and / or user and management data files for transmission via one or more components of wide area distribution system 203. The line coding module 761 acts on two or more content signals and synthesizes these signals into a single composite signal transmitted over a single channel carrier. One or more control signals are acted upon by the transmission modulation module 765, whether encoded and / or multiplexed, which transmission modulation module 765 spreads one or more content data signals over a wide area. Modulate over one or more intermediate and / or carrier frequencies to suit transmission via one or more components of distribution system 203.
Once the content transmission signal is encoded, multiplexed and / or modulated, the signal is included in the communication method for transmission of the content to one or more user terminals 202 via the wide area distribution system 203. It is sent to one or more of the following modules combined with. That is, the off-air transmission module 775, the satellite transmission module 777, the wireless transmission module 779, the cable television transmission module 781, and the digital protocol implementation and management module 783. The off-air transmission module 775 uses one or more broadcast antennas 325 to control components that transmit content data over one or more television and radio broadcast channels, as shown in FIG. .. Satellite transmission module 777 uses one or more satellite uplink antennas 326 to control components that transmit content data over one or more communications satellites. The radio transmission module 779 uses one or more radio distribution antennas 327 to control components that transmit content data over one or more radio distribution channels. Cable television transmission module 781 uses components of one or more coaxial cable and / or fiber transmission infrastructure 330 to control components that transmit content data over one or more cable headend systems. To do. The digital protocol implementation and management module 783 resides on one or more digital protocol transmission servers 319 and is of one or more industrial standards via one or more digital protocol transmission gateways 332. / Or encapsulate the content for transmission using a proprietary digital protocol. The wide area network interface and control module 771 is a component that is combined with various modules in the communication method 740 to provide an interface between the content transmission system 283 and the wide area distribution system 203.
The physical media creation module 773 is combined with the system processing module 741 and other modules in the communication method 740, such as DVDs, CD-ROMs, magnetic tapes and other media suitable for delivering content by the aggregator 201. Oversee the automated part of content generation on top of the medium. The physical medium creation module 773 receives instructions and parameters for creating and distributing the physical content medium from the system processing module 741 and is coupled to the content transmission router 281 to receive the recorded content data on the physical medium.
27 sheets
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Numbers
- Publication
- 5111464
- Publication, DOCDB
- 5111464
- Publication, EPODOC
- JP5111464B
- Application
- 188618
- Application, DOCDB
- 2009188618
- Application, EPODOC
- JP20090188618
Titles2
- Japanese
- ビデオ及びデジタル・マルチメディアを取得し配送するシステム及び方法
- English
- Systems and methods for acquiring and delivering video and digital multimedia
Classification
- CPC, 27
- H04N21/4668
- H04N7/17318
- H04N21/2187
- H04N21/2343
- H04N21/23439
- H04N21/235
- H04N21/2541
- H04N21/2543
- H04N21/25808
- H04N21/25891
- H04N21/2662
- H04N21/2668
- H04N21/4316
- H04N21/4334
- H04N21/435
- H04N21/44204
- H04N21/4622
- H04N21/4627
- H04N21/4755
- H04N21/4826
- H04N21/4828
- H04N21/4882
- H04N21/6377
- H04N21/658
- H04N21/6582
- H04N21/812
- H04N21/8355
- IPC, 26
- H04N7 173
- G06F17 30
- G06F13 00
- H04N7 24
- H04N21 2187
- H04N21 2343
- H04N21 235
- H04N21 254
- H04N21 2543
- H04N21 258
- H04N21 2662
- H04N21 2668
- H04N21 431
- H04N21 433
- H04N21 435
- H04N21 442
- H04N21 462
- H04N21 4627
- H04N21 466
- H04N21 475
- H04N21 482
- H04N21 488
- H04N21 6377
- H04N21 658
- H04N21 81
- H04N21 8355
