SLING MEDIA INC. Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20150334446 | SELECTION AND PRESENTATION OF CONTEXT-RELEVANT SUPPLEMENTAL CONTENT AND ADVERTISING - Media content is paired with context-relevant supplemental content, and the media and supplemental content are provided to a user. A media stream containing the media content may be received from a source system, and context information about the media content is determined from information about the media stream. The supplemental content may be selected based on the determined context information. This may enable a business model in which third parties can register advertising or other supplemental content and specify the criteria that cause it to be combined with the media content. | 11-19-2015 |
20150319488 | FAST-START STREAMING AND BUFFERING OF STREAMING CONTENT FOR PERSONAL MEDIA PLAYER - Systems and methods allow playback of a media stream received via a network. The media stream is received and stored in a buffer prior to playback. Responsive to receiving the user command to change the content of the media stream, the buffer is flushed prior to receiving the changed content in the media stream. | 11-05-2015 |
20150222609 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR TRANSCODING AND PLACE SHIFTING MEDIA CONTENT - A set-top box (STB), digital video recorder (DVR), video player or other host device receives and interacts with a transcode module to provide enhanced transcoding capabilities that may be useful in placeshifting or other applications. The transcode module includes a host interface that couples to and communicates with the host device. The transcode module also includes a processor that receives an encrypted media stream from the host device via the bus interface, decrypts the encrypted media stream, transcodes the encrypted media stream to a different format, re-encrypts the transcoded stream, and provides the re-encrypted media stream to the host device via the host interface. The transcoded media content may be placeshifted to a remote player, stored at the host, or used for any other purpose. | 08-06-2015 |
20150110462 | DYNAMIC MEDIA VIEWING - A device is configured to record a stream of media content. The device determines that a value in metadata of the recorded media content associated with an index in the media content matches or exceeds a predetermined value. The device receives a request to play back the recorded media content and plays back the recorded media content beginning at the index specified by the metadata. | 04-23-2015 |
20150110461 | DYNAMIC MEDIA RECORDING - A stream of media content is received in a media device. A value is determined in metadata of the media content relating to an indicia of interest in a portion of the media content. A first clip including the portion of the media content is stored based at least in part on the indicia of interest, whereby the first clip is made available for later retrieval. | 04-23-2015 |
20140189836 | SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING ACCESS TO AN ACCOUNT - An account management server, a communication device and a service device are provided for managing access to an account. The account management server, for example, includes, but is not limited to, a storage device configured to store identifying information for each of a plurality of service devices and configured to store an account associated with each of the plurality of service devices, and a processor communicatively coupled to the storage device, wherein the processor is configured to: receive identifying information from a communication device; identify at least one service device whose stored identifying information matches the received identifying information; and grant management access to the account associated with the identified at least one service device to the communication device | 07-03-2014 |
20140189766 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR SEEKING WITHIN RECORDED MEDIA STORED ON A SET-TOP BOX - A method of viewing recorded media in accordance with one embodiment includes receiving a media stream from a remotely located media source over a network, storing the media stream on a media storage device, and generating a condensed media file to store a subset of frames of the media stream. Further, the method includes receiving a seek request associated with a specified time within the media stream, determining a first frame within the subset of frames in the condensed media file that is previous to and closest in time to the specified time, and displaying the first frame. | 07-03-2014 |
20140178052 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR REMOTELY RECORDING MEDIA CONTENT - According to various exemplary embodiments, systems and methods are described for receiving a selectable icon on a webpage regarding media content to be broadcast over a broadcasting network, selecting the selectable icon, and remotely controlling a personal or digital video recorder (PVR/DVR), a set top box (STB), a placeshifting device or system that communicates with a PVR/DVR or the like, and/or another media server so as to set a timer for the recording of the advertised media content. | 06-26-2014 |
20140157341 | SYSTEM AND METHOD TO REMOTELY PROGRAM A RECEIVING DEVICE - A web server presents a web page to a user. The web page dynamically presents information corresponding to a digital video recorder (DVR) associated with the user. The web server accepts input information to control the DVR. A delayed-job server accepts input from the web server and stores a job entry corresponding to the input in a message queue. The delayed-job server processes the job entry from the message queue and creates a function request representative of the web server input. An access server accepts the function request from the delayed-job server and bi-directionally communicates messages with the DVR. The access server communicates a response to the function request back to the delayed-job server. The delayed-job server communicates data from the response to the web server, wherein the web server is not blocked while waiting for the response from the delayed-job server. | 06-05-2014 |
20140115642 | FAST-START STREAMING AND BUFFERING OF STREAMING CONTENT FOR PERSONAL MEDIA PLAYER - Systems and methods allow playback of a placeshifted media stream received via a network. The placeshifted media stream is received and stored in a buffer prior to playback. Responsive to receiving the user command to change the content of the media stream, the buffer is flushed prior to receiving the changed content in the placeshifted media stream. | 04-24-2014 |
20140108811 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING ACCESS TO AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE - Methods and systems are provided for controlling access to an electronic device. The electronic device, for example, may include, but is not limited to, a processor, a memory communicatively coupled to the processor, wherein the memory is configured to store a password for accessing the electronic device, and a communication interface communicatively coupled to the processor, wherein the processor is configured to receive a request to access the electronic device from the communication interface, and transmit an encrypted version of the password for accessing the electronic device via the communication interface. | 04-17-2014 |
20140108804 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR VERIFYING THE AUTHENTICITY OF AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE - Methods and systems are provided for verifying the authenticity of an electronic device by a security server comprising a processor and a memory. The method, for example, may include, but is not limited to, receiving, from the electronic device, a unique identifier associated with the electronic device, determining, by the processor, a public key corresponding to the unique identifier, generating, by the processor, a message, encrypting, by the processor, the message with the determined public key, transmitting, to the electronic device, the encrypted message; receiving, from the electronic device, a response message, comparing the response message to the generated message, and authorizing the electronic device based upon the comparison. | 04-17-2014 |
20130272681 | PERSONAL VIDEO RECORDER FUNCTIONALITY FOR PLACESHIFTING SYSTEMS - PVR functionality is enabled on a media player of a placeshifting system, which allows a user to record media programs from locations that are physically remote from a source of the media programs. The media player may receive program schedule information and present the program schedule information to the user. Based on user input, the media player identifies a media program and associated schedule information. When the media program is scheduled to play, the placeshifting device directs a media recording device to receive the media program and to store the program. The placeshifting device may digitize, transcode, and/or transrate the media program, if necessary, and transmit the media program to the remote device for playback. | 10-17-2013 |
20130208186 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONTROLLING MEDIA DEVICES - Systems and methods process an input received from a remote control. A media stream is presented on a display, and the input from the remote control is received at a local device associated with the display. The local device may determine if the input is intended for the local device or a remote device. If the input is intended for the local device, the input may be processed at the local device. Various interface features, for example, may be managed at the local device. If the input is intended for the remote device, a signal may be transmitted from the local device to the remote device to thereby allow the remote device to respond to the input. | 08-15-2013 |
20130185163 | MANAGEMENT OF SHARED MEDIA CONTENT - A media device allows users to watch and capture portions from a media broadcast. Users may then share the captured media content items with other users, for example, by uploading the items to a community website. Before providing requested media content items to other users, the website may combine advertisements with the media content items. The website may receive advertising revenue from advertisers and may share the advertising revenue with owners of the media content items in exchange for their permission to provide the media content items. The advertisers may provide restrictions on how the advertisements are combined with the media content items, and the content owners may provide restrictions on how the media content items are provided to the users. | 07-18-2013 |
20130167189 | DETERMINATION OF RECEIVING LIVE VERSUS TIME-SHIFTED MEDIA CONTENT AT A COMMUNICATION DEVICE - A method of determining whether live media content or time-shifted media content is received at a computing device such as a server or media player is presented. Attribute information concerning media content received at a communication device at a specific time is received and compared schedule information. The received media content is determined to be live media content if the media content identity agrees with the schedule information. The received media content is determined to be time-shifted media content if the media content identity does not agree with the schedule information. | 06-27-2013 |
20130160148 | SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND PROGRAM APPLICATIONS FOR SELECTIVELY RESTRICTING THE PLACESHIFTING OF COPY PROTECTED DIGITAL MEDIA CONTENT - Systems, methods, and program products are provided for selectively restricting the transmission of copy protected digital media content from a computer system, over a network, and to a remote display. In one embodiment, a method includes the steps of capturing digital media content rendered on the local display by a media player application executed by the computer system; determining whether the media player application is accessing copy protected digital media content; and, if the media player application is not accessing copy protected digital media content, converting the captured digital media content to a media stream and transmitting the media stream over a network for presentation on a remote display. | 06-20-2013 |
20130139194 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS TO DETERMINE EXPECTED VIEWERSHIP OF FUTURE TELEVISION BROADCASTS USING RECORDING TIMER DATA - Systems, devices and methods are described to predict the viewership of a television broadcast before the broadcast occurs. Viewers select future broadcasts to record on a digital or other personal video recorder (DVR/PVR), or on any sort of remote storage video recorder (RSDVR). Data describing recordings selected by multiple viewers is provided to a data processing system that determines an expected program viewership based upon the received data. | 05-30-2013 |
20130013737 | GENERATION OF DATA CONCERNING RECEPTION OF MEDIA CONTENT AT A COMMUNICATION DEVICE - A method of providing data associated with reception of media content is presented. In the method, a communication device receives media content from a media content receiver via a communication network. The received media content is output to a user of the communication device. Data is then generated in the communication device which includes information identifying a channel selected by the user over which the media content receiver receives the media content. The data further includes information identifying a time period during which the communication device receives the media content. The data is transferred via the communication network to a communication node. | 01-10-2013 |
20130007816 | PERSONAL MEDIA BROADCASTING SYSTEM WITH OUTPUT BUFFER - A personal media broadcasting system enables video distribution over a computer network and allows a user to view and control media sources over a computer network from a remote location. A personal broadcaster receives an input from one or more types of media sources, digitizes and compresses the content, and streams the compressed media over a computer network to a media player running on any of a wide range of client devices for viewing the media. The system may allow the user to issue control commands (e.g., “channel up”) from the media player to the broadcaster, causing the source device to execute the commands. The broadcaster and the media player may employ several techniques for buffering, transmitting, and viewing the content to improve the user's experience. | 01-03-2013 |
20130003822 | METHOD FOR EFFECTIVELY IMPLEMENTING A MULTI-ROOM TELEVISION SYSTEM - A method for effectively implementing a multi-room television system includes a digital base station that processes and combines various program sources to produce a processed stream. A communications processor then responsively transmits the processed stream as a local composite output stream to various wired and wireless display devices for flexible viewing at variable remote locations. The transmission path performance is used to determine the video encoding process, and special attention is taken to assure that all users have low-latency interactive capabilities. | 01-03-2013 |
20120278844 | IDENTIFYING INSTANCES OF MEDIA PROGRAMMING AVAILABLE FROM DIFFERENT CONTENT SOURCES - Systems and methods are provided for identifying instances of media programming available within a media distribution system. An exemplary method involves searching a listing of media programming available from a first content source using search criteria indicative of a desired media program to identify an instance of the desired media program available from the first content source, obtaining a target program identifier associated with the desired media program from that instance, identifying another instance of the desired media program in a second listing of media programming available from another content source using the target program identifier, and providing a combined search result that indicates availability of the desired media program from the content sources. | 11-01-2012 |
20120278837 | PRESENTING RELATED CONTENT DURING A PLACESHIFTING SESSION - Systems and methods are provided for identifying instances of content available within a media distribution system that is related to a media program being streamed, presented, displayed, viewed, or otherwise placeshifted from a media device to a client device communicating with or otherwise coupled to the media device over a network. An exemplary method involves obtaining an identifier, metadata, or other descriptive information associated with a media program being presented on a client device, identifying content related to the streamed media program available from a content source in the media distribution system using the identifier, the metadata, or the descriptive information, and providing indication of the related content on the client device in conjunction with the media program. In an exemplary embodiment, the media program is streamed from the media device to the client device using a connection established over the network to create or otherwise support a placeshifting session. | 11-01-2012 |
20120278728 | DOWNLOAD MONITORING IN A MEDIA DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM - Systems and methods are provided for monitoring downloading of media programs to media devices over a network. One exemplary method involves providing, to a message server communicating with the media device over the network, a download request for downloading the media program from a content source coupled to the network to the media device, receiving, from the message server, status information for the download of the media program by the media device, and providing, to a client device coupled to the network, the download status information received from the message server. | 11-01-2012 |
20120215929 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ESTABLISHING CONNECTIONS BETWEEN DEVICES COMMUNICATING OVER A NETWORK - Systems and methods are described for establishing a connection between a client and a server that are each communicating via a network. The methods and techniques may be used, for example, to establish a media streaming connection between a media player and a placeshifting device when a firewall or other impediment to direct network connections exists. A relay server receives connection requests from the client and from the server via the network. In response to receiving the requests, a first connection is established between the relay server and the client and a second connection between the relay server and the server. Data received by the relay server on each of the first and second connections is relayed to the other of the first and second connections to thereby establish the connection between the client and the server via the relay server. | 08-23-2012 |
20120191864 | MEDIATED NETWORK ADDRESS TRANSLATION TRAVERSAL - A method of establishing a connection traversing at least one network address translation (NAT) gateway is presented. In the method, a bind request is sent from a source device to a mediation element via a NAT gateway. A bind response associated with the bind request is received. A connection request is sent to the mediation element. The mediation element causes the connection request to be sent to a destination device. A connection response associated with the connection request is received. A hello message is sent to a predicted destination address. The predicted destination address is based on an address received in the connection response. A data connection is established between the source device and the destination device using the predicted destination address. | 07-26-2012 |
20120167017 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ADAPTIVE GESTURE RECOGNITION - Systems and methods are described for adaptively recognizing gestures indicated by user inputs received from a touchpad, touchscreen, directional pad, mouse or other multi-directional input device. If a user's movement does not indicate a gesture using current gesture recognition parameters, additional processing can be performed to recognize the gesture using other factors. The gesture recognition parameters can then be adapted so that subsequent user inputs that are similar to the previously-rejected inputs will appropriately trigger gesture commands as desired by the user. Gestural data or parameters may be locally or remotely stored for further processing. | 06-28-2012 |
20120059914 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DETERMINING ATTRIBUTES OF MEDIA ITEMS ACCESSED VIA A PERSONAL MEDIA BROADCASTER - Systems, devices and methods are described for determining attributes identifying media items from other media items. A first video sequence of a first media item is received from a media source, the video sequence including one or more images having first banner information embedded therein. The attributes of the first media item are determined. The determined attributes of the first media item can then be stored or otherwise processed as desired. | 03-08-2012 |
20120030718 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR EFFECTIVELY IMPLEMENTING A WIRELESS TELEVISION SYSTEM - An apparatus and method for effectively implementing a wireless television system may include a communications processor and a transmitter device that combine at least one of a local-area network interface, a wide-area network interface, and one or more television data interfaces for effectively performing a wireless network transmission process. A transmitted stream from the wireless television system may be received via wireless network processing for viewing local-area network data, wide-area network data (such as Internet data), or television data by flexibly utilizing various electronic devices such as a notepad personal computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), or a handheld TV remote control device. | 02-02-2012 |
20120011269 | PERSONAL MEDIA BROADCASTING SYSTEM WITH OUTPUT BUFFER - A personal media broadcasting system enables video distribution over a computer network and allows a user to view and control media sources over a computer network from a remote location. A personal broadcaster receives an input from one or more types of media sources, digitizes and compresses the content, and streams the compressed media over a computer network to a media player running on any of a wide range of client devices for viewing the media. The system may allow the user to issue control commands (e.g., “channel up”) from the media player to the broadcaster, causing the source device to execute the commands. The broadcaster and the media player may employ several techniques for buffering, transmitting, and viewing the content to improve the user's experience. | 01-12-2012 |
20120011174 | Methods and Apparatus For Controlled Removal of Content from A Distributed Network - Described herein are techniques for managing content stored on a distributed network. Content is initially placed onto the network and populated across one or more nodes. The content is distributed in association with decay parameters that define a lifetime for the population of the content on the network. Various communication nodes of the distributed network are configured to process the content decay parameters to determine whether to delete the content during subsequent time periods. | 01-12-2012 |
20110321079 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR AUTHORIZING ACCESS TO NETWORK SERVICES USING INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM SUBSCRIBER EQUIPMENT - Systems and methods are described for authorizing access to network service based upon information obtained from a set-top box (STB) or other subscriber equipment associated with the user requesting access to the network service. The network service suitably contacts a subscriber device associated with the user via the network in response to a request for access that is received from the user. Information obtained from the subscriber device is processed to thereby determine if the user is authorized to use the service. If the user is authorized, then the service is provided via the network. Access to an online video stream, for example, can be conditioned upon the requesting user having an appropriate account with a cable, direct broadcast satellite (DBS) or other service that can be verified through contact with the user's STB or other subscriber equipment. | 12-29-2011 |
20110309933 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DETERMINING LOCATION FROM WIRELESS SIGNALS - A computer, media player, remote control or other device is configured to determine its relative location within a home, office or other given environment based upon the reception and/or sensing of wireless network signals and/or other electromagnetic signals emitted by other devices present at any time in the environment. The device receives wireless signals from one or more wireless signal sources, and determines a parameter (e.g., signal strength) for the signals received from each source. The location of the portable device within the environment is determined based on the determined parameters. The location may be used for any purpose, such as adjusting a setting on the portable device, identifying another device to be controlled by a portable remote control, or the like. | 12-22-2011 |
20110283332 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR EFFECTIVELY IMPLEMENTING A WIRELESS TELEVISION SYSTEM - An apparatus and method for effectively implementing a wireless television system may include a communications processor and a transmitter device that combine at least one of a local-area network interface, a wide-area network interface, and one or more television data interfaces for effectively performing a wireless network transmission process. A transmitted stream from the wireless television system may be received via wireless network processing for viewing local-area network data, wide-area network data (such as Internet data), or television data by flexibly utilizing various electronic devices such as a notepad personal computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), or a handheld TV remote control device. | 11-17-2011 |
20110219413 | CAPTURING AND SHARING MEDIA CONTENT - A media device allows users to watch and capture portions from a media stream. Users may then share the captured media content with other users. In one embodiment, the media device receives a media stream, plays the media stream, and caches a portion of the media stream as it is being played. A user can define a media clip by selecting its boundaries in the cached portion of the media stream. The media device creates the media clip based on the user's input and enables the user to transmit the media clip to another system, such as a community website for sharing it with other users. | 09-08-2011 |
20110208506 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR EMULATING NETWORK-ENABLED MEDIA COMPONENTS - Methods, systems and devices are described for implementing a virtual placeshifting device, set top box (STB), media player or other hardware device using a general purpose computing system that executes a software application. A message is received at the general-purpose computer that requests a session with a client application. The session is established between an emulator application executing on the general-purpose computer and the client application, wherein the emulator application is configured to emulate an application programming interface associated with an actual hardware device. Communications are exchanged between the emulator application executing on the general-purpose computer and the client application throughout the session, wherein each the communications is consistent with the application programming interface (API) associated with the actual hardware device. | 08-25-2011 |
20110196521 | CONNECTION PRIORITY SERVICES FOR DATA COMMUNICATION BETWEEN TWO DEVICES - A digital media player device includes, without limitation, a processor and a communication module coupled to the processor and configured to support data communication with a digital media place-shifting device. The processor and the communication module cooperate to attempt to establish data communication with the digital media place-shifting device in accordance with a connection mode sequence that identifies a plurality of different data communication modes supported by the digital media player device, until one of the plurality of different data communication modes can be used to initiate a data communication session between the digital media player device and the digital media place-shifting device. The processor and the communication module also cooperate to perform data communication with the digital media place-shifting device, using the one of the plurality of different data communication modes. | 08-11-2011 |
20110185393 | FAST-START STREAMING AND BUFFERING OF STREAMING CONTENT FOR PERSONAL MEDIA PLAYER - Systems and methods allow playback of a media stream received via a network. The media stream is received and stored in a buffer prior to playback. Responsive to receiving the user command to change the content of the media stream, the buffer is flushed prior to receiving the changed content in the media stream. | 07-28-2011 |
20110170842 | PERSONAL VIDEO RECORDER FUNCTIONALITY FOR PLACESHIFTING SYSTEMS - PVR functionality is enabled on a media player of a placeshifting system, which allows a user to record media programs from locations that are physically remote from a source of the media programs. The media player may receive program schedule information and present the program schedule information to the user. Based on user input, the media player identifies a media program and associated schedule information. When the media program is scheduled to play, the placeshifting device directs a media recording device to receive the media program and to store the program. The placeshifting device may digitize, transcode, and/or transrate the media program, if necessary, and transmit the media program to the remote device for playback. | 07-14-2011 |
20110158610 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SEARCHING MEDIA CONTENT - Systems and methods are described for searching media files using a set-top box (STB), a television receiver, digital video recorder (DVR), placeshifting device or other media device, or any type of network host that communicates with a media device of any sort. Search criteria is received from a user, and the search criteria is identified in listings of media programming available from one or more sources. In some implementations, a combined search result can be provided that identifies instances of the search criteria found in program guide listings, files stored on a digital video recorder (DVR), available on-demand content, or any other sources as desired. Some implementations may prioritize search results using information about files stored on a DVR, user preferences, or any other information as desired. | 06-30-2011 |
20110153845 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR ESTABLISHING NETWORK CONNECTIONS USING AN INTER-MEDIATING DEVICE - Systems and methods are provided to facilitate communication between a first device and a second device on a network. A first wireless communication session is established between the first device and a remote control or other intermediating device. A network address used by the first device to communicate on the network is received from the first device via the first wireless communication session. A second wireless communication session is established between the intermediating device and a second device, and the first address is provided to the second device via the second wireless communication session. | 06-23-2011 |
20110153718 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ESTABLISHING NETWORK CONNECTIONS USING LOCAL MEDIATION SERVICES - Systems and methods facilitate communication between clients, servers or other nodes located on separate local area networks (LANs) or sub-networks within a home, office, campus or other environment using one or more mediation servers located within the local network environment. The server establishes a persistent connection to each available mediation service. The client requests a connection to the server by providing addresses or other connection information associated with the client to one or more of the mediation servers in communication with the server. The mediation server(s) send network information associated with the client to the server via the persistent connections. The server responds to the mediation server(s) by providing network information that can be relayed to the client. When the client and server have exchanged network information, communications between the client and server can be established using conventional or proprietary network address translation (NAT) or other techniques. | 06-23-2011 |
20110150432 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR REMOTELY CONTROLLING A MEDIA SERVER VIA A NETWORK - Systems and methods are described for remotely controlling a personal or digital video recorder (PVR/DVR), a set top box (STB), a placeshifting device, or any other media server. A communications session is established between a server host and the media server in response to a connection request received from the client. Information about the content processed at the media server is received via the session and provided to the client. In response to subsequent instructions received from the client, the media server can be controlled, or other actions can be taken, by providing directions to the media server from the host via the communications session. Additional or alternate features may be provided as desired. | 06-23-2011 |
20110138010 | GENERATION OF DATA CONCERNING RECEPTION OF MEDIA CONTENT AT A COMMUNICATION DEVICE - A method of providing data associated with reception of media content is presented. In the method, a communication device receives media content from a media content receiver via a communication network. The received media content is output to a user of the communication device. Data is then generated in the communication device which includes information identifying a channel selected by the user over which the media content receiver receives the media content. The data further includes information identifying a time period during which the communication device receives the media content. The data is transferred via the communication network to a communication node. | 06-09-2011 |
20110119325 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DELIVERING MESSAGES OVER A NETWORK - Systems and methods are described for delivering messages from one or more service hosts to clients via a network. A first request identifying the client is received at the message server, and a connection is established and maintained between the message server and the client in response to the first request. When a subsequent request that identifies the client is received from the service host, a message is transmitted from the message server to the client over the previously-established connection. The methods and techniques may be used, for example, to provide messages from various services to placeshifting devices or other clients communicating via the network. | 05-19-2011 |
20110099571 | DETERMINATION OF RECEIVING LIVE VERSUS TIME-SHIFTED MEDIA CONTENT AT A COMMUNICATION DEVICE - A method of determining whether live media content or time-shifted media content is received at a communication device is presented. In the method, attribute information concerning media content received at a communication device at a specific time is received. Also received is schedule information including an identity of media content carried at the specific time over a channel identified in the attribute information. The media content identity from the attribute information is compared with the media content identity from the schedule information. The received media content is determined to be live media content if the media content identity from the attribute information agrees with the media content identity from the schedule information. The received media content is determined to be time-shifted media content if the media content identity from the attribute information does not agree with the media content identity from the schedule information. | 04-28-2011 |
20110099286 | PERSONAL MEDIA BROADCASTING SYSTEM - A personal media broadcasting system enables video distribution over a computer network and allows a user to view and control media sources over a computer network from a remote location. A personal broadcaster receives an input from one or more types of media sources, digitizes and compresses the content, and streams the compressed media over a computer network to a media player running on any of a wide range of client devices for viewing the media. The system may allow the user to issue control commands (e.g., “channel up”) from the media player to the broadcaster, causing the source device to execute the commands. The broadcaster and the media player may employ several techniques for buffering, transmitting, and viewing the content to improve the user's experience. | 04-28-2011 |
20110072073 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR FORMATTING MEDIA CONTENT FOR DISTRIBUTION - Systems and methods are described for processing media programs for distribution on a network. Media programs are received from one or more sources and placed on a queue in an appropriate format. Programs are retrieved from the queue and processed by any number of servers to format the program and/or its metadata for distribution on the network. | 03-24-2011 |
20110055864 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR TRANSCODING AND PLACE SHIFTING MEDIA CONTENT - A set-top box (STB), digital video recorder (DVR), video player or other host device receives and interacts with a transcode module to provide enhanced transcoding capabilities that may be useful in placeshifting or other applications. The transcode module includes a host interface that couples to and communicates with the host device. The transcode module also includes a processor that receives an encrypted media stream from the host device via the bus interface, decrypts the encrypted media stream, transcodes the encrypted media stream to a different format, re-encrypts the transcoded stream, and provides the re-encrypted media stream to the host device via the host interface. The transcoded media content may be placeshifted to a remote player, stored at the host, or used for any other purpose. | 03-03-2011 |
20100269138 | SELECTION AND PRESENTATION OF CONTEXT-RELEVANT SUPPLEMENTAL CONTENT AND ADVERTISING - Media content is paired with context-relevant supplemental content, and the media and supplemental content are provided to a user. A media stream containing the media content may be received from a source system, and context information about the media content is determined from information about the media stream. The supplemental content may be selected based on the determined context information. This may enable a business model in which third parties can register advertising or other supplemental content and specify the criteria that cause it to be combined with the media content. | 10-21-2010 |
20100268832 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ESTABLISHING CONNECTIONS BETWEEN DEVICES COMMUNICATING OVER A NETWORK - Systems and methods are described for establishing a connection between a client and a server that are each communicating via a network. The methods and techniques may be used, for example, to establish a media streaming connection between a media player and a placeshifting device when a firewall or other impediment to direct network connections exists. A relay server receives connection requests from the client and from the server via the network. In response to receiving the requests, a first connection is established between the relay server and the client and a second connection between the relay server and the server. Data received by the relay server on each of the first and second connections is relayed to the other of the first and second connections to thereby establish the connection between the client and the server via the relay server. | 10-21-2010 |
20100268779 | SHARING OF AUDIO/VISUAL CONTENT WITH A SELECTED USER - A method of sharing audio/visual content is presented. In the method, the audio/visual content is received from an audio/visual content source at an audio/visual content receiver by way of a content channel selection resource of the receiver, and stored therein. A message is transmitted from the receiver to a communication node, wherein the message indicates that the audio/visual content is available for viewing by a selected user. The communication node notifies the selected user of the message by way of a communication device associated with the selected user. In response to receiving a request for the audio/visual content from the communication device, the communication node facilitates a communication connection between the receiver and the communication device. The audio/visual content is transmitted from the receiver to the communication device over the communication connection. At the communication device, the audio/visual content is then presented to the selected user. | 10-21-2010 |
20100232439 | MEDIATED NETWORK ADDRESS TRANSLATION TRAVERSAL - A method of establishing a connection traversing at least one network address translation (NAT) gateway is presented. In the method, a bind request is sent from a source device to a mediation element via a NAT gateway. A bind response associated with the bind request is received. A connection request is sent to the mediation element. The mediation element causes the connection request to be sent to a destination device. A connection response associated with the connection request is received. A hello message is sent to a predicted destination address. The predicted destination address is based on an address received in the connection response. A data connection is established between the source device and the destination device using the predicted destination address. | 09-16-2010 |
20100192188 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR LINKING MEDIA CONTENT - Systems and methods are described for presenting a plurality of media clips to a viewer using a media player device. A first media clip is displayed on the media player, and an indicator corresponding to a second media clip is provided during playback of the first media clip. In response to the viewer selecting the indicator, playback of the first media clip is suspended, and information is stored about the first media clip on the media player device. The second media clip can then be subsequently displaying on the media player device. After displaying the second media clip, the stored information can be retrieved, and playback of the first media clip can resume from the point that playback was previously interrupted. | 07-29-2010 |
20100192186 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR EFFECTIVELY IMPLEMENTING A WIRELESS TELEVISION SYSTEM - An apparatus and method for effectively implementing a wireless television system may include a communications processor and a transmitter device that combine at least one of a local-area network interface, a wide-area network interface, and one or more television data interfaces for effectively performing a wireless network transmission process. A transmitted stream from the wireless television system may be received via wireless network processing for viewing local-area network data, wide-area network data (such as Internet data), or television data by flexibly utilizing various electronic devices such as a notepad personal computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), or a handheld TV remote control device. | 07-29-2010 |
20100192185 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR EFFECTIVELY IMPLEMENTING A WIRELESS TELEVISION SYSTEM - An apparatus and method for effectively implementing a wireless television system may include a communications processor and a transmitter device that combine at least one of a local-area network interface, a wide-area network interface, and one or more television data interfaces for effectively performing a wireless network transmission process. A transmitted stream from the wireless television system may be received via wireless network processing for viewing local-area network data, wide-area network data (such as Internet data), or television data by flexibly utilizing various electronic devices such as a notepad personal computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), or a handheld TV remote control device. | 07-29-2010 |
20100192184 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR EFFECTIVELY IMPLEMENTING A WIRELESS TELEVISION SYSTEM - An apparatus and method for effectively implementing a wireless television system may include a communications processor and a transmitter device that combine at least one of a local-area network interface, a wide-area network interface, and one or more television data interfaces for effectively performing a wireless network transmission process. A transmitted stream from the wireless television system may be received via wireless network processing for viewing local-area network data, wide-area network data (such as Internet data), or television data by flexibly utilizing various electronic devices such as a notepad personal computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), or a handheld TV remote control device. | 07-29-2010 |
20100192007 | FIRMWARE UPDATE FOR CONSUMER ELECTRONIC DEVICE - To update firmware on a consumer device intelligently, two or more application images are stored as firmware on the consumer device. If the primary application image is corrupt, the back-up application image is executed on the consumer device. The back-up application image can be updated based on the primary application image. User configuration files can be preserved during the update of an application image, or they can be overwritten. This firmware updating scheme can be advantageously implemented in a personal media broadcasting system. | 07-29-2010 |
20100191860 | PERSONAL MEDIA BROADCASTING SYSTEM WITH OUTPUT BUFFER - A personal media broadcasting system enables video distribution over a computer network and allows a user to view and control media sources over a computer network from a remote location. A personal broadcaster receives an input from one or more types of media sources, digitizes and compresses the content, and streams the compressed media over a computer network to a media player running on any of a wide range of client devices for viewing the media. The system may allow the user to issue control commands (e.g., “channel up”) from the media player to the broadcaster, causing the source device to execute the commands. The broadcaster and the media player may employ several techniques for buffering, transmitting, and viewing the content to improve the user's experience. | 07-29-2010 |
20100100915 | FAST-START STREAMING AND BUFFERING OF STREAMING CONTENT FOR PERSONAL MEDIA PLAYER - A personal media broadcasting system enables video distribution over a computer network and allows a user to view and control media sources over a computer network from a remote location. A personal broadcaster receives an input from one or more types of media sources, digitizes and compresses the content, and streams the compressed media over a computer network to a media player running on any of a wide range of client devices for viewing the media. The system may allow the user to issue control commands (e.g., “channel up”) from the media player to the broadcaster, causing the source device to execute the commands. The broadcaster and the media player may employ several techniques for buffering, transmitting, and viewing the content to improve the user's experience. | 04-22-2010 |
20100071076 | SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND PROGRAM APPLICATIONS FOR SELECTIVELY RESTRICTING THE PLACESHIFTING OF COPY PROTECTED DIGITAL MEDIA CONTENT - Systems, methods, and program products are provided for selectively restricting the transmission of copy protected digital media content from a computer system, over a network, and to a remote display. In one embodiment, a method includes the steps of capturing digital media content rendered on the local display by a media player application executed by the computer system; determining whether the media player application is accessing copy protected digital media content; and, if the media player application is not accessing copy protected digital media content, converting the captured digital media content to a media stream and transmitting the media stream over a network for presentation on a remote display. | 03-18-2010 |
20100070925 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SELECTING MEDIA CONTENT OBTAINED FROM MULTPLE SOURCES - Methods, systems and devices present information on a display in response to a user input received from an input device. One or more options are presented in a first portion of a user interface on the display, and a first user input indicating one of the options is received. In response to the first user input, a sub-menu of options associated with the indicated one of the first list of options is presented in a second portion of the user interface. In response to a second user input selecting the indicated one of the options, the sub-menu of options is presented in the first portion of the user interface. The various methods, systems and devices may be implemented in a media catcher system that selects and presents media content from one or more different sources. | 03-18-2010 |
20100064332 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PRESENTING MEDIA CONTENT OBTAINED FROM MULTIPLE SOURCES - Systems and methods integrate media content provided by any number of different sources for presentation on a television or other external display. A network interface to a digital network and a display interface to the external display is provided. A processor is configured to receive the media content from each of the different sources via the network interface in a first format, to convert the media content a displayable format different from the first format for display on the external device, and to provide the media content in the displayable format to the display interface for presentation on the external display. | 03-11-2010 |
20100064055 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROJECTING IMAGES FROM A COMPUTER SYSTEM - Methods, systems and devices are described for place shifting media content from a computer system to a remotely-located display over a network. The media content to be place shifted is captured at the computer system, wherein the media content includes a portion of imagery presented on a local display associated with the computer system. The captured media content is transcoded or otherwise converted to a media stream in a format that is transmittable on the network. The media stream is then transmitted on the network for presentation on the remotely-located display. | 03-11-2010 |
20100005483 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SECURELY PLACE SHIFTING MEDIA CONTENT - Systems and methods are provided for securely providing a place-shifted media stream from a place shifting device to a remote player via a communications network. A request for a connection is received from the remote player at the place shifting device via the communications network. In response to the request for the connection, an authorization credential is requested from a central server via the communications network. Further, in response to the authorization credential received from the central server, the place-shifted media stream between the place shifting device and the remote player can be established over the communications network. At least a portion of the place-shifted media stream may be encrypted based upon the authorization credential. | 01-07-2010 |
20100001960 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR GESTURAL INTERACTION WITH USER INTERFACE OBJECTS - Systems and methods produce imagery on a display in response inputs received from a directional input device, wherein the inputs correspond to directional instructions provided by a user. A first input corresponding to a first directional instruction in a first direction is received from the directional input device, and an object is identified based upon the first input. A second input corresponding to a second directional instruction from the user in a second direction different from the first direction is identified from the directional input device, and a function associated with the identified object is invoked in response to the second input. | 01-07-2010 |
20090177758 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DETERMINING ATTRIBUTES OF MEDIA ITEMS ACCESSED VIA A PERSONAL MEDIA BROADCASTER - Systems, devices and methods are described for determining attributes identifying media items from other media items. A first video sequence of a first media item is received from a media source, the video sequence including one or more images having first banner information embedded therein. The attributes of the first media item are determined based on at least the first banner information extracted from the first video sequence. The determined attributes of the first media item can then be stored or otherwise processed as desired. | 07-09-2009 |
20090157697 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CREATING VARIABLE LENGTH CLIPS FROM A MEDIA STREAM - Systems and methods are described for providing variable-length media clips based upon a received media stream. An exemplary system for providing media clips to users includes a database comprising a list of rules associated with a plurality of programs, as well as a first server and a second server. The first server receives information about a particular program being viewed by a media player and obtains rules from the database for the identified program that are transmitted to the media player. The second server receives a media clip of the particular program being viewed from the media player, wherein the media clip is created at the media player in accordance with the rules corresponding to the program, and subsequently makes the media clip available to the users. | 06-18-2009 |
20090102983 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONTROLLING MEDIA DEVICES - Systems and methods process an input received from a remote control. A media stream is presented on a display, and the input from the remote control is received at a local device associated with the display. The local device may determine if the input is intended for the local device or a remote device. If the input is intended for the local device, the input may be processed at the local device. Various interface features, for example, may be managed at the local device. If the input is intended for the remote device, a signal may be transmitted from the local device to the remote device to thereby allow the remote device to respond to the input. | 04-23-2009 |
20090080448 | MEDIA STREAMING DEVICE WITH GATEWAY FUNCTIONALITY - Various methods and devices provide place shifting of a media stream to a remote device while also providing network functionality for a local area network (LAN) and/or a wide area network (WAN). The gateway includes a media interface for receiving audio/visual (A/V) signals from the media source, as well as interfaces to the LAN and/or the WAN. A media streaming module receives the A/V signals from the media interface and processes the received A/V signals to thereby create the media stream. A modem module receives the media stream from the media streaming module via a dedicated connection, network switch and/or other connection, and transmits the media stream to the remote device via at least one of the first and second network interfaces. | 03-26-2009 |