Patent ID: 8028093
Filing Date: 2011-09-27
Classification: H04H,H04L,H04N

Abstract:
1. In a media exchange network comprising a media exchange server, a network, a first private home and a second private home, the media exchange server being external to the first private home and to the second private home, a system for adapting media content, comprising: a first communications device disposed in the first private home, wherein the first communications device is a first media content source, wherein the first communications device is operatively coupled to the network via a first broadband access headend, wherein the first communications device updates a device profile within the first communications device, wherein the device profile includes capabilities of the first communications device, wherein the first communications device automatically sends the updated device profile to a second communications device in a second private home, wherein the first communications device comprises a first media processing system, wherein the first media processing system comprises a first software platform that provides at least the following: user interface functionality, distributed storage functionality, networking functionality, control over first media peripheral devices in the first private home, status monitoring of the first media peripheral devices, and inter-home routing to other communication devices including the inter-home routing to the second communications device in the second private home; and the second communications device disposed in the second private home, wherein the second communications device is a second media content source, wherein the second communications device is operatively coupled to the network via a second broadband access headend, wherein the second communications device receives the updated device profile relating to the first communications device, wherein the second communications device adapts media content based upon the updated device profile of the first communications device to form adapted media content, wherein the adapted media content is set to a first quality level that is lower than a second quality level, wherein the first quality level and the second quality level are supported by the first communications device, wherein the second communications device pushes, in a private, non-broadcast channel, the adapted media content with a file associated with the media content to the first communications device, wherein the file comprises information as to where the media content of a highest quality level is stored outside of the first private home and the second private home, wherein the second communications device comprises a second media processing system, wherein the second media processing system comprises a second software platform that provides at least the following: user interface functionality, distributed storage functionality, networking functionality, control over second media peripheral devices in the second private home, status monitoring of the media peripheral devices, and inter-home routing to other communication devices including the inter-home routing to the first communications device in the first private home, wherein the first communications device and the second communications device use respective TV channel guide look-and-feel user interfaces to display private, non-broadcast channels and public broadcast channels from the other of the first communications device and the second communications device, wherein the private, non-broadcast channels displayed in the first private home comprise the private, non-broadcast channel originally constructed, originally sourced, and sent by the second communications device and private, non-broadcast channels originally constructed and originally sourced by the first communications device.