Abstract:
An interface device to a broadcast medium uses the Internet Protocol communication layer to communicate with other devices on a network. The device may be associated with a single controlling device on the network, through which other devices on the same network may query and schedule the interface device. The interface device may accept several sources of broadcast or other media, including video and audio, and prepare and normalize the content for used by other devices. Several different physical interfaces may be used to subsequently convert the Internet Protocol communications into useful content streams for various devices, including storage and rendering devices.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    a. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The present invention pertains generally to receiving broadcast media and specifically to reception and management of broadcast content. 
         [0003]    b. Description of the Background 
         [0004]    Broadcast content is often encoded and made available to subscribers through a decoding device. The decoding device is able to decode the broadcast signal into a usable form for the subscriber. One example of this technology is a cable television set top box. Each set top box may have some sort of unique identifier that is used by the content provider to determine which portions of the broadcast content, if any, should be made available to the subscriber. Such devices are also used for satellite television, data, and radio broadcasts. 
         [0005]    Existing devices are difficult to integrate into a home media network. Some content may be received through a set top box may be copy protected or have some restrictions on the use of the content. When that content is used in a home media environment, the content may need to be used pursuant to a licensing agreement, statute, or other restrictions that limit the use of the content. 
         [0006]    Further, the integration is complicated by various electrical interfaces that may connect the set top box or other receiver device to a media server device. Direct connections, such as USB, IEEE 1394, or other standards may be used, as well as network connections such as Ethernet. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    An interface device to a broadcast medium uses the Internet Protocol communication layer to communicate with other devices on a network. The device may be associated with a single controlling device on the network, through which other devices on the same network may query and schedule the interface device. The interface device may accept several sources of broadcast or other media, including video and audio, and prepare and normalize the content for used by other devices. Several different physical interfaces may be used to subsequently convert the Internet Protocol communications into useful content streams for various devices, including storage and rendering devices. 
         [0008]    By using an IP interface, several different physical connections may be made with the device. For example, hardwired Ethernet connections, wireless Ethernet, USB, IEEE1394, or any other type of IP supported interface may be created. A family of devices with the same underlying architecture may have a full functional certification performed at the IP level. Subsequent certification of further models with different physical interfaces may only require the certification of the physical interface, rather than a complete recertification of the entire device. 
         [0009]    An IP based interface device can provide many advantages when used in a network environment. These include being able to share the interface device with other devices and users on the network. Because the interface device is attached to a network, several other devices may be able to recognize the device and use the device as a resource. In some embodiments, a relationship may be established between a controlling device and the interface device. In such a case, other devices on the network may be able to schedule and connect to the interface device through the controlling device. In some cases, some authentication, access control, decoding, or other functions may be performed by the controlling device. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    In the drawings, 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic illustration of an embodiment showing a media server/receiving device network. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a diagrammatic illustration of an embodiment showing the network communications for a media network. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a flowchart illustration of an embodiment of a method for handling copy protected content. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a diagrammatic illustration of an embodiment showing a media network. 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a diagrammatic illustration of an embodiment showing a receiver device. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments of the invention are shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intent to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claims. In general, the embodiments were selected to highlight specific inventive aspects or features of the invention. 
         [0017]    Throughout this specification, like reference numbers signify the same elements throughout the description of the figures. 
         [0018]    When elements are referred to as being “connected” or “coupled,” the elements can be directly connected or coupled together or one or more intervening elements may also be present. In contrast, when elements are referred to as being “directly connected” or “directly coupled,” there are no intervening elements present. 
         [0019]    The invention may be embodied as devices, systems, methods, and/or computer program products. Accordingly, some or all of the invention may be embodied in hardware and/or in software (including firmware, resident software, micro-code, state machines, gate arrays, etc.) Furthermore, the present invention may take the form of a computer program product on a computer-usable or computer-readable storage medium having computer-usable or computer-readable program code embodied in the medium for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system. In the context of this document, a computer-usable or computer-readable medium may be any medium that can contain, store, communicate, propagate, or transport the program for use by or in connection with the instruction execution system, apparatus, or device. 
         [0020]    The computer-usable or computer-readable medium may be, for example but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, device, or propagation medium. By way of example, and not limitation, computer readable media may comprise computer storage media and communication media. 
         [0021]    Computer storage media includes volatile and nonvolatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information such as computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data. Computer storage media includes, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disks (DVD) or other optical storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to store the desired information and which can accessed by an instruction execution system. Note that the computer-usable or computer-readable medium could be paper or another suitable medium upon which the program is printed, as the program can be electronically captured, via, for instance, optical scanning of the paper or other medium, then compiled, interpreted, of otherwise processed in a suitable manner, if necessary, and then stored in a computer memory. 
         [0022]    Communication media typically embodies computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data in a modulated data signal such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism and includes any information delivery media. The term “modulated data signal” means a signal that has one or more of its characteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encode information in the signal. By way of example, and not limitation, communication media includes wired media such as a wired network or direct-wired connection, and wireless media such as acoustic, RF, infrared and other wireless media. Combinations of the any of the above should also be included within the scope of computer readable media. 
         [0023]    When the invention is embodied in the general context of computer-executable instructions, the embodiment may comprise program modules, executed by one or more systems, computers, or other devices. Generally, program modules include routines, programs, objects, components, data structures, etc. that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. Typically, the functionality of the program modules may be combined or distributed as desired in various embodiments. 
         [0024]      FIG. 1  is a pictorial representation of an embodiment  100  showing a media server in a networked environment. The receiving device  102  is connected through a network  104  to a media server  106 . The receiving device  102  may receive content from different sources, such as broadcast content  108  or prerecorded content off of a playback device  110 , through the interfaces  112  and  114 , respectively. A tuner/controller  116  may select the appropriate channels from an input stream and determine, with the content security system, whether the user has permission to view the content. If so, the content is sent to an encoder  120  and an internet protocol (IP) interface  122  for transmission to the media server  106 . 
         [0025]    Content is received by the media server  106  through the IP interface  124  and stored in the storage  126 . Content that is to be viewed passed through the decoder  128  and the renderer  130  to be passed to the display  132 . The controller  134  may have a user interface  136  through which the system may be controlled. A digital rights management system  138  may be used to control the use of some protected content in the storage  126 . 
         [0026]    The embodiment  100  shows a media server  106  that may control a receiving device  102  in an integrated fashion. Through the network  104 , the media center  106  may establish a secure and exclusive relationship with the receiving device  102 . The relationship may enable copy protected content to be received by the receiving device  102 , transferred to the media center  106  in a secure fashion, and be handled pursuant to the digital rights management system  138 . The user interface and control functionality are performed on the media server  106 , and commands are transferred to the receiving device  102  via the IP interfaces  122  and  124 . Content data is transferred to the media server  106  for storage and display. 
         [0027]    The receiving device  102  may comprise a subset of the functionality of a conventional set top box receiver. The tuner/controller  116  may select a channel from a broadcast input stream, such as a cable television network, satellite broadcast signal, terrestrial antenna, or any other broadcast signal. Using the content security system  118 , the content may be enabled or disabled. 
         [0028]    The content security system  118  may determine which channels, programs, or other content are permitted to be received by the receiving device  102 . The content security system  118  may include devices such as a cable access card, smart card, electronic identification number, or any other identification mechanism. The content security system  118  may also include a list of permitted channels that may be viewed by the receiving device  102 . In some cases, the receiving device  102  may communicate over a network, such as a cable television network, to an upstream device that may grant or deny permissions for various channels, programs, or other content. In some embodiments, the content security system  118  may be a conventional conditional access system used in satellite or cable television systems. The content security system may include access control to pay per view programming as well as continuously broadcast programming. 
         [0029]    The IP interfaces  122  and  124  may be any type of physical layer interface that supports Internet Protocol (IP). The interface may be a direct connection, such as a IEEE 1394 direct cable, a connection to a larger network such as Ethernet, or any other physical layer that supports IP. In some embodiments, the IP interfaces  122  and  124  may be a point to point connection, a broadcast connection, or a multicast connection. 
         [0030]    The media server  106  may be a general purpose computer or a specialized device that handles the user interface and control of the receiving device  102 . In some cases, the media server  106  may incorporate a display  132 , while in other cases, the media server  106  may only distribute programming to other devices that render and display the content. 
         [0031]    The media server  106  may incorporate a storage system  126  for recording programming for later playback. In some cases, the storage system  126  may be capable of storing many hours of programming. The programming may be stored and retrieved at a later time to be viewed on the display  132  or on another device connected to the media server  106 . Program content that is copy protected may be used and distributed pursuant to the digital rights management system  138 . 
         [0032]    The digital rights management system  138  may control the use and distribution of copy protected content by any method. In some cases, copy protected content is marked as such and various systems for permitting or denying access or manipulation of the content may be used to control the content. In other cases, copy protected content may be stored in a separate storage system  126  and made available using different permissions than with non-copy protected content. Several digital resource management systems are commercially available and may be adapted to various embodiments. In some embodiments, two or more different digital rights management systems may be used. 
         [0033]    The user interface  136  for the media server  106  may be any method or device that enables a user to send commands and retrieve information from the media server  106 . In some cases, the media server  106  may display relevant information on the display  132  that is used for viewing content. In other cases, the user interface  136  may display information on a separate display. The user interface  136  may include any type of input device, such as a remote control, mouse, keyboard, pointer, button pad, or any other input device. In some cases, the functions of the user interface  136  may be performed by another device connected to the media server  106  through a network or other communications medium. 
         [0034]    The encoder  120  and decoder  128  may be used to convert the incoming signals into a format that is capable of transmitting across the IP interfaces  122  and  124 . In many systems, the encoder  120  may encode the incoming signals into an intermediate standard format, such as ITU-R BT.656 or some other format. The decoder  128  may convert from the intermediate standard format to a format compatible with the display  132 . Examples of the resulting format may include NTSC, PAL, or SECAM. Various resulting formats and intermediate formats may be used in various embodiments. The renderer  130  may take the decoded format and present the content on an interface compatible with the display  132 . 
         [0035]      FIG. 2  illustrates an embodiment  200  showing the network communications for a media network. A receiving device  202  communicates over a network  204  that contains a media server  206  and a client device  208 . The receiving device  202  may receive content data  210  through the tuner  212  and provide an initial layer of content security or access permissions through the content security system  214 . 
         [0036]    The controlling device  206  may incorporate the controlling device  216  established to control and communicate with the receiving device  202 , as well as contain a digital rights management system  218  for controlling the use of content over devices connected to the network  204 . The controlling device  216  may send commands via a secure relationship  220  to the receiving device  202  and receive content  222 . 
         [0037]    The client device  208  may include a controller  224  and a decoder/renderer  226  that prepares the content data  210  to be shown on the display  228 . Since all the various devices are on the network  204 , the client device  208  may detect  230  that the receiving device  202  is available and on the network  204 . Because a controlling relationship has been established between the media server  206  and the receiving device  202 , the receiving device  202  may send instructions  232  to the client device  208  that redirects requests to the controlling device  216 . The client device  208  may send commands  234  for the tuner to the controlling device  216 , which then commands the receiving device  202 . The tuner  212  may send content  222  to the controlling device  216  that in turn forwards the content  236  to the controller  224 . 
         [0038]    The embodiment  200  illustrates how devices connected to the network  204  may access the content  210  yet the various copy protection and access control systems may ensure that the content is properly secure. The receiving device  202  may establish a relationship with the media server  206 . The media center  206  may then be the exclusive device that is permitted to send commands to the receiving device  202 . When another device such as the client device  208  requests services from the receiving device  202 , the client device  208  is redirected to send commands to the media server  206 . 
         [0039]    An exclusive relationship between the media server  208  and receiving device  202  may be established when the media server  206  has a digital rights management system  218  available to control copy protected content. The copy protected content may be accessible to the client device  208 , however the content may be first processed by the digital rights management system  218  prior to being used by the client device  208 . 
         [0040]    A controlling relationship may exist between the media server  208  and the receiving device  202 . As such, the receiving device  202  may accept commands only from the media server  208 , and ignore requests from other devices. When another device such as the client device  208  contacts the receiving device  202 , the receiving device  202  may redirect requests to the device having the controlling relationship, in the present case the media server  208 . 
         [0041]    In some embodiments, the content  210  travels from the receiving device  202  to the media server  206  before being transferred to the client device  208 . In other embodiments, once the client device  208  has requested the content through the media server  206  and the request has been permitted by the digital rights management system  218 , the content may be transmitted directly from the receiving device  202  to the client device  208 . Such an embodiment may reduce the amount of network traffic and may be useful in a home network environment or other locations where bandwidth may be at a premium. 
         [0042]    The media server  206  may provide scheduling and conflict resolution between various network devices that request services from the receiving device  202 . Various scheduling methods may be used to determine the actions taken by the receiving device and the prioritization of commands sent from different client devices. 
         [0043]    The client device  208  may be a general purpose computer system, dedicated hardware device, built in device in a television display, or any other architecture. In some embodiments, the client device  208  may have a user interface comprising a display and some form of user input. In an example of a television with a built in client device, an onscreen display and multi-button remote control may serve as a user interface. The user may be able to select programming or other content available from the receiving device  202  using a user interface on the client device  208 . 
         [0044]    The network  204  may be any form of communication network. A common network used in local area networks and wide area networks is Ethernet, which may use Internet Protocol. In some cases, TCP/IP or UDP may be used. In some embodiments, the entire network  204  may be a local area network in a user&#39;s home. In other embodiments, all or a portion of the network  204  may be the Internet, with one or more of the receiving device  202 , media server  206 , and/or client device  208  located remotely from each other via the Internet. 
         [0045]    The content  222  and  236  may be encrypted content. In some embodiments, copy protected content may be encrypted in one manner while non-copy protected content may be unencrypted or encrypted in a different manner than copy protected content. Content may be encrypted by the receiving device  202  or by the media server  206 . In some cases, content may be first encrypted by the receiving device  202 , decrypted by the media server  206 , and encrypted again by the media server  206  using a different encryption method or key. Various encryption schemes, including no encryption at all, may be used with the embodiment  200 . 
         [0046]    In some embodiments, the client device  208  may comprise a digital rights management system similar to the digital rights management system  218  of the controlling device  204 . In such an embodiment, the client device  208  may request that the exclusive relationship between the controlling device  204  and the receiving device  202  may be transferred to the client device  208 . When this occurs, the client device  208  may exclusively communicate with the receiving device  202 . 
         [0047]      FIG. 3  is a flowchart illustration of embodiment  300  showing a method for handling copy protected content. A session is established between the receiving device and a media server in block  302 . The channel to receive is determined in block  304  and a command is sent from the media server to the receiving device to begin transmitting content in block  306 . If the content is copy protected in block  308 , the content is stored and managed on the media server under a digital rights management system in block  310 . If the content is not copy protected in block  308 , the content is stored and managed on the media server without the digital rights management system in block  312 . 
         [0048]    The embodiment  300  illustrates a method whereby copy protected content may be identified and managed under a digital rights management system. In some embodiments, the receiving device may receive content from prerecorded media such as prerecorded DVD disks or other media. Such content may have copy protection identification and may be managed and used under a digital rights management system. In other cases, specific content received on a broadcast medium such as cable television distribution or satellite distribution systems may be copy protected. This may include pay per view or other special ordered content. In some cases, all or a majority of the content used by the media server may be managed under a digital rights management system. 
         [0049]    A digital rights management system may set limits or permissions for various activities performed on content. For example, a digital rights management system may cause a particular program to expire after a certain time or a certain number of views. In some cases, a digital rights management system may permit a program to be recorded by a client device having recording capabilities. Such recording may be limited to a certain number of recordings or may require that the content be recorded using specific settings, such as settings that require the recording to be identified as copy protected, settings that determine the resolution or quality of the recording, or any other setting desired. 
         [0050]      FIG. 4  is a diagrammatic illustration of an embodiment  400  of a media network. An IP network  402  may be an Ethernet or other IP network. A receiver device  404  may take broadcast content  406  or prerecorded content  408  and make it available to devices on the network  402 . A controlling device  410  may establish a controlling relationship with the receiver device  404  and be capable of sending commands and performing scheduling and other functions for the receiver device  404 . Client device  414  with display  416  and client device  418  with display  420  may communicate with the controlling device  410  and receiver device  404  over the network  402 . 
         [0051]    The embodiment  400  may be a typical arrangement for a home media network. A controlling device  410  may be a media server such as a general purpose computer with storage  412 . A media server may also be a dedicated device that is located on the network and may or may not have a user interface or a display for viewing content. The client devices  414  and  418  may be network interface and controlling devices attached to a television display or any other type of client device capable of communicating on the network. 
         [0052]    In some embodiments, two or more receiving devices  404  may be present on the network  402 . In such cases, a single controlling device  410  may control and schedule all of the receiving devices, or separate controlling devices may be assigned to each receiving device. When a single controlling device  410  is used to control multiple receiving devices, the controlling device  410  may distribute requests for content from multiple client devices to multiple receiving devices. 
         [0053]    The client device  414  or controlling device  410  may include a recording mechanism, such as a DVD writer or other recording technology. In such a case, the controlling device  410  may permit or deny a recording depending on any copy protection mechanisms in place for the particular content. 
         [0054]    The controlling device  410  may store content in an attached storage system  412 . In such a case, the attached storage system may be a disk drive or bank of disk drives capable of storing content. In some embodiments, a storage system may be located on another device attached to the network  402 . In still other embodiments, the storage of media content may be distributed amongst different client devices  414  and  418  in addition to the controlling device  410 . 
         [0055]      FIG. 5  is a diagrammatic illustration of an embodiment  500  showing a receiver device. The receiver device  502  takes the incoming content  504  through the interface  506 . A tuner  508  selects a channel from the incoming stream, processes the signal through an encoder  510 , for which permission is obtained through a content security system  512 . The switch  514  may be enabled to pass the signal through an IP interface  516  and to the media server  518 . 
         [0056]    When the receiver device  502  operates as a stand alone set top box, the controller  520  may direct the tuner  508  based on a user interface  522 . In this mode, the switch  514  may direct the content signal to a decoder  524 , a renderer  526 , and then to a display  528 . 
         [0057]    The embodiment  500  illustrates a set top box that may be used with a media server  518  or as a conventional stand alone set top box. When being controlled by a media server  518 , the signal path is through the IP interface  516  and to the media server  518 . In such a case, the elements  530  may be unused and the signals containing the content may be directed to the media server  518 . When functioning as a stand alone set top box, the operation of the set top box is controlled through the controller  520  and user interface  522 . In that mode, the switch  514  is activated such that the signals are not sent through the IP interface  516 , but instead travel through the decoder  514  and renderer  516  to the display  528 . 
         [0058]    In some embodiments, a set top box receiver device  502  may be a useful implementation, especially when it is anticipated that deployment of new cable television or satellite television services may use a home media server  518  for content management within the home. 
         [0059]    The IP interface  516  may include any interface for which the Internet Protocol is operable. Because the high level protocol is IP, a particular embodiment of the receiving device  502  may be built and tested using IP communication standards over the interface  516 . When a new version of the same device is built with a different physical IP interface  516 , the testing and certification of the new version may only need to include certification of the new physical interface, since all of the higher level communication will have been previously certified. 
         [0060]    In a typical embodiment with an analog television waveform, the encoder  510  may digitize the waveform into a digital encoded stream. In an embodiment with digital television waveforms, the encoder  510  may demodulate a digital television waveform. 
         [0061]    The foregoing description of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed, and other modifications and variations may be possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention in various embodiments and various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the appended claims be construed to include other alternative embodiments of the invention except insofar as limited by the prior art.