Abstract:
A method of displaying content to a consumer including storing a consumer format preference and obtaining a request from the consumer to display the content. It is determined if the content meets the consumer format preference and the content is formatted to meet the consumer format preference if the content does not meet the consumer format preference. The content is then displayed.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present disclosure relates generally to displaying content and in particular, to displaying content to a consumer in response to a consumer format preference.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     Systems exist for distributing content to users such as broadcast television, cable television, pay-per-view, etc. In such systems, the content provider dictates when content is available and the user may view the content at the scheduled time. Devices such as video cassette recorders (VCRs) and digital video recorders (DVRs), such as the TiVo® system provided by TiVo Inc. of Alviso, Calif., allow users to time-shift content and view the content at a time different from the broadcast time.  
         [0003]     Current systems either provide no user-defined selection of content format (e.g., pay per view) or require that the user specify the format of the content each time new content is viewed (e.g., DVD menus for language, format, etc.). This becomes burdensome on the consumer who must specify a desired format each time content is displayed.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     Embodiments of the invention include a method of displaying content to a consumer including storing a consumer format preference and obtaining a request from the consumer to display the content. It is determined if the content meets the consumer format preference and the content is formatted to meet the consumer format preference if the content does not meet the consumer format preference. The content is then displayed.  
         [0005]     Embodiments of the invention include a system for displaying content including a consumer network, a controller on the consumer network and memory on the consumer network. The memory includes a consumer format preference for content. A content distribution network is in communication with the controller and includes a network element. The controller receives a request from the consumer to display the content and transmits the request and the consumer format preference to the network element. The network element determines if the content meets the consumer format preference and formats the content to meet the consumer format preference if the content does not meet the consumer format preference. The network element delivers the content to the controller and the controller initiates display of the content.  
         [0006]     Embodiments of the invention include a system for displaying content comprising a consumer network, memory on the consumer network including a consumer format preference for content and a DVD player on the consumer network reading the content from a DVD. The DVD player determines if the content meets the consumer format preference and formats the content to meet the consumer format preference if the content does not meet the consumer format preference. A display on the consumer network displays the content.  
         [0007]     Other systems, methods, and/or computer program products according to embodiments will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon review of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, and/or computer program products be included within this description, be within the scope of the present invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]      FIG. 1  depicts an exemplary content distribution network in embodiments of the invention.  
         [0009]      FIG. 2  depicts an exemplary consumer network in embodiments of the invention.  
         [0010]      FIG. 3  depicts an exemplary user interface in embodiments of the invention.  
         [0011]      FIG. 4  is a flowchart of an exemplary process for displaying content in embodiments of the invention.  
         [0012]      FIG. 5  depicts exemplary content format fields in embodiments of the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0013]      FIG. 1  depicts an exemplary video distribution architecture. The architecture is similar to that disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/605,928, filed Nov. 6, 2003 the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. The video distribution architecture includes an underlying distribution network  20  and software infrastructure to support a video service platform. The major components of the architecture include content  10 , the distribution network  20  (backbone and access), network storage  22 , a grid computing platform  24 , and consumer networks  26 . It is understood that the consumer networks  26  are not limited to residential locations but may be any end user of the content.  
         [0014]     The content  10  is made available through a distribution agreement between the content distribution system provider and the content owner. The content  10  may be a variety of audio-visual multimedia, such as television programs, movies, audio, consumer-generated content, etc. Consumer-generated content may be stored locally at consumer storage devices  28  (e.g., DVR) or at other storage elements on distribution network  20 . There is a defined process for adding new content into the network and an associated profile including digital rights, subscription rules, quality of service (QOS), and billing rules. Content is stored within content provider storage  11 , network storage  22  as well as on the consumer storage devices  28  (e.g., DVR) at the consumer sites.  
         [0015]     The distribution network  20  includes the backbone and the edge network. An IP core provides the backbone network for content distribution. The IP core interfaces with a variety of access networks and access network technologies. This includes ADSL networks as well as open cable networks, wireless DSL networks, and other access networks as required.  
         [0016]     The video distribution architecture includes storage within the distribution network at the content provider storage  11 , the network storage  22 , perhaps at a centralized locations (e.g., central offices within a telecommunications network, a cable head end) as well as at the consumer storage devices  28  at the consumers&#39; sites (e.g., DVR devices). The network storage  22  supports transmission of real-time video that is archived for future viewing and supports the transportation of non-real-time video between storage devices (e.g., consumer-to-consumer).  
         [0017]     The grid computing platform  24  controls components of the distribution network  20 . The grid computing platform  24  is provided by network elements executing grid applications. As described in further detail herein, the grid computing platform  24  is implemented using processor-based network elements at a central office, at edges of the network, at the consumer location, etc. The grid applications control resources within the network including processing, bandwidth, and storage. The grid computing platform  24  provides the core applications platform for managing content and customer profiles including digital rights, subscriptions, billing, monitoring, etc.  
         [0018]     The consumer network  26  is the end user network that seamlessly unites all/any of the typical end-user&#39;s information appliances and devices as described in further detail with reference to  FIG. 2 . The consumer network  26  manages the receipt of content from the distribution network  20  and stores the content on one of the consumer storage devices  28  (e.g., DVR). The consumer network  26  may be based on a wireless networking standard such as 802.11e or wired network architectures such as a LAN, Ethernet, etc. or combinations or wired/wireless networking.  
         [0019]     The distribution network  20  may include ADSL networks, open access cable, satellite, terrestrial broadcast and/or a wireless DSL platform. The distribution network  20  may be implemented over another ILEC&#39;s ADSL network or over cable modem access. The network operator derives value from the video service and the video revenue stream, not from the underlying access network. Further, the network owner may only need access to the underlying network rather than own the network outright.  
         [0020]     The grid computing platform  24  is implemented using distributed network elements such as controller  30  (e.g., set-top box), the consumer storage devices  28  (which may be incorporated within controller  30 ), network storage devices  22  (e.g., at central office, data centers) and/or other network elements (e.g., processors at central office locations or other locations). The processor-based network elements may be implemented using a variety of components such as personal computers, servers, set top boxes, field programmable logic arrays, application specific integrated circuits, etc. These processor-based network element(s) determine based on consumer preference, consumer viewing habits or other reasons when to store a video program on the consumer storage device  28 . Processor-based network element(s) decide where to store content that is not resident on the user&#39;s local consumer storage device  28 . The grid computing platform  24  understands the network relationship between users to optimize network resources when content must be distributed from one consumer&#39;s storage device  28  to another consumer&#39;s storage device  28 .  
         [0021]     The grid computing platform  24  manages storage transparently to the consumer. The consumer is aware of the content they currently subscribe to and additional content that they may subscribe to in the future. The location of the content is transparent to the consumer. The consumer does not know and does not need to know if the content is on their local storage device  28  or being pulled from another storage device in the network. In  FIG. 1 , TV A 1  pulls the program out of the resident DVR  28  while TV A 2  displays real-time programming streamed over the distribution network  20 . TV B 1  pulls content from another consumer&#39;s DVR  28  while TV C 1  pulls programming from a resident network storage device  22 . Thus, content may be distributed from a variety of storage devices in the video distribution architecture.  
         [0022]      FIG. 2  depicts an exemplary consumer network  26  in an embodiment of the invention. In one embodiment, the consumer network  26  is a residential home network, but similar networks may be employed in any setting where content is distributed. The consumer network  26  may be a wireless network that connects multiple devices using existing wireless network techniques (e.g., 802.11 g/e/i, 802.11b, HPNA, Power Line Carrier, UWB). The controller  30  is coupled to the distribution network  20  and serves as a gateway device between the consumer network  26  and the distribution network  20 .  
         [0023]     The consumer network  26  includes associated home devices such as, but not limited to, DVR, TV, PC, PDA, game consoles, telephone, etc. Content may be provided through controller  30  to the consumer&#39;s storage device  28  (which may be incorporated within controller  30 ). A voice/message module  40  provides for wireless telecommunications services. Voice data may also be distributed to a personal computer  42  or laptop  44 . Thus, the consumer network  26  provides communication between devices as well as connecting the consumer storage device  28  back to the distribution network  20  for distributing content to other consumers. A DVD player  29  is connected to consumer network for playing DVDs.  
         [0024]     The consumer network  26  includes a handheld user input device  46  and associated navigating software to command and control voice, data and video applications. The consumer network  26  has a common control platform for managing devices on the consumer network  26 . This includes the ability to navigate through a video programming guide. A simple and functional user interface to content is one aspect of the content distribution network. This interface promotes watching pre-loaded content thereby reducing the bandwidth across the distribution network  20 . The interface highlights the breadth of content available on demand to move the consumer away from valuing cable broadcast services based on the number of channels. The consumer selects content through user input device  46 . The interface provides advanced flexible features such as pause, rewind, and fast forward that are not provided by the broadcasters without a CPE upgrade. The user input device  46  provides such features to guide the consumer through the program guide.  
         [0025]     Content  10  may include differently formatted versions of the content. For example, movies formatted for DVD may include audio in multiple languages, subtitles in multiple languages, different scenes depending on the movie rating, different screen formats (e.g., wide screen or standard), different angles, etc. Often, a consumer desires to view content in a specific format. Embodiments of the invention collect consumer format preferences and format the content in response to the consumer-defined format preferences.  
         [0026]      FIG. 3  depicts an exemplary user interface through which a consumer can establish consumer format preferences. The user interface may be generated by controller  30  (e.g., set top box) which is a processor-based network element operating in response to a computer program stored in a storage medium. The user interface may be accessed through user input device  46 . Alternatively, DVD player  29  in the consumer network  26  may generate the user interface of  FIG. 3 .  
         [0027]     Through the user interface, the consumer can specify consumer format preferences through a number of menus. The examples shown in  FIG. 3  are related to movie content. Shown in  FIG. 3  are a language icon  50 , subtitle icon  52 , format icon  54  and maximum rating icon  56 . Through language icon  50 , the consumer may designate a preferred language for an audio portion of the content. Through subtitle icon  52 , the consumer may designate the presence of or the language of subtitles. Through format icon  54 , the consumer may specify a display format for the content (e.g., widescreen, standard). Through the rating icon  56 , the consumer may designate a maximum allowable movie rating for content. It is understood that other consumer format preferences may be designated through the user interface and that embodiments of the invention are not limited to those consumer format preferences depicted in  FIG. 3 .  
         [0028]     Once the consumer has designated consumer format preferences through the user interface of  FIG. 3 , the consumer format preferences are stored in memory. The consumer format preferences may be stored in any memory on the consumer network  26  include controller  30 , consumer storage device  28 , DVD player  29  or television  31 . The consumer format preferences may be stored on network storage  22  on the grid computing network  24  as well. The consumer format preferences are then used to format content to the consumer&#39;s preferences prior to viewing without requiring consumer involvement each time content is viewed.  
         [0029]      FIG. 4  is a flowchart of a process for presenting content to a consumer in response to consumer format preferences. The process begins at  100  when the consumer requests content to be displayed. The request may be in the form of loading a DVD, selecting a movie from storage device  28  or requesting video delivery from distribution network  20  through controller  30 . At  102 , controller  30  determines whether the content is local on the consumer network  26 . For example, local content may be a movie stored on the consumer storage device  28  or a movie on a disc in DVD player  29 . Remote content may be content that is available from content distribution network  20 , but not on any device on the consumer network  26 .  
         [0030]     If the content is local, it is determined whether the content is already formatted based on the consumer format preferences at  104 . For example, content stored on the consumer storage device  28  may be formatted based on the consumer format preferences. The content includes a header including fields that indicate the format applied to the content.  FIG. 5  depicts exemplary content format fields that are associated with the content. Controller  30  compares the values in the content format fields to the consumer format preferences to confirm that the content is formatted accordingly.  
         [0031]     If the local content is a DVD, the DVD player  29  can access consumer format preferences from a memory on the consumer network  26 . The memory may be within the DVD player  29 , in storage device  28 , in controller  30  or in television  31 . The DVD player  29  can then determine if the DVD content currently meets the consumer format preferences as described above.  
         [0032]     If the local content is formatted in accordance with the consumer format preference, the process flows to  106  where the content is displayed. Typically, this involves providing the content to the consumer&#39;s television. If the content is not formatted in accordance with the consumer format preference, the content is formatted at  108 . This may be performed by controller  30  accessing certain portions of the content from consumer storage device  28  or DVD player  29  accessing certain portions of the content from a DVD. For example, certain scenes may be omitted to comply with the consumer format preference for a maximum movie rating of PG- 13 . Further, English audio tracks are selected to match the consumer format preference. Current formatting of movies, such as DVD formats, facilitate such scene selection, audio track selection, etc. The formatted content is then displayed at  106 .  
         [0033]     If at  102 , the content is not local on the consumer network  26 , controller  30  requests the content from the content distribution network  20 . As shown at  110 , the request includes the consumer format preferences. The content distribution network  20  receives the request along with the consumer format preferences and formats the content in response to the consumer format preferences as shown at  112 . The retrieval of content and formatting may be performed by one or more processor-based network elements  21  in the grid computing platform  24 . As described above, the formatting may include selecting certain scenes (e.g., eliminating scenes that exceed a maximum movie rating), selecting audio in a preferred language, selecting scenes in a preferred format, etc. As the content is formatted in a segmented fashion (e.g., DVD format), the selection of scenes, audio tracks, etc. is facilitated.  
         [0034]     At  114 , the formatted content is then provided over distribution network  20  to the consumer network  26  through controller  30 . Controller  30  stores the content on the consumer&#39;s storage device  28 . The content is then displayed at  106 .  
         [0035]     The formatting of the content  10  prior to delivering the content to the consumer network  26  reduces bandwidth demands on the distribution network  20 . By eliminating portions of the content  10  that are not desired by the consumer (e.g., scenes exceeding a maximum movie rating, unwanted audio tracks) the size of the content  10  is reduced. This reduces bandwidth requirements on the distribution network  20  and facilitates distribution.  
         [0036]     As described above, embodiments can be embodied in the form of computer-implemented processes and apparatuses for practicing those processes. Exemplary embodiments are embodied in computer program code executed by one or more network elements. Embodiments include computer program code containing instructions embodied in tangible media, such as floppy diskettes, CD-ROMs, hard drives, or any other computer-readable storage medium, wherein, when the computer program code is loaded into and executed by a computer, the computer becomes an apparatus for practicing the invention. Embodiments include computer program code, for example, whether stored in a storage medium, loaded into and/or executed by a computer, or transmitted over some transmission medium, such as over electrical wiring or cabling, through fiber optics, or via electromagnetic radiation, wherein, when the computer program code is loaded into and executed by a computer, the computer becomes an apparatus for practicing the invention. When implemented on a general-purpose microprocessor, the computer program code segments configure the microprocessor to create specific logic circuits and/or execute certain process flows.  
         [0037]     While the invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, the use of the terms first, second, etc. do not denote any order or importance, but rather the terms first, second, etc. are used to distinguish one element from another. Furthermore, the use of the terms a, an, etc. do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item.