Abstract:
A media content distribution system comprising a media source unit for transmitting media content, a media destination unit for receiving media content, and a media management unit for accepting inputs from the media source unit and outputting to the media destination unit. The system allows for redirecting media content directly from the media source unit to the media destination unit by an alternating path when the media management unit fails. The distribution system further includes a set of protocols and behaviors in the media source unit and the media destination unit to insure that in the case of failure by the media management unit, the media source unit and the media destination unit will become aware of the failure and redirect the media content along an alternate path to the user.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates generally to media distribution systems, and more specifically to systems for and methods of redirecting media content from a media source unit to a media destination unit when the media management unit fails.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    There are numerous media sources which provide content on an output device, such as a televison set. There are standard broadcast sources which can be received by virtually any television tuner through an antenna connector. There are cable services which typically offer packages of preselected channels to the consumers and that require a decoder at the televison tuner or on the cable line at an external location. Cable services continuously broadcast scheduled programing through a preselected set of channels which are received through a cable connector on a televison set. A number of pay-per-view services allow customers to receive non-scheduled one time program transmissions through the cable network. Other available services include satellite programming which allow consumers to select on demand pay-per view-programs from a set of available programs.  
           [0003]    Modern home entertainment systems have available a plurality of electronic systems for display or playback of audio and video programs. Examples includes video laser disc players, video cassette recorders, compact disc players, and similar systems. These media sources typically output onto TVs, LCD panels, computers, stereo receivers or other output devices.  
           [0004]    Users expect delivery of these media sources and programming services anywhere at any time and expect a convenient system to select media offered from a plurality of content providers. Therefore, new technology is needed for the distribution of media content sources, so that the distribution of the sources is maintained throughout the distribution network even when certain units and protocols in the network fail.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    A method of and system for a media content distribution system is disclosed. The media content distribution system comprises a media source unit for transmitting media content and a media destination unit for receiving the media content. The distribution system further includes a media management unit for accepting inputs from the media source unit and directing the media content to the media destination unit along a first path and means for redirecting the media content from the media source unit to the media destination unit along an alternating path in case the media management unit fails.  
           [0006]    The media content can be produced from a satellite or cable service provider. The media content can also be produced from radio, a computer, or a consumer electronic device, such as a DVD player, VCR, CD player, cassette player or laserdisc player.  
           [0007]    The media source unit can be a transmitter unit and the media destination unit can be a receiver unit. The media management unit is a switcher or computer. The alternate path can be through another media management unit or even via a direct signal path.  
           [0008]    The distribution system can further include an encoder means for encoding the media content from the media source unit and a decoder means for decoding the media content from the destination unit. The distribution system further includes means for keeping track in memory of the media content accepted by the media source unit and requested by the media management unit when the media management unit fails. When this occurs, the media source unit will redirect the media content to the media destination unit by an alternating path so that a user can continue viewing the media content without services of the media management unit.  
           [0009]    When the media destination unit receives the media content, an output device coupled to the media destination unit will display the media content to a user. The output device can be a television or a computer. The output device can also be a LCD panel or a stereo receiver.  
           [0010]    In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, a method of distributing media content is provided. The method comprises the steps of: a) transmitting media content from a media source unit to a media management unit; b) receiving the media content from the media management unit along a first path; and c) redirecting the media content from the media source unit to a media destination unit along an alternating path in case the media management unit fails.  
           [0011]    In accordance with the embodiment of the invention, the media content can be produced from a satellite or cable service provider. The media content can also be produced from radio, a computer, or a consumer electronic device, such as a DVD player, VCR, CD player, cassette player or laserdisc player.  
           [0012]    The media source unit can be a transmitter unit and the media destination unit can be a receiver unit. The media management unit is a switcher or computer. The alternate path can be through another media management unit or even via a direct signal path.  
           [0013]    The method can further include an encoder means for encoding the media content from the media source unit and a decoder means for decoding the media content from the destination unit. The method further includes means for keeping track in memory of the media content accepted by the media source unit and requested by the media management unit when the media management unit fails. When this occurs, the media source unit will redirect the media content to the media destination unit by an alternating path so that a user can continue viewing the media content without services of the media management unit.  
           [0014]    When the media destination unit receives the media content, an output device coupled to the media destination unit will display the media content to a user. The output device can be a television or a computer. The output device can also be an LCD panel or a stereo receiver.  
           [0015]    In accordance with the embodiment of the invention, a media content distribution system comprises means for transmitting media content from a media source unit to a media management unit and means for receiving the media content from the media management unit along a first path. The distribution system further includes means for redirecting the media content from the media source unit to the media destination unit along an alternate path in case the media management unit fails.  
           [0016]    In accordance with the preceding alternative, the media content can be produced from a satellite or cable service provider. The media content can also be produced from radio, a computer, or a consumer electronic device, such as a DVD player, VCR, CD player, cassette player or laserdisc player; and an output device is further included, which can be a television, computer, LCD panel, or stereo receiver. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:  
       [0017]    [0017]FIG. 1 illustrates a media distribution system in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a media distribution system.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a media distribution system in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating a method of a media distribution system in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0021]    [0021]FIG. 1 illustrates a media distribution system according to the present invention. Generally, in the media distribution system, high-quality media signals, such as audio, video, and data signals, are carried, distributed, and switched through twisted pair or coaxial cables. The system includes a media source unit (MSU)  130 , a media management unit (MMU)  140  which allows any of its inputs to be independently connected to any of its outputs, a media destination unit (MDU)  150 , and an output device, which will display content to a user. The media source unit  130  can be a transmitter unit and the media destination unit  150  a receiver unit. The media management unit can be a computer or switcher.  
         [0022]    Modern media distribution systems have a plethora of media sources that users can choose from. Examples include satellite  110 , cable service providers  115 , radio  125 , and the Internet  115 , in addition to electronic systems located and installed in a typical home entertainment system, such as video cassette recorders, DVD players, and CD players. In a typical installation, these media content sources are coupled to a media source unit  130 . The media source unit  130  in FIG. 1 accepts a set of audio, video and/or data signals from its associated content source. The media source unit  130  typically applies an encoding mechanism to the signals and the encoded signals are then placed on a connection means  135 , such as a coaxial or twisted pair cable, for transmission to the media management unit  140 , which can be a computer or switcher. The media management unit  140  will accept a set of inputs from the media source unit  130  and connect the inputs to outputs corresponding to the media destination unit  150  via a connection  145 . The media destination unit  150  accepts the encoded signals, decodes the signals, and provides a set of outputs to an output display, such as a computer  160 , television set  165 , or LCD panel  170 .  
         [0023]    In case the media management unit  140  fails to accept the media content, the media content is redirected from the media source unit  130  to the media destination unit  150  by an alternate path  140 ′ or  141 , so that a user can continue viewing the media content. A set of protocols and behaviors in the media source unit  130  and the media destination unit  150  insures that in the case of failure by the media management unit  140 , the media source unit  130  and the media destination unit  150  will become aware of failure. When this occurs, the media source unit  130  will redirect the stream of media content directly to the media destination unit  150  by an alternate path  140 ′ or  141  so that the user can continue viewing the media content without services of the media management unit  140 . The alternate path can be through another media management unit  140 ′ or even via a direct signal path  141 .  
         [0024]    The media destination unit  150  preferably monitors the stream of media content to detect when it is no longer being sent out by the media management unit  140 . The monitoring can include a handshake protocol between the media source unit  130  and the media management unit  140 . Upon detecting a failure, the media destination unit  150  disconnects from the media management unit  140  and provides media content by an alternative path  140 ′ or  141 . The system, therefore, includes means for keeping track in memory of the media content accepted by the media source unit  130  and requested by the media management unit  140  prior to the failure of the media management unit  140 .  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a media distribution system  200  including a media content unit  210 , a media source unit  220 , a media management unit  230 , and a media destination unit  240 . The media source unit  220  can be a transmitter unit that accepts and then transmits media content from the media content unit  210 . The media content unit  210  can be a satellite or cable service provider. Additional media content units  210  include radio, a computer, or a consumer electronic device, such as a DVD player, VCR, CD player, cassette player or laserdisc player. Regardless of the media content unit  210 , the media content received by the media source unit  220  are then transmitted to a media management unit  230 . The system can include an encoder means for encoding the media content  210  prior to transmission. In this manner, the signals can be transmitted either securely or without any appreciable signal degradation.  
         [0026]    Once encoded, the signal is then transmitted to the media management unit  230 . The media management unit  230  is a switcher or computer. The media management unit  230  has a set of inputs, a set of outputs, and a switching system which allows for each one of the inputs to be independently connected to any or all of the outputs. Each input can accept an encoded electronic signal from the media source unit  210 . Each output from the media management unit  230  connects to the media destination unit  240 . The media destination unit  240  can be a receiver unit. The function of the media destination unit  240  is to receive an encoded signal from the media management unit  230 , decode the signal, and provide a set of media outputs corresponding to the decoded signals. These media outputs are then provided to an output device  250 , which will then display the media content to a user. The output device  250  can be a television or a computer. The output device can also be a LCD panel or a stereo receiver or combination thereof.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a media distribution system  300  in accordance with the present invention, which is configured to provide a continuous stream of content data even when the media management unit  330  fails.  
         [0028]    A set of protocols and behaviors in the media source unit  320  and the media destination unit  340  insures that in the case of failure by the media management unit  330 , the media source unit  320  and the media destination unit  340  will become aware of failure. When this occurs, the media source unit  320  will redirect the stream of media content to the media destination unit  340  by an alternate path so that the user can continue viewing the media content without services of the media management unit  330 . The alternate path can be through another media management unit  330  or even via a direct signal path.  
         [0029]    The media destination unit  340  preferably monitors the stream of media content to detect when it is no longer being sent out by the media management unit  330 . The monitoring can include a handshake protocol between the media source unit  320  and the media management unit  330 . Upon detecting a failure, the media destination unit  340  disconnects from the media management unit  330  and provides media content by an alternative path. The system, therefore, includes means for keeping track in memory of the media content accepted by the media source unit  320  and requested by the media management unit  330  prior to the failure of the media management unit  330 .  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating a method of a media distribution system in accordance with the present invention. In the step  400  a media source unit accepts media content. Next, in the step  410 , the media source unit transmits the media content to a media management unit. The media source unit can be a transmitter unit that accepts and then transmits media content from the media content unit. The media content unit can be a satellite or cable service provider. Additional media content units include radio, a computer, or a consumer electronic device, such as a DVD player, VCR, CD player, cassette player or laserdisc player. It does not matter what type each individual media content source may be.  
         [0031]    The media management unit is a switcher or computer. The media management unit has a set of inputs, a set of outputs, and a switching system which allows for each one of the inputs to be independently connected to any or all of the outputs. The system can include an encoder means for encoding the media content prior to transmission. In this manner, the signals can be transmitted either securely or without any appreciable signal degradation.  
         [0032]    Ideally, the media management unit accepts the media content from the media source unit in the step  420  and provides a set of encoded signals to the media destination unit via the step  430 . The function of the media destination unit is to receive an encoded signal from the media management unit, decode the signal, and provide a set of media outputs corresponding to the decoded signals. These media outputs are then provided to an output device in the step  440 , which will then display the media content to a user. The output device can be a television or a computer. The output device can also be an LCD panel or a stereo receiver.  
         [0033]    In case the media management unit fails to accept the media content in the step  420 , the media content is redirected from the media source unit to the media destination unit by an alternate path, via the step  425 , so that the user can continue viewing the media content. As stated above, a set of protocols and behaviors in the media source unit and the media destination unit insures that in the case of failure by the media management unit, the media source unit and the media destination unit will become aware of failure. When this occurs, the media source unit will redirect the stream of media content directly to the media destination unit by an alternate path so that the user can continue viewing the media content without services of the media management unit. The alternate path can be through another media management unit or even via a direct signal path.  
         [0034]    The media destination unit preferably monitors the stream of media content to detect when it is no longer being sent out by the media management unit. The monitoring can include a handshake protocol between the media source unit and the media management unit. Upon detecting a failure, the media destination unit disconnects from the media management unit and provides media content by an alternative path. The system, therefore, includes means for keeping track in memory of the media content accepted by the media source unit and requested by the media management unit prior to the failure of the media management unit.  
         [0035]    This invention has been described in terms of specific embodiment in incorporating details to facilitate the understanding of the principles of construction and operation of the invention. Such reference herein to specific embodiment and the details thereof is not intended to limit the scope of the claims and hereto. It will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that modifications can be made in the embodiment chosen for illustration without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Specifically, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art device of the present invention could be implemented in several different ways and the apparatus disclosed above is only illustrative of the before embodiment invention and is in no way limitation.