Abstract:
Systems and methods supporting automatic selection of media according to a user profile are disclosed. An embodiment of the present invention may automatically select media matching user-defined characteristics in a user profile, and may provide information identifying the selected media to a user via a user interface. The user interface may be displayed as one or more media channels, where a portion of each media channel may comprise information identifying the automatically selected media. The user may then access the automatically selected media via the user interface. The media selected may one or more of audio, still images, video, real-time video, and data.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS/INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE  
       [0001]    This application makes reference to, claims priority to, and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 60/450,163, entitled “Media Processing System Supporting Automated Personal Channel Construction Based On User Profile And Pre-Selection” (Attorney Docket 14337US01 01026P-BP-2822), filed Feb. 25, 2003, U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/432,472, entitled “Personal Inter-Home Media Exchange Network” (Attorney Docket No. 14185US01 01001 P-BP2800), filed Dec. 11, 2002, and U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/443,894, entitled “Personal Access And Control Of Media Peripherals On A Media Exchange Network” (Attorney Docket No. 14274US01 01002P-BP-2801), filed Jan. 30, 2003, the complete subject matter of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference, in their entirety.  
         [0002]    In addition, the applicants hereby incorporate the complete subject matter herein by reference, in their entirety, of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/457,179, entitled “Server Architecture Supporting A Personal Media Exchange Network” (Attorney Docket No. 14825US01 01015P-BP-2831), filed Mar. 25, 2003, U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, entitled “Personal Inter-Home Media Exchange Network” (Attorney Docket No. 14185US02 01001P-BP-2800), filed Sep. 8, 2003, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, entitled “Personal Access And Control Of Media Peripherals On A Media Exchange Network” (Attorney Docket No. 14274US02 01002P-BP2801), filed Sep. 11, 2003. 
     
    
     
       FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
         [0003]    [Not Applicable] 
         [SEQUENCE LISTING] 
         [0004]    [Not Applicable] 
         [MICROFICHE/COPYRIGHT REFERENCE] 
         [0005]    [Not Applicable] 
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    TV broadcast channels are provided in several ways today. For example, a commercial TV broadcast station typically provides a TV broadcast channel comprising certain pre-programmed segments (i.e., television shows, news, weather, sports, movies, commercials, etc.) scheduled to be broadcast at certain times. Similarly, a cable TV company provides certain cable TV channels comprising certain pre-programmed segments (i.e., cable shows, news, weather, sports, movies, commercials, etc.) scheduled to be broadcast at certain times. A commercial radio broadcast station provides a radio broadcast channel comprising certain pre-programmed radio segments (i.e., music, news, weather, traffic, commercials, talk shows, etc.) scheduled to be broadcast at certain times.  
           [0007]    Each of these sources of programmed segments are pre-programmed and scheduled by a third party, independent of the consumer, but made available to the consumer. A consumer may view a pre-programmed segment at the scheduled broadcast time or may choose to record the segment for later consumption using, for example, a VCR or audio recorder.  
           [0008]    The consumer is able to switch from channel to channel and/or possibly indicate to the third party (e.g., a cable channel provider) that certain channels are not wanted. Also, with pay-per-view, a consumer can select certain channels with certain programmed segments to be purchased. Hotels often provide access to in-room movies and video games that a consumer may select using menu functionality on a TV screen. Again, the segments are all pre-programmed, independent of the consumer, by a third party and simply made available to the consumer. The programmed segments may be scheduled to be available at a certain time or may be available to a consumer on demand.  
           [0009]    A personal computer (PC) may be used to select and view and/or download information from web sites on the Internet. A particular web site may be considered a channel having pre-programmed information such as articles, video files, audio files, advertisements, etc. A consumer can store a web site address in his “Favorites” menu on his PC in order to be able to find and access the web site again at a later time. The web site information is pre-programmed, independent of the consumer, by a third party and made available to a consumer on his PC via the Internet.  
           [0010]    Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditional approaches will become apparent to one of skill in the art, through comparison of such systems with the present invention as set forth in the remainder of the present application with reference to the drawings.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0011]    Aspects of the present invention may be observed in a system supporting the automatic selection of media according to a user profile. Such a system may comprise a television display to support the consumption of media, a user interface accessible via the television display, a storage that stores media, and server software. The user interface may expose at least one media channel comprising media available for consumption. The storage may be communicatively coupled to the television display, and the storage may have an associated network address. The server software may receive a request identifying at least one of the associated network address and a user identifier, and may respond by automatically selecting media according to a user profile. The user profile may correspond to at least one of the associated network address and a user identifier, and the server software may deliver to the storage, via a communication network, information identifying the selected media, the information for incorporation into the user interface.  
           [0012]    The associated network address in an embodiment of the present invention may be one of an Internet protocol (IP) address, a media access control (MAC) address, and an electronic serial number (ESN). The communication network may comprise at least one of a cable infrastructure, a satellite network infrastructure, a digital subscriber line (DSL) infrastructure, an Internet infrastructure, an intranet infrastructure, a wired infrastructure, and a wireless infrastructure. The communication network may be the Internet. In an embodiment in accordance with the present invention, the selected media may comprise at least one of audio, a still image, video, and data, and the selected media may comprise real-time video.  
           [0013]    In an embodiment of the present invention, the consumption may comprise at least one of playing audio, displaying a still image, displaying video, and displaying data. The user profile may correspond to an individual user, and the user profile may comprise at least one of a user interest, an age, a hobby, a gender, a viewing history, a genre, a media type, a media format, a media quality, a time, and a media selection.  
           [0014]    Additional aspects of the present invention may be found in a system supporting the automatic selection of media according to a user profile. A system in accordance with the present invention may comprise a user interface displaying at least one media channel comprising media available for consumption, a storage that stores media, the storage having an associated network address, and server software. The server software may automatically select media according to a user profile, and may deliver to the storage, via a communication network, information identifying the selected media, the information for incorporation into the user interface.  
           [0015]    In an embodiment of the present invention, the media may comprise at least one of audio, a still image, video, and data, and the media may comprise real-time video. The network address may be one of an Internet protocol (IP) address, a media access control (MAC) address, and an electronic serial number (ESN). Consumption may comprise at least one of playing audio, displaying a still image, displaying video, and displaying data. The communication network may comprise at least one of a cable infrastructure, a satellite network infrastructure, a digital subscriber line (DSL) infrastructure, an Internet infrastructure, an intranet infrastructure, a wired infrastructure, and a wireless infrastructure, and the communication network may be the Internet. The user profile may comprise at least one of a user interest, an age, a hobby, a gender, a viewing history, a genre, a media type, a media format, a media quality, a time, and user selected media. The server software may support anonymous media exchange, the server software may coordinate the delivery of the selected media to the storage, and the server software may be at a location separate from the storage.  
           [0016]    Yet another aspect of the present invention may be seen in a method of operating a system supporting the automatic selection of media according to a user profile. Such a method may comprise receiving a user profile from a user, automatically selecting media according to the user profile, communicating to the user information identifying the media, and receiving a request from the user for at least a portion of the identified media. The method may also comprise coordinating the delivery of the at least a portion of the identified media from a source to the user for consumption. In an embodiment of the present invention, the user profile may comprise at least one of a user interest, an age, a hobby, a gender, a viewing history, a genre, a media type, a media format, a media quality, a time, and user selected media. The media may comprises at least one of audio, a still image, video, real-time video, and data, and the consumption may comprise at least one of playing audio, displaying a still image, displaying video, and displaying data. The delivery may use a communication network comprising at least one of a cable infrastructure, a satellite network infrastructure, a digital subscriber line (DSL) infrastructure, an Internet infrastructure, an intranet infrastructure, a wired infrastructure, and a wireless infrastructure. The communication network may be the Internet. In an embodiment of the present invention, the user may be unknown to the source.  
           [0017]    These and other advantages, aspects and novel features of the present invention, as well as details of an illustrated embodiment thereof, will be more fully understood from the following description and drawings.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0018]    [0018]FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a media exchange network supporting personal channel construction by a 3 rd  party media provider based on individual consumer information, in accordance with various aspects of the present invention.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 2A is a flowchart of an embodiment of a method to provide automated personal channel construction by a 3 rd  party media provider, on the media exchange network of FIG. 1, based on a user profile, in accordance with various aspects of the present invention.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 2B is a flowchart of an embodiment of a method to provide automated personal channel construction by a 3 rd  party media provider, on the media exchange network of FIG. 1, based on user pre-selection, in accordance with various aspects of the present invention.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of a first exemplary media exchange network in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of performing personal media exchange over a second exemplary media exchange network in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram of performing third-party media exchange over a third exemplary media exchange network in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 6 is an exemplary illustration of a TV guide channel user interface in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 7 is an exemplary illustration of several instantiations of a TV guide channel user interface of FIG. 4 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 8 is an exemplary illustration of a TV guide channel user interface showing several options of a pushed media in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 9A is a schematic block diagram of a media processing system (MPS) interfacing to media capture peripherals in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 9B illustrates an alternative embodiment of a media processing system (MPS) in accordance with various aspects of the present invention.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 10 is a schematic block diagram of a PC and an MPS interfacing to a server on a media exchange network in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 11 is a schematic block diagram of a PC interfacing to personal media capture devices and remote media storage on a media exchange network in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0031]    Certain embodiments of the present invention relate to the construction of media channels. In particular, certain embodiments of the present invention relate to the construction of personal media channels by a 3 rd  party media provider, on a media exchange network, based on individual consumer information.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a media exchange network  100  supporting personal media channel construction by a 3 rd  party media provider based on individual consumer information, in accordance with various aspects of the present invention. Specifically, the media exchange network  100  of FIG. 1 is a communication network comprising a home media processing system (MPS)  101  and a home personal computer (PC)  102  at a user&#39;s home  103 . The media exchange network  100  also comprises a first 3 rd  party media provider  104 , and a second 3 rd  party media provider  105  supplying 3 rd  party media content on the media exchange network  100 . The 3 rd  party media providers  104 ,  105  may be, for example, TV broadcasters, cable providers, radio broadcasters, web site providers, or any other possible 3 rd  party media providers, in accordance with various aspects of the present invention.  
         [0033]    The media exchange network  100  further comprises an Internet-based media exchange network infrastructure  106  connecting together the home MPS  101 , the home PC  102 , the first 3 rd  party media provider  104 , and the second 3 rd  party media provider  105 . The Internet-based media exchange network infrastructure  106  may comprise, for example, cable infrastructure, satellite network infrastructure, DSL infrastructure, Internet infrastructure, intranet, wired infrastructure, and/or wireless infrastructure providing wide area network (WAN) capability, in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention. Each of the elements of the media exchange network infrastructure  106  may be identified by a network protocol address such as, for example, an Internet protocol (IP) address, a media access control (MAC) address, an electronic serial number (ESN), etc. Examples of elements that may be identified by such addresses include MPS  101 , the home PC  102 , the first 3 rd  party media provider  104 , and the second 3 rd  party media provider  105 .  
         [0034]    The home MPS  101  comprises a media exchange software (MES) platform  107  providing a TV channel guide user interface (a.k.a. “channel view”)  110  to a user of the home MPS  101 . In accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the home PC  102  may also comprise a MES platform providing a channel view. The TV channel guide user interface (i.e., “channel view”)  110  presents a list of channels versus programmed media content scheduled by time and date, for example. The channel view  110  may be displayed on a TV screen of the MPS  101  or monitor of the PC  102  to a user in order to support channel selection and viewing.  
         [0035]    In accordance with various embodiments of the present invention, a MPS may comprise a set-top-box (STB), a PC, or a TV with a media management system (MMS). A MMS is also known herein as a media exchange software (MES) platform.  
         [0036]    A MMS comprises a software platform operating on at least one processor to provide certain functionality including user interface functionality, distributed storage functionality, and networking functionality. For example, a MMS may provide control of media peripheral devices, status monitoring of media peripheral devices, and inter-home MPS routing selection, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0037]    The MES platform  107  also provides the functional capability for a user of the MPS  101  to generate a user profile  111  using, for example, a remote control that interacts with the MPS  101 . Similarly, the MES platform in home PC  102  also provides the functional capability for a user of the home PC  102  to generate a user profile using, for example, a mouse or keyboard that interacts with the PC  102 , in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0038]    The user profile  111  may comprise a file that includes various information about the user of the MPS  101 . For example, the user profile  111  may include various interests of the user, the various interests of the user&#39;s kids and spouse, ages of the user and the user&#39;s spouse and kids, hobbies of the user, gender of the user and the user&#39;s spouse and kids, past history of viewing by the user, a genre, a media type, a media format, a media quality, a time, and a media selection.  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 2A is a flowchart of an embodiment of a method  200  to provide automated personal channel construction by a 3 rd  party media provider, on the media exchange network  100  based on a user profile  111 , in accordance with various aspects of the present invention. In step  201 , a user profile is set up on a MPS on a media exchange network. In step  202 , authorization is given to a 3 rd  party media provider to access the user profile via the media exchange network. In step  203 , the 3 rd  party media provider accesses the user profile from the MPS via the media exchange network. In step  204 , the 3 rd  party media provider analyzes the user profile with respect to media content available from the 3 rd  party media provider. In step  205 , the 3 rd  party media provider decides whether or not to construct a personal media channel for the user based on the analysis. If the decision is yes, then in step  206 , the 3 rd  party media provider constructs a personal media channel for the user based on the results of the analysis. In step  207 , the 3 rd  party media provider pushes the newly constructed media channel to a channel view of the MPS.  
         [0040]    As an example, a user of the MPS  101  may generate a user profile  111  indicating an interest in fishing. The user gives authorization to the 3 rd  party media provider  105  (e.g., a cable program provider) to access the user profile  111  and push related media content in the form of channels to the MPS  101 . Such authorization may be given as a response to a request by the 3 rd  party media provider  105  via the MPS  101  over the media exchange network  100 , or as permission initiated by the user via the MPS  101  or PC  102  over the media exchange network  100 , in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention.  
         [0041]    The 3 rd  party media provider may then access the user profile  111  on the MPS  101  via the media exchange network  100  and analyze the user profile  111  with respect to media content that is available from the 3 rd  party media provider  105 . The 3 rd  party media provider  105  may match up the user&#39;s interest in fishing with a weekly fishing program provided by the 3 rd  party media provider  105 . As a result, the 3 rd  party media provider  105  constructs a personal media channel called “Fishing” for the user, that includes the weekly fishing program, and pushes the newly constructed personal media channel to the channel view  110  of the MPS  101 .  
         [0042]    The personal media channel is constructed in such a way by the 3 rd  party media provider  105  so as to be compatible with the channel view  110  of the MPS  101 . The 3 rd  party media provider  105  may schedule multiple programs into a personal media channel during construction, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0043]    As an alternative, the 3 rd  party media provider  105  may have access to the channel view  110  as well as the user profile  111 . In such a case, the 3 rd  party media provider  105  may simply schedule the weekly fishing program to a personal media channel that already exists in the channel view  110 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0044]    As another alternative, the 3 rd  party media provider  105  may construct a personal media channel using media content that is already locally stored on the MPS  101 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. For example, the 3 rd  party media provider  105  may detect a digital video of the user&#39;s fishing trip stored on the MPS  101 . The 3 rd  party media provider  105  may construct a new personal media channel called “Fishing” and schedule both the fishing trip digital video and the weekly fishing program in the new channel.  
         [0045]    As a further alternative, the 3 rd  party media provider  105  may construct a new personal media channel called “Fishing” and schedule the weekly fishing program from the 3 rd  party media provider  105  in the newly created personal media channel. Also, the 3 rd  party media provider  105  may schedule, in the same personal media channel, a second weekly fishing program provided by a different 3 rd  party media provider  104  that is also on the media exchange network  100 . In such a scenario, the 3 rd  party media provider  105  may have to arrange with the 3 rd  party media provider  104 , via the media exchange network  100 , for access to the second weekly fishing program.  
         [0046]    As an option, a user of the MPS  101  or the PC  102  may pre-select which media content that they would like a particular 3 rd  party media provider to push to the MPS  101  in the form of a personal media channel. FIG. 2B is a flowchart of an embodiment of a method  210  to provide automated personal channel construction by a 3 rd  party media provider on the media exchange network  100 , based on user pre-selection, in accordance with various aspects of the present invention. In step  211 , media content that is available from a 3 rd  party media provider is pre-selected by a user via a MPS or PC on the media exchange network. In step  212 , the 3 rd  party media provider constructs a personal media channel containing the pre-selected media content. In step  213 , the 3 rd  party media provider pushes the newly constructed personal media channel to a channel view of the MPS or PC.  
         [0047]    For example, a user of the PC  102  may go to a web site on the Internet and specifically request that a weekly fishing program provided by the 3rd party media provider  105  be pushed to the MPS  101  and show up as a channel in the channel view  110 . A similar pre-selection may be performed by a user via the MPS  101 , interacting with a 3 rd  party media provider over the media exchange network  100 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0048]    A major challenge is to be able to transfer and share many different types of digital media, data, and services between one device/location and another with ease while being able to index, manage, and store the digital media and data.  
         [0049]    For example, it is desirable to be able to distribute and store many types of digital media in a PC and/or television environment in a user-friendly manner without requiring many different types of software applications and/or unique and dedicated interfaces. Any networking issues or other technical issues should be transparent to the users. It is also desirable to take advantage of existing hardware infrastructure, as much as possible, when providing such capability.  
         [0050]    In an embodiment of the present invention, a media exchange network is provided that enables many types of digital media, data, and/or services to be stored, indexed, viewed, searched for, pushed from one user to another, and requested by users, using a TV channel guide look-and-feel user interface. The media exchange network also allows a user to construct personal media channels that comprise his personal digital media (e.g., captured digital pictures, digital video, digital audio, etc.), request that third-party media channels be constructed from third-party digital media, and access the media channels pushed to him by other users on the media exchange network.  
         [0051]    PC&#39;s may be used but are not required to interface to the media exchange network for the purpose of exchanging digital media, data, and services. Instead, set-top-boxes or integrated MPS&#39;s (media processing systems) may be used with the media exchange network to perform all of the previously described media exchange functions using a remote control with a television screen.  
         [0052]    Current set-top-boxes may be software enhanced to create a MPS that provides full media exchange network interfacing and functionality via a TV screen with a TV guide look-and-feel. PC&#39;s may be software enhanced as well and provide the same TV guide look-and-feel. Therefore, the media exchange network supports both PC&#39;s and MPS&#39;s in a similar manner. Alternatively, a fully integrated MPS may be designed from the ground up, having full MPS capability.  
         [0053]    In the case of an MPS configuration, the user takes advantage of his remote control and TV screen to use the media exchange network. In the case of a PC configuration, the user takes advantage of his keyboard and/or mouse to use the media exchange network.  
         [0054]    An MPS or enhanced PC is effectively a storage and distribution platform for the exchange of personal and third party digital media, data, and services as well as for bringing the conventional television channels to a user&#39;s home. An MPS and/or PC connects to the media exchange network via an existing communication infrastructure which may include cable, DSL, satellite, etc. The connection to the communication infrastructure may be hard-wired or wireless.  
         [0055]    The media exchange network allows users to effectively become their own broadcasters from their own homes by creating their own media channels and pushing those media channels to other authorized users on the media exchange network, such as friends and family members.  
         [0056]    [0056]FIG. 3 comprises a media exchange network  300  for exchanging and sharing digital media, data, and services in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The media exchange network  300  is a secure, closed network environment that is only accessible to pre-defined users and service providers. The media exchange network of FIG. 3 comprises a first PC  301  and a first media processing system (MPS)  302  at a user&#39;s home  303 , a communication infrastructure  304 , external processing hardware support  305 , remote media storage  306 , a second PC  307  at a remote location  308  such as an office, and a second MPS  309  at a parent&#39;s home  310 .  
         [0057]    The PC&#39;s  301  and  307  and the MPS&#39;s  302  and  309  each include a media exchange software (MES) platform  311  and a networking component  312  for connectivity. The MES platform  311  provides multiple capabilities including media “push” capability, media “access” capability, media channel construction/selection, image sequence selection, text and voice overlay, channel and program naming, inter-home routing selection, authorship and media rights management, shared inter-home media experience, billing service, and an integrated TV channel guide look-and-feel.  
         [0058]    The external processing hardware support  305  comprises at least one server such as a centralized internet server, a peer-to-peer server, or cable head end. The server may alternatively be distributed over various hosts or remote PC&#39;s. The MES platform  311  may also reside on the external processing hardware support server  305 . The remote media storage  306  may comprise user media storage and distribution systems  313  and/or third party media storage and distribution systems  314 .  
         [0059]    The communication infrastructure  304  may comprise at least one of internet infrastructure, satellite infrastructure, cable infrastructure, dial-up infrastructure, cellular infrastructure, xDSL infrastructure, optical infrastructure, or some other infrastructure. The communication infrastructure  304  links the user&#39;s home  303 , parent&#39;s home  310 , remote media storage  306 , and remote location office  308  to each other (i.e., the communication infrastructure  304  links all users and service providers of the media exchange network  300 ).  
         [0060]    The various functions  315  of the media exchange network  300  comprise generating personal network associations, personal storage management, media capture device support, security/authentication/authorization support, authorship tracking and billing and address registration and maintenance. These media exchange management functions  315  may be distributed over various parts of the media exchange network  300 . For example, the personal network associations and personal storage management functions may be integrated in the PC  301  at the user&#39;s home  303 .  
         [0061]    [0061]FIG. 4 illustrates an example of personal media exchange over a media exchange network  400  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In step  1 , the media exchange software (MES) platform  401  is used to construct personal media channels on a PC  402  by a user at “my house”  403 . For example, with various media stored on the PC  402  such as digital pictures  404 , videos  405 , and music  406 , the MES platform  401  allows the digital media to be organized by a user into several channels having a TV channel guide look-and-feel user interface  407  on the PC  402 .  
         [0062]    In step  2 , the user at “my house”  403  pushes a media channel  408  (e.g., “Joe&#39;s Music”) to “brother&#39;s house”  409  and pushes two media channels  410  and  411  (e.g., “Vacation Video” and “Kid&#39;s Pictures”) to “Mom&#39;s house”  412  via a peer-to-peer server  413  over the internet-based media exchange network  400 . “Brother&#39;s house”  409  includes a first MPS  414  connected to the media exchange network  400 . “Mom&#39;s house”  412  includes a second MPS  415  connected to the media exchange network  400 . The MPS&#39;s  414  and  415  also provide a TV channel guide look-and-feel user interface  407 .  
         [0063]    In step  3 , brother and/or Mom access the pushed media channels via their respective media processing systems (MPS&#39;s)  414  and  415  using their respective MPS TV screens and remote controls.  
         [0064]    [0064]FIG. 5 illustrates an example of third-party media exchange over a media exchange network  500  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In step  1 , a PC-initiated third-party request is made by a first party  501  via an internet-based media exchange network  500  using a TV channel guide look-and-feel user interface  502  on a PC  503 . In step  2 , an anonymous delivery of the requested third-party channel  504  is made to a second party  505  via the internet-based media exchange network  500 . In step  3 , the second party  505  accesses the third-party channel  504  using a TV channel guide look-and-feel user interface  506  on a TV screen  507  that is integrated into an MPS  508 .  
         [0065]    Similarly, in step A, an MPS-initiated third-party request is made by a second party  505  via an internet-based media exchange network  500  using a TV channel guide look-and-feel user interface  506  on a TV screen  507  using a remote control  509 . The second party  505  may key in a code, using his remote control  509 , that is correlated to a commercial or some other third party broadcast media. In step B, an anonymous delivery of the requested third-party channel  504  is made to a first party  501  via the internet-based media exchange network  500 . In step C, the first party  501  accesses the third-party channel  504  using a TV channel guide look-and-feel user interface  502  on a PC  503 .  
         [0066]    [0066]FIG. 6 illustrates a TV channel guide user interface  600  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The TV channel guide user interface  600  may be displayed on a TV screen  608  and controlled by a remote control device  609 . Also, the TV channel guide user interface  600  may be displayed on a PC monitor and controlled by a keyboard or mouse.  
         [0067]    The TV channel guide user interface  600  may be configured not only for conventional TV channels but also for personal media channels  601  that are constructed by a user of a media exchange network, friend&#39;s and family&#39;s media channels  602  constructed by friends and family, and third party channels  603  that are constructed by third parties either upon request by a user of a media exchange network or based on a profile of a user.  
         [0068]    The personal media channels  601  may include, for example, a “family vacations channel”, a “kid&#39;s sports channel”, a “my life channel”, a “son&#39;s life channel”, a “my music channel”, and a “kid&#39;s music channel”. The friends and family media channels  602  may include, for example, a “brother&#39;s channel”, a “Mom&#39;s channel”, and a “friend&#39;s channel”. The third party media channels  603  may include, for example, a “Sears Fall sale channel” and a “car commercials channel”.  
         [0069]    Each media channel may correspond to a schedule  604  showing, for example, a week  605  and a year  606 . For example, under the “kid&#39;s sports channel”, Ty&#39;s soccer game could be scheduled to be viewed on Tuesday of the current week  605  and current year  606 . For each media channel, a submenu  607  allows for selection of certain control and access functions such as “play”, “send to list”, “send to archive”, “confirm receipt”, “view”, “purchase”, and “profile”.  
         [0070]    [0070]FIG. 7 illustrates possible multiple instantiations of a TV channel guide user interface  700  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The TV channel guide user interface  700  may be viewed with a schedule having formats of, for example, “month, year”, “week#, year”, “day, week#”, or “hour, day”.  
         [0071]    Referring to FIG. 8, a user of a media exchange network may push a media channel (e.g., “Vacation in Alaska Video”) to a friend who is on the same media exchange network. The TV channel guide user interface  800  may give the friend several options  801  for how to accept and download the pushed media in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0072]    For example, a first, most expensive option  803  may be “Express Delivery” which would deliver the pushed media to the friend in 18 minutes using queuing and cost $1.20, for example. The pushed media may be stored in a file in an MPEG 2 format that was recorded at a rate of 4 Mbps, for example. Queuing comprises buffering and delivering a previous part of the media and then buffering and delivering a next part of the media. For example, a first six minutes of the “Vacation in Alaska Video” may be buffered and delivered first, then a second six minutes may be buffered and delivered next, and so on until the entire media is delivered.  
         [0073]    A second, less expensive option  802  may be “Normal Delivery” which would deliver the pushed media in 2 hours and 13 minutes without queuing and cost $0.59, for example. The pushed media may be stored in a file in an MPEG 2 format that was recorded at a rate of 1.5 Mbps, for example.  
         [0074]    A third, least expensive option  804  may be “Overnight Delivery” which would deliver the pushed media by the next morning and cost only $0.05, for example. The pushed media may be stored in a file in an MPEG 2 format that was recorded at a rate of 19 Mbps and stored on a server, for example.  
         [0075]    [0075]FIG. 9A illustrates the detailed elements of a media processing system (MPS)  900  and media capture devices  901  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The media capture devices  901  may comprise audio, video, and image players, such as digital cameras, digital camcorders, and MP3 players, that each include a temporary storage area  902  and a communication interface  903  such as, for example, a USB interface or a wireless interface. The media capture devices  901  have the capability to interface to an MPS and a PC.  
         [0076]    The MPS  900  comprises a media processing unit (MPU)  904 , remote user interface(s)  905 , and a TV screen  918  to provide integrated media processing capability and indirect user interface capability. The remote user interfaces  905  may comprise a voice or keyed remote control  906 , keyboards and pads  907 , a remote PC access interface  908 , and a remote media system access interface  909  (i.e., providing access from another MPS).  
         [0077]    The media processing unit (MPU)  904  comprises TV and radio tuners  910  for image and audio consumption, communications interfaces  911 , channel processing  912  (creating, storing, indexing, viewing), storage  913 , media players  914  (CD, DVD, Tape, PVR, MP3), an integrated user interface  915  (to provide a TV channel guide look-and-feel), networking components  916  to provide client functions such as consumption (billing), authorization (e.g., using digital certificates and digital ID&#39;s), registration, security, and connectivity. In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the networking components  916  may include a distributed server element  917  that is part of a distributed server.  
         [0078]    [0078]FIG. 9B illustrates an alternative embodiment of a media processing system (MPS)  920  in accordance with various aspects of the present invention. The MPS  920  is essentially an enhanced set-top-box for viewing and interacting with various user interfaces, media, data, and services that are available on the media exchange network using, for example, a remote control. The MPS  920  comprises a media peripheral  921 , a MMS (media management system)  922 , and a broadband communication interface  923 .  
         [0079]    The media peripheral  921  may include a TV (television), a PC (personal computer), and media players (e.g., a CD player, a DVD player, a tape player, and a MP3 player) for video, image, and audio consumption of broadcast and/or personal channels. The broadband communication interface  923  may include internal modems (e.g., a cable modem or DSL modem) or other interface devices in order to communicate with, for example, a cable or satellite head end.  
         [0080]    The MMS  922  includes a software platform to provide functionality including media “push” capability, media “access” capability, media channel construction/selection, image sequence selection, text and voice overlay, channel and program naming, inter-home routing selection, authorship and media rights management, shared inter-home media experience, billing service, and a media guide user interface providing an integrated TV channel guide look-and-feel.  
         [0081]    [0081]FIG. 10 illustrates connectivity between a PC  1000 , an MPS  1001 , and external processing hardware  1002  (e.g., a server) in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The PC  1000  and MPS  1001  include networking components  1003  to provide client functions such as consumption (billing), authorization, registration, security, and connectivity. Alternatively, the PC  1000  and MPS  1001  may include a distributed server element  1004  that is part of a distributed server.  
         [0082]    The PC  1000  and MPS  1001  connect to the external processing hardware  1002  via wired or wireless connections. The external processing hardware  1002  comprises a distributed server or peer-to-peer server. The external processing hardware  1002  also comprises communication interfaces  1005  (e.g., cable interfaces, optical interfaces, etc.) and a media exchange software (MES) platform  1006 . The MES platform  1006  in the external processing hardware  1002  allows for communication with the PC  1000  and MPS  1001  which may also use the same MES platform  1006 . The external processing hardware  1002  also includes networking server components  1007  to provide the similar client functions such as consumption (billing), authorization, registration, security, and connectivity at the server side.  
         [0083]    [0083]FIG. 11 illustrates connectivity between a PC  1100 , remote media storage  1101 , and personal media capture devices  1102  when the PC  1100  is used as the primary distributor of digital media such as in the case of PC-to-PC operation, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The personal media capture devices  1102  and remote media storage  1101  connect to the PC  1100  via a wireless or wired connection. The remote media storage  1101  provides user media storage and distribution  1103  as well as third party media storage and distribution  1104 . The personal media capture devices  1102  provide temporary storage  1114  and communication interfaces  1115 .  
         [0084]    Viewing is done using a PC monitor  1105  instead of a television screen. The PC  1100  may include storage  1106 , TV/radio tuners  1107  for media consumption, media players  1108 , and communication interfaces  1109  and user interfaces  1110  similar to those for the MPS of FIG. 9. The PC  1100  includes a media exchange software (MES) platform  1111  that provides channel construction capability  1112  and networking capability  1113 . The channel construction capability  1112  allows third party and personal media access, sequencing, editing, media overlays and inserts, billing, scheduling, and addressing.  
         [0085]    In summary, a system and method provide the ability to support the construction of personal media channels by a 3 rd  party media provider, on a media exchange network, based on individual consumer information. The 3rd party media provider may rely on a user profile or user pre-selection to construct a personal media channel for the user containing media content of direct interest to the user.  
         [0086]    While the invention has been described with reference to certain embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted 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 its scope. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.