Patent Publication Number: US-2009222868-A1

Title: Service for providing shared multimedia content

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Disclosure 
     The present disclosure relates to multimedia content and more particularly to delivery of multimedia content by a service provider over a multimedia network. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Service providers may provide their viewers with various services including services by which the viewers obtain television and other multimedia content, such as Video on Demand (VOD) and Pay Per View (PPV). In Internet Protocol (IP) based multimedia networks, “live” content is multicasted to multiple subscribers to conserve bandwidth usage while VOD and PPV are unicasted. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of selected elements of an embodiment of a networked system for providing multimedia content delivery services; 
         FIG. 2  is block diagram of selected elements of an embodiment of a client suitable for use in a networked multimedia content delivery system of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram of selected elements of an embodiment of a set top box suitable for use in the client of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a block diagram of selected elements of an embodiment of a multimedia server suitable for use in the networked system of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIGS. 5A ,  5 B,  5 C and  5 D are flow diagrams of selected elements of an embodiment of a method and program for delivering shared multimedia content; and 
         FIG. 6  is a flow diagram of selected elements of an embodiment of a shared multimedia content service. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT(S) 
     The disclosed subject matter describes the use of a multimedia content delivery resource suitable for supporting a shared VOD service in which a plurality of users in different locations view VOD content substantially simultaneously. The multimedia content delivery resource includes a reception interface for receiving a video content item selection signal associated with a primary subscriber and a subscriber selection signal indicative of a secondary subscriber associated with the primary subscriber. A shared video module is operable to identify a selected video content item associated with the video content item selection signal and define recipients of the identified video content item based at least in part on the subscriber selection signal. A transmission interface is operable to transmit the identified video content item substantially simultaneously to the defined recipients. 
     In some embodiments of the multimedia content delivery resource, the primary system subscribers may pre-select other system subscribers from the plurality of system subscribers to display in a subscriber catalogue that lists all subscribers pre-selected by the primary system subscriber and/or their system status. In some embodiments of the multimedia content delivery resource, the system may include a module that charges an account associated with the primary subscriber when a video item content is selected, or may charge the primary and secondary subscribers when a video item content is shared. In some embodiments of the multimedia content delivery resource, the reception interface may allow the primary subscriber to generate a video cancel signal to end the video content item transmission. In some embodiments of the multimedia content delivery resource, the reception interface may, at any time, allow any of the linked subscribers to generate a subscriber cancel signal to cancel video content transmission to their receiver interface, or allow the primary receiver to cancel the video content transmission to other associated subscribers 
     In another embodiment, the disclosed multimedia server is operable to provide a video on demand service to a plurality of system subscribers in which a primary subscriber can select both a multimedia content item from a catalogue of multimedia content items and a secondary subscriber in which to associate, and a multimedia content delivery resource delivers the multimedia content item substantially simultaneously to a primary receiver associated with the primary subscriber and a secondary receiver associated with the secondary subscriber. In some embodiments, the catalogue of multimedia content may be pay per view items or video on demand items. In some embodiments, the server may enable the primary subscriber to pre-select a plurality of secondary subscribers from a subscriber catalogue, and the subscriber catalogue may include status information for each secondary subscriber, i.e., whether the secondary subscriber is connected to the multimedia server. The multimedia server may also be enabled to charge an account associated with the primary subscriber when the multimedia content is selected or both the primary and secondary subscribers if the multimedia content that is selected is shared. In other embodiments, the server may be enabled to allow the secondary subscriber to decline delivery of the selected multimedia content item or at any time cancel their association with the primary subscriber. 
     In other embodiments, the multimedia server may enable the multimedia content delivery resource to deliver the multimedia content item substantially simultaneously to a multicast group comprising the primary and the secondary subscribers. In such embodiments, the primary and secondary receivers are capable of responding to a playback event initiated by the primary subscriber, i.e., a fast forward event, a rewind event, or a stop or pause event. 
     In another aspect, a disclosed computer program product comprising computer executable instructions is stored on a tangible computer readable medium. The computer program product manages a plurality of subscribers to a video on demand system by transmitting a video catalogue to a primary subscriber, enabling the primary subscriber to associate with a secondary subscriber selected from a subscriber catalogue, enabling the primary subscriber to choose a video content item from the video catalogue, and transmitting the chosen video content item to the primary subscriber and the secondary subscriber substantially simultaneously. The computer program product may also include instructions to allow the primary subscriber to pre-select secondary subscribers to display in their subscriber catalogue, generate the subscriber catalogue so that the subscriber catalogue lists all secondary subscribers pre-selected by the primary system subscriber and their system status, charge an account associated with the primary and/or secondary subscribers when a video content item is selected, receive a video cancel signal and stop the transmission of the video content prior to charging the primary and/or secondary subscriber, and receive a subscriber cancel signal and stop the transmission of the video content to the secondary subscriber. 
     In the following description, details are set forth by way of example to facilitate discussion of the disclosed subject matter. It should be apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the field, however, that the disclosed embodiments are exemplary and not exhaustive of all possible embodiments. Throughout this disclosure, a hyphenated form of a reference numeral refers to a specific instance of an element and the un-hyphenated form of the reference numeral refers to the element generically or collectively. Thus, for example, widget  12 - 1  refers to an instance of a widget class, which may be referred to collectively as widgets  12  and any one of which may be referred to generically as a widget  12 . 
     Turning now to the drawings,  FIG. 1  is a block diagram of selected elements of a networked multimedia content distribution network  100 , sometimes referred to herein simply as multimedia network  100 . In the depicted embodiment, multimedia network  100  includes a client  110  connected to a multimedia service provider  130  by an intervening access network  120 . 
     In some embodiments, client  110  represents premises equipment and/or applications used by a subscriber to multimedia services and/or a user or viewer of multimedia content. Referring to  FIG. 2 , a block diagram illustrates selected elements of an embodiment of client  110 . In the depicted embodiment, client  110  includes a residential gateway  202 , a set top box (STB)  210 , and a display device  220 . Residential gateway  202  may provide a firewall and/or routing functionality between a local area network (LAN)  203  to which STB  210  is connected and the access network  120 . STB  210  is a special purpose data processing unit that may include, in addition to an embedded or general purpose microprocessor and storage, video processing elements including an audio/visual decoder module to process a stream of audio and video. Display device  220  encompasses any monitor, television, or display screen suitable for receiving audio/video content from remote control STB  210 . In embodiments of client  110  that employ an IP-based or other packet switched access network  120 , residential gateway  202  receives multimedia content as a series of packets or datagrams. The packets are assembled and otherwise processed within STB  210  and converted to analog signals suitable for presentation to display device  220 . 
     An embodiment of STB  210  is illustrated in  FIG. 3 . In the depicted implementation, STB  210  includes a processor  301  and general purpose storage  310  connected to a shared bus. A network interface  320  enables STB  210  to communicate with LAN  203 . A decoder  330  integrates an audio and a visual decoder to generate native format audio signal  332  and video signals  334 . Signals  332  and  334  are encoded and converted to analog signals by DAC/encoders  336  and  338 . The output of DAC/encoders  336  and  338  is suitable for delivering to a National Television System Committee (NTSC), Phase Alternating Line (PAL), or another type of display screen. 
     Returning now to  FIG. 1 , some embodiments of multimedia service provider  130  encompass equipment and/or services used by an entity that provides multimedia services to one or more subscribers to multimedia service provider  130 . As used in this disclosure, the terms “multimedia” and “multimedia content” encompass motion video content, whether live or pre-recorded, including conventional television programming content, VOD content, PPV content, and so forth. The depicted embodiment of multimedia service provider  130  has a hierarchical structure in which a plurality of regional offices receive multimedia content from one or a very limited number of national offices and supplement the nationally provided content with regional broadcast content. The regional offices, in turn, distribute content to subscribers over access network  120 . 
     As depicted in  FIG. 1 , for example, multimedia service provider  130  includes a regional office  131 . Regional office  131  as depicted in  FIG. 1  includes multimedia acquisition resources  134  and a multimedia delivery server  132 . Multimedia acquisition resources  134  encompass receivers, signal processors, and servers operable to receive multimedia content from one or more providers. As depicted in  FIG. 1 , for example, multimedia acquisition resources  134  receive national feed content  136  from a national headend  140  via a fiber optic or other form of high bandwidth backbone. National feed content  136  may include nationally distributed programming such as CNN, TNT, ESPN, and the like. Multimedia acquisition resources  134  as shown also receive regional content  138  from one or more regional broadcasters including the regional broadcaster  142  depicted in  FIG. 1 . Regional content  138  may include over-the-air broadcasted content from legacy broadcasters including NBC, ABC, CBS, FOX, and PBS. Multimedia acquisition resources  134  may further receive VOD content  146  from a locally or remotely located VOD server  144 . 
     Multimedia delivery server  132  processes requests from clients  110  to provide route requested content to the requesting client or clients. Referring to  FIG. 4 , a block diagram illustrates selected elements of an embodiment of multimedia delivery server  132 . In the depicted embodiment multimedia delivery server  132  includes a general purpose CPU  402  programmed to process subscriber requests and route selected multimedia content from storage  404  or multimedia acquisition resources  134  to access network  120 , storage  404 , including a shared content module  408 , for saving multimedia content to be shared by clients, and network interface  406  for connecting the multimedia delivery server  132  with access network  120  and multimedia acquisition resources  134 . Storage  404  may store VOD content accessed from the VOD server  144 , pre-broadcast programming, i.e., digital video recordings, etc., to be shared amongst system subscribers. In IP-based implementations of access network  120 , multimedia delivery server  132  may allow for sharing the multimedia content stored in storage  404  or obtained from multimedia acquisition resources  134 , including VOD content, among multiple subscribers. Multimedia delivery server  132  may support unicasting VOD content to a requesting client. 
     Multimedia delivery server  132  may also include, as part of network interface  406 , resources to encode and/or format multimedia content so that the resulting content is suitable for transmission over access network  120 . For example, multimedia delivery server  132  may employ a pervasive or proprietary coder/decoder (codec) to compress and/or encrypt content prior to transmission. Compression is widely used for multimedia content transmission and storage to reduce the amount of data that must be transmitted over the network or stored in memory, disk, or another storage resource. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5A , a flow diagram illustrates an embodiment of a method and program that supports the sharing of multimedia content among multiple subscribers. Upon initializing the service  500 , a main menu is routed to a display device  220  in client  110  of a primary subscriber (block  552 ). The main menu allows the primary subscriber to select multimedia content from a multimedia catalogue (block  554 ), select subscribers to include in a subscriber catalogue (block  556 ), or exit the menu. If the primary subscriber elects to exit the menu (block  557 ), the primary subscriber reverts to receiving the multimedia content the primary subscriber was viewing prior to entering the main menu (block  559 ). 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5C , if the primary subscriber selects to view multimedia content in a multimedia catalogue, the multimedia catalogue is provided to the primary subscriber through the display device  220  in client  110  (block  501 ), and the primary subscriber is given the option to select a multimedia content item from the multimedia catalogue (block  502 ). If the primary subscriber does not select a multimedia content item, the primary subscriber is given the option to exit the multimedia catalogue display (block  504 ) and return to a main menu (block  506 ). If the primary subscriber selects a multimedia item, a subscriber catalogue is then displayed to the primary subscriber through display device  220  in client  110  (block  508 ). The primary subscriber then determines other subscribers for which to share the selected multimedia content item (block  510 ). If no other subscribers are selected, the service  500  charges the subscriber&#39;s account if there is a fee associated with the multimedia content item (block  512 ) and displays the selected content (block  514 ). 
     If the primary subscriber chooses to share the multimedia content with other subscribers, the primary subscriber selects the other subscribers from the subscriber catalogue (block  516 ), and an invitation to join in viewing the multimedia content item is displayed to the selected subscribers (block  518 ). If one or more of the other subscribers elect to join in viewing the multimedia content item (block  520 ), the primary subscriber is charged and the other subscribers may be charged for the multimedia content item (block  524 ). Finally, the multimedia content item is displayed to the first subscriber and the other subscribers that have joined in the viewing of the multimedia content item (block  526 ). As can be seen in  FIG. 5C , each of the subscribers have the ability to control playback of the multimedia content (block  550 ). Referring to  FIG. 5D , elements of an embodiment of multimedia control  550  are depicted. When a multimedia content item is viewed by each subscriber, multimedia control  550  is initialized (block  529 ). Multimedia control  550  verifies that a multimedia content item is still being viewed by the subscriber (block  530 ), and if the subscriber is no longer viewing the content, multimedia control  550  returns to the main menu (block  528 ). If content is still being viewed by the subscriber, the subscriber can cancel the display of the multimedia content item (block  552 ) and return to the main menu (block  532 ), fast forward the multimedia content item (blocks  534  and  536 ), rewind the multimedia content item (blocks  537  and  538 ), stop or pause playing the multimedia content item (blocks  539  and  542 ), and resume playing (unpause) the multimedia content item after it has been stopped/paused, advanced, or rewound (block  544 ). In other embodiments, alternative or additional control actions may be supported. These alternative or additional control actions may include, as examples, skipping ahead to a next chapter or to a bookmarked or otherwise specified location and skipping back to a previous chapter or to a previous bookmark or otherwise specified location. In this shared environment, control actions by any of the subscribers controls the playback for all of the subscribers. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5B , an embodiment of a subscriber catalogue selection process  580  is illustrated. In the depicted embodiment, once a primary subscriber initializes the catalogue selection process  580 , the primary subscriber is asked to enter a requested subscriber email address (block  562 ), and the subscriber catalogue selection process  580  determines whether the email address corresponds to a current service subscriber (block  564 ). If not, the primary subscriber is asked whether or not they would like to send an invitation to join the service  500  to the email address provided (block  566 ) and if so, the subscriber selection process  580  sends the email (block  570 ). If the primary subscriber elects not to send the email, the catalogue selection process  580  returns to the prompt for a requested subscriber email address. Once the primary subscriber enters an email address corresponding to a current subscriber, the selected subscriber name is displayed and the primary subscriber is given to option to accept the selected subscriber as part of their subscriber catalogue (blocks  568  and  592 ). If the primary subscriber accepts, a subscriber catalogue request is transmitted to the selected subscriber (block  590 ), and the selected subscriber is given the option to decline the request (block  582 ). If the selected subscriber agrees to be included in the primary subscriber&#39;s subscriber catalogue, the primary subscriber&#39;s catalogue is updated (block  584 ). If the selected subscriber elects to decline the request, the response is transmitted to the primary subscriber (block  578 ). After each email is sent in step  570  or request is sent in step  590 , the primary subscriber is given to option to return to the main menu (blocks  576  and  572 ) or to return to the email prompt (block  562 ). 
     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , a flow diagram illustrates an embodiment of a shared multimedia content service  600 . As can be seen, the depicted embodiment of service  600  includes enabling (block  604 ) a primary subscriber to associate with a secondary subscriber. When the primary subscriber has selected a secondary subscriber to associate with, service  600  includes enabling (block  606 ) the primary subscriber to select a multimedia content from a group or catalogue of multimedia content. When the multimedia content is selected, service  600  includes enabling (block  608 ) receivers associated with the primary subscriber and the secondary subscriber to receive multimedia content substantially simultaneously. The service  600  returns (block  610 ) to regular television programming after the multimedia content has been displayed. 
     The above disclosed subject matter is to be considered illustrative, and not restrictive, and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications, enhancements, and other embodiments which fall within the true spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Thus, to the maximum extent allowed by law, the scope of the present disclosure is to be determined by the broadest permissible interpretation of the following claims and their equivalents, and shall not be restricted or limited by the foregoing detailed description.