Patent Publication Number: US-2010115575-A1

Title: System and method for recording and distributing media content

Description:
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The present disclosure relates generally to recording and distribution of media content and more specifically to a system and method for recording and distributing media content. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Digital media recorders such as digital video recorders (also known as DVRs) have provided their users a means to record broadcast video content at the user&#39;s convenience. DVRs also provide their users the ability to forward through commercials to enhance the presentation experience of the recorded content. 
     Most DVRs can establish communications with an electronic programming guide of a media communication system to provide the user a convenient means to select video programs by title, episode name or other suitable forms of program identification. Once a video program is identified, the DVR can schedule recordings of the program on any broadcast channel as well as multiple broadcast channels of the media communication system. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIGS. 1-4  depict illustrative embodiments of communication systems that provide media services; 
         FIG. 5  depicts an illustrative embodiment of a portal interacting with at least one among the communication systems of  FIGS. 1-4 ; 
         FIG. 6  depicts an illustrative embodiment of a communication device utilized in the communication systems of  FIGS. 1-4 ; 
         FIGS. 7-8  depict illustrative embodiments of methods operating in portions of the communication systems of  FIGS. 1-4 ; and 
         FIG. 9  is a diagrammatic representation of a machine in the form of a computer system within which a set of instructions, when executed, may cause the machine to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     One embodiment of the present disclosure can entail a digital video recording (DVR) system operating in an interactive television (iTV) communication system having a controller to record video content supplied by the iTV communication system as directed by a plurality of users of the iTV communication system, receive from a communication device of one of the plurality of users a request for a portion of the recorded video content, identify a need to transcode the requested portion of the recorded video content according to one or more operating characteristics of the communication device, transcode the requested portion of the recorded video content to conform with the one or more operating characteristics of the communication device, partition the transcoded video content into a plurality of transcoded portions, each transcoded portion having a sequence number to identify an order of reconstruction, and transmit to the communication device the plurality of transcoded portions. The communication device is able to begin a presentation of the transcoded video content before all of the plurality of transcoded portions have been received by the communication device. The DVR system can also be located outside of the premises of each of the plurality of users. 
     Another embodiment of the present disclosure can entail a digital media recorder (DMR) system having a controller to record media content supplied by an interactive media communication system (iMCS) as directed by a plurality of users of the iMCS, receive from a communication device of one of the plurality of users a request for a portion of the recorded media content, transcode at least a portion of the requested portion of the recorded media content according to one or more operating characteristics of the communication device, partition the transcoded portion of media content into a plurality of transcoded segments, each transcoded segment having an identification for facilitating a reconstruction of the transcoded portion, and transmit to the communication device the plurality of transcoded segments. 
     Yet another embodiment of the present disclosure can entail a communication device having a controller to submit a request to an iMCS for a portion of media content recorded by the iMCS, receive from the iMCS a portion of the requested portion of the recorded media content as transcoded media content conforming to one or more operating characteristics of the communication device, and present the transcoded media content before receiving a remaining portion of the requested portion of the recorded media content in the form of one or more additional portions of transcoded media content. 
       FIG. 1  depicts an illustrative embodiment of a first communication system  100  for delivering media content. The communication system  100  can represent an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) broadcast media system. In a typical IPTV infrastructure, there is a super head-end office (SHO) with at least one super headend office server (SHS) which receives national media programs from satellite and/or media servers from service providers of multimedia broadcast channels. In the present context, media programs can represent audio content, moving image content such as videos, still image content, and/or combinations thereof. The SHS server forwards IP packets associated with the media content to video head-end servers (VHS) via a network of aggregation points such as video head-end offices (VHO) according to a common multicast communication method. 
     The VHS then distributes multimedia broadcast programs via an access network to commercial and/or residential buildings  102  housing a gateway  104  (such as a residential gateway or RG). The access network can represent a bank of digital subscriber line access multiplexers (DSLAMs) located in a central office or a service area interface that provide broadband services over optical links or copper twisted pairs to buildings  102 . The gateway  104  distributes broadcast signals to media processors  106  such as Set-Top Boxes (STBs) which in turn present broadcast selections to media devices  108  such as computers or television sets managed in some instances by a media controller  107  (such as an infrared or RF remote control). Unicast traffic can also be exchanged between the media processors  106  and subsystems of the IPTV media system for services such as video-on-demand (VoD). It will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that the media devices  108  and/or portable communication devices  116  shown in  FIG. 1  can be an integral part of the media processor  106  and can be communicatively coupled to the gateway  104 . In this particular embodiment, an integral device such as described can receive, respond, process and present multicast or unicast media content. 
     The IPTV media system can be coupled to one or more computing devices  130  a portion of which can operate as a web server for providing portal services over an Internet Service Provider (ISP) network  132  to fixed line media devices  108  or portable communication devices  116  by way of a wireless access point  117  providing Wireless Fidelity or WiFi services, or cellular communication services (such as GSM, CDMA, UMTS, WiMAX, etc.). 
     Another distinct portion of the one or more computing devices  130  can be used as a digital media recorder (DMR) system (herein referred to as DMR system  130 ) for recording media content (audio, video, text, still images, or combinations thereof) supplied by the first communication system  100 . The DMR system  130  can also transcode portions of said recordings in conformance with the operating characteristics of the communication device when a determination is made that the communication device is incapable of processing high definition content. Once the information is transcoded, the DMR system  130  can transmit the transcoded content as streamed content or files to the requesting communication devices. Other operating functions of the DMR system  130  will be explained further in  FIGS. 7-8 . 
     To accomplish the above tasks, the DMR system  130  can utilize common recording technology to record media content delivered on broadcast channels by the first communication system  100 . The DMR system  130  can also utilize common transcoding technology to transcode portions of the recorded media content so that it is compatible with the operating characteristics of a requesting communication device. The operating characteristics of the communication device analyzed by the DMR system  130  can include without limitation one or more operating parameters of a display of the communication device (such as screen resolution, color resolution, display dimensions, and so on), operating parameters of an audio system of the communication device (stereo audio, loud speaker audio, surround sound audio, etc.), available computing resources of the communication device (digital signal processor, video processor, microprocessor with dual core, etc.), operating parameters of a receiver of the communication device (such as download speed, quality of service requirements, communication protocol, etc.), and/or operating parameters of an operating system of the communication device (such Windows XP™, Vista™, PocketPC™, Macintosh™ OS, etc.). Other parameters that can have an affect on the quality of a media presentation at the communication device can also be addressed by the DMR system  130 . 
     The DMR system  130  can request these operating parameters from the communication device requesting a portion of the recorded content, or can determine these characteristics from a user profile supplied by each user of the first communication system  100  and stored in a database of said system. Once the operating characteristics of a communication device have been determined by the DMR system  130 , said system can transcode (if necessary) the requested portion of media content so that it conforms with said characteristics. 
     For example, if a mobile phone such as reference  116  is requesting a portion of recorded video content, the DMR system  130  can determine from the operating characteristics of the mobile phone that it cannot process a high definition recording of the requested content. The DMR system  130  can also determine from a download speed capability of the mobile phone that the requested content must be streamed at a minimum bit rate so that it satisfies a desired QoS policy established by the service provider of the first communication system  100  and/or the user of the communication device. Similar determinations can be made for other communication devices (desktop computer, laptop computer, gaming console, media player, etc.). In some instances where the requesting communication device has the resources and communication speed to process high definition content (such as an STB), the DMR system  130  can download the requested portion of the media content to the requesting device without transcoding. 
     In additional to the above functions, the DMR system  130  can also include a usage policy (such as a digital rights management or DRM policy) with the recorded media content when it is distributed to requesting communication devices. In cases where a portion of the requested media content already has a usage policy included in metadata supplied with said content, the DMR system  130  can transmit the usage policy (or a derivative thereof) with the transcoded content. If a usage policy is not available with a portion of recorded content, the DMR system  130  can add a usage policy defined by the service provider of the first communication system  100 . 
     The DMR system  130  can also distribute recorded media content using a common progressive download technique. Progressive downloads generally allow a user to begin a presentation of media content before the content has been fully downloaded to the communication device. The DMR system  130  can employ common progressive download technology to partition recorded media content into segments. Each segment can include an identifier (such as a sequence number) so that if the segments arrive out of order at the communication device, said device can reconstruct the recorded media content. The DMR system  130  can also provide metadata with the first (or initial segments) in the form of trick play information so that the communication device has the capability to initiate a presentation before all segments have been received by the communication device. Further detail on this process is described below in method  800  of  FIG. 8 . 
     To accomplish the above tasks for a large community of users, the DMR system  130  can utilize one or more common server systems with extensive computing resources, storage systems for recording raw unencrypted full-resolution media content in standard or high definition resolution, and common software applications to perform transcoding functions, DRM policy functions, and media content management applications as will be described in  FIGS. 7-8  below. 
     It should be noted that a communication device in the present context can represent a mobile phone such as reference  108  or  116 , a laptop computer with WiFi, cellular, or WiMAX access such as references  108  or  116 , an STB  106 , a desktop computer located in building  102 , or any other suitable media presentation device (such as a gaming console, a media player like an iPOD™, and so on) available to the users of the first communication system  100 . 
     A satellite broadcast television system can be used in place of the IPTV media system. In this embodiment, signals transmitted by a satellite  115  can be intercepted by a satellite dish receiver  131  coupled to building  102  which conveys media signals to the media processors  106 . The media receivers  106  can be equipped with a broadband port to the ISP network  132 . Although not shown, the communication system  100  can also be combined or replaced with analog or digital broadcast distributions systems such as cable TV systems. 
       FIG. 2  depicts an illustrative embodiment of a second communication system  200  for delivering media content. Communication system  200  can be overlaid or operably coupled with communication system  100  as another representative embodiment of said communication system. The system  200  includes a distribution switch/router system  228  at a central office  218 . The distribution switch/router system  228  receives video data via a multicast television stream  230  from a second distribution switch/router  234  at an intermediate office  220 . The multicast television stream  230  includes Internet Protocol (IP) data packets addressed to a multicast IP address associated with a television channel. The distribution switch/router system  228  can cache data associated with each television channel received from the intermediate office  220 . 
     The distribution switch/router system  228  also receives unicast data traffic from the intermediate office  220  via a unicast traffic stream  232 . The unicast traffic stream  232  includes data packets related to devices located at a particular residence, such as the residence  202 . For example, the unicast traffic stream  232  can include data traffic related to a digital subscriber line, a telephone line, another data connection, or any combination thereof. To illustrate, the unicast traffic stream  232  can communicate data packets to and from a telephone  212  associated with a subscriber at the residence  202 . The telephone  212  can be a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephone. To further illustrate, the unicast traffic stream  232  can communicate data packets to and from a personal computer  210  at the residence  202  via one or more data routers  208 . In an additional illustration, the unicast traffic stream  232  can communicate data packets to and from a set-top box device, such as the set-top box devices  204 ,  206 . The unicast traffic stream  232  can communicate data packets to and from the devices located at the residence  202  via one or more residential gateways  214  associated with the residence  202 . 
     The distribution switch/router system  228  can send data to one or more access switch/router systems  226 . The access switch/router system  226  can include or be included within a service area interface  216 . In a particular embodiment, the access switch/router system  226  can include a DSLAM. The access switch/router system  226  can receive data from the distribution switch/router system  228  via a broadcast television (BTV) stream  222  and a plurality of unicast subscriber traffic streams  224 . The BTV stream  222  can be used to communicate video data packets associated with a multicast stream. 
     For example, the BTV stream  222  can include a multicast virtual local area network (VLAN) connection between the distribution switch/router system  228  and the access switch/router system  226 . Each of the plurality of subscriber traffic streams  224  can be used to communicate subscriber specific data packets. For example, the first subscriber traffic stream can communicate data related to a first subscriber, and the nth subscriber traffic stream can communicate data related to an nth subscriber. Each subscriber to the system  200  can be associated with a respective subscriber traffic stream  224 . The subscriber traffic stream  224  can include a subscriber VLAN connection between the distribution switch/router system  228  and the access switch/router system  226  that is associated with a particular set-top box device  204 ,  206 , a particular residence  202 , a particular residential gateway  214 , another device associated with a subscriber, or any combination thereof. 
     In an illustrative embodiment, a set-top box device, such as the set-top box device  204 , receives a channel change command from an input device, such as a remoter control device. The channel change command can indicate selection of an IPTV channel. After receiving the channel change command, the set-top box device  204  generates channel selection data that indicates the selection of the IPTV channel. The set-top box device  204  can send the channel selection data to the access switch/router system  226  via the residential gateway  214 . The channel selection data can include an Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP) Join request. In an illustrative embodiment, the access switch/router system  226  can identify whether it is joined to a multicast group associated with the requested channel based on information in the IGMP Join request. 
     If the access switch/router system  226  is not joined to the multicast group associated with the requested channel, the access switch/router system  226  can generate a multicast stream request. The multicast stream request can be generated by modifying the received channel selection data. In an illustrative embodiment, the access switch/router system  226  can modify an IGMP Join request to produce a proxy IGMP Join request. The access switch/router system  226  can send the multicast stream request to the distribution switch/router system  228  via the BTV stream  222 . In response to receiving the multicast stream request, the distribution switch/router system  228  can send a stream associated with the requested channel to the access switch/router system  226  via the BTV stream  222 . 
     The DMR system  130  of  FIG. 1  can be operably coupled to the second communication system  200  for purposes similar to those described above. 
       FIG. 3  depicts an illustrative embodiment of a third communication system  300  for delivering media content. Communication system  300  can be overlaid or operably coupled with communication systems  100 - 200  as another representative embodiment of said communication systems. As shown, the system  300  can include a client facing tier  302 , an application tier  304 , an acquisition tier  306 , and an operations and management tier  308 . Each tier  302 ,  304 ,  306 ,  308  is coupled to a private network  310 , such as a network of common packet-switched routers and/or switches; to a public network  312 , such as the Internet; or to both the private network  310  and the public network  312 . For example, the client-facing tier  302  can be coupled to the private network  310 . Further, the application tier  304  can be coupled to the private network  310  and to the public network  312 . The acquisition tier  306  can also be coupled to the private network  310  and to the public network  312 . Additionally, the operations and management tier  308  can be coupled to the public network  312 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the various tiers  302 ,  304 ,  306 ,  308  communicate with each other via the private network  310  and the public network  312 . For instance, the client-facing tier  302  can communicate with the application tier  304  and the acquisition tier  306  via the private network  310 . The application tier  304  can communicate with the acquisition tier  306  via the private network  310 . Further, the application tier  304  can communicate with the acquisition tier  306  and the operations and management tier  308  via the public network  312 . Moreover, the acquisition tier  306  can communicate with the operations and management tier  308  via the public network  312 . In a particular embodiment, elements of the application tier  304 , including, but not limited to, a client gateway  350 , can communicate directly with the client-facing tier  302 . 
     The client-facing tier  302  can communicate with user equipment via an access network  366 , such as an IPTV access network. In an illustrative embodiment, customer premises equipment (CPE)  314 ,  322  can be coupled to a local switch, router, or other device of the access network  366 . The client-facing tier  302  can communicate with a first representative set-top box device  316  via the first CPE  314  and with a second representative set-top box device  324  via the second CPE  322 . In a particular embodiment, the first representative set-top box device  316  and the first CPE  314  can be located at a first customer premise, and the second representative set-top box device  324  and the second CPE  322  can be located at a second customer premise. 
     In another particular embodiment, the first representative set-top box device  316  and the second representative set-top box device  324  can be located at a single customer premise, both coupled to one of the CPE  314 ,  322 . The CPE  314 ,  322  can include routers, local area network devices, modems, such as digital subscriber line (DSL) modems, any other suitable devices for facilitating communication between a set-top box device and the access network  366 , or any combination thereof. 
     In an illustrative embodiment, the client-facing tier  302  can be coupled to the CPE  314 ,  322  via fiber optic cables. In another illustrative embodiment, the CPE  314 ,  322  can include DSL modems that are coupled to one or more network nodes via twisted pairs, and the client-facing tier  302  can be coupled to the network nodes via fiber-optic cables. Each set-top box device  316 ,  324  can process data received via the access network  366 , via a common IPTV software platform. 
     The first set-top box device  316  can be coupled to a first external display device, such as a first television monitor  318 , and the second set-top box device  324  can be coupled to a second external display device, such as a second television monitor  326 . Moreover, the first set-top box device  316  can communicate with a first remote control  320 , and the second set-top box device  324  can communicate with a second remote control  328 . The set-top box devices  316 ,  324  can include IPTV set-top box devices; video gaming devices or consoles that are adapted to receive IPTV content; personal computers or other computing devices that are adapted to emulate set-top box device functionalities; any other device adapted to receive IPTV content and transmit data to an IPTV system via an access network; or any combination thereof. 
     In an illustrative, non-limiting embodiment, each set-top box device  316 ,  324  can receive data, video, or any combination thereof, from the client-facing tier  302  via the access network  366  and render or display the data, video, or any combination thereof, at the display device  318 ,  326  to which it is coupled. In an illustrative embodiment, the set-top box devices  316 ,  324  can include tuners that receive and decode television programming signals or packet streams for transmission to the display devices  318 ,  326 . Further, the set-top box devices  316 ,  324  can each include a STB processor  370  and a STB memory device  372  that is accessible to the STB processor  370 . In one embodiment, a computer program, such as the STB computer program  374 , can be embedded within the STB memory device  372 . 
     In an illustrative embodiment, the client-facing tier  302  can include a client-facing tier (CFT) switch  330  that manages communication between the client-facing tier  302  and the access network  366  and between the client-facing tier  302  and the private network  310 . As illustrated, the CFT switch  330  is coupled to one or more distribution servers, such as Distribution-servers (D-servers)  332 , that store, format, encode, replicate, or otherwise manipulate or prepare video content for communication from the client-facing tier  302  to the set-top box devices  316 ,  324 . The CFT switch  330  can also be coupled to a terminal server  334  that provides terminal devices with a point of connection to the IPTV system  300  via the client-facing tier  302 . 
     In a particular embodiment, the CFT switch  330  can be coupled to a VoD server  336  that stores or provides VoD content imported by the IPTV system  300 . Further, the CFT switch  330  is coupled to one or more video servers  380  that receive video content and transmit the content to the set-top boxes  316 ,  324  via the access network  366 . The client-facing tier  302  may include a CPE management server  382  that manages communications to and from the CPE  314  and the CPE  322 . For example, the CPE management server  382  may collect performance data associated with the set-top box devices  316 ,  324  from the CPE  314  or the CPE  322  and forward the collected performance data to a server associated with the operations and management tier  308 . 
     In an illustrative embodiment, the client-facing tier  302  can communicate with a large number of set-top boxes, such as the representative set-top boxes  316 ,  324 , over a wide geographic area, such as a metropolitan area, a viewing area, a statewide area, a regional area, a nationwide area or any other suitable geographic area, market area, or subscriber or customer group that can be supported by networking the client-facing tier  302  to numerous set-top box devices. In a particular embodiment, the CFT switch  330 , or any portion thereof, can include a multicast router or switch that communicates with multiple set-top box devices via a multicast-enabled network. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the application tier  304  can communicate with both the private network  310  and the public network  312 . The application tier  304  can include a first application tier (APP) switch  338  and a second APP switch  340 . In a particular embodiment, the first APP switch  338  can be coupled to the second APP switch  340 . The first APP switch  338  can be coupled to an application server  342  and to an OSS/BSS gateway  344 . In a particular embodiment, the application server  342  can provide applications to the set-top box devices  316 ,  324  via the access network  366 , which enable the set-top box devices  316 ,  324  to provide functions, such as interactive program guides, video gaming, display, messaging, processing of VoD material and other IPTV content, etc. In an illustrative embodiment, the application server  342  can provide location information to the set-top box devices  316 ,  324 . In a particular embodiment, the OSS/BSS gateway  344  includes operation systems and support (OSS) data, as well as billing systems and support (BSS) data. In one embodiment, the OSS/BSS gateway  344  can provide or restrict access to an OSS/BSS server  364  that stores operations and billing systems data. 
     The second APP switch  340  can be coupled to a domain controller  346  that provides Internet access, for example, to users at their computers  368  via the public network  312 . For example, the domain controller  346  can provide remote Internet access to IPTV account information, e-mail, personalized Internet services, or other online services via the public network  312 . In addition, the second APP switch  340  can be coupled to a subscriber and system store  348  that includes account information, such as account information that is associated with users who access the IPTV system  300  via the private network  310  or the public network  312 . In an illustrative embodiment, the subscriber and system store  348  can store subscriber or customer data and create subscriber or customer profiles that are associated with IP addresses, stock-keeping unit (SKU) numbers, other identifiers, or any combination thereof, of corresponding set-top box devices  316 ,  324 . In another illustrative embodiment, the subscriber and system store can store data associated with capabilities of set-top box devices associated with particular customers. 
     In a particular embodiment, the application tier  304  can include a client gateway  350  that communicates data directly to the client-facing tier  302 . In this embodiment, the client gateway  350  can be coupled directly to the CFT switch  330 . The client gateway  350  can provide user access to the private network  310  and the tiers coupled thereto. In an illustrative embodiment, the set-top box devices  316 ,  324  can access the IPTV system  300  via the access network  366 , using information received from the client gateway  350 . User devices can access the client gateway  350  via the access network  366 , and the client gateway  350  can allow such devices to access the private network  310  once the devices are authenticated or verified. Similarly, the client gateway  350  can prevent unauthorized devices, such as hacker computers or stolen set-top box devices from accessing the private network  310 , by denying access to these devices beyond the access network  366 . 
     For example, when the first representative set-top box device  316  accesses the client-facing tier  302  via the access network  366 , the client gateway  350  can verify subscriber information by communicating with the subscriber and system store  348  via the private network  310 . Further, the client gateway  350  can verify billing information and status by communicating with the OSS/BSS gateway  344  via the private network  310 . In one embodiment, the OSS/BSS gateway  344  can transmit a query via the public network  312  to the OSS/BSS server  364 . After the client gateway  350  confirms subscriber and/or billing information, the client gateway  350  can allow the set-top box device  316  to access IPTV content and VoD content at the client-facing tier  302 . If the client gateway  350  cannot verify subscriber information for the set-top box device  316 , because it is connected to an unauthorized twisted pair, the client gateway  350  can block transmissions to and from the set-top box device  316  beyond the access network  366 . 
     As indicated in  FIG. 3 , the acquisition tier  306  includes an acquisition tier (AQT) switch  352  that communicates with the private network  310 . The AQT switch  352  can also communicate with the operations and management tier  308  via the public network  312 . In a particular embodiment, the AQT switch  352  can be coupled to one or more live Acquisition-servers (A-servers)  354  that receive or acquire television content, movie content, advertisement content, other video content, or any combination thereof, from a broadcast service  356 , such as a satellite acquisition system or satellite head-end office. In a particular embodiment, the live acquisition server  354  can transmit content to the AQT switch  352 , and the AQT switch  352  can transmit the content to the CFT switch  330  via the private network  310 . 
     In an illustrative embodiment, content can be transmitted to the D-servers  332 , where it can be encoded, formatted, stored, replicated, or otherwise manipulated and prepared for communication from the video server(s)  380  to the set-top box devices  316 ,  324 . The CFT switch  330  can receive content from the video server(s)  380  and communicate the content to the CPE  314 ,  322  via the access network  366 . The set-top box devices  316 ,  324  can receive the content via the CPE  314 ,  322 , and can transmit the content to the television monitors  318 ,  326 . In an illustrative embodiment, video or audio portions of the content can be streamed to the set-top box devices  316 ,  324 . 
     Further, the AQT switch  352  can be coupled to a video-on-demand importer server  358  that receives and stores television or movie content received at the acquisition tier  306  and communicates the stored content to the VoD server  336  at the client-facing tier  302  via the private network  310 . Additionally, at the acquisition tier  306 , the VoD importer server  358  can receive content from one or more VoD sources outside the IPTV system  300 , such as movie studios and programmers of non-live content. The VoD importer server  358  can transmit the VoD content to the AQT switch  352 , and the AQT switch  352 , in turn, can communicate the material to the CFT switch  330  via the private network  310 . The VoD content can be stored at one or more servers, such as the VoD server  336 . 
     When users issue requests for VoD content via the set-top box devices  316 ,  324 , the requests can be transmitted over the access network  366  to the VoD server  336 , via the CFT switch  330 . Upon receiving such requests, the VoD server  336  can retrieve the requested VoD content and transmit the content to the set-top box devices  316 ,  324  across the access network  366 , via the CFT switch  330 . The set-top box devices  316 ,  324  can transmit the VoD content to the television monitors  318 ,  326 . In an illustrative embodiment, video or audio portions of VoD content can be streamed to the set-top box devices  316 ,  324 . 
       FIG. 3  further illustrates that the operations and management tier  308  can include an operations and management tier (OMT) switch  360  that conducts communication between the operations and management tier  308  and the public network  312 . In the embodiment illustrated by  FIG. 3 , the OMT switch  360  is coupled to a TV2 server  362 . Additionally, the OMT switch  360  can be coupled to an OSS/BSS server  364  and to a simple network management protocol monitor  386  that monitors network devices within or coupled to the IPTV system  300 . In a particular embodiment, the OMT switch  360  can communicate with the AQT switch  352  via the public network  312 . 
     The OSS/BSS server  364  may include a cluster of servers, such as one or more CPE data collection servers that are adapted to request and store operations systems data, such as performance data from the set-top box devices  316 ,  324 . In an illustrative embodiment, the CPE data collection servers may be adapted to analyze performance data to identify a condition of a physical component of a network path associated with a set-top box device, to predict a condition of a physical component of a network path associated with a set-top box device, or any combination thereof. 
     In an illustrative embodiment, the live acquisition server  354  can transmit content to the AQT switch  352 , and the AQT switch  352 , in turn, can transmit the content to the OMT switch  360  via the public network  312 . In this embodiment, the OMT switch  360  can transmit the content to the TV2 server  362  for display to users accessing the user interface at the TV2 server  362 . For example, a user can access the TV2 server  362  using a personal computer  368  coupled to the public network  312 . 
     The DMR system  130  of  FIG. 1  can be operably coupled to the third communication system  300  for purposes similar to those described above. 
     It should be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from the foregoing media communication system embodiments that other suitable media communication systems for distributing broadcast media content as well as peer-to-peer exchange of content can be applied to the present disclosure. 
       FIG. 4  depicts an illustrative embodiment of a communication system  400  employing an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network architecture. Communication system  400  can be overlaid or operably coupled with communication systems  100 - 300  as another representative embodiment of said communication systems. 
     The communication system  400  can comprise a Home Subscriber Server (HSS)  440 , a tElephone NUmber Mapping (ENUM) server  430 , and network elements of an IMS network  450 . The IMS network  450  can be coupled to IMS compliant communication devices (CD)  401 ,  402  or a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) CD  403  using a Media Gateway Control Function (MGCF)  420  that connects the call through a common PSTN network  460 . 
     IMS CDs  401 ,  402  register with the IMS network  450  by contacting a Proxy Call Session Control Function (P-CSCF) which communicates with a corresponding Serving CSCF (S-CSCF) to register the CDs with an Authentication, Authorization and Accounting (AAA) supported by the HSS  440 . To accomplish a communication session between CDs, an originating IMS CD  401  can submit a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP INVITE) message to an originating P-CSCF  404  which communicates with a corresponding originating S-CSCF  406 . The originating S-CSCF  406  can submit the SIP INVITE message to an application server (AS) such as reference  410  that can provide a variety of services to IMS subscribers. For example, the application server  410  can be used to perform originating treatment functions on the calling party number received by the originating S-CSCF  406  in the SIP INVITE message. 
     Originating treatment functions can include determining whether the calling party number has international calling services, and/or is requesting special telephony features (such as *72 forward calls, *73 cancel call forwarding, *67 for caller ID blocking, and so on). Additionally, the originating S-CSCF  406  can submit queries to the ENUM system  430  to translate an E.164 telephone number to a SIP Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) if the targeted communication device is IMS compliant. If the targeted communication device is a PSTN device, the ENUM system  430  will respond with an unsuccessful address resolution and the S-CSCF  406  will forward the call to the MGCF  420  via a Breakout Gateway Control Function (BGCF)  419 . 
     When the ENUM server  430  returns a SIP URI, the SIP URI is used by an Interrogating CSCF (I-CSCF)  407  to submit a query to the HSS  440  to identify a terminating S-CSCF  414  associated with a terminating IMS CD such as reference  402 . Once identified, the I-CSCF  407  can submit the SIP INVITE to the terminating S-CSCF  414  which can call on an application server  411  similar to reference  410  to perform the originating treatment telephony functions described earlier. The terminating S-CSCF  414  can then identify a terminating P-CSCF  416  associated with the terminating CD  402 . The P-CSCF  416  then signals the CD  402  to establish communications. The aforementioned process is symmetrical. Accordingly, the terms “originating” and “terminating” in  FIG. 4  can be interchanged. 
     IMS network  450  can also be operably coupled to the DMR system  130  previously discussed for  FIG. 1 . In this representative embodiment, the DMR system  130  can be accessed over a PSTN or VoIP channel of communication system  400  by common techniques such as described above. 
       FIG. 5  depicts an illustrative embodiment of a portal  530 . The portal  530  can be used for managing services of communication systems  100 - 400 . The portal  530  can be accessed by a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) with a common Internet browser such as Microsoft&#39;s Internet Explorer using an Internet-capable communication device such as references  108 ,  116 , or  210  of  FIGS. 1-2 . The portal  530  can be configured to access a media processor such as references  106 ,  204 ,  206 ,  316 , and  324  of  FIGS. 1-3  and services managed thereby such as connectivity to the DMR system  130 , an Electronic Programming Guide (EPG), VoD catalog, a personal catalog (such as personal videos, pictures, audio recordings, etc.) stored in the STB, a personal computer or server in a user&#39;s home or office, and so on. The portal  530  can also provide the user direct access to the DMR system  130  without a media processor as an intervening device. 
       FIG. 6  depicts an exemplary embodiment of a communication device  600 . Communication device  600  can be a representative portion of any of the aforementioned communication devices of  FIGS. 1-4 . The communication device  604  can comprise a wireline and/or wireless transceiver  602  (herein transceiver  602 ), a user interface (UI)  604 , a power supply  614 , a location receiver  616 , and a controller  606  for managing operations thereof. The transceiver  602  can support short-range or long-range wireless access technologies such as a Bluetooth wireless access protocol, a Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) access protocol, a Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT) wireless access protocol, cellular, software defined radio (SDR) and/or WiMAX technologies, just to mention a few. Cellular technologies can include, for example, CDMA-1×, UMTS/HSDPA, GSM/GPRS, TDMA/EDGE, EV/DO, and next generation technologies as they arise. 
     The transceiver  602  can also support common wireline access technologies such as circuit-switched wireline access technologies, packet-switched wireline access technologies, or combinations thereof. PSTN can represent one of the common circuit-switched wireline access technologies. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), and IP data communications can represent some of the commonly available packet-switched wireline access technologies. The transceiver  602  can also be adapted to support IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) protocol for interfacing to an IMS network that can combine PSTN and VoIP communication technologies. 
     The UI  604  can include a depressible or touch-sensitive keypad  608  and a navigation mechanism such as a roller ball, joystick, mouse, and/or navigation disk for manipulating operations of the communication device  600 . The keypad  608  can be an integral part of a housing assembly of the communication device  600  or an independent device operably coupled thereto by a tethered wiring interface (such as a USB) or a wireless interface supporting for example Bluetooth. The keypad  608  can represent a numeric dialing keypad commonly used by phones, and/or a Qwerty keypad with alphanumeric keys. 
     The UI  604  can further include a display  610  such as monochrome or color LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) or other suitable display technology for conveying images to the end user of the communication device  600 . In an embodiment where the display  610  is touch-sensitive, a portion or all of the keypad  608  can be presented by way of the display. The UI  604  can also include an audio system  612  that utilizes common audio technology for conveying low volume audio (such as audio heard only in the proximity of a human ear) and high volume audio (such as speakerphone for hands free operation). The audio system  612  can further include a microphone for receiving audible signals of an end user. 
     The power supply  614  can utilize common power management technologies such as replaceable and rechargeable batteries, supply regulation technologies, and charging system technologies for supplying energy to the components of the communication device  600  to facilitate long-range or short-range portable applications. The location receiver  616  utilize common location technology such as a global positioning system (GPS) receiver for identifying a location of the communication device  100 , thereby facilitating common location services such as navigation. The controller  606  can utilize computing technologies such as a microprocessor and/or digital signal processor (DSP) with associated storage memory such a Flash, ROM, RAM, SRAM, DRAM or other storage technologies. 
       FIG. 7  depicts an illustrative method  700  operating in portions of communication systems  100 - 400 . Method  700  begins with step  702  in which the DMR system  130  records media content according to directives of user of an interactive media communication system (iMCS) such as systems  100 - 400  described above in  FIGS. 1-4 . The media content recorded can be high definition audio, high definition video, text, still images, or combinations thereof. The directives to record this content can be received by the DMR system  130  from any communication device (an STB, a mobile phone, a computer, etc.) communicatively coupled to the iMCS directly or by way of portal  530 . If the DMR system  130  detects in step  704  that a directive is received after the desired media content has started according to its broadcast schedule, the DMR system can proceed to step  706  where it can retrieve a missing portion of the media content from a buffer of the DMR system. The retrieved missing portion can be added by the DMR system  130  to the media content being recorded. 
     The DMR system  130  can utilize common storage technology (such as mass storage hard drives) to store scheduled media content from all (or a limited set of broadcast channels) in synchronicity with its broadcast schedule. The content stored can be limited to media content that iMCS users have not requested to record. The buffer can be large enough so that any media program can be recorded for at least a portion of its play time (such as 1 hour). The DMR system  130  can operate the buffer as a circular buffer that purges content between media schedules on each broadcast channel. By buffering unrequested media content, the DMR system  130  can provide users of the iMCS the ability to request a full recording of scheduled media content even when the directive is submitted after the scheduled start of said content. Since the DMR system  130  is a system of the service provider located outside of the premises of the users of the iMCS, the service provider can provide its users access to the vast recording resources of the DMR system. 
     To maintain an efficient management of recorded media content, the DMR system  130  can proceed to step  708  where it can check for duplicate recording requests. If a duplicate request is identified, the DMR system  130  can proceed to step  710  where it generates pointers for each duplicate content request and associates them to the user directives. With this technique, the DMR system  130  can record a single copy of media content that can be shared by several users of the iMCS. 
     In step  712 , the DMR system  130  can monitor requests received from communication devices for a presentation of a portion of the recorded media content. As noted earlier, the communication device making the request can be a mobile phone, a media player, and STB, a desktop computer, a gaming console, or any other suitable communication device of a user that can interact with the iMCS. If no requests are detected, the DMR system  130  can proceed to step  702  and continue processing additional recording requests. Otherwise, the DMR system  130  can proceed to step  714  where it determines from the operating characteristics of the communication device whether media transcoding is required. 
     As was described earlier, the characteristics of the communication device can be any representative operating parameter of the communication device that can affect the presentation of the requested portion of media content (display, audio, computing resources, operating system, etc.). It should be further noted that the DMR system  130  can determine the operating characteristics of the communication device by requesting parameters from the communication device, retrieving a profile of the communication device established by the user and stored in a database of the DMR system, or by requesting a high level description of the communication device (such as a model and serial number) and retrieving the characteristics from a local or third party database indexed by this information. Other suitable methods for determining the operating characteristics of the communication device can be used by the DMR system  130 . 
     If transcoding is not required such as when the requesting device is an STB, the DMR system  130  can proceed to step  718 . If transcoding is required, the DMR system  130  can transcode in step  716  at least a portion of the requested portion of the recorded media content according to the characteristics of the communication device. For example, the DMR system  130  can transcode a high definition video recording to a lower resolution that conforms to a display dimension of the communication device. The DMR system  130  can also transcode the audio content so that it is suitable for the audio resources of the requesting device. 
     In step  718 , the DMR system  130  can determine whether the request received from the communication device includes also a language identifier that identifies a desired presentation language that differs from the default language recorded in the requested portion of media content. For example, suppose the requested portion of media content is a video program presented originally in English. Further suppose the user of the communication device has submitted with the requested presentation a request to view the recorded media program with subtitles in Spanish, or dubbed in Spanish. If a language request is not detected, the DMR system  130  can proceed to step  722 . 
     Otherwise, the DMR system  130  can proceed to step  720  where it provides the requested language with the recorded portion of the media content. This step can be accomplished by retrieving the requested language subtitles from metadata supplied with the media content at the time it was recorded or from a third party database that supplies subtitles in other languages. In the case of the dubbing request, the DMR system  130  can retrieve dubbed audio in the desired language from the recorded content if provided by the iMCS at the time the media content was recorded, or retrieve the dubbed audio from a third party database storing a number of retrievable dubbed languages for the content in question. 
     In step  722 , the DMR system  130  can also determine if a usage policy was supplied with the requested portion of recorded media content. The usage policy can represent for example a digital rights management (DRM) policy supplied with metadata in the recorded media content. If a DRM policy is not supplied by the content provider of the requested portion of the recorded media content, the DMR system  130  can proceed to step  724  where it can add a content usage policy defined by the service provider of the iMCS. The service provider of the iMCS can define for example a usage policy that prevents the communication device from sharing the recorded media content with other devices. If a usage policy has been provided with the recorded media content, the DMR system  130  can supply the same policy with the recorded content or a derivative thereof. 
     The DMR system  130  can further manage the distribution of the requested media content with a token system. For example, the DMR system  130  can identify in step  726  a token account associated with the user of the communication device. The token account can include a finite number of tokens which can limit how many copies of the requested media content can be distributed, and/or how many communication devices of the user can request the same content. The DMR system  130  can expend a token for each copy of the requested content, and/or each communication device of the user requesting the same recorded media content. If the user has a limited number of tokens, and all tokens have been used, then the DMR system  130  can terminate the transaction and notify the user by way of the communication device that the token account has no further tokens. The service provider can utilize token accounts to not only limit the distribution of recorded media content, but also as a revenue source by charging a fee for each additional token requested by the users of the iMCS. 
     If the DMR system  130  detects the availability of a token, it tags the selected token as expired, and proceeds to step  728  where it transmits the requested media content in a progressive download format. Step  728  can be represented by for example method  800 , of  FIG. 8 . Method  800  can begin with step  802  where the DMR system  130  partitions the transcoded media content into segments. This step can form the basis for transmitting the transcoded media content as a progressive download as will be described shortly. The DMR system  130  in step  804  can add metadata to at least one of the segments in the form of trick play information. The trick play information can identify the start of the transcoded media program, its length, and/or chapter demarcations in the media content. To provide for flexibility in transmission of the segments and address the ad hoc nature of transmitting packets over a communication medium such as the Internet or the network elements of the iMCS, the DMR system  130  can associate in step  806  an identifier (such as a sequence number) to teach segment. The DMR system  130  also adds a start flag to the first sequence number and an end flag to last sequence number. With this information, the communication device can reconstruct the transcoded media content even if the segments arrive out of order. Additionally, the communication device can identify which is the first segment of content, and when all segments have been received. 
     In a centralized architecture, the DMR system  130  can be solely responsible for transmitting all segments of transcoded media content. In a decentralized architecture where more than one DMR system  130  is distributed in the iMCS, the DMR system  130  can in step  808  engage one or more other DMR systems to transmit segments of transcoded media content that correspond to other portions of the transcoded media content not transmitted by the user&#39;s DMR system. In a distributed environment such as this, the DMR system  130  of the user can employ a common data distribution technique such as a BitTorrent protocol to coordinate a transmission of the segments of the transcoded media content from a plurality of DMR systems. The steps of method  700  of  FIG. 7  can be applied contemporaneously across a number of DMR systems  130  coordinate by the DMR system having primary contact with the communication device. If however a centralized approach is used, step  808  can be skipped. 
     In step  810 , the DMR system  130  of the user can begin transmitting to the communication device the segments described in the previous steps. Once the communication device receives at step  812  at least one of the segments of the transcoded media content with the trick play information (such as, for example, the first few contiguous segments starting from the first sequence number), the communication device can begin the presentation of the requested portion of the media content. The presentation can begin before all of the segments of transcoded media content have been received by the communication device. With the trick play information, the user of the communication device can forward, rewind, pause or skip chapters within the confines of the segments received at the time any of these actions are taken. If the user attempts to skip to a chapter of a segment that has not yet been received, the communication device can reject the request. If the segment, however, is available, then the communication device can skip to the requested chapter. 
     In steps  814  and  816  the communication device can reconstruct the transcoded media content as each segment and its corresponding identification sis processed. Steps  814 - 816  can continue seamlessly while the user is playing the transcoded media content. If the user does not attempt to skip too far ahead of the beginning of the transcoded media content, then to the user the playback experience will seems as if the entire transcoded media content had been received in a short period of time with prompt playback capability. When the communication device detects in step  816  that all the segments have been received (by way of the start and end flags mentioned earlier), and the transcoded media content has been reconstructed, the communication device can discard the downloaded segments. Thereafter the communication device can provide full playback functions (forward, rewind, pause, play, chapter skip, etc.) and can enforce the DRM policy downloaded with the transcoded media content which can be extracted from metadata supplied therewith. 
     For illustration purposes, assume for example that the requested portion of the recorded media content is 100 Mbytes of transcoded content. Further suppose that in step  802  the DMR system  130  partitions the transcoded content in 1 Mbyte segments. Also, assume that the communication device can receive the transcoded content at 1 Mbit per second (125 Kbytes per second) and that based on the visual and audio resources of the communication device a 1 Mbyte segment provides 1 minute of playback time. Based on these assumptions, it follows that a one Mbyte segment can be received by the communication device in 8 seconds. The remaining ninety-nine one Mbyte segments can be received in approximately 13 minutes (assuming minimal interruptions in communications). Under these circumstances, the user can begin playback of a first segment (assuming it has metadata with the trick play information) with a play period of 1 minute, and receive a segment every 8 seconds while the media program is being played. By the time the first segment has been fully played, the user will have received an additional 7.5 one Mbyte segments which increases the viewing time by an additional 7.5 minutes. The communication device will have received all segments in a total elapsed time of approximately 13 minutes. If the user does not skip ahead too much, the time to receive requested media content will appear prompt to the user. 
     Upon reviewing the aforementioned embodiments, it would be evident to an artisan with ordinary skill in the art that said embodiments can be modified, reduced, or enhanced without departing from the scope and spirit of the claims described below. For example, a service provider of the iMCS can have more than one DMR system  130 . Each DMR system  130  can be assigned to a region (North East, South East, Central, Mountain, etc.). In this embodiment, DMR systems  130  can communicate with each other and share resources. 
     In another embodiment, the iMCS can represent other communication systems not described in the present disclosure. For example, the iMCS can represent a radio communication system with the ability to provide its users a request for radio programming on demand, and/or at least access to broadcast radio programs from a variety of radio station sources (locally, nationally, and/or internationally). The DMR system  130  can be directed by the users of the iMCS to record scheduled radio programs and/or radio programs selectively requested, and perform the functions of  FIGS. 7-8  as described earlier. 
     It follows from this illustration that the iMCS can represent any communication system that provides media content in any form with an ability for its users to have an interactive component such as an ability to request content, select broadcast channels, and so on. Accordingly, communication systems that provide gaming content, audio content (books, music, etc.), and other suitable forms of media content can be applied to the present disclosure. 
     In another embodiment, the DMR system  130  can be located in the premises of users of the iMCS. In this embodiment, the service provider of the iMCS can distribute DMR systems  130  to its users, which the users can locate in their home or workplace. Methods  700 - 800  of  FIGS. 7-8  can be adapted for the DMR systems  130  of said users. For example, in the case of a multi-user household (or enterprise setting), the DMR system  130  can be adapted to perform the storage management functions of method  700  (using pointers to avoid duplicate recording) as well as the other functions described by methods  700 - 800 . Additionally, the DMR systems  130  of users located in different premises can be programmed to intercommunicate for the purpose of sharing computing and storage resources, as well as distributing transcoded segments to a requesting communication device as described in step  808 . 
     Other suitable modifications can be applied to the present disclosure without departing from the scope of the claims below. Accordingly, the reader is directed to the claims section for a fuller understanding of the breadth and scope of the present disclosure. 
       FIG. 9  depicts an exemplary diagrammatic representation of a machine in the form of a computer system  900  within which a set of instructions, when executed, may cause the machine to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed above. In some embodiments, the machine operates as a standalone device. In some embodiments, the machine may be connected (e.g., using a network) to other machines. In a networked deployment, the machine may operate in the capacity of a server or a client user machine in server-client user network environment, or as a peer machine in a peer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment. 
     The machine may comprise a server computer, a client user computer, a personal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a control system, a network router, switch or bridge, or any machine capable of executing a set of instructions (sequential or otherwise) that specify actions to be taken by that machine. It will be understood that a device of the present disclosure includes broadly any electronic device that provides voice, video or data communication. Further, while a single machine is illustrated, the term “machine” shall also be taken to include any collection of machines that individually or jointly execute a set (or multiple sets) of instructions to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein. 
     The computer system  900  may include a processor  902  (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU, or both), a main memory  904  and a static memory  906 , which communicate with each other via a bus  908 . The computer system  900  may further include a video display unit  910  (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD), a flat panel, a solid state display, or a cathode ray tube (CRT)). The computer system  900  may include an input device  912  (e.g., a keyboard), a cursor control device  914  (e.g., a mouse), a disk drive unit  916 , a signal generation device  918  (e.g., a speaker or remote control) and a network interface device  920 . 
     The disk drive unit  916  may include a machine-readable medium  922  on which is stored one or more sets of instructions (e.g., software  924 ) embodying any one or more of the methodologies or functions described herein, including those methods illustrated above. The instructions  924  may also reside, completely or at least partially, within the main memory  904 , the static memory  906 , and/or within the processor  902  during execution thereof by the computer system  900 . The main memory  904  and the processor  902  also may constitute machine-readable media. 
     Dedicated hardware implementations including, but not limited to, application specific integrated circuits, programmable logic arrays and other hardware devices can likewise be constructed to implement the methods described herein. Applications that may include the apparatus and systems of various embodiments broadly include a variety of electronic and computer systems. Some embodiments implement functions in two or more specific interconnected hardware modules or devices with related control and data signals communicated between and through the modules, or as portions of an application-specific integrated circuit. Thus, the example system is applicable to software, firmware, and hardware implementations. 
     In accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure, the methods described herein are intended for operation as software programs running on a computer processor. Furthermore, software implementations can include, but not limited to, distributed processing or component/object distributed processing, parallel processing, or virtual machine processing can also be constructed to implement the methods described herein. 
     The present disclosure contemplates a machine readable medium containing instructions  924 , or that which receives and executes instructions  924  from a propagated signal so that a device connected to a network environment  926  can send or receive voice, video or data, and to communicate over the network  926  using the instructions  924 . The instructions  924  may further be transmitted or received over a network  926  via the network interface device  920 . 
     While the machine-readable medium  922  is shown in an example embodiment to be a single medium, the term “machine-readable medium” should be taken to include a single medium or multiple media (e.g., a centralized or distributed database, and/or associated caches and servers) that store the one or more sets of instructions. The term “machine-readable medium” shall also be taken to include any medium that is capable of storing, encoding or carrying a set of instructions for execution by the machine and that cause the machine to perform any one or more of the methodologies of the present disclosure. 
     The term “machine-readable medium” shall accordingly be taken to include, but not be limited to: solid-state memories such as a memory card or other package that houses one or more read-only (non-volatile) memories, random access memories, or other re-writable (volatile) memories; magneto-optical or optical medium such as a disk or tape; and/or a digital file attachment to e-mail or other self-contained information archive or set of archives is considered a distribution medium equivalent to a tangible storage medium. Accordingly, the disclosure is considered to include any one or more of a machine-readable medium or a distribution medium, as listed herein and including art-recognized equivalents and successor media, in which the software implementations herein are stored. 
     Although the present specification describes components and functions implemented in the embodiments with reference to particular standards and protocols, the disclosure is not limited to such standards and protocols. Each of the standards for Internet and other packet switched network transmission (e.g., TCP/IP, UDP/IP, HTML, HTTP) represent examples of the state of the art. Such standards are periodically superseded by faster or more efficient equivalents having essentially the same functions. Accordingly, replacement standards and protocols having the same functions are considered equivalents. 
     The illustrations of embodiments described herein are intended to provide a general understanding of the structure of various embodiments, and they are not intended to serve as a complete description of all the elements and features of apparatus and systems that might make use of the structures described herein. Many other embodiments will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. Other embodiments may be utilized and derived therefrom, such that structural and logical substitutions and changes may be made without departing from the scope of this disclosure. Figures are also merely representational and may not be drawn to scale. Certain proportions thereof may be exaggerated, while others may be minimized. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense. 
     Such embodiments of the inventive subject matter may be referred to herein, individually and/or collectively, by the term “invention” merely for convenience and without intending to voluntarily limit the scope of this application to any single invention or inventive concept if more than one is in fact disclosed. Thus, although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it should be appreciated that any arrangement calculated to achieve the same purpose may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to cover any and all adaptations or variations of various embodiments. Combinations of the above embodiments, and other embodiments not specifically described herein, will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. 
     The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R. § 1.72(b), requiring an abstract that will allow the reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, it can be seen that various features are grouped together in a single embodiment for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separately claimed subject matter.