U.S. patent application number 14/265971 was filed with the patent office on 2014-08-21 for integrated cable modem and cable television management system.
This patent application is currently assigned to Broadcom Corporation. The applicant listed for this patent is Broadcom Corporation. Invention is credited to Daniel S. Bishop, Arvin D. Danielson, Michael D. Morris.
Application Number | 20140237509 14/265971 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 50781443 |
Filed Date | 2014-08-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140237509 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bishop; Daniel S. ; et
al. |
August 21, 2014 |
Integrated Cable Modem And Cable Television Management System
Abstract
An audio/video (A/V) processing system may receive a broadcast
signal that includes commercials. The system may detect a first
communication in the broadcast signal and obtain a user commercial
type selection. The system may control whether to present the first
commercial in the broadcast signal responsive to the user
commercial type selection. The system may also determine a
commercial placement location for relocating the first commercial
within the broadcast signal, which may include a commercial
sequence.
Inventors: |
Bishop; Daniel S.; (Malibu,
CA) ; Morris; Michael D.; (Cedar Rapids, IA) ;
Danielson; Arvin D.; (Solon, IA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Broadcom Corporation |
Irvine |
CA |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Broadcom Corporation
Irvine
CA
|
Family ID: |
50781443 |
Appl. No.: |
14/265971 |
Filed: |
April 30, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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09954520 |
Sep 17, 2001 |
8745682 |
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14265971 |
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09805589 |
Mar 13, 2001 |
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09954520 |
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60188779 |
Mar 13, 2000 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
725/34 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 21/6118 20130101;
H04N 21/812 20130101; H04N 21/2668 20130101; H04N 21/4334 20130101;
H04N 21/4622 20130101; H04N 21/4532 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
725/34 |
International
Class: |
H04N 21/81 20060101
H04N021/81; H04N 21/45 20060101 H04N021/45 |
Claims
1. A method comprising: in an audio/video (A/V) processing device:
receiving a broadcast signal that includes a first commercial;
detecting the first commercial in the broadcast signal; obtaining a
user commercial type selection; and controlling whether to present
the first commercial in the broadcast signal responsive to the user
commercial type selection.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining a
commercial placement location for relocating the first commercial
within the broadcast signal.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the commercial placement location
comprises a commercial sequence.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein the commercial sequence comprises
time positioning information for multiple different commercials in
the broadcast signal, including the first commercial.
5. The method of claim 2, further comprising: receiving an operator
input; and determining the commercial placement location responsive
to the operator input.
6. The method of claim 2, wherein determining the commercial
placement location comprises: determining to place multiple
commercials in the broadcast signal, including the first
commercial, at a beginning of the broadcast signal.
7. The method of claim 2, further comprising grouping together
commercials of a particular commercial type, including the first
commercial.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling whether to present
comprises: determining to remove the first commercial from the
broadcast signal.
9. A device comprising: communication circuitry configured to:
receive a broadcast signal that includes a first commercial; and
commercial management circuitry configured to: detect the first
commercial in the broadcast signal; and relocate the first
commercial to a placement location in the broadcast signal.
10. The device of claim 9, wherein the commercial management
circuitry is configured to relocate the first commercial by:
determining a commercial sequence of the broadcast signal for
multiple commercials, including the first commercial, in accordance
with a user commercial sequence selection.
11. The device of claim 10, wherein the commercial management
circuitry is configured to determine the commercial sequence by:
determining to place the multiple commercials, including the first
commercial, at a beginning of the broadcast signal.
12. The device of claim 9, wherein the commercial management
circuitry is configured to relocate the first commercial by:
determining to relocate the first commercial to a beginning of the
broadcast signal.
13. The device of claim 9, wherein the commercial management
circuitry is further configured to relocate the first commercial by
removing the first commercial from the broadcast signal.
14. The device of claim 9, wherein the commercial management
circuitry is further configured to: remove multiple commercials,
including the first commercial, in the broadcast signal in
accordance with a user request.
15. The device of claim 9, further comprising commercial feedback
circuitry configured to provide information related to a user
commercial type selection to a company associated with the first
commercial.
16. A device comprising: communication circuitry configured to:
receive a broadcast signal that includes a multiple commercials;;
and commercial management circuitry configured to: receive an
operator type input indicative of a commercial type preference;
receive an operator location input indicate of a commercial
location preference; recognize the multiple commercials in the
broadcast signal belong to a common commercial type characterized
by the operator type input; and relocate the multiple commercials
belonging to the common commercial type to a sequence location in
broadcast signal responsive to the commercial location
preference.
17. The device of claim 16, wherein the commercial management
circuitry is configured to relocate the multiple commercials by
grouping the multiple commercials together in the broadcast
signal.
18. The device of claim 16, wherein the commercial management
circuitry is configured to relocate the multiple commercials to a
beginning of the broadcast signal.
19. The device of claim 16, wherein the commercial management
circuitry is further configured to remove a commercial from the
broadcast signal.
20. The device of claim 16, further comprising commercial feedback
circuitry configured to provide information related to the operator
type input to a company associated with any of the multiple
commercials.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application is a divisional of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 09/954,520 entitled "INTEGRATED CABLE
TELEVISION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, filed Sep. 17, 2001, which is a
continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/805,589
entitled "INTEGRATED CABLE MODEM AND CABLE TELEVISION MANAGEMENT
SYSTEM," filed Mar. 13, 2001, which in turn claims the benefit
under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of provisional application for patent No.
60/188,779 filed Mar. 13, 2000. All of the above applications are
hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety,
including any drawings and appendices, and are made part of the
present U.S. Patent Application for all purposes.
[0002] The following U.S. Patents are hereby incorporated herein by
reference in their entirety, including any drawings and appendices,
and are made part of the present U.S. Patent Application for all
purposes:
[0003] 1) U.S. Pat. No. 5,790,536, entitled "HIERARCHICAL
COMMUNICATION SYSTEM PROVIDING INTELLIGENT DATA, PROGRAM AND
PROCESSING MIGRATION," filed Jun. 7, 1995 and issued Aug. 4,
1998.
[0004] 2) U.S. Pat. No. 5,726,984, entitled "HIERARCHICAL DATA
COLLECTION NETWORK SUPPORTING PACKETIZED VOICE COMMUNICATIONS AMONG
WIRELESS TERMINALS AND TELEPHONES," filed Oct. 5, 1995 and issued
Mar. 10, 1998.
[0005] The following U.S. Patent Application is hereby incorporated
herein by reference in its entirety, including any drawings and
appendices, and is made part of the present U.S. Patent Application
for all purposes:
[0006] 1) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/1183,767, entitled
"ENHANCED MOBILITY AND ADDRESS RESOLUTION IN A WIRELESS PREMISES
BASED NETWORK," (Attorney Docket No. DN38314RX), filed Oct. 30,
1998.
BACKGROUND
[0007] 1. Technical Field
[0008] The present invention relates generally to audio and video
media communication, storage, display, and processing; and, more
particularly, it relates to various methods and systems operable to
perform communication, storage, and processing of audio and video
media within, among, and between various media operable systems
including an integrated cable modem and cable television management
system that is operable to receive and manage signals via airwave
and satellite broadcast, Internet, and dedicated wireline
transmission.
[0009] 2. Related Art
[0010] Traditional cable television broadcast systems typically
include a cable television broadcast center and a television that
is operable to receive those broadcast signals. There is typically
no communication between the cable television broadcast center and
the television other that the receipt of programming of the signal
by the television from the cable television broadcast center.
Commonly, a user of a television within such a system is limited to
the programming that is provided by the cable television broadcast
center.
[0011] Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and
traditional systems will become apparent to one of skill in the art
through comparison of such systems with the present invention as
set forth in the remainder of the present application with
reference to the drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] A better understanding of the present invention can be
obtained when the following detailed description of various
exemplary embodiments is considered in conjunction with the
following drawings.
[0013] FIG. 1 is a system diagram illustrating an embodiment of a
signal flow/management that is performed in accordance with certain
aspects of the present invention.
[0014] FIG. 2 is a system diagram illustrating an embodiment of an
integrated cable modem and cable television management system built
in accordance with certain aspects of the present invention.
[0015] FIG. 3 is a system diagram illustrating another embodiment
of an integrated cable modem and cable television management system
built in accordance with certain aspects of the present
invention.
[0016] FIG. 4 is a system diagram illustrating an embodiment of a
signal recording/buffering system built in accordance with certain
aspects of the present invention.
[0017] FIG. 5 is a system diagram illustrating an embodiment of a
commercial management system built in accordance with certain
aspects of the present invention.
[0018] FIG. 6 is a system diagram illustrating an embodiment of a
content management system built in accordance with certain aspects
of the present invention.
[0019] FIG. 7 A is a system diagram illustrating an embodiment of a
time compression system built in accordance with certain aspects of
the present invention.
[0020] FIG. 7B is a system diagram illustrating another embodiment
of a time compression system built in accordance with certain
aspects of the present invention.
[0021] FIG. 8 is a system diagram illustrating an embodiment of a
television management system built in accordance with certain
aspects of the present invention.
[0022] FIG. 9 is a functional block diagram illustrating an
embodiment of a broadcast signal processing method performed in
accordance with certain aspects of the present invention.
[0023] FIG. 10 is a functional block diagram illustrating an
embodiment of a digital signal processing method performed in
accordance with the present invention.
[0024] FIG. 11 is a functional block diagram illustrating an
embodiment of a signal processing method performed in accordance
with certain aspects of the present invention.
[0025] FIG. 12 is a functional block diagram illustrating a send
process performed using certain aspects of the present
invention.
[0026] FIG. 13 is a functional block diagram illustrating a receive
process performed using certain aspects of the present
invention.
[0027] FIG. 14 is a system diagram illustrating an embodiment of a
vehicle adapted media system that is built in accordance with
certain aspects of the present invention.
[0028] FIG. 15 is a system diagram illustrating an embodiment of a
portable adapted media system that is built in accordance with
certain aspects of the present invention.
[0029] FIG. 16 is a system diagram illustrating an embodiment of a
media server network constructed in accordance with certain aspects
of the present invention.
[0030] FIG. 17 is a system diagram illustrating an embodiment of an
adaptive media server network that is built in accordance with
certain aspects of the present invention.
[0031] FIG. 18 is a system diagram illustrating an embodiment of
vehicle adapted media system operation that is performed in
accordance with certain aspects of the present invention.
[0032] FIG. 19 is a system diagram illustrating an embodiment of
portable adapted media system operation that is performed in
accordance with certain aspects of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0033] In view of the above detailed description of the present
invention and associated drawings, other modifications and
variations will now become apparent to those skilled in the art. It
should also be apparent that such other modifications and
variations may be effected without departing from the spirit and
scope of the present invention.
[0034] FIG. 1 is a system diagram illustrating an embodiment of a
signal flow/management 100 that is performed in accordance with
certain aspects of the present invention. The signal
flow/management 100 is illustrative of one manner in which an
analog broadcast signal 140 is converted into a playback signal
130. In some embodiments of the invention, a digital broadcast
signal 145 is converted into the playback signal 130. For those
embodiments wherein the analog broadcast signal 140 is converted
into the playback signal 130, an analog to digital converter (ADC)
circuitry 112 is operable to receive the analog broadcast signal
140 and perform any requisite operation to convert the analog
broadcast signal 140 into the digital broadcast signal 145. The
digital broadcast signal 145 is, in certain embodiments of the
invention, contained within an integrated cable modem and cable
television management system and its digital format assists in any
necessary signal processing on the signal. If desired, the analog
to digital converter (ADC) circuitry 112 contains a compression
circuitry 112a and a motion picture expert group 3 (MP3) operable
circuitry 112b. Moreover, the analog to digital converter (ADC)
circuitry 112 is to transform the analog broadcast signal 140 into
the digital broadcast signal 145 wherein the digital broadcast
signal 145 wherein the digital broadcast signal 145 is of the
motion picture expert group 2 (MPEG2). In other embodiments, the
analog broadcast signal 140 is transformed into the MPEG2 standard
for reproduction of a signal in high definition television (HDTV)
operable systems.
[0035] In other embodiments of the invention, the motion picture
expert group 3 (MP3) operable circuitry 112b is capable to
transform the analog broadcast signal 140 into the digital
broadcast signal 145 wherein the digital broadcast signal 145 is of
the MP3 format. Also, the compression circuitry 112a is operable to
perform any signal processing during the conversion of the analog
broadcast signal 140 to the digital broadcast signal 145 that would
assist in the preservation or conservation of processing and
storage resources within an integrated cable modem and cable
television management system in accordance with the present
invention.
[0036] The digital broadcast signal 145 is passed to a signal
retrieval/reproduction circuitry 118 for final conversion into the
playback signal 130. The signal retrieval/reproduction circuitry
118 contains, in certain embodiments of the invention, a
de-compression circuitry 118a and a motion picture expert group 3
(MP3) operable circuitry 118b. The de-compression circuitry 118a is
used to reconstruct the previously compressed analog broadcast 140,
that is now in the digital broadcast signal 145 format, into a form
suitable for playback using any number of devices including a
television or an integrated cable modem and cable television
management system. Similarly, the motion picture expert group 3
(Mp3) operable circuitry 118b is operable to reconstruct and
reproduce the previously converted analog broadcast 140, that is
now in the digital broadcast signal 145 MP3 format, into a form
suitable for playback of any MP3 encoded signal. The playback
signal 130 is of a form of either video or audio or a combination
of video and audio, depending on the original format of the analog
broadcast signal 140 or the format of the digital broadcast signal
145. The motion picture expert group 3 (MP3) standard is known in
the art to be amenable to encoding either video or audio data. The
signal flow/management 100 is illustrative of a generic overview of
the management of signals in either analog or digital format
wherein an original signal is received, and any signal processing
is performed on the original signal, and the signal is converted
into a format capable of being played back using any number of
signal playback media including audio playback media, video
playback media known in the art of audio and video data signal
processing. Throughout the detailed description of the invention,
the use and reference of video data or video signals includes both
audio and video data as well as audio data individually.
[0037] FIG. 2 is a system diagram illustrating an embodiment of an
integrated cable modem and cable television management system 200
built in accordance with certain aspects of the present invention.
The integrated cable modem and cable television management system
200, in its most basic representation, contains a cable television
server 230 and an integrated cable modem and cable television 210.
The cable television server 230 contains any number of methods to
transmit and provide video and audio broadcast signals. For
example, the cable television server 230 includes, among other
things, a cable television broadcast service 232, a cable
television satellite broadcast service 234, and a cable television
wireline broadcast service 236. The cable television server 230 is
operable to provide signals in either analog or digital format
without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. For
example, the cable television server is operable to provide an
analog broadcast signal 240 and a digital broadcast signal 250. The
analog broadcast signal 240 contains an airwave broadcast signal
242 in certain embodiments of the invention. The airwave broadcast
signal 242 includes the traditional method of transmitting a
broadcast signal from a television tower wherein the signal is
transmitted using conventional radio transmission and other
electromagnetic frequencies including the ultra high frequency
(UHF: 300-3000 MHz) and very high frequency (VHF: 30-300 MHz)
frequency spectra known in the art of television airwave broadcast.
The analog broadcast signal 240 is provided directly to the
integrated cable modem and cable television 210 from the cable
television server 230.
[0038] In addition, the cable television server provides the
digital broadcast signal 250 that itself contains any number of
signal types having a digital format such as a high definition
television (HDTV) signal 252 and a digital satellite broadcast
signal 254. Moreover, the digital broadcast signal 250 is operable
to be provided via an Internet 260 path. In such embodiments, the
Internet 260 provides the digital broadcast signal 250 to the
integrated cable modem and cable television 210. Alternatively, the
digital broadcast signal 250 is provided directly to the integrated
cable modem and cable television 210 without going through the
Internet 260.
[0039] The integrated cable modem and cable television 210 itself
contains a number of circuitries to perform the handling of the
signal provided by the cable television server 230, whether the
signal be provided as the analog broadcast signal 240 or the
digital broadcast signal 250. In the case when the signal provided
is the analog broadcast signal 240, an analog to digital converter
CADC) circuitry 212 within the integrated cable modem and cable
television 210 performs the requisite signal processing on the
analog broadcast signal 240 to perform any subsequent digital
signal processing on the analog broadcast signal 240, including
storage and playback of the analog broadcast signal 240. If
desired, an MP3 operable circuitry 213 is operable in conjunction
with the analog to digital converter (ADC) circuitry 212 to convert
the analog broadcast signal 240 into a proper digital format.
[0040] The digital format may include a strictly audio signal, such
as an "MP3" format, in certain embodiments of the invention. Any
other digital format is also included within the scope and spirit
of the invention including digital signals having both audio and
video content. For example, the MPEG-3 standard is a standard that
was originally intended for high definition television (HDTV), but
it was later abandoned in favor of MPEG-2. Such standards are also
included within the scope and spirit of the invention. The various
embodiments of the present invention are operable using any of the
MPEG-2, MP3, or generically an MPEG-2/3 standard that operates with
the desired digital data format. When the signal provided is the
digital broadcast signal 250, and it is provided via the Internet
260, it is fed into a cable modem 216 within the integrated cable
modem and cable television 210. Alternatively, the digital
broadcast signal 250 is capable of being fed directly into the
cable modem 216 in certain embodiments of the invention without
having gone through the Internet 260. In addition, the digital
broadcast signal 250 is capable of being fed directly into a signal
management circuitry 214 in certain embodiments of the
invention.
[0041] The digital broadcast signal 250 is eventually fed into the
signal management circuitry 214, regardless of the path it has
taken. In addition, the analog broadcast signal 240 is also fed
into the signal management circuitry 214, regardless of the path it
has taken. In addition, the analog broadcast signal 240 is also fed
into the signal management circuitry 214, after having passed
through the analog to digital converter (ADC) circuitry 212. The
signal management circuitry 214 is operable to do a variety of
functions, several of which are further described later in various
embodiments of the invention. The signal management circuitry 214
is operable to pass the broadcast signal, whether it is originally
in the form of the analog broadcast signal 240 or the digital
broadcast signal 250, to a signal storage circuitry 220. The signal
storage circuitry 220 contains a hard drive 222 in certain
embodiments of the invention. Present technological storage
capacities of hard drives is approximately one (1) Giga-byte memory
required to store approximately one (1) hour of video signal data.
A hard drive of approximately fourteen (14) Giga-byte memory is
presently known in the art. A hard drive of close to thirty (30)
Giga-byte memory is foreseeable in the near future. Clearly, as the
storage capacities of hard drives continues to increase, the total
storage of data will increase as well. A signal
retrieval/reproduction circuitry 218 is used to take the broadcast
signal and reproduce it for an end user. The end user is an
individual watching the broadcast signal (video) or listening to
the broadcast signal (audio) in certain embodiments of the
invention. Alternatively, the end user is additional circuitry that
is operable to perform signal processing on the broadcast signal.
The signal retrieval/reproduction circuitry 218 includes any
reproduction media that is operable to perform reproduction of the
broadcast signal in a form suitable for viewing, listening, or
additional signal processing in accordance with the present
invention.
[0042] The integrated cable modem and cable television management
system 200 is operable to receive a broadcast signal in either
analog or digital form and to store the broadcast signal using the
signal storage circuitry 220, to perform immediate or delayed
playback using the signal retrieval/reproduction circuitry 218. The
integrated cable modem and cable television management system 200
is operable to perform any desired compression on the broadcast
signal before storing it in the signal storage circuitry 220 as
well.
[0043] FIG. 3 is a system diagram illustrating another embodiment
of an integrated cable modem and cable television management system
300 built in accordance with certain aspects of the present
invention. The integrated cable modem and cable television
management system 300, in its most basic representation, contains a
cable television server 330 and an integrated cable modem and cable
television 310. The cable television server 330 is operable to
provide a cable television broadcast service 332 or an archived
broadcast database 334. The archived broadcast database 334
contains, in certain embodiments of the invention, archives of past
broadcasts of the cable television server 330. In even other
embodiments of the invention, the archived broadcast database 334
contains the future, planned broadcasts of the cable television
server 330.
[0044] The cable television broadcast service 332 of the cable
television server 330 provides an airwave broadcast signal 340 that
is fed to the integrated cable modem and cable television 310. The
archived broadcast database 334 of the cable television server 330
provides a signal operable to provide both a video-on-demand 350
and an offline video download 365. Either of the video-on-demand
350 and the offline video download 365 is operable to be provided
to the integrated cable modem and cable television 310 via an
Internet 360. Alternatively, the video-on-demand 350 is operable to
be provided directly to the integrated cable modem and cable
television 310.
[0045] In addition, the integrated cable modem and cable television
310 is also operable to perform download and playback of streaming
video 367 from the cable television server 330. The streaming video
download 367 includes streaming download and playback of data that
has an audio component and a video component as well as solely an
audio component or solely a video component as described within
various embodiments. As is known in the art of streaming data, a
portion of the data may be downloaded to a buffer and the playback
being initiated during the time in which the remainder of the
streaming data is received. If desired, a portion of executable
code, stored within the integrated cable modem and cable television
310, initiates the streaming video independent of any user
interaction; alternatively, some user-interaction is required
before the streaming video 367 commences. Also, this streaming
video 367 is operable via the Internet 360 or directly to the cable
modem 316 as desired in various embodiments of the invention.
[0046] The integrated cable modem and cable television 310 uses an
analog to digital converter (ADC) circuitry 312, and if desired, an
MP3 operable circuitry 313, to accommodate the airwave broadcast
signal 340 when it is in analog format. The signal is then fed into
a signal management circuitry 314. Similarly, the archived
broadcast signal 334, is fed into the signal management circuitry
314, after having been received via the Internet 360, through a
cable modem 316, or fed directly to the signal management circuitry
314 from the video-on-demand 350.
[0047] The integrated cable modem and cable television 310 uses a
signal storage circuitry 320, containing a hard drive 322 in
certain embodiments of the invention, and a signal
retrieval/reproduction circuitry 318 in similar fashion as the
integrated cable modem and cable television 210 of the FIG. 2 to
perform storage and retrieval of the broadcast or archived signal.
The integrated cable modem and cable television 310 is operable to
perform retrieval and downloading of the broadcast signals using a
variety of methods including the video-on-demand 350 or the offline
video download 365 that are operable to retrieve a broadcast from
the archived broadcast database 334.
[0048] FIG. 4 is a system diagram illustrating an embodiment of a
signal recording/buffering system 400 built in accordance with
certain aspects of the present invention. The signal
recording/buffering system 400, in its most basic representation,
contains a cable television server 430 and an integrated cable
modem and cable television 410. The cable television server 430 is
operable to provide a cable television broadcast service 432 or an
archived broadcast database 434. The archived broadcast database
434 contains, in certain embodiments of the invention, archives of
past broadcasts of the cable television server 430. In even other
embodiments of the invention, the archived broadcast database 434
contains the future, planned broadcasts of the cable television
server 430.
[0049] The cable television broadcast service 432 of the cable
television server 430 provides an airwave broadcast signal 440 that
is fed to the integrated cable modem and cable television 410. The
archived broadcast database 434 of the cable television server 430
provides a signal operable to provide both a video-on-demand 450
and an offline video download 465. Either of the video-on-demand
450 and the offline video download 465 is operable to be provided
to the integrated cable modem and cable television 410 via an
Internet 460. Alternatively, the video-on-demand 450 is operable to
be provided directly to the integrated cable modem and cable
television 410.
[0050] In addition, the integrated cable modem and cable television
410 is also operable to perform download and playback of streaming
video 467 from the cable television server 430. The streaming video
download 467 includes streaming download and playback of data that
has an audio component and a video component as well as solely an
audio component or solely a video component as described within
various embodiments. As is known in the art of streaming data, a
portion of the data may be downloaded to a buffer and the playback
being initiated during the time in which the remainder of the
streaming data is received. If desired, a portion of executable
code, stored within the integrated cable modem and cable television
410, initiates the streaming video independent of any user
interaction; alternatively, some user-interaction is required
before the streaming video 467 commences. Also, this streaming
video 467 is operable via the Internet 460 or directly to the cable
modem 416 as desired in various embodiments of the invention.
[0051] The integrated cable modem and cable television 410 employs
a signal management circuitry 414 to control the recording and
buffering of broadcasts signals, analog and digital. The integrated
cable modem and cable television 410 uses a signal storage
circuitry 420, containing a hard drive 422 in certain embodiments
of the invention, and a signal retrieval/reproduction circuitry 418
in similar fashion as the integrated cable modem and cable
television 210 of the FIG. 2 and the integrated cable modem and
cable television 310 of the FIG. 3 to perform storage and retrieval
of the broadcast or archived signal.
[0052] The signal management circuitry 414 contains a signal
recording circuitry 414a that itself contains, a scheduling
circuitry 414aa, a signal quality monitoring circuitry 414bb, a
digital retrieval/recording circuitry 414cc, and an airwave
broadcast recording circuitry 414dd. The scheduling circuitry 414aa
is operable to peruse the archived broadcast database 434 to
extract past broadcasts and schedule when they are to be played
back. Similarly, the scheduling circuitry 414aa is operable to
peruse the archived broadcast database 434 to decide which
broadcast segments to record in the future. The signal quality
monitoring circuitry 414bb is operable to monitor the quality of
the incoming signal, and reduce either or both of the audio or
video quality of the signal in an effort to maintain constant
playback of a broadcast signal. For example, in certain embodiments
of the invention, the provision of the broadcast signal may suffer
as a function of bandwidth of the cable modem, or the quality the
airwave broadcast signal 440 could suffer as a function of whether,
and in order to ensure uninterrupted service, the signal quality
monitoring circuitry 414bb is operable to reduce the number of
frames per unit time that are displayed or to reduce the audio
quality from stereo to mono.
[0053] Similar bandwidth and processing resource measures are
within the scope and spirit of the invention. The digital
retrieval/recording circuitry 414cc is operable to perform
independent retrieval of broadcasts contained within the archived
broadcast database 434. The digital retrieval/recording circuitry
414cc is operable, in certain embodiments of the invention, in
conjunction with the scheduling circuitry 414aa to decide what to
download and when to download it from the archived broadcast
database 434. The airwave broadcast recording circuitry 414dd is
operable to record the airwave broadcast signal 440 in real time.
If desired, when a broadcast program is decided to be recorded
during broadcast, the airwave broadcast recording circuitry 414dd
is operable to record the remaining portion of the broadcast signal
whereas the digital retrieval/recording circuitry 414cc is operable
is operable to retrieve the preceding portion of the broadcast that
has already passed. In such embodiments of the invention, a dual
recording of the broadcast program is being performed, one from the
airwave broadcast signal 440 as it is being broadcast in real time
and the other from the archived broadcast database 434. If desired,
the entirety of the broadcast program could be downloaded from the
archived broadcast database 434 in such an embodiment after the
broadcast is complete, and the airwave broadcast signal 440 could
be displayed in real time to a user. Alternatively, once a user
identifies a broadcast (in progress) that he wished to record, the
entire program could be downloaded, from its beginning, from the
archived broadcast database 434, in a delayed manner such that to a
user, the entire program is "new" and not seen before.
[0054] FIG. 5 is a system diagram illustrating an embodiment of a
commercial management system 500 built in accordance with certain
aspects of the present invention. The commercial management system
500, in its most basic representation, contains a cable television
server 530 and an integrated cable modem and cable television 510.
The cable television server 530 is operable to provide a cable
television broadcast service 532 or an archived broadcast database
534. The archived broadcast database 534 contains, in certain
embodiments of the invention, archives of past broadcasts of the
cable television server 530. In even other embodiments of the
invention, the archived broadcast database 534 contains the future,
planned broadcasts of the cable television server 530.
[0055] The cable television broadcast service 532 of the cable
television server 530 provides an airwave broadcast signal 540 that
is fed to the integrated cable modem and cable television 510. The
archived broadcast database 534 of the cable television server 530
provides a signal operable to provide both a video-on-demand 550
and an offline video download 565. Either of the video-on-demand
550 and the offline video download 565 is operable to be provided
to the integrated cable modem and cable television 510 via an
Internet 560. Alternatively, the video-on-demand 550 is operable to
be provided directly to the integrated cable modem and cable
television 510.
[0056] In addition, the integrated cable modem and cable television
510 is also operable to perform download and playback of streaming
video 567 from the cable television server 530. The streaming video
download 567 includes streaming download and playback of data that
has an audio component and a video component as well as solely an
audio component or solely a video component as described within
various embodiments. As is known in the art of streaming data, a
portion of the data may be downloaded to a buffer and the playback
being initiated during the time in which the remainder of the
streaming data is received. If desired, a portion of executable
code, stored within the integrated cable modem and cable television
510, initiates the streaming video independent of any user
interaction; alternatively, some user-interaction is required
before the streaming video 567 commences. Also, this streaming
video 567 is operable via the Internet 560 or directly to the cable
modem 516 as desired in various embodiments of the invention.
[0057] The integrated cable modem and cable television 510 uses a
signal storage circuitry 520, containing a hard drive 522 in
certain embodiments of the invention, and a signal
retrieval/reproduction circuitry 518 in similar fashion as the
integrated cable modem and cable television 210 of the FIG. 2, the
integrated cable modem and cable television 310 of the FIG. 3, and
the integrated cable modem and cable television 410 of the FIG. 4
to perform storage and retrieval of the broadcast or archived
signal.
[0058] The integrated cable modem and cable television 510 contains
a commercial management circuitry 514 that itself contains a
commercial profiler circuitry 514a and a commercial detection
circuitry 514cc. The commercial profiler circuitry 514a contains a
commercial interaction/query circuitry 514aa and a commercial
placement circuitry 514bb. The integrated cable modem and cable
television 510 is operable to detect a commercial, whether the
commercial is contained in an analog or digital broadcast signal.
The commercial pro filer circuitry 514a is operable to be used
within the integrated cable modem and cable television 510 to
control the type and sequence of commercials that are going to be
viewed by a user of the integrated cable modem and cable television
510. For example, the commercial interaction/query circuitry 514aa
is operable to allow a user to select those commercials that he/she
would like to view. The commercial placement circuitry 514bb is
operable to control the sequence of when the commercials are viewed
by the user. For example, a user may select that all the
commercials of a broadcast be placed at the beginning of the
broadcast, similar to how commercials and advertisements are placed
in the movie industry. Alternatively, a user may select the
grouping of what types of commercials are to shown together. A user
can use the commercial profiler circuitry 514a to personalize the
commercials that he/she is shown. In addition, a user could use the
commercial profiler circuitry 514a, in conjunction with the
commercial detection circuitry 514cc, to skip all commercials in a
broadcast.
[0059] A commercial feedback circuitry 590 is operable to provide
feedback of a user's selection of which types of commercials to be
viewed. This feedback includes any number of information including
the product types, the product lines, and the types of commercials.
Companies purchasing commercial air time from the cable television
server 530 are provided instantaneous feedback on the
success/failure of their advertisements. This ability to provide
accurate consumer feedback would provide a significant improvement
over the conventional methods of trying to model consumer choices
and preferences.
[0060] A business interaction circuitry 592 is also communicatively
coupled to the integrated cable modem and cable television 510 in
various embodiments of the invention. The business interaction
circuitry 592 is operable cooperatively with the commercial
feedback circuitry 590, if desired, to allow real time interaction
with companies and customers seeking to transact business with a
user of the integrated cable modem and cable television 510. The
user may also perform business transactions with companies using
the business interaction circuitry 592. For example, in one
embodiment, a user of the integrated cable modem and cable
television 510 is afforded the opportunity, by using the business
interaction circuitry 592, to purchase advertised items from a
vendor who purchases commercial air time from the cable television
server 530. Similarly, one of the companies purchasing commercial
air time from the cable television server 530 may perform
modification of their advertising commitment with the company
operating the cable television server 530. If desired, this
modification is based on the response of users of integrated cable
modem and cable televisions to particular advertising. The
integrated cable modem and cable television 510 is operable to
perform complete business transactions without human
interaction.
[0061] FIG. 6 is a system diagram illustrating an embodiment of a
content management system 600 built in accordance with certain
aspects of the present invention. The content management system
600, in its most basic representation, contains a cable television
server 630 and an integrated cable modem and cable television 610.
The cable television server 630 is operable to provide a cable
television broadcast service 632 or an archived broadcast database
634. The cable television server 630 employs content tagging
circuitry 631 to attach a rating to each of the broadcasts is
transmits. The rating is, in certain embodiments of the invention,
those known to the television and movie industries such as G, PG,
PG-13, R, X, XXX, MA, Y, etc. In addition, any other rating system
that used to depict the content of a broadcast is included without
departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The archived
broadcast database 634 contains, in certain embodiments of the
invention, archives of past broadcasts of the cable television
server 630. In even other embodiments of the invention, the
archived broadcast database 634 contains the future, planned
broadcasts of the cable television server 630.
[0062] The cable television broadcast service 632 of the cable
television server 630 provides an airwave broadcast signal 640 that
is fed to the integrated cable modem and cable television 610. The
archived broadcast database 634 of the cable television server 630
provides a signal operable to provide both a video-on-demand 650
and an offline video download 665. Either of the video-on-demand
650 and the offline video download 665 is operable to be provided
to the integrated cable modem and cable television 610 via an
Internet 660. Alternatively, the video-on-demand 650 is operable to
be provided directly to the integrated cable modem and cable
television 610.
[0063] In addition, the integrated cable modem and cable television
610 is also operable to perform download and playback of streaming
video 667 from the cable television server 630. The streaming video
download 667 includes streaming download and playback of data that
has an audio component and a video component as well as solely an
audio component or solely a video component as described within
various embodiments. As is known in the art of streaming data, a
portion of the data may be downloaded to a buffer and the playback
being initiated during the time in which the remainder of the
streaming data is received. If desired, a portion of executable
code, stored within the integrated cable modem and cable television
610, initiates the streaming video independent of any user
interaction; alternatively, some user-interaction is required
before the streaming video 667 commences. Also, this streaming
video 667 is operable via the Internet 660 or directly to the cable
modem 616 as desired in various embodiments of the invention.
[0064] The integrated cable modem and cable television 610 uses a
signal storage circuitry 620, containing a hard drive 622 in
certain embodiments of the invention, and a signal
retrieval/reproduction circuitry 518 in similar fashion as the
integrated cable modem and cable television 210 of the FIG. 2, the
integrated cable modem and cable television 310 of the FIG. 3, the
integrated cable modem and cable television 410 of the FIG. 4, and
the integrated cable modem and cable television 510 of the FIG. 5
to perform storage and retrieval of the broadcast or archived
signal.
[0065] The integrated cable modem and cable television 610 contains
a content management circuitry 614 that itself contains a content
pro filer circuitry 614a and a content tag detection circuitry
614cc. The content profiler circuitry 614a contains a content
interaction/query circuitry 614aa and a content modification
circuitry 614bb. In much the same as the integrated cable modem and
cable television 510 of the FIG. 5 performs selection of
commercials, the integrated cable modem and cable television 610 of
the FIG. 6 performs selection of broadcasts as a function of
content. For example, a user could select that only broadcasts of a
specific rating be received. Alternatively, the integrated cable
modem and cable television 610 is operable to perform modification
of the broadcast using the content modification circuitry 614bb in
much the same way that many of the major television networks modify
certain programs for violence and nudity so that they are
acceptable for a broader audience. In addition, a user of the
integrated cable modem and cable television 610 can select only
certain types of rating or content, i.e., only R rated programs or
only programs containing violence. Any combination of rating and
content is included to be selected by a user.
[0066] A content feedback circuitry 690 is operable in much the
same way as the commercial feedback circuitry 590 provides feedback
of users' selections of commercials in the FIG. 5. The content
feedback circuitry 690 is operable to provide feedback of a user's
selection of which types of rating and content of programs are to
be viewed. This feedback includes information including the rating
and the content of programs selected by users. Broadcast companies
are provided instantaneous feedback on the types of broadcast
programs that are most desirable for their subscribers. This
ability to provide accurate cable television consumer feedback
would provide advantage in choosing what types of programs are most
desired by users as well as helping to provide intelligent
decision-making for potential advertisers who desire to purchase
commercial time. Knowing the types programs that are most commonly
selected would allow companies to purchase commercial time in an
intelligent manner.
[0067] Similar to the embodiment shown in the FIG. 5, a business
interaction circuitry 692 is also communicatively coupled to the
integrated cable modem and cable television 610 in various
embodiments of the invention. The business interaction circuitry
692 is operable cooperatively with the content feedback circuitry
690, if desired, to allow real time interaction with companies and
customers seeking to transact business with a user of the
integrated cable modem and cable television 610. The user may also
perform business transactions with companies using the business
interaction circuitry 692. For example, in one embodiment, a user
of the integrated cable modem and cable television 610 is afforded
the opportunity, by using the business interaction circuitry 692,
to purchase advertised items from a vendor who purchases commercial
air time from the cable television server 630. Similarly, one of
the companies purchasing commercial air time from the cable
television server 630 may perform modification of their advertising
commitment with the company operating the cable television server
630. If desired, this modification is based on the response of
users of integrated cable modem and cable televisions to particular
advertising. The integrated cable modem and cable television 610 is
operable to perform complete business transactions without human
interaction.
[0068] FIG. 7A is a system diagram illustrating an embodiment of a
time compression system 700 built in accordance with certain
aspects of the present invention. The time compression system 700
contains a cable television server 730 and an integrated cable
modem and cable television 710. The cable television server 730
employs a signal monitoring circuitry 732 and a signal compression
circuitry 734, that itself contains a data extraction circuitry
734a, to generate a time-compressed signal 740. The time-compressed
signal 740 is provided to the integrated cable modem and cable
television 710 for playback as a reproduced time-compressed signal
730.
[0069] Studies have shown that certain portions of program can be
intelligently compressed without any perceptual degradation in the
overall quality to a viewer or listener. For portions of a
broadcast that are substantially similar in video and audio data
content as determined by the signal monitoring circuitry 732, a
certain number of frames is intelligently extracted using the data
extraction circuitry 734a, so that an amount of time is saved from
the overall broadcast. For example, when a scene is drawn out over
a relatively long period of time and much of the data is highly
correlated and similar, a predetermined number of frames (say every
10.sup.th frame) is extracted from the overall broadcast signal, so
that the signal is compressed into the time-compressed signal 740.
Any number of intelligent methods are used to determine when the
signal is sufficiently similar such that a portion of it can be
extracted without departing from the scope and spirit of the
invention.
[0070] FIG. 7B is a system diagram illustrating another embodiment
of a time compression system 705 built in accordance with certain
aspects of the present invention. The time compression system 705
contains a cable television server 735 and an integrated cable
modem and cable television 715. The integrated cable modem and
cable television 715 employs a signal monitoring circuitry 717 and
a signal compression circuitry 719, that itself contains a data
extraction circuitry 719a, to convert an un-compressed signal 745
into a reproduced time-compressed signal 735.
[0071] As described above with respect to the time compression
system 700 of the FIG. 7 A, Studies have shown that certain
portions of program can be intelligently compressed without any
perceptual degradation in the overall quality to a viewer or
listener. For portions of a broadcast that are substantially
similar in video and audio data content as determined by the signal
monitoring circuitry 717, a certain number of frames is
intelligently extracted using the data extraction circuitry 719a,
so that an amount of time is saved from the overall broadcast. For
example, when a scene is drawn out over a relatively long period of
time and much of the data is highly correlated and similar, a
predetermined number of frames (say every 10th frame) is extracted
from the overall broadcast signal, so that the signal is compressed
into the reproduced time-compressed signal 735. Any number of
intelligent methods are used to determine when the signal is
sufficiently similar such that a portion of it can be extracted
without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.
[0072] The time compression system 700 of the FIG. 7A and the time
compression system 705 of the FIG. 7B are illustrative of where the
time compression of a signal is performed in either of server (the
cable television server 730 of the FIG. 7 A) or a receiver (the
integrated cable modem and cable television 715 of the FIG. 7B)
within any of the various embodiments illustrated above in the
detailed description of the various Figures.
[0073] FIG. 8 is a system diagram illustrating an embodiment of a
television management system 800 built in accordance with certain
aspects of the present invention. A cable television server 830 is
operable to broadcast either one or both of a digital broadcast
signal 850 and an analog broadcast signal 840. A television 810 is
operable to receive the digital broadcast signal 850 and the analog
broadcast signal 840. In certain embodiments of the invention, the
television 810 is an integrated cable modem and cable television.
The television 810 employs a digital receiver circuitry 852 to
accommodate the digital broadcast signal 850 and an analog receiver
circuitry 842 to accommodate the analog broadcast signal 840. The
television 810 employs a two-way communication circuitry 852 that
is operable to communicate with the cable television server 830 and
any other two-way communication device 823 as well via a two-way
communication link 861.
[0074] In certain embodiments of the invention, the two-way
communication circuitry 852 contains a cable modem 816 that is
operable to communicate with the cable television server 830 and
the any other two-way communication device 823 as well via the
two-way communication link 861. The two-way communication link 861
includes the Internet in some embodiments. The cable modem 816 is
operable to communicate with any number of other devices via the
Internet 860. For examples, the television 810 is operable to
communicate with a computer 811 and a local area network (LAN) 890
using either the two-way communication circuitry 852 and/or the
cable modem 816. Any other Internet/LAN appliance 812 is also
communicatively coupled to the Internet 860. If desired, the local
area network (LAN) 890 is an Internet-operable network' in
applications desirous of access to the Internet 860. In certain
embodiments of the invention, the local area network (LAN) 890 is a
home based LAN.
[0075] The television 810 also contains signal transformation
circuitry 825 and a signal storage circuitry 820. The signal
transformation circuitry 825 is operable to perform transformation
of any received signal, such as either one of the digital broadcast
signal 850 and the analog broadcast signal 840, into any other form
of signal. For example, the analog broadcast signal 840 may be
transformed into a digital signal within the television 810.
Moreover, the signal transformation circuitry 825 is operable to
perform transformation of a stored signal into the another format
for display or transmission to any of the other devices
communicatively coupled to the television 810. The signal storage
circuitry 820 is operable to store any received signal, such as
either one of the digital broadcast signal 850 and the analog
broadcast signal 840, for subsequent transformation, display, or
transmission.
[0076] In certain embodiments of the invention, the television
management system 800 provides for communication from the
television 810 to the cable television server 830. The television
810 is operable to receive broadcast signals directly from the
cable television server 830 without any interaction or
communication with the cable television server 830. However, the
television 810 is also operable to receive broadcast signals from
the cable television server 830 after having selected certain
programming and requested that it be provided to the television
810. If desired, the television 810 is operable to select a
particular broadcast and to receive that broadcast. Moreover, a
number of cable televisions, or a number of integrated cable modem
and cable televisions, may be operable to select a particular
broadcast and to receive that broadcast. For example, the number of
integrated cable modem and cable televisions are operable to select
the particular broadcast and to receive that broadcast. The cable
television server 830 is operable to process the selections of the
television 810 or the number of integrated cable modem and cable
televisions in order to process the selections and to determine
which broadcast to perform.
[0077] Alternatively, the television 810 is operable to receive
programming from the cable television server 830 by transmission
via the two-way communication link 861. The requested and received
signal may then be stored in the signal storage circuitry 820. If
necessary or if desired, requested and received signal may be
transformed into a more desirable or usable form, depending on the
application, by the signal transformation circuitry 825.
[0078] Also included within the scope and spirit of the invention
is the ability to perform such operations initially using a device
communicatively coupled to the Internet 860 or the local area
network (LAN) 890, and then to provide the video and/or audio data
to the television 810.
For example, the computer 811 is operable to perform all of the
functionality described within the television 810 in certain
embodiments of the invention. In such an instant, the computer 811
is operable to perform all of the described functionality such as
receipt, processing, storage, and transformation of a signal and
then to provide it to another device, such as another computer or
the television 810 or another television.
[0079] In other words, all of the functionality described within
the various embodiment of the television 810, as well as the
various embodiments of integrated cable modem and cable televisions
within the various Figures, may be incorporated within a computer
capable of offering such functionality. As the components and
functionality offered by a television and a computer continue to
merge and the differences become less and less, a "computer" that
is operable for television functionality, or having a built in
television, is such a device into which the various functionality
of the present invention may also be incorporated. In such an
instance, a "black box" device, having both computer functionality
and television functionality would be operable to perform and to
provide the various aspects of the present invention.
[0080] It is also noted that the devices used to perform the
communicative coupling between the various devices described in the
various embodiments of the present invention include both wireline,
wireless, optical, and other communicative coupling methods and
practices known in the art. For example, the communicative coupling
between the two-way communication circuitry 852 and the two-way
communication link 861 is performed via a wireline connection in
certain embodiments of the invention; in others, it is a wireless
connection. Similarly, the communicative coupling between the cable
modem 816 and the Internet 860 is performed using either a wireline
connection or a wireless connection.
[0081] The television 810 is operable to perform coupling to any
intermediary connection that subsequently allows connection to the
two-way communication link 861 or the Internet 860 without
departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. For example,
an infrared or radio frequency connection may be made from the
television 810 to a peripheral intermediary device or a wall
connection in a building before the communicative coupling to
either the two-way communication link 861 or the Internet 860 is
completed. While in certain embodiments of the invention, the
television 810 is a true "cable" television having a physical
cabled connection between itself and the wall, there may be
portions of the communicative coupling between the television 810
and the other various devices within the present invention that
include wireless communication as well. The use and interchange of
such wireline (e.g., "cable") interconnections and wireless
interconnections, within any of the various embodiments, does not
depart from the scope and spirit of the invention. A cable
television is operable where a portion of its communicative
coupling is provided via such wireless connections.
[0082] Similarly, the communicative coupling provided by the local
area network (LAN) 890 is achieved using either wireline or
wireless connections. For all purposes within this patent
application, the term wireline includes the use of dielectric
"wired" media such as optical fiber having a physical component
completing the communicative coupling between the various
devices.
[0083] A business interaction circuitry 892 is also communicatively
coupled to the television 810 via the two-way communication link
861, which may include the Internet 860, and the cable television
server 830 in various embodiments of the invention. The business
interaction circuitry 892 of the FIG. 8 is operable is all of the
ways described for the business interaction circuitries 592 and 692
within the embodiments of the FIGS. 5 and 6, respectively. The
business interaction circuitry 892 is accessible by a user of the
television 810 and anyone with authorized access to the cable
television server 830. For example, such a company 893 is able to
use the business interaction circuitry 892 in certain embodiments
of the invention. The company 893 may purchase advertising time or
air time from the cable television server 830. In addition, the
company 893 may conduct business transactions with a user of the
television 810. Also, the interconnectivity between the company 893
and the cable television server 830, and the two-way communication
link 861, is operable when portions of interconnectivity include
wireless connections as well.
[0084] A user of the television 810 is able to initiate and conduct
such business transactions with the company 893 and the cable
television server 830. Alternatively, the television 810
automatically initiates the business transactions with the company
893 and the cable television server 830. For example, the
television 810 is operable to be programmed to perform certain
business transactions at certain times without the necessity of
user interaction in various embodiments of the invention. One
example of such a business transaction includes a payment of cable
television service via the two-way communication link 861. Other
business transactions are also included within the scope and spirit
of the invention. It is also noted that any other devices
communicatively coupled to the television 810 and the cable
television server 830 are able to perform business transactions as
well.
[0085] FIG. 9 is a functional block diagram illustrating an
embodiment of a broadcast signal processing method 900 performed in
accordance with certain aspects of the present invention. In a
block 910, a broadcast signal is received. The broadcast signal is
any number of broadcast signals including a digital broadcast
signal 911 and an analog broadcast signal 912. Then, in a block
920, the broadcast signal received in the block 910 is processed in
the block 920. Ultimately, the processed broadcast signal is stored
in a block 930. Alternatively, the processed broadcast signal is
either displayed and/or transmitted in a block 935. The display in
the block 935 include any number of display methods including using
a television, a computer, or any other system operable to perform
display of a broadcast signal or a processed broadcast signal. The
transmission of the processed broadcast signal in the block 935
includes any of the processed described in the present invention
including via the Internet or via a local area network (LAN) to any
number of devices communicatively coupled to either and or both the
Internet or the LAN.
[0086] FIG. 10 is a functional block diagram illustrating an
embodiment of a digital signal processing method 1000 performed in
accordance with certain aspects of the present invention. In a
block 1010, a digital signal is received. The received digital
signal in the block 1010 is any number of signals including a
video-on-demand digital signal 1011 and an offline video download
signal 1012. In a block 1020, the received digital signal is
processed in a block 1020. Then, that processed digital signal is
stored in a block 1030. Alternatively, the processed digital signal
is either displayed and/or transmitted in a block 1035. The display
in the block 1035 include any number of display methods including
using a television, a computer, or any other system operable to
perform display of a broadcast signal or a processed broadcast
signal. The transmission of the processed broadcast signal in the
block 1035 includes any of the processed described in the present
invention including via the Internet or via a local area network
(LAN) to any number of devices communicatively coupled to either
and or both the Internet or the LAN.
[0087] FIG. 11 is a functional block diagram illustrating an
embodiment of a signal processing method 1100 performed in
accordance with certain aspects of the present invention. In a
block 1114, a signal is requested. Before the request of the signal
in the block 1114, a signal is received in a block 1110. In certain
embodiments of the invention, a first signal may be received in the
block 1110, then a second signal is received in the block 1114.
Alternatively, the same signal is received in the block 1110 and
requested, perhaps for continued reception, in the block 1114.
Then, in a block 1116, a signal is received. The signal received in
the block 1116 is different than the signal received in the block
1110; it is the same signal in other embodiments. Then, the signal
is processed in a block 1120. Is desired in certain embodiments,
the signal received in the block 1110 is processed in the block
1120. Alternatively, the signal received in the block 1114 is
processed in the block 1120. If desired, both the signal received
in the block 1110 and the signal received in the block 1114 are
processed in the block 1120.
[0088] Ultimately, the processed signal is stored in a block 1130.
Alternatively, the processed signal is either displayed and/or
transmitted in a block 1135. The display in the block 1135 include
any number of display methods including using a television, a
computer, or any other system operable to perform display of a
broadcast signal or a processed broadcast signal. The transmission
of the processed broadcast signal in the block 1135 includes any of
the processed described in the present invention including via the
Internet or via a local area network (LAN) to any number of devices
communicatively coupled to either and or both the Internet or the
LAN. The signal processing method 1100 includes the transmission of
a signal between various devices, as shown in the embodiment of the
invention shown in the FIG. 8.
[0089] FIG. 12 is a functional block diagram illustrating a send
process 1200 performed using certain aspects of the present
invention. The FIG. 12 shows the send process 1200 that occurs if a
request cannot be fulfilled locally. This send process 1200 waits
for an event to occur. If the event is a new request message to
send, then it attempts to service the send request immediately. Of
the data links that are available, the process chooses the highest
quality of service (QOS) not exceeding the cost required by the
request. If the optimal data link fails then each of the data links
that do not exceed the requested cost will be tried in descending
order of QOS until the list is exhausted or the data is sent. The
other event that can trigger the link selection process is when a
new data link becomes connected to the device. Since data packets
have been queued because the appropriate cost link was not
available, the availability of a new link triggers an examination
of the send queue for requests that can be sent over the new link.
Thus, data will be sent as soon as an appropriate data link is
available to the system. The FIG. 12 shows the send process 1200 of
a data collection terminal. The request is always processed when it
is first put in the queue and then if it is not sent it will be put
in the send queue with the other requests waiting an appropriate
data link, Also when a new data link is detected all messages that
can use that data link will be sent. The various functionality of
the send process 1200 shown in the FIG. 12 is also described below
from another perspective.
[0090] In a block 1210, any system that performs the send process
1200 waits for an event to occur. After one has occurred, then, in
a decision block 1212, it is determined of the event is a new
request. If it is a new event, then the send process 1200 proceeds
to the block 1214, where a highest QOS is selected for cost. For
example, the send process 1200 may be further controlled to choose
a highest QOS that does not exceed the cost required by the
request. Then, in a block 1216, the send process 1200 attempts to
send requests. Further in a decision block 1218, it is determined
whether the attempted send action of the block 1216 was successful.
If the send was not successful, as determined in the decision block
1218, then in a decision block 1224, it is further determined
whether there are more data links to try. If there are more data
links to try as determined in the decision block 1224, then the
send process 1200 returns to the attempt to send requests block
1216. Alternatively, however, if the send was successful, as
determined in the decision block 1218, then the send process 1200
returns to the wait for event functional block 1210.
[0091] However, back to the determination in the decision block
1212, if it is determined that the event of the block 1210 is not a
new request, then in a decision block 1220, it is further
determined if any new data links are available. If there are none
available, then the send process 1200 waits returns to the wait for
event functional block 1210. However, if there are new data links
available as determined in the decision block 1220, then in a
decision block 1222, it is determined whether there are data in
queue. If there are data in queue, then the send process goes to
the block 1214 where a highest quality of service (QOS) is selected
for cost. If no data is in queue, however, the send process 1200
goes to a put request on send queue functional block 1226.
Similarly, if in the decision block 1224 it is determined that
there are no more data links to try, then the send process 1200
also goes to the put request on send queue functional block 1226.
After the operation of the put request on send queue functional
block 1226, the send process 1200 returns to the wait for event
functional block 1210. The send process 1200 may operate
indefinitely in this continuous operation.
[0092] FIG. 13 is a functional block diagram illustrating a receive
process performed using certain aspects of the present invention.
The FIG. 13 shows the receive process 1300 of receiving responses
from another systems component. This process matches the response
with the original request through the transaction number stored in
the request and inserted into the response by an upstream
information system. This data is then stored via transaction number
and the upper layer application program notified that the
transaction result is available for processing. The FIG. 13 also
shows processing of a request from another systems component. The
response process will copy the maximum cost information from the
request to the response message for sending to the host and thus
the "send process" as described in FIG. 1 can be used to send
responses as well as requests. The FIG. 13 shows the receive
process 1300. The response may be out of sequence from the users
current activities and thus the user must be given the opportunity
to view the transaction or to continue with the current task and
return to the transaction later. The various functionality of the
receive process 1300 shown in the FIG. 13 is also described below
from another perspective.
[0093] In a block 1310, the receive process 1300 waits to receive a
message. Then, when a message is received, it is then determined
whether the received message is a request in a decision block 1312.
If it is determined that the received message is a request in the
decision block 1312, then the request is fulfilled in a block 1320.
Then, the response is put in a send queue in a block 1318.
[0094] However, If it is determined that the received message is
not a request in the decision block 1312, then the received message
is matched with a transaction identification (ID) in a block 1314.
The message is then stored for user retrieval in a block 1316, and
the user is also alerted that the request has been fulfilled in a
block 1322. The receive process 1300 then goes back to the wait to
receive a message functional block 1310. Similar to the send
process 1200, the receive process 1300 may operate indefinitely in
this continuous operation. Both the send process 1200 and the
receive process 1300 may operate cooperatively in various
embodiments of the invention.
[0095] Moreover, both the send process 1200 and the receive process
1300 may be employed within any of the various embodiments of the
invention to effectuate a high QOS connection (be it wireless or
wireline), among other benefits of the send process 1200 and the
receive process 1300. For example, when any of the various
embodiments of integrated cable modem and cable televisions shown
above in the various embodiments of the invention desire to find a
particular connection to a cable television server, or simple a
television server (say in a wireless context), the send process
1200 and the receive process 1300 may be employed to that end. The
same applicability of the send process 1200 and the receive process
1300 may similarly be extended to the various embodiments shown
below as well.
[0096] FIG. 14 is a system diagram illustrating an embodiment of a
vehicle adapted media system that 1400 is built in accordance with
certain aspects of the present invention. The vehicle adapted media
system that 1400 is operable using a vehicle media system 1410 that
may be mounted within a vehicle 1404. The vehicle media system 1410
is also equipped to perform wireless communication functionality.
An antenna may used in certain embodiments of the invention. The
vehicle media system 1410 may be permanently mounted within the
vehicle 1404, but as will be seen in various embodiments of the
invention, a vehicle media system 1410 that is a portable/dockable
vehicle media system 1415 is oftentimes more desirable for
accommodating many diverse applications. However, the vehicle media
system 1410 may nevertheless be permanently mounted within the
vehicle 1404 without departing from the scope and spirit of the
invention.
[0097] The vehicle 1404 is shown as being parked within a
garage/parking space 1406. The garage/parking space 1406 is merely
exemplary, and any environment that offers the functionality of the
garage/parking space 1406 is operable using various aspects of the
invention, as will be seen. The garage/parking space 1406 is
illustrated as an example of a place in which nearly every vehicle
1404 will be at one time or another. Within the garage/parking
space 1406, the vehicle media system 1410 is able to perform
communicative coupling, and communication, with a high speed
wireless local area network (LAN) 1490. It is noted, however, that
the vehicle media system 1410, when provided with hard-wire, or
wireline communicative coupling, may also perform communicative
coupling and communication with the high speed wireless LAN 1490.
As described above in various embodiments of the invention, the use
of segmented portions of wireless or wireline communicative
coupling between various components of the various embodiments does
not depart from the scope and spirit of the invention. The high
speed wireless LAN 1490 is then operable to communicate with the
Internet 1460, or any other network 1470 as well.
[0098] The high speed wireless LAN 1490 is exemplary of a high
speed Internet access, or any other network access for that matter,
that may achieved with the vehicle media system 1410. The vehicle
media system may also be equipped to perform all of the
functionality of the various embodiments of integrated cable modem
and cable televisions shown above in the various embodiments of the
invention. For example, the high speed wireless LAN 1490 may
provide the channel through which offline video download, streaming
video, or other media transfers may be performed within the scope
and spirit of the invention. Similarly, the vehicle media system
1410 may also be equipped to provide for receipt of airwave
broadcasts, of both analog and digital format. That is to say, the
vehicle media system 1410 may include all of the various
functionality of the various embodiments of integrated cable modem
and cable televisions shown above in the various embodiments of the
invention. The vehicle adaptability of the vehicle media system
1410, within the context of the vehicle adapted media system that
1400, illustrates one example of the adaptability of the various
aspects of the present invention in multiple contexts, including
those involving means of individual transportation, such as the
vehicle 1404. It is understood that a media system built in
accordance with the invention could also be adapted to any other
vehicle, including common carrier means of transportation such as
trains, airplanes, and other vehicles as well.
[0099] FIG. 15 is a system diagram illustrating an embodiment of a
portable adapted media system 1500 that is built in accordance with
certain aspects of the present invention. A portable media system
1515 is operable to perform communication with a network 1570 using
any of a variety or communication link paths. The portable media
system 1515 may contain each of the various circuitries and devices
contained within the vehicle media system 1410 of the FIG. 14 in
certain embodiments of the invention. It may also contain
additional circuitry offering greater functionality as well as will
be seen in the various embodiments described herein. The network
1570 is the Internet 1560 itself in certain embodiments of the
invention, but the network 1570 may also be any other network as
well without departing from the scope and spirit of the
invention.
[0100] In one instance, the portable media system 1515 is operable
to perform communication with the network 1570 using the
functionality offered by a public facility that supports network
access 1530. The public facility supporting network access 1530 is
any number of various types of public facilities. Some examples of
the public facility supporting network access 1530 include an
airport 1532 and a train station 1534. However, any other public
facility 1536 is also included within the scope and spirit of the
invention. The public facility supporting network access 1530
employs a network access system 1595 that may employ a high speed
wireless LAN 1590 to provide for access to the network 1570.
[0101] The manner is which the portable media system 1515 accesses
the network 1570, using the functionality of the public facility
supporting network access 1530, may be performed in any number of
ways as shown by the network interface options 1540. For example,
the network interface may be achieved using a wireless tower 1544
that communicatively couples to a terrestrial-based wireless
network 1545 that itself communicatively couples to the network
1570. However, in alternative embodiments, the network interface
may be achieved using a satellite 1542 that communicatively couples
to a satellite-based wireless network 1543 that itself
communicatively couples to the network 1570. Moreover, any other
wireless interface 1547 may also be used to perform the
communicative coupling. It is also understood that a wireline
communicative coupling, that connects the portable media system
1515 to the network 1570 through the public facility supporting
network access 1530 is also envisioned within the scope and spirit
of the invention. For example, a wireline hook-up may be provided
for the portable media system 1515 within the public facility
supporting network access 1530 to allow access to the network 1570.
In addition, any number of communication links may exist within the
network interface options 1540 by which the portable media system
1515 may access the network 1570.
[0102] In another instance of connecting the portable media system
1515 to the network 1570, any number of network interface options
1550 may also be used. These network interface options 1550 may be
accessed by the portable media system 1515 using a wide area
wireless network 1591. From certain perspectives, the wide area
wireless network 1591 is employed when the portable media system
1515 does not have access to another connection to the network
1570. For example, in situations where the portable media system
1515 cannot get access to the high speed wireless LAN 1590, or
another high performance network that allows for network access,
the portable media system uses the wide area wireless network 1591
to access the network 1570.
[0103] The network interface options 1550 includes an indefinite
number of links, shown as a link #1 1551, . . . , and a link #n
1555. Each of the various links 1551 . . . 1555 include a number of
parameters by which they may be characterized. For example, the
link #1 1551 includes a cost 1552 by which the link #1 1551 may be
compared to the other links within the network interface options
1550. In certain instances, a user of the portable media system
1515 may prefer to perform connection to the network 1570 via a
cheaper link. However, in other situations, the need for
connectivity is of such high importance that the cost of the link
is of much reduced importance. The link #1 1551 may also include
any other parameter 1553 by which it may be characterized and
compared to other links within the network interface options 1550.
Similarly, the link #n 1555 may also be characterized using a cost
1556 and any other parameter 1557.
[0104] It is also noted that the network interface options 1540 and
the network interface options 1550 may both contain common
elements. That is to say, the network interface options 1540 may be
viewed as having multiple links, each of which may be characterized
by certain parameters including cost and any other parameter.
Similarly, the network interface options 1540 may also include all
of the various functionality of the network interface options 1540
as well.
[0105] FIG. 16 is a system diagram illustrating an embodiment of a
media server network 1600 constructed in accordance with certain
aspects of the present invention. The media server network includes
a media server 1610 and an indefinite number of other media
server(s) 1680 that all communicatively couple to a network 1670.
Again, the network 1670 may itself be the Internet in certain
embodiments of the invention. All of the functionality of the media
server 1610 may also be included within the other media server(s)
1680 as well. An indefinite number of media customer(s) 1690 also
are provided communicative coupling to the network 1670. The
indefinite number of media customer(s) 1690 may include as few as
one customer without departing from the scope and spirit of the
invention.
[0106] The media server 1610 includes processing circuitry 1612 and
media storage circuitry 1616. The media server 1610 employs
interface circuitry 1614 to perform communicative coupling to the
network 1670. The media server 1610 is operable to perform various
server functionality 1618. The server functionality 1618 includes
media management 1630 and link assessment 1620. For example, the
server functionality 1618 provides for assessment of the various
links by which it may perform communicative coupling to the network
1670 in terms of a number of parameters including cost 1622, speed
1624, reliability 1626, or any other factor 1629 as well.
[0107] The server functionality 1618 of the media server 1610, in
terms of media management 1630, may perform media management 1630
between the media server 1610 and the other media server(s) 1680 or
simply within the media server 1610. The media management 1630
includes management in terms of demand 1631. This demand 1631 may
be characterized in terms of many parameters including geographical
1632 and overall 1633. That is to say, there may be some media that
is of particular high demand in certain geographical regions. For
example, in the context of sporting events, it may be desirable to
ensure that a particular media server, located within relatively
close geographical proximity to a given city contains media that
does have of will have a high demand within that city. Any other
partition of geography may also be sued without departing from the
scope and spirit of the invention, including a state or a region.
This media may then be stored within the media server 1610 using
the media storage circuitry 1616.
[0108] Media management 1630 may also be performed in terms of
customer pricing 1634. For example, anyone of the media customer(s)
1690 may set certain caps or cutoffs of media for which they do not
even desire to purchase. Moreover, there may be links over which
certain of the media customer(s) 1690 may not wish to acquire media
because the cost is prohibitive for them. Therefore, the customer
pricing 1634 may be performed using constraints provided by the
media customer(s) 1690. However, the customer pricing 1634 may be
performed using constraints provided by the media server 1610 as
well. For example, a company operating the media server 1610 may
perform customer pricing 1634 as well. The company may set customer
pricing 1634 to be processed using the media server 1610.
[0109] Media management 1630 may also be performed in terms of
distribution speed 1636. The media server 1610 may be adapted to
perform distribution of media only when the distribution speed 1636
is above a certain threshold. Alternatively, anyone of the media
customer(s) 1690 may decide to receive distribution of media from
the media server 1610 only when the distribution speed 1636 meets a
certain threshold. The threshold for which the media server
performs distribution of media and a customer-defined threshold
need not be the same threshold.
[0110] Media management 1630 may also be performed in terms of
allocating media stored among any number of various server(s) 1638.
For example, media management 1630 may include moving media from
one media server to another based on any of the above-described
considerations. For example, If it is determined that certain media
is infrequently demanded in a given geographical region, then that
media may then be transferred to a media server that may more
appropriately store the media. In addition, there may be any other
factor 1639 by which media management may be performed.
[0111] FIG. 17 is a system diagram illustrating an embodiment of an
adaptive media server network 1700 that is built in accordance with
certain aspects of the present invention. Any number of media
servers are communicatively coupled to a network 1770. Again, the
network 1770 may itself be the Internet in certain embodiments of
the invention. In addition, any number of media customers are also
able to communicatively couple to the network 1770. The
functionality of the adaptive media server network 1700 allows for
adaptive media processing, including media transfer among the
various media servers within the adaptive media server network
1700. Each of the media servers within the adaptive media server
network 1700 are operable to perform communication and cooperative
processing to handle the various media stored and transferred among
and between them.
[0112] The indefinite number of media servers are shown as a media
server #1 1710, a media server #2 1720, . . . , and a media server
#n 1730. In addition, the indefinite number of media customers are
shown as a media customer #A 1791, a media customer #B 1792, a
media customer #C 1793, a media customer #D 1794, . . . , and a
media customer #Z 1799.
[0113] Sometimes, certain of the media servers and some of the
media customers are both in a high demand geographical area 1741.
In such instances, it makes sense to ensure that high demand media,
as desired by the media customer #A 1791 and the media customer #B
1792, is stored locally on the media server #1 1710 within the high
demand geographical area 1741. This is shown graphically as the
functional block 1712 where high demand media is stored locally on
the media server #1 1710 for use by the media customer #A 1791 and
the media customer #B 1792. It is also noted that the high demand
geographical area 1741 may not suggest solely that the media
customer #A 1791 and the media customer #B 1792 as well as the
media server #1 1710 are all within a common geographical area, but
rather the media server #1 1710 may be the best media server that
can provide for high demand media to the media customer #A 1791 and
the media customer #B 1792. That is to say, the media server #1
1791, though perhaps further away from the media customer #A 1791
and the media customer #B 1792 in terms of distance, they are
nevertheless "closer" in terms of performance of communicative
coupling offered by the network 1770. For example, is situations
where the media server #2 1720 is very close to the media customer
#A 1791 and the media customer #B 1792, yet it may be accessed via
a dial-up modem, whereas the media server #1 1710 may be accessed
via an Ethernet connection, the media server #1 1710 may be
"closer" from a network perspective.
[0114] Analogously, it may be more efficient to transfer
infrequently demanded media from one media server to another media
server, as shown by the functional block 1732 within the media
server #n 1730. This situation may occur in a low demand
geographical area 1742. It may be that the media customer #Z 1799
perform very little demand, perhaps none at all, of any media
stored locally on the media server #n 1730. In such an instance, it
may make sense to transfer the infrequently demanded media to
another media server where it is demanded more frequently, as shown
by the functional block 1732. This will free up space on the media
server #n 1730.
[0115] In addition, the various media servers may modify media
pricing based on demand (or any other factors as well), as shown by
the modify pricing based on demand (or other factors) functional
block 1722 within the media server #2 1720. It is also understood
that the functionality of the functional blocks 1712, 1722, and
1732 may be included within each of the various media servers,
namely, the media server #1 1710, the media server #2 1720, . . . ,
and the media server #n 1730.
[0116] FIG. 18 is a system diagram illustrating an embodiment of
vehicle adapted media system operation 1800 that is performed in
accordance with certain aspects of the present invention. A vehicle
1804 that includes a vehicle media system 1810 begins in a home
based region 1801. The vehicle 1804 may be parked at the operator's
home 1805. Alternatively, the home based region 1801 may simply be
a region in which the vehicle media system 1810 is deemed to be in
its "home region." Such terminology is sometimes used in the
cellular telephone context. It may be that the vehicle media system
1810 is afforded reduced wireless connectivity rates or greater
service within the home based region 1801. Alternatively, the home
based region 1801 may simply be the region in which the operator of
the vehicle 1801 may access the functionality offered within his
home 1805. For example, in various embodiments of the invention as
shown and described above, a garage or parking space for a vehicle,
that may be at the home 1805, may include network access via a high
speed wireless LAN. Any of the various functionality described
above within these embodiments is also included within the vehicle
media system 1810 shown in the FIG. 18.
[0117] The vehicle 1804 is then operable to perform some
transportation, including a commute 1803 to a work based region
1802 in which the vehicle operator's workplace 1815 is located.
Alternatively, the vehicle 1804 is then operable to perform some
transportation to any other region 1830. During the commute 1803,
the vehicle media system 1810 is operable to perform wireless
download of media. This wireless download may also include receipt
of streaming media as well via a wireless means. The wireless
download may also include receipt in real time of a broadcast
signal, be it digital or analog, without departing from the scope
and spirit of the invention, as described above in the various
embodiments of an integrated cable modem and cable television.
[0118] The manner is which the vehicle media system 1810 performs
the wireless media download during the commute 1803 is one of any
number of varied options. For example, the wireless media download
may be achieved using a wireless tower 1844 that communicatively
couples to a terrestrial-based wireless network 1845 that itself
communicatively couples to a network from which media is
downloaded. However, in alternative embodiments, the wireless media
download may be achieved using a satellite 1842 that
communicatively couples to a satellite-based wireless network 1843
that itself communicatively couples to the network from which media
is downloaded. Moreover, any other wireless interface 1847 may also
be used to perform the communicative coupling to a network from
which media is downloaded.
[0119] After the vehicle 1804 has arrived at the work based region
1802 where the workplace 1815 is located, or to any other region
1830, then the vehicle media system 1810 is operable to perform
playback of the downloaded media. Again, the vehicle media system
1810 may also be a portable/dockable media system in accordance
with the invention thereby allowing a user of the vehicle media
system 1810 to remove it from the vehicle 1804 and take it with him
into the workplace 1802 or any other place where playback of the
downloaded media may be performed. In addition, the any other
region 1830, whether it includes the work based region 1802 or the
workplace 1815, may also provide for high speed wireless LAN
network access. In addition, as is often the case in many
workplaces 1815, there may also be provided high speed wireline
network access, within the any other region 1830, through which the
vehicle media system 1810 may perform any of the functionality
described above in various embodiments of the invention including
download of media, receipt of streaming media, and receipt of a
broadcast transmission.
[0120] FIG. 19 is a system diagram illustrating an embodiment of
portable adapted media system operation 1900 that is performed in
accordance with certain aspects of the present invention. A vehicle
1904 that includes a portable media system 1910 begins in a home
based region 1901. The vehicle 1904 may be parked at the operator's
home 1905. Alternatively, the home based region 1901 may simply be
a region in which the portable media system 1910 is deemed to be in
its "home region." Such terminology is sometimes used in the
cellular telephone context. It may be that the portable media
system 1910 is afforded reduced wireless connectivity rates or
greater service within the home based region 1901. Alternatively,
the home based region 1901 may simply be the region in which the
operator of the vehicle 1901 may access the functionality offered
within his home 1905. For example, in various embodiments of the
invention as shown and described above, a garage or parking space
for a vehicle, that may be at the home 1905, may include network
access via a high speed wireless LAN. Any of the various
functionality described above within these embodiments is also
included within the portable media system 1910 shown in the FIG.
19.
[0121] The vehicle 1904 is then operable to perform some
transportation, including a transit 1903 to an airport 1932 in
which an aircraft 1933 is located. Alternatively, the vehicle 1904
is then operable to perform some transportation to any other region
including a public facility supporting network access 1930. During
the transit 1903, the portable media system 1910 is operable to
perform wireless download of media. This wireless download may also
include receipt of streaming media as well via a wireless means.
The wireless download may also include receipt in real time of a
broadcast signal, be it digital or analog, without departing from
the scope and spirit of the invention, as described above in the
various embodiments of an integrated cable modem and cable
television and the various vehicle media systems.
[0122] The manner in which the portable media system 1910 performs
the wireless media download during the transit 1903 is one of any
number of varied options. For example, as described in other
embodiments, the wireless media download may be achieved using a
wireless tower that communicatively couples to a terrestrial-based
wireless network that itself communicatively couples to a network
from which media is downloaded. However, in alternative
embodiments, the wireless media download may be achieved using a
satellite that communicatively couples to a satellite-based
wireless network that itself communicatively couples to the network
from which media is downloaded. Moreover, any other wireless
interface may also be used to perform the communicative coupling to
a network from which media is downloaded.
[0123] After the vehicle 1904 has arrived at the airport 1932 where
the aircraft 1933 is located, or to any other region, or a public
facility supporting network access 1930, then the portable media
system 1910 is operable to perform playback of the downloaded
media. Again, the portable media system 1910 may also be a vehicle
media system in accordance with the invention as well. A user of
the portable media system 1910 may then take the portable media
system 1910 with him into the airport 1932, and also onto the
aircraft 1933, if so desired. Playback of downloaded media may then
also be performed on the portable media system 1910 during a flight
1914 of the aircraft 1933. If permitted by the Federal Aeronautic
Administration, the portable media system 1910 also offers the
functionality to perform wireless download of media within the air
using its own wireless communication functionality. Alternatively,
the portable media system 1910 may also use a telephone on board
the aircraft 1933 to access a network from which it may perform
communicative coupling during the flight 1914 so that media may be
received.
[0124] Within any of these various places, playback of the
downloaded media may be performed. In addition, the public facility
supporting network access 1930 may also provide for high speed
wireless LAN network access. In addition, there may also be
provided high speed wireline network access, within the public
facility supporting network access 1930, through which the portable
media system 1910 may perform any of the functionality described
above in various embodiments of the invention including download of
media, receipt of streaming media, and receipt of a broadcast
transmission.
[0125] In view of the above detailed description of the present
invention and associated drawings, other modifications and
variations will now become apparent to those skilled in the art. It
should also be apparent that such other modifications and
variations may be effected without departing from the spirit and
scope of the present invention.
* * * * *