SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IMPROVED MEDIA ACQUISITION RESPONSE

Abstract

A system and method providing a video content acquisition system adapted to determine content acquisition delays as a function of the source of the content. In particular, the system and method minimize delays experienced by users requesting video content via a client device. This is accomplished by tailoring the acquisition delay time associated with a particular request for content based upon the source of the signal from which the requested content is to be obtained (broadcast, satellite, cable, internet, etc.), as well as the type of signal requested and/or rate at which the source signal provides content (symbols/sec, bits/second, etc.). This minimizes the amount of time a user may mistakenly perceive a client device to be unresponsive or incapable of providing the requested video content.

Claims

1. A system for acquiring digital content comprising: at least one media server adapted to obtain digital content from at least one content provider in response to received requests; at least one memory storing information indicative of at least one parameter associated with the digital content from the at least one content provider; and at least one controller, adapted to: receive at least one user request identifying a particular digital content; retrieve from the at least one memory information indicative of at least one parameter associated with the particular digital content; and determine, based, at least in part, upon the retrieved information, a default time associated with the acquisition of the particular digital content by the at least one media server.

2. The system of claim 1 where in the at least one content provider comprises at least one of the following: a multi-service operator; a cable provider; an optical system provider; an Internet streaming provider; a terrestrial broadcast provider; and a satellite provider.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the information indicative of at least one parameter associated with the digital content from the at least one content provider comprises at least one of the following: a content provider identifier; a content title; an encoding type; a content rate; and a default acquisition delay interval.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one memory comprises at least one of the following: a disc drive; a solid-state drive; and a cloud-based storage system.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one memory is integral to the at least one media server.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the controller comprises a client device.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the at least one controller is further adapted to: retrieve the information indicative of at least one parameter associated with the digital content from the at least one memory; and store the retrieved information in a memory associated with the client device.

8. The system of claim 6 wherein the client device comprises at least one of the following: a media gateway; a smartphone; a tablet; a digital television; a digital assistant; and a computer monitor.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one controller is further adapted to: generate a message indicative of a pending acquisition of the particular digital content by the at least one media server; and display the generated message upon a device for an interval substantially equal to the determined default time.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the device displaying the generated message comprises at least one of the following: a smartphone; a tablet; a digital television; a digital assistant; and a computer monitor.

11. A method for acquiring digital content, in a system comprising: at least one media server adapted to obtain digital content from at least one content provider in response to received requests; and at least one memory storing information indicative of at least one parameter associated with the digital content from the at least one content provider; the method comprising the steps of: receiving at least one user request identifying a particular digital content; retrieving from the at least one memory information indicative of at least one parameter associated with the particular digital content; and determining, based, at least in part, upon the retrieved information, a default time associated with the acquisition of the particular digital content by the at least one media server.

12. The method of claim 11 where in the at least one content provider comprises at least one of the following: a multi-service operator; a cable provider; an optical system provider; an Internet streaming provider; a terrestrial broadcast provider; and a satellite provider.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the information indicative of at least one parameter associated with the digital content from the at least one content provider comprises at least one of the following: a content provider identifier; a content title; an encoding type; a content rate; and a default acquisition delay interval.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the at least one memory comprises at least one of the following: a disc drive; a solid-state drive; and a cloud-based storage system.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein the at least one memory is integral to the at least one media server.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the system further comprises a client device.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising the steps of: retrieving the information indicative of at least one parameter associated with the digital content from the at least one memory; and storing the retrieved information in a memory associated with the client device.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the client device comprises at least one of the following: a media gateway; a smartphone; a tablet; a digital television; a digital assistant; and a computer monitor.

19. The method of claim 11 wherein the system further comprises at least one display, and the method further comprises the steps of: generating a message indicative of a pending acquisition of the particular digital content by the at least one media server; and displaying the generated message upon the at least one display for an interval substantially equal to the determined default time.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the device displaying the generated message comprises at least one of the following: a smartphone; a tablet; a digital television; a digital assistant; and a computer monitor.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] The aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings in which:

[0010] FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a system supporting the determination of content acquisition delays as a function of the source and/or type of the requested content.

[0011] FIG. 2 is a table representative of information indicative of the source, signal type and signal rate of content that can be accessed via the system of FIG. 1.

[0012] FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of a first process supported by the system of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0013] FIG. 1 provides a functional block diagram of system 100 which supports a video content acquisition system adapted to determine content acquisition delays as a function of the source and/or type of the content. As shown, the system includes client device 102 which serves to provide video content to monitor 104 via high-definition media interface 106. Client device 102 is shown to include controller 106 and memory 108. Client device 102 is also shown to be connected to media server 112 via local network 114. Media server 112 can be any appliance adapted to receive video content, including a set-top or a similar media routing and acquisition system. Media server 112 is shown to be linked to Internet video streaming service 116 and satellite downlink 118 via broadband network 120. Multiple video tuners (122), controller 124 and memory 126 are also shown to be components of media server 112.

[0014] Media server 112 is adapted to periodically provide client device 102 with information indicative of the content available via media server 112 from Internet video streaming service 116 and satellite downlink 118. This information would be provided to media server 112 from each content source via broadband network 120 and stored within memory 126. The service providers associated with satellite downlink 118 and/or streaming service 116 could be granted access to media server 112 for purposes of storing the requisite information. Such information could also be provided, in whole or in part, by a user of client device 102 via one or more user interfaces (not pictured). Such user interfaces (keyboards, smart devices, digital assistants, remote controls, etc.) could be integral to client device 102, or linked to it either by wired or wireless means.

[0015] FIG. 2 provides a table (200) representative of the information stored in memory 126. As shown, the stored information includes a content identifier (202) which provides the channel that must be tuned to obtain the content or the URL for accessing streaming IPTV content. The stored information also includes information indicative of the source (204) of the identified content, the type of encoding (206) utilized for the identified content, the symbol or data rate (208) of the identified content, and the typical acquisition delay (210) associated with the identified content. The provision of this stored information to client device 102 by media server 112 could be accomplished by downloading the information from memory 126 to client device memory 110, or by the provision of a Universal Record Locator (“URL”) to client device 102 by media server 112, wherein the provided URL is associated with an Extensible Markup Language (“XML”) file. The XML file could then be accessed by processor 108 and the information contained therein stored in memory 110.

[0016] FIG. 3 provides a flow diagram of a preferred process (300) utilizing the system of FIG. 1. The process begins with processor 108 within client device 112 determining if a user has issued a request for the acquisition of particular content from Internet video streaming service 116 and/or satellite downlink 118 (see steps 302 and 304). Such requests would be typically be initiated in response to one or more user commands issued from the aforementioned user interface linked to client device 102. If no such request is evident, the process loops back to step 302. However, if it is determined that a request for particular content has been received, the processor 108 queries memory 110 to determine if the stored information (see FIG. 2) indicates that the requested content is available (step 306). This determination would likely be made based upon the specific channel or URL requested by a user, but could also be made on the basis of other information, such as content title, which could be stored within memory 110 and associated with parameters similar to those shown in of FIG. 2. If information associated with the requested content isn't stored within memory 110, the content is deemed unavailable and the process continues with the generation of an error message by client device 102 (step 308), and then loops back to step 302. Such an error message could be communicated to a user via monitor 104, or via a user interface linked to client device 102.

[0017] However, if processor 108 determines that information associated with the requested content is stored within memory 110, the process continues with step 310 and the retrieval from memory 110 of one or more parameters associated with the requested content. From this retrieved information, processor 108 determines the default acquisition time associated with the requested content. As shown in FIG. 2, this default acquisition time is among the parameters stored within memory 100, and the value for such is simply retrieved from memory 110 by processor 108. Processor 108 then generates a message indicating that the acquisition of the requested content is pending. This message is provided to the user via monitor 104 for an interval equal to the retrieved default acquisition time (steps 314 and 316).

[0018] When the default acquisition time interval has elapsed, the process continues with step 318 and processor 108 determines if the requested video content is available from media server 112. If not, an error message informing the user that the request could not be fulfilled is issued (step 320). This message could be provided via monitor 104 or via an alternate user interface. Following the display of this error message the process loops back to steps 302 and 304, and awaits a new user request. However, if the requested content is available from media server 102, the content is accepted by client device 102 and displayed upon monitor 104 (step 322). The process continues with steps 302 and 304, and awaits a new user request.

[0019] Although the invention herein has been described with reference to a particular embodiment, it is to be understood that this embodiment is merely illustrative of the principles and applications of the present invention. Other embodiments and variations could be implemented without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. For example, the invention could be applied in environments where the content providers including multi-service operators providing content via cable or optical networks, or those providing content via terrestrial broadcast. The monitor associated with the invention could be a digital television, a computer monitor, a smart device, a digital assistant or a tablet. Similarly, the invention could be implemented in environments that include multiple client devices connected to a single media server. Each of these client devices capable of independently requesting content from the media server. Although invention has been described as directly retrieving the default acquisition time from a memory within a media server, embodiments of the invention include systems wherein the default acquisition time is calculated based upon one or more other content-related parameters retrieved from a media server, such as the content identifier, content source, type of content encoding, the content rate, etc. Furthermore, a media gateway, a smartphone, a tablet, a digital television, a digital assistant or a computer could all be utilized as a client device. It will also be understood that the various connections depicted as wired in the above embodiments could also be supported by wireless connections without departing from the scope of the invention. The processes described herein could be performed by a single or multiple multi-processor system, co-located with the user and/or device(s) being controlled, or remotely based in whole or in part. The memory or memories supporting the functionality of the invention storage of the data can be a disk, a solid-state drive, cloud-based storage (in whole or in part), or any other means with sufficient capacity.