Systems and methods for mirroring and transcoding media content

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016309211-A1
Application number	US-201615075918-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 21, 2016
Priority date	Jul 11, 2007
Publication date	Oct 20, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Systems and methods for mirroring and transcoding media content are provided. In some embodiments, media content stored on a user equipment device is mirrored on a remote server, and the mirrored copy is transcoded and provided to other user devices in a media content format that is appropriate for the user devices. By so doing, the present invention not only provides a convenient and easy way for users to backup media content and access the media content from virtually any device, but also reduces the complexity and costs associated with maintaining reliable and consistent access to media content across various user devices.

First claim

1 - 120 . (canceled)

121 . A method for providing access to media, the method comprising:
receiving, at a remote server, coupled to a first user equipment over a network, a user request to schedule media content for recording on the first user equipment; determining, at the remote server, that a recording of the media content scheduled for recording has been completed; in response to determining that the recording of the media content scheduled for recording has been completed, mirroring, at the remote server, the media content recorded on the first user equipment to create a mirrored copy of the media content recorded on the first user equipment; and transcoding, at the remote server, the mirrored copy to a media content format that is appropriate for a second user equipment.

122 . The method of claim 121 , further comprising storing, on the remote server, the mirrored copy of the media content with a pointer to a current playback position in the mirrored copy of the media content.

123 . The method of claim 122 , further comprising adjusting, on the remote server, the pointer to the current playback position based on a user-interaction, on the second user equipment, with the mirrored copy of the media content.

124 . The method of claim 121 , further comprising:
determining whether the second user equipment is included in a list of previously registered user equipment devices; and transmitting the mirrored copy of the media content, from the remote server, to the second user equipment in response to determining that the second user equipment is included in the list of previously registered user equipment devices.

125 . The method of claim 121 , wherein transcoding the mirrored copy by the remote server is performed in real-time, in concurrence with playing, on the second user equipment, the mirrored copy transcoded for the second user equipment.

126 . The method of claim 121 , wherein mirroring, at the remote server, the media content recorded on the first user equipment further comprises mirroring the media content in a user designated media content format.

127 . The method of claim 121 , further comprising periodically polling the first user equipment to determine whether the recording of the media content scheduled for recording has been completed.

128 . The method of claim 121 , wherein mirroring, at the remote server, the media content recorded on the first user equipment further comprises:
determining whether the media content recorded on the first user equipment fulfills a pre-defined user criteria of media content to be mirrored; and based on determining that the media content recorded on the first user equipment fulfills the pre-defined user criteria of media content to be mirrored, mirroring the media content.

129 . The method of claim 121 , wherein the remote server comprises a first application resident on the remote server and a second application resident on the remote server, and wherein:
mirroring the media content recorded on the first user equipment comprises mirroring the media content using the first application; and transcoding the mirrored copy comprises transcoding the mirrored copy using the second application.

130 . The method of claim 121 , wherein the transcoding of the mirrored copy to the media content format that is appropriate for the second user equipment is performed prior to receiving a user input from the second user equipment requesting to access the mirrored copy.

131 . A system for providing access to media, the system comprising:
control circuitry configured to:
receive, at a remote server, coupled to a first user equipment over a network, a user request to schedule media content for recording on the first user equipment;
determine, at the remote server, that a recording of the media content scheduled for recording has been completed;
in response to determining that the recording of the media content scheduled for recording has been completed, mirror, at the remote server, the media content recorded on the first user equipment to create a mirrored copy of the media content recorded on the first user equipment; and
transcode, at the remote server, the mirrored copy to a media content format that is appropriate for a second user equipment.

132 . The system of claim 131 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to store, on the remote server, the mirrored copy of the media content with a pointer to a current playback position in the mirrored copy of the media content.

133 . The system of claim 132 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to adjust, on the remote server, the pointer to the current playback position based on a user-interaction, on the second user equipment, with the mirrored copy of the media content.

134 . The system of claim 131 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
determine whether the second user equipment is included in a list of previously registered user equipment devices; and transmit the mirrored copy of the media content, from the remote server, to the second user equipment in response to determining that the second user equipment is included in the list of previously registered user equipment devices.

135 . The system of claim 131 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to transcode the mirrored copy on the remote server in real-time, in concurrence with playing, on the second user equipment, the mirrored copy transcoded for the second user equipment.

136 . The system of claim 131 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured, when mirroring, at the remote server, the media content recorded on the first user equipment, to mirror the media content in a user designated media content format.

137 . The system of claim 131 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to periodically poll the first user equipment to determine whether the recording of the media content scheduled for recording has been completed.

138 . The system of claim 131 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured, when mirroring, at the remote server, the media content recorded on the first user equipment, to:
determine whether the media content recorded on the first user equipment fulfills a pre-defined user criteria of media content to be mirrored; and based on determining that the media content recorded on the first user equipment fulfills the pre-defined user criteria of media content to be mirrored, mirror the media content.

139 . The system of claim 131 , wherein the remote server comprises a first application resident on the remote server and a second application resident on the remote server, and wherein:
the control circuitry is further configured, when mirroring the media content recorded on the first user equipment, to mirror the media content using the first application; and the control circuitry is further configured, when transcoding the mirrored copy, to transcode the mirrored copy using the second application.

140 . The system of claim 131 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to transcode the mirrored copy to the media content format that is appropriate for the second user equipment prior to receiving a user input from the second user equipment requesting to access the mirrored copy.

Assignees

• Rovi Guides Inc

Inventors

• Grasset Jean-Francois Benjamin

Classifications

• H04N21/436

  Interfacing a local distribution network, e.g. communicating with another STB {or one or more peripheral devices} inside the home · CPC title

• H04L12/2816

  Controlling appliance services of a home automation network by calling their functionalities (arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station; in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom H04Q9/00) · CPC title

• H04N21/23116

  involving data replication, e.g. over plural servers (synchronization of replicated data G06F11/1658; error detection or correction by means of data replication G06F11/2053; replication in distributed file systems G06F16/10; replication in distributed file systems G06F16/27; replication or mirroring of data in data networks H04L67/1095) · CPC title

• H04N21/41407

  embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop (constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57) · CPC title

• H04N21/8547

  involving timestamps for synchronizing content · CPC title