Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080294791 | Media Exchange Network Supporting Varying Media Guide Based on Viewing Filters - Systems having a user interface comprising a filtered view of media available for consumption are disclosed. An embodiment of the present invention may provide a first user with a view that enables consumption of only the available media that matches characteristics of a media filter. The characteristics of the media filter may be specified by a second user, and the second user may define the characteristics of the media filter remotely, via a communication network. The user interface may support separate media filters for each of a number of different users. Filter characteristics such as type of media channel, the language of any dialogue, an industry rating, an overall viewer rating, and the media format may be supported. The media filter characteristics may be applied not only to what is displayed on the user interface, but also the media available for selection via a remote control. | 11-27-2008 |
20090191865 | MEDIA EXCHANGE NETWORK SUPPORTING REMOTE PERIPHERAL ACCESS - Systems and methods that provide remote access are described In one embodiment, a system may include, for example, a plurality of communication devices and a media device. The plurality of communication devices may be operatively coupled to a network and may include, for example, a native communication device The media device may be operatively coupled to the native communication device and the network. The media device may be associated with the native communication device and the network and may be capable of exchanging media content with the plurality of communication devices and the network. A profile of the media device may be stored in at least one of the media device and the native communication device. The profile may include, for example, information related to managing the media content when the media device is roaming. | 07-30-2009 |
20090193143 | MEDIA EXCHANGE NETWORK SUPPORTING REMOTE PERIPHERAL ACCESS - Systems and methods that provide remote access are described. In one embodiment, a system may include, for example, a plurality of communication devices and a media device. The plurality of communication devices may be operatively coupled to a network and may include, for example, a native communication device The media device may be operatively coupled to the native communication device and the network. The media device may be associated with the native communication device and the network and may be capable of exchanging media content with the plurality of communication devices and the network. A profile of the media device may be stored in at least one of the media device and the native communication device. The profile may include, for example, information related to managing the media content when the media device is roaming. | 07-30-2009 |
20090323117 | PRINTER RESOURCE SHARING IN A MEDIA EXCHANGE NETWORK - Systems and methods of printer resource sharing in a communication network are provided. In one embodiment, the system may comprise, for example, at least one communication device, a communication network, print server software, and at least one personal printer resource. The communication device may be deployed at a location. The communication network may be communicatively coupled to that communication device. The print server software may receive from the communication device via the communication network a request for printing of information content. The print server software may respond by coordinating the printing of the information content. The at least one personal printer resource may be communicatively coupled to the at least one communication device. The print server software may reside outside of the at least one personal printer resource, and the at least one personal printer resource may be accessed for printing by the communication device via the communication network. | 12-31-2009 |
20100156659 | ACCESS, MONITORING, AND CONTROL OF APPLIANCES VIA A MEDIA PROCESSING SYSTEM - A device and method for accessing, monitoring, and controlling home appliances in a media exchange network by establishing a communication link between a communication initiation device and at least one home appliance and communicating at least one command from the communication initiation device to the at least one home appliance via the communication link. The at least one home appliance then generates at least one response to the at least one command. The commands may include turning the home appliance(s) on and off, parameter adjustment commands, access commands, monitoring commands, mode change commands, and programming commands. Appliance responses may include powering on, powering off, changing a mode of operation, sending a status to the communication initiation device, adjusting an operational parameter, and changing a programmed operational step. | 06-24-2010 |
20100245606 | PERSONAL ACCESS AND CONTROL OF MEDIA PERIPHERALS ON A MEDIA EXCHANGE NETWORK - Methods are disclosed for indirectly monitoring and controlling at least one media peripheral device in a media exchange network by accessing a media management system (MMS) via a first media peripheral (MP) device (e.g., a TV screen) using a user control device (e.g., a remote control). An operation corresponding to a second media peripheral (MP) device (e.g., a digital camera) may be selected via the MMS using the first MP device and the user control device. The operation is then carried out (i.e., performed) by the second MP device. A status of the second MP device may be selected via the MMS using the first MP device and the user control device. The selected status is then displayed on the first MP device. | 09-30-2010 |
20110066748 | MEDIA EXCHANGE NETWORK SUPPORTING VARYING MEDIA GUIDE BASED ON VIEWING FILTERS - Systems having a user interface comprising a filtered view of media available for consumption are disclosed. An embodiment of the present invention may provide a first user with a view that enables consumption of only the available media that matches characteristics of a media filter. The characteristics of the media filter may be specified by a second user, and the second user may define the characteristics of the media filter remotely, via a communication network. The user interface may support separate media filters for each of a number of different users. Filter characteristics such as type of media channel, the language of any dialogue, an industry rating, an overall viewer rating, and the media format may be supported. The media filter characteristics may be applied not only to what is displayed on the user interface, but also the media available for selection via a remote control. | 03-17-2011 |
20110239244 | DEMAND BROADCAST CHANNELS AND CHANNEL PROGRAMMING BASED ON USER VIEWING HISTORY, PROFILING, AND REQUESTS - A system and method for scheduling media for consumption via a demand broadcast channel based upon notifications received during user consumption of media. An embodiment of the present invention may employ notifications generated when users select media for consumption, to calculate one or more statistics. The statistics may be calculated and used by a media provider to schedule media into a demand broadcast channel in which the frequency of repetition or time of availability of the media is set according to a ranking of the relative frequency of requests for the media. The statistics may also be shared with a third party, to enable a third party media provider to arrange the scheduling of media availability according to the relative frequency of requests for the media. | 09-29-2011 |
20110258557 | PERSONAL STREAMING AND BROADCAST CHANNELS IN A MEDIA EXCHANGE NETWORK - Systems and methods for the exchange of personal streaming media channels are disclosed. An embodiment of the present invention may permit the exchange of media such as, for example, audio and video, in a real time manner via a personal media channel in a media exchange network. The media channel may be established based upon input from a user, and its establishment may be initiated based upon input from sensors such as, for example, a smoke or fire sensor, a motion detector, a swimming pool disturbance detector, and a door bell button. A personal streaming media channel may be a one-way or a two-way channel. The media may be consumed using a set top box, and may be produced by a media peripheral such as, for example, a digital camcorder, a microphone, a video camera, and a MP3 player. | 10-20-2011 |
20110307912 | CARD-BASED AND INDEPENDENT SERVER-BASED BILLING AND AUTHORIZATION SYSTEM IN A MEDIA EXCHANGE NETWORK - A system for communicating multimedia information in a communication network includes at least a first communication device deployed in a first geographic location and coupled to the communication network, and a card carrying information related to one or more user-defined selections of information content. When the card is communicatively coupled to the first communication device, the card allows the first communication device to access at least a first portion of the one or more user-defined selections of information content. The first portion is located at a second communication device deployed at the first geographic location. The card also allows the first communication device to access at least a second portion of the one or more user-defined selections of information content. The second portion is located at a third communications device deployed at a second geographic location and coupled to the communication network. | 12-15-2011 |
20110313913 | ONLINE PURCHASING SYSTEM SUPPORTING LENDERS WITH AFFORDABILITY SCREENING - An online system uses, in various embodiments of the invention, credit report information, loan affordability screening and credit approval and management functionality to facilitate the purchase and finance of products online. The online system may include both sellers of products and lenders that offer financing to buyers seeking to purchase the products. The system may automatically obtain a buyer's credit report information and use that information to determine if the buyer is pre-approved, for example, to obtain financing for a particular product or products. The system also enables use of buyer credit information to identify only those of a seller's products for which the buyer is pre-approved, for example, to finance using one or more loans. The system then enables selection of an identified product or products for purchase, and selection of a loan, for example, for financing of the selected product or products. Credit approval (or pre-approval) may be performed automatically, and along with credit processing, may be performed completely online. | 12-22-2011 |
20120019853 | PRINTER RESOURCE SHARING IN A MEDIA EXCHANGE NETWORK - A system providing printer resource sharing in a communication network includes a first communication device at a first location, communicatively coupled to a printer resource and to a second communication device at a second location. The first communication device may authenticate the second communication device, and subsequent to the authentication, may enable printing of information content on the printer resource, at a request of a user of the second communication device. The first communication device may authenticate the second communication device based on a signal received from the second communication device. The first and second communication devices and the printer resource may be communicatively coupled via a communication network. The communication network may include a broadband access headend, a cable infrastructure, a satellite network infrastructure, a digital subscriber line (DSL) infrastructure, an Internet infrastructure, an intranet or wired infrastructure, closed communication infrastructure, local area network, and/or a wireless infrastructure. | 01-26-2012 |
20120030196 | MEDIA SEARCH ENGINE FOR A PERSONAL MEDIA NETWORK - A system providing search functionality supporting the exchange and consumption of media is disclosed. The searching of media on storage belonging to any of a pre-defined group of users of a personal media network is provided. In addition, media stored on designated servers may also be included in a search. The media stored may include audio, still images, video, and data. A user may search the stored media using a number of criteria including the time period of the media, the type of device, and the type of media. The system also provides support for the search of one or more media peripherals, which may be searched when the media peripherals are communicatively coupled to the system. | 02-02-2012 |
20120079600 | MEDIA PROCESSING SYSTEM SUPPORTING DIFFERENT MEDIA FORMATS VIA SERVER-BASED TRANSCODING - A method for processing media content includes receiving, at a second communications device communicatively coupled to a network at a first geographic location, from a first wireless mobile communications device communicatively coupled to the second communications device at the first geographic location, a device profile of the first wireless mobile communications device. The device profile received from the first wireless mobile communications device and media content may be sent to a server communicatively coupled to the network at a second geographic location. Media content may be received from the server, where the media content has been reformatted based on the device profile. The reformatted media content may be transmitted to the first wireless mobile communications device. The received device profile of the first wireless mobile communication device may be stored. | 03-29-2012 |
20120192219 | PREVENTING A NON-HEAD END BASED SERVICE PROVIDER FROM SENDING MEDIA TO A MEDIA PROCESSING SYSTEM - Systems and methods that prevent unauthorized access in a communications network are provided. In one embodiment, a system that prevents unauthorized access to a network device may include, for example, a network device and a headend. The headend may be coupled to a communications network. The network device may be deployed in a home environment and may be communicatively coupled to the communications network via the headend. The headend may be adapted, for example, to determine whether a request to access the network device is authorized. | 07-26-2012 |
20120233632 | BILLING SUPPORT IN A MEDIA EXCHANGE NETWORK - A system providing billing support for the exchange of media is disclosed. An embodiment of the present invention may provide for the authorization of and billing for the delivery of media from a media server to local storage for consumption on a television display. The media may be audio, still pictures, video, or data. Other embodiments may provide for the authorization of and billing for the transfer of media from a media peripheral to a media server for media backup or distribution. A media peripheral may be, for example, a digital camera, digital camcorder, personal computer (PC), personal digital assistant (PDA), multi-media gateway, and MP3 player. An embodiment may support pre-payment, payment at time of use, and post-use billing for the media exchange. In an embodiment of the present invention, the storing or accessing of media may be performed without identifying the user to the media server. | 09-13-2012 |
20120278468 | Personal Inter-Home Media Exchange Network - A system and method support the exchange of media between friends, family members, and 3rd party media providers over a closed and secure media exchange network. The media may include, for example, digital video, digital audio, digital images, digital data, or any form of digital information. | 11-01-2012 |
20120299710 | ACCESS, MONITORING, AND CONTROL OF APPLIANCES VIA A MEDIA PROCESSING SYSTEM - A device and method for accessing, monitoring, and controlling home appliances in a media exchange network by establishing a communication link between a communication initiation device and at least one home appliance and communicating at least one command from the communication initiation device to the at least one home appliance via the communication link. The at least one home appliance then generates at least one response to the at least one command. The commands may include turning the home appliance(s) on and off, parameter adjustment commands, access commands, monitoring commands, mode change commands, and programming commands. Appliance responses may include powering on, powering off, changing a mode of operation, sending a status to the communication initiation device, adjusting an operational parameter, and changing a programmed operational step. | 11-29-2012 |
20130151727 | MEDIA PROCESSING SYSTEM SUPPORTING DIFFERENT MEDIA FORMATS VIA SERVER-BASED TRANSCODING - Systems and methods that reformat media are described. In one embodiment, a system may include, for example, a server, a first communications device and a second communications device. The server, the first communications device and the second communications device may be operatively coupled to a network. The second communications device may receive, from the first communications device, a device profile relating to the first communications device and may send the device profile and media content to the server. The server may reformat the media content based on the device | 06-13-2013 |
20130227005 | PERSONAL INTER-HOME MEDIA EXCHANGE NETWORK - A system and method support the exchange of media between friends, family members, and 3rd party media providers over a closed and secure media exchange network. The media may include, for example, digital video, digital audio, digital images, digital data, or any form of digital information. | 08-29-2013 |
20130275749 | Secure Anonymity In A Media Exchange Network - Secure communication of information in a communication network may comprise acquiring a security code from a second communication device by a first communication device and receiving media containing the security code such as a pin code from the first communication device. The security code may be translated into an IP address corresponding to the second communication device. The received media may be routed to the second communication device based on the IP address of the second communication device. In this regard, the IP address of the second communication device remains anonymous or unknown to the first communication device. A duration for which the security code is valid may be limited to a specific time period and/or for a particular number of uses. Notwithstanding, the security code may be acquired out-of-band. | 10-17-2013 |