# US 11,122,253 B2 · Dynamic distribution of multi-dimensional multimedia content > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,122,253 B2 - Document ID: US11122253B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/438,833 - Filed: 2019-06-12 - Published: 2019-12-19 - Granted: 2021-09-14 - Earliest claimed: 2011-05-24 - Assignees: TiVo Inc. - Applicants: Tivo Corporation - Inventors: Ross Gilson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11122253B2 ## CPC - H04N 13/194: Transmission of image signals - H04N 21/23439: {for generating different versions} - H04N 21/2365: Multiplexing of several video streams - H04N 21/2385: Channel allocation (H04N21/266 takes precedence); Bandwidth allocation (H04N21/24 takes precedence {; allocation of channels according to the instantaneous demands of the users in time-division multiplex systems H04J3/1682; admission control, resource allocation in open networks H04L12/5692; arrangements for maintenance or administration in data switching networks involving bandwidth and capacity management H04L41/0896; negotiating bandwidth in wireless networks H04W28/16}) - H04N 21/2393: {involving handling client requests (scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60)} - H04N 21/25825: {involving client display capabilities, e.g. screen resolution of a mobile phone (optimising the visualisation of content during browsing in the Internet G06F16/9577; processing of terminal status or physical abilities in wireless networks H04W8/22; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06)} - H04N 21/437: Interfacing the upstream path of the transmission network, e.g. for transmitting client requests to a VOD server {(flow control in data networks H04L47/10; streaming protocols, e.g. RTP or RTCP, H04L65/65; scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests in data packet switching networks H04L67/60)} - H04N 21/816: {involving special video data, e.g 3D video} - H04N 21/4621: {Controlling the complexity of the content stream or additional data, e.g. lowering the resolution or bit-rate of the video stream for a mobile client with a small screen (arrangements for using the results of monitoring on user's side in broadcast systems H04H60/65; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10)} - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract Methods, apparatuses, and software are disclosed for sending only a first video component (e.g., data comprising one of a left or right component) of content to a plurality of client devices. Further aspects provide for sending, responsive to a request from one of the plurality of client devices, both the first video component and a second video component (e.g., data comprising both of the left and right components) to one or more of the plurality of client devices. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: receiving, by a computing device and from a first device, a request associated with multi-dimensional multimedia content; sending, based on the request and to a plurality of devices that comprises the first device, and regardless of whether a request associated with the multi-dimensional multimedia content has been received from any of the plurality of devices other than the first device, a first segment of a first portion of the multi-dimensional multimedia content and a first segment of a second portion of the multi-dimensional multimedia content; and based on a determination that none of the plurality of devices are to continue receiving the second portion of the multi-dimensional multimedia content, sending a second segment of the first portion of the multi-dimensional multimedia content to the plurality of devices without sending any further segments of the second portion of the multi-dimensional multimedia content to the plurality of devices. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the multi-dimensional multimedia content comprises three-dimensional video content. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first portion of the multi-dimensional multimedia content comprises a first two-dimensional component of the multi-dimensional multimedia content, and wherein the second portion of the multi-dimensional multimedia content comprises a second two-dimensional component of the multi-dimensional multimedia content. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the sending the first segment of the first portion of the multi-dimensional multimedia content comprises sending a first stream comprising the first segment of the first portion of the multi-dimensional multimedia content, and wherein the sending the first segment of the second portion of the multi-dimensional multimedia content comprises sending, during the sending of the first stream, a second stream comprising the first segment of the second portion of the multi-dimensional multimedia content. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising determining, based on information received from at least one of the plurality of devices, that none of the plurality of devices are to continue receiving the second portion of the multi-dimensional multimedia content. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the request comprises a request associated with both the first portion of the multi-dimensional multimedia content and the second portion of the multi-dimensional multimedia content. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the request comprises a request associated with the second portion of the multi-dimensional multimedia content, the method further comprising: beginning sending, prior to the request and to the plurality of devices, the first portion of the multi-dimensional multimedia content and not the second portion of the multi-dimensional multimedia content. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first segment of the first portion of the multi-dimensional multimedia content comprises a first video frame, wherein the first segment of the second portion of the multi-dimensional multimedia content comprises a second video frame, and wherein the first video frame and the second video frame are combinable to generate a three-dimensional video frame. ### Claim 9 An apparatus comprising: one or more processors; and at least one computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to: receive, from a first device, a request associated with multi-dimensional multimedia content; send, based on the request and to a plurality of devices that comprises the first device, and regardless of whether a request associated with the multi-dimensional multimedia content has been received from any of the plurality of devices other than the first device, a first segment of a first portion of the multi-dimensional multimedia content and a first segment of a second portion of the multi-dimensional multimedia content; and based on a determination that none of the plurality of devices are to continue receiving the second portion of the multi-dimensional multimedia content, send a second segment of the first portion of the multi-dimensional multimedia content to the plurality of devices without sending any further segments of the second portion of the multi-dimensional multimedia content to the plurality of devices. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the multi-dimensional multimedia content comprises three-dimensional video content. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first portion of the multi-dimensional multimedia content comprises a first two-dimensional component of the multi-dimensional multimedia content, and wherein the second portion of the multi-dimensional multimedia content comprises a second two-dimensional component of the multi-dimensional multimedia content. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to send the first segment of the first portion of the multi-dimensional multimedia content by sending a first stream comprising the first segment of the first portion of the multi-dimensional multimedia content, and to send the first segment of the second portion of the multi-dimensional multimedia content by sending, during the sending of the first stream, a second stream comprising the first segment of the second portion of the multi-dimensional multimedia content. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to determine, based on information received from at least one of the plurality of devices, that none of the plurality of devices are to continue receiving the second portion of the multi-dimensional multimedia content. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the request comprises a request associated with the second portion of the multi-dimensional multimedia content, and wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to: begin sending, prior to the request and to the plurality of devices, the first portion of the multi-dimensional multimedia content and not the second portion of the multi-dimensional multimedia content. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first segment of the first portion of the multi-dimensional multimedia content comprises a first video frame, wherein the first segment of the second portion of the multi-dimensional multimedia content comprises a second video frame, and wherein the first video frame and the second video frame are combinable to generate a three-dimensional video frame. ### Claim 16 A system comprising: a first computing device comprising: at least one first processor; and at least one first computer-readable medium storing first instructions; and a second computing device comprising: at least one second processor; and at least one second computer-readable medium storing second instructions, wherein the first instructions, when executed by the at least one first processor, cause the first computing device to: receive, from the second computing device, a request associated with multi-dimensional multimedia content; send, based on the request and to a plurality of devices that comprises the second computing device, and regardless of whether a request associated with the multi-dimensional multimedia content has been received from any of the plurality of devices other than the first device, a first segment of a first portion of the multi-dimensional multimedia content and a first segment of a second portion of the multi-dimensional multimedia content; and based on a determination that none of the plurality of devices are to continue receiving the second portion of the multi-dimensional multimedia content, send a second segment of the first portion of the multi-dimensional multimedia content to the plurality of devices without sending any further segments of the second portion of the multi-dimensional multimedia content to the plurality of devices, and wherein the second instructions, when executed by the at least one second processor, cause the second computing device to: send the request; and receive the first segment of the first portion of the multi-dimensional multimedia content, the first segment the second portion of the multi-dimensional multimedia content, and the second segment of the first portion of the multi-dimensional multimedia content. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein: the first instructions, when executed by the at least one first processor, cause the first computing device to send the first segment of the first portion of the multi-dimensional multimedia content by sending a first stream comprising the first segment of the first portion of the multi-dimensional multimedia content, and to send the first segment of the second portion of the multi-dimensional multimedia content by sending, during the sending of the first stream, a second stream comprising the first segment of the second portion of the multi-dimensional multimedia content; and the second instructions, when executed by the at least one second processor, cause the second computing device to tune to the first stream and tune to the second stream. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the multi-dimensional multimedia content comprises three-dimensional video content. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein: the second instructions, when executed by the at least one second processor, cause the second computing device to send an indication based on the second computing device no longer consuming the second portion of the multi-dimensional multimedia content; and the first instructions, when executed by the at least one first processor, cause the first computing device to determine, based on the indication, whether any of the plurality of devices are to continue receiving the second portion of the multi-dimensional multimedia content. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the first segment of the first portion of the multi-dimensional multimedia content comprises a first video frame, wherein the first segment of the second portion of the multi-dimensional multimedia content comprises a second video frame, and wherein the first video frame and the second video frame are combinable to generate a three-dimensional video frame.