US 8,412,840 B2 · Live media serving system and method

Abstract

A method and system for transmitting a continuous live performance to a media client via a data network for rendering to a user. The method comprises acquiring the continuous live performance as a live stream of digital data and, on receiving a request from the media client to transmit the live performance, repackaging said stream of digital data into a media format compatible with the media client commencing at a current point in said live stream of digital data and transmitting said repackaged digital data to said media client via the data network. The media format comprises a data file having a virtually endless length.

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Drawings

Claims13

Dependent claims

A method for transmitting a continuous live performance to a plurality of media clients via a data network for rendering to a respective user, the method comprising:

acquiring the continuous live performance as a live stream of digital data;
and
on receiving a request from a given one of the media clients to transmit the live performance, commencing at a current point in said live stream of digital data, repackaging said stream of digital data into a media format compatible with the given media client and transmitting said repackaged digital data to the given media client via the data network;
wherein said media format comprises a data file identified by the given media client as having a length so that it appears to the given media client that the media format is a non-streaming media format, wherein said length is indicated by one of either omitting a header field indicating length or indicating said length is greater than a length required to coincide with a duration of the live performance.

1 more element

A system for providing a live performance to a plurality of media clients via a data network, the system comprising:

a live stream source providing the continuous live performance as a live stream of digital data;
and
a media server device, said media server device acquiring said live stream of digital data from said live stream source, on receiving a request from a given one of the media clients to transmit the live performance and commencing at a current point in said live stream of digital data, repackaging said stream of digital data into a media format compatible with the given media client and transmitting said repackaged digital data to said given media client via the data network wherein said media format comprises a data file identified by the given media client as having a length so that it appears to the given media client that the media format is a non-streaming media format, wherein said length is indicated by one of either omitting a header field indicating length or indicating said length is greater than a length required to coincide with a duration of the live performance.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description3,065 words

Summary582 words

#The present invention relates to a live media serving system and method. In particular, the present invention relates to a media server which supports the rendering of live media streams on media devices and/or clients which otherwise would not be able to render a live media stream.

#Audio/video players are increasingly popular as the number of audio and video media files available on computer networks such as the internet increase.

#Generally stated, two types of audio/video media are found on the Internet. Live streams and fixed length media files. In the first case, the length of the file is indefinite since it contains live audio/video feeds. In the second case, the length of the file is typically known and may be included in the header of the file.

Brief description of the drawings5 figures

#FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a live media serving system in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention;

#FIG. 2 is a communications diagram of a live media serving system in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention;

#FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the flow of data in a live media serving system in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention;

Detailed description2,363 words

#A live stream and on demand media transcoder according to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention may be used to enable an audio/video player such as, for example, Macromedia's Flash Player™, to play MP3 (MPEG-I Audio Layer-3) or FLV (Flash Video) encoded live streams without having to either select, install, configure nor update any software or other plugin. As discussed above, presently, many audio/video player such as the Flash Player™ cannot be used to play live streaming as a fixed sized MP3 or FLV file is required.

#It is to be understood that in the present specification the term “live” is meant to designate real-time broadcasts of live events as well as live audio or video signals such as, for example, live radio or television shows and live concerts. It is also to be understood that although in the present specification reference is made to MP3 and FLV audio and video formats, persons skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention may also be applied to other audio and video formats.

#Referring to FIG. 1, a live media serving system and method will now be described. A user using a personal computing device as in 12, such as a personal computer, laptop computer, personal assistant device or the like, and on which is installed a media client or application 14, for example an audio/video player such as Flash Player™, may access, via a communications network 16 such as the Internet or the like, a content provider system's 18 media serving device 20 through, for example, a link from a web page on a web server 22 via the Internet. The media serving device 20 serves as an interface to a live stream source 26 and may store statistical data relating to live streaming on a statistical database 28. The content provider system 18 may be a commercial radio station running, for example, a radio scheduling software such as RCSWorks. The personal computing device 12 may connect to the web server 22 using an Internet connection such as, for example, Ethernet (broadband, high-speed), wireless WIFI, cable Internet, etc.

Facts

Application

12/153,173Filed 14 May 2008 · continuation in part

Priority

14 Nov 2005

Published

US 2009/0287840 A119 Nov 2009

Granted

2 Apr 2013

Term ends

19 Aug 2028

Estimated · how

20 years from earliest known nonprovisional domestic filing plus recorded patent term adjustment, including 644 days of adjustment. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination.

Classification3 codes

H04L 65/765
Media network packet handling: intermediate
H04L 65/611
For supporting one-way streaming services, e.g. Internet radio: for multicast or broadcast
H04L
Digital communication

Timeline

14 Nov 2005Priority claimedParent application 60/735,829
14 May 2008Application filedUS 12/153,173
25 Sep 2008Assigned to Streamtheworld, Inc.nunc pro tunc assignment
19 Nov 2009PublishedUS 2009/0287840 A1
23 Sep 2011Assigned to Triton Digital Canada Inc.change of name
4 Jun 2012Assigned to Ando Media, LLCassignment of assignor's interest
2 Apr 2013GrantedUS 8,412,840 B2
22 Oct 2013Assigned to Macquarie Sierra Holdings Inc.intellectual property security agreement
5 Feb 2015Assigned to Macquarie Sierra Investment Holdings Inc.corrective assignment to correct the receiving party name previously recorded at reel: 031475 frame: 0422. assignor(s) hereby confirms the assignment.
17 Feb 2015Assigned to Triton Media, LLCrelease of security interest
26 May 2015Assigned to Triton Digital, Inc.intellectual property transfer agreement
26 May 2015Assigned to Vector Triton (Lux) 1, S.à R.L.intellectual property transfer agreement
10 Jul 2015Assigned to Triton Digital, Inc.corrective assignment to correct the document previously recorded at reel: 035771 frame: 0090. assignor(s) hereby confirms the intellectual property transfer agreement.
20 Jul 2015Assigned to Vector Triton (Lux) 1, S.à R.L. - Delaware Branchcorrective assignment to correct the receiving party data previously recorded at reel: 035771 frame: 0124. assignor(s) hereby confirms the intellectual property transfer agreement.
31 Aug 2015Assigned to Pnc Bank, National Associationsecurity interest
9 Dec 2015Assigned to Vector Triton (Lux) 1, S.à R.L. - Delaware Branchcorrective assignment to correct the cover sheet and replace the document previously recorded on reel 036170 frame 0659. assignor(s) hereby confirms the amended and restated intellectual property transfer agreement.
12 Feb 2016Assigned to Pnc Bank, National Associationconfirmation of hypothec and security interest
4 Aug 2016Assigned to Triton Digital Luxco Inc.assignment of assignor's interest
4 Aug 2016Assigned to Triton Digital Canada Inc.merger
30 Nov 2018Assigned to Triton Digital Canadarelease of security interest recorded at reel/frame 036457/0902
30 Nov 2018Assigned to Triton Digital Canada Inc.release of security interest recorded at 037809/0628
12 Oct 2026TodayWithin its term
19 Aug 2028Term endsEstimated, includes 644 days of adjustment

Live media serving system and method

Life of this patent

Live media serving system and method

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims13

Description3,065 words

Drawings

Classification3 codes

Life of this patent

Description3,065 words