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`US 20040174858141
`
`(19) United States
`(12) Patent Application Publication ([0) Pub. No.: US 2004/0174858 A1
`
`(43) Pub. Date:
`Sep. 9, 2004
`Caspi et al.
`
`(54) SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INTEGRATED
`AUDIO STREAM MANAGER
`
`Publication Classification
`
`[75)
`
`Inventors: Rami Caspi, Sunnyvale, (.‘A (US);
`William J. Beyda. Cupertino, CA(US)
`
`Correspondence Address:
`Siemens Corporation
`Attn: Elsa Keller, Legal Administrator
`Intellectual Property Department
`186 Wood Avenue South
`Iselin, NJ 08830 (US)
`
`(73) Assignee: Siemens Information and Communica-
`tion Networks, Inc.
`
`(21) App]. No:
`
`10,883,895
`
`[22
`
`Filed:
`
`Mar. 7, 2003
`
`lnt.CI."'
`(51)
`(52) v.5. c1.
`
`..................................................... H041. 12m
`........................... 3701351; 37tlr'466; 725:141
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A multimedia telecommunications system including an inte-
`grated audio stream manager (102) in association with the
`digital personal video stream manager. Such an integrated
`audio stream manager employs a personal computer (110) to
`record and store audio such as compact disk tracks. The
`personal computer (10) can then contact one or more Inter-
`net web sites for (.‘D indices to download a list of the tracks
`
`(TDs stored. The digital
`and provide a master list of all
`personal video stream manager (102) can then be used to
`supervise playback of the audio tiles via the connected audio
`system.
`
`APPLE 1007
`
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`
`APPLE 1007
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Sep. 9, 2004 Sheet 1 0f 20
`
`US 2004/0174858 A1
`
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`Patent Application Publication
`
`Sep. 9, 2004 Sheet 2 0f 20
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`US 2004/0174858 A1
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`Patent Application Publication
`
`Sep. 9, 2004 Sheet 3 0f 20
`
`US 2004/0174858 A1
`
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`Patent Application Publication
`
`Sep. 9, 2004 Sheet 4 of 20
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`US 2004/0174858 A1
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Sep. 9, 2004 Sheet 5 of 20
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`US 2004/0174858 A1
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Sep. 9, 2004 Sheet 7 0f 20
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`US 2004/0174858 A1
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`Patent Application Publication
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`US 2004/0174858 A1
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`US 2004/0174858 A1
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`Patent Application Publication
`
`Sep. 9, 2004 Sheet 17 of 20
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`US 2004/0174858 A1
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Sep. 9, 2004 Sheet 18 of 20
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`US 2004/0174858 A1
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`Patent Application Publication
`
`Sep. 9, 2004 Sheet 19 of 20
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`US 2004/0174858 A1
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`US 2004/0174858 A1
`
`
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`

`US 2004/0174858 A]
`
`Sep. 9, 2004
`
`SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INTEGRATED
`AUDIO STREAM MANAGER
`
`CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATIONS
`
`[0001] This application is related to commonly—assigned,
`
`co—pending application Ser. No.
`,
`titled, SYSTEM
`AND METHOD FOR DIGITAL PERSONAL VIDEO
`
`
`, titled,
`STREAM MANAGER; application Ser. No.
`SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INTEGRATED COMMU—
`
`NICATIONS CENTER; application Ser. No.
`, titled,
`SYSTEM AND METI 101) FOR SYSTEM AND METHOD
`FOR WIRELESS REMOTE CONTROL OF A DIGITAL
`
`PERSONAL MEDIA STREAM MANAGER; application
`
`Ser. No.
`, titled, SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR
`E-MAIL CONTROL OF AN INTEGRATED COMMUNI-
`
`titled,
`,
`CATIONS CENTER; application Ser. No.
`SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INSTANT MESSAGING
`CONTROL OF AN INTEGRATED COMMUNICATIONS
`
`. titled, SYSTEM
`CENTER; application Ser. No.
`AND METHOD FOR SHORT MESSAGE SERVICE CON-
`TROL OFAN INTEGRATED COMMUNICATIONS CEN-
`
`
`, titled, SYSTEM AND
`TER; application Ser. No.
`METHOD FOR VOICE PORTAL CONTROL OF AN
`INTEGRATED COMMUNICATIONS CENTER;
`and
`
`application
`Ser. No.
`,
`titled, SYSTEM AND
`METHOD FOR CONTEXT-BASED SEARCHING AND
`CONTROL Ol-‘ AN INTEGRATED COMMUNICATIONS
`
`CENTER, all filed concurrently herewith.
`
`FIELD ()I’ THE INVENTION
`
`invention relates to telecommunica-
`[0002] The present
`tions systems and, in particular, to an improved system and
`method for multimedia telecommunications system manage-
`ment.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`[0003] Many modern homes today have a television, a
`videotape recorder, a cable or satellite connection, and a
`personal computer with an Internet connection. Because
`these devices are relatively expensive and offer complemen-
`tary features. there have been efforts to converge the tele-
`vision technologies with the personal computeri'lnternet
`technologies.
`
`[0004] For example, some personal computers have been
`equipped with television tuner cards, which allow the recep-
`tion of television programming through the cable or satellite
`connection. Such television tuner cards can also be equipped
`with video capture capabilities, to allow later playback of
`captured programming. However, equipping a personal
`computer with video capabilities has not gained wide accep-
`tance amongst
`the general public as a replacement for a
`television,
`in part because the typical personal computer
`monitor is relatively small and,
`in particular, significantly
`smaller than the typical family room television. Moreover,
`the typical personal computer is equipped with a relatively
`more limited and inferior sound system, which can be
`disadvantageous when marketing to modern viewers who
`require, for example, high-fidelity sound or even a Surround
`Sound system.
`
`[0005] Another convergence approach. known as WebTV,
`has been to provide the television with a set-top box and
`
`keyboard to allow, for cxa mple, Internet access through the
`television set and cable connection. While such systems are
`adequate for simple c—mail communication and limited Web
`browsing, Web'l'V also has failed to gain widespread accep-
`tance, at least in part because the resolution of the typical
`television is much more crude than that of the computer
`monitor, and can also produce formatting idiosyncrasies
`which can make it difficult to view many web pages.
`
`[0006] Each of these systems suffers from additional dis-
`advantages which may have contributed to the failure to
`develop an effective converged video system: Personal com-
`puters are frequently upgraded and replaced; television sets
`and home entertainment systems, however, have a signifi-
`cantly longer life span.
`
`[0007] As such, there is a need for a multimedia telecom-
`munications system that provides improved convergence of
`television and personal computer based resources. There is
`a further need for a convergence system that allows the user
`to maintain separate television and personal computer based
`resources.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`[0008] These and other drawbacks in the prior art are
`overcome in large part by a system and method according to
`embodiments of the present invention.
`
`[0009] A multimedia telecommunications system accord-
`ing to an embodiment of the present invention includes a
`media subsystem and a network subsystem. The media
`subsystem couples a television to a media provider via a
`digital personal video stream manager. The media sub—
`system can also include an audio system, a video recording
`device, and a set-top media interface box. The network
`subsystem includes a personal computer having a network
`interface card and coupled to an Internet connection via a
`modern and a wireless network router. The digital personal
`video stream manager likewise includes a wireless network
`control and is adapted to receive control commands from the
`personal computer for supervising the recording of program-
`ming using the video recording device. The digital personal
`video stream manager can also receive and digitize broad-
`band media from the media provider and transmit it via the
`wireless network to the personal computer. The personal
`computer can store the received media files for playback.
`The media files can be played back either via the personal
`computer itself or via the digital personal video stream
`manager on the television. User interfaces on the PC or
`television can be used to control media file or broadband
`media playback.
`
`[0010] Adigital personal video stream manager according
`to an embodiment of the present invention includes a control
`processor,
`a media interface, and one or more control
`interfaces. The media interface can receive broadband audio
`
`and video and convert it into digital file format for trans—
`mission on a wireless LAN, such as an IEEE 802.11 based
`wireless LAN, to a personal computer. The media interface
`can likewise receive digital media files from the personal
`computer via the wireless interface, and convert them to a
`format for playback by the audio system or television.
`Further,
`the digital personal video stream manager can
`receive controls from remote users to supervise media
`recording. The control interfaces allow control of the digital
`personal video stream manager, such as via infrared remote
`controls.
`
`22
`
`22
`
`

`

`US 2004/0174858 A1
`
`Sep. 9, 2004
`
`[0011] A multimedia telecommunications system accord
`ing to an embodiment of the present invention implements
`an integrated audio stream manager in association with the
`digital personal video stream manager. Such an integrated
`audio stream manager employs a personal computer to
`record and store audio such as compact disk tracks. The
`personal computer can then contact one or more Internet
`web sites for (TI) indices to download a list of the tracks and
`
`provide a master list of all CDs stored. The digital personal
`video stream manager can then be used to supervise play-
`back of the audio files via the connected audio system.
`
`In certain embodiments, the multimedia telecom-
`[0012]
`munications system can be provided with and controlled by
`a wireless 802.11 remote control device to control the digital
`personal video stream manager from anywhere in the house.
`The wireless remote may be provided with an LCD screen,
`an 802.11 interface, and an IP telephony interface. The LCD
`screen provides the user with a graphical
`interface that
`allows a user to interact with the digital personal video
`stream manager in a manner similar to that employed when
`using the personal computer. In addition. the IP telephony
`interface allows the user to make and receive IP telephone
`calls, such as Internet telephone calls. In such an embodi—
`ment, the personal computer may implement an IPtelephone
`gateway.
`
`[0013] One embodiment of a multimedia telecommunica-
`tions system according to the present invention includes a
`system for e-mail control of the digital personal video
`stream manager, for example, to program a video recording
`device. A system including e—mail control of the digital
`personal video stream manager according to an embodiment
`cfthe present invention includes a personal computer having
`an e—mail client and equipping the e—mail client with a
`DPVSM control plug in. The DPVSM control plug in is
`adapted to identify a special DPVSM control e-mail which
`is then translated by the DPVSM control program. The
`digital personal video stream manager then activates at the
`appropriate time to record the program.
`
`invention
`[0014] Another embodiment of the present
`includes a system for Instant Messaging based control ofthe
`digital personal video stream manager,
`for example,
`to
`program a video recording device. A system including
`Instant Messaging based control oflhe digital personal video
`stream manager according to an embodiment of the present
`invention includes a personal computer having an Instant
`Messaging client and equipping the Instant Messaging client
`with a DPVSM control plug in. The DPVSM control plug in
`is adapted to identify a special DPVSM control Instant
`Message which is then translated by the DPVSM control
`program. The digital personal video stream manager then
`activates at the appropriate time to record the program.
`
`invention
`[0015] Another embodiment of the present
`includes a system for Short Message Service-based control
`of the digital personal video stream manager, for example, to
`program a video recording device. Such a system includes
`one or more cellular telephones including SMS capabilities
`and a DPVSM control module in the SMS server of the
`
`cellular service provider. The DPVSM control module is
`adapted to identify a special DPVSM control SMS message
`which is then translated by the DPVSM control module and
`converted to a DPVSM Instant Message or a DPVSM e-mail
`control message. The DPVSM Instant Message or a DPVSM
`
`email control message is then transmitter] to the user’s
`personal computer, where the [M or e-mail plug in translates
`it and uses it to control the DPVSM.
`
`invention
`[0016] Another embodiment of the present
`includes a system for voice portal-based control of the
`digital personal video stream manager, for example,
`to
`program a video recording device. Such a system includes a
`DPVSM control module at a server of a service provider.
`The DPVSM control module is adapted to respond to a user
`calling in a predetermined phone number and using an
`interactive voice response system, issue prompts and accept
`inputs for DPVSM control. The DPVSM control module
`then converts the inputs to a DPVSM Instant Message or a
`DPVSM e-mail control message. The DPVSM Instant Mes-
`sage or a DPVSM e—mail control message is then transmitted
`to the user’s personal computer, where the IM or e-mail plug
`in translates it and uses it to control the DPVSM.
`
`system according to another
`[0017] A voice portal
`embodiment of the present invention includes a voice portal
`with DPVSM control module provided locally at the user’s
`personal computer. The DPVSM control module is adapted
`to respond to a user calling in and, using an interactive voice
`response system,
`issue prompts and accept
`inputs
`for
`DPVSM control.
`
`[0018] Additional embodiments of the present invention
`include a context-based search system. Such a system may
`be maintained by a service provider and can identify a
`program and date and time without receiving complete
`details thereof; the DPVSM can then control the recording
`of the program using IM or e-mail based-techniques. 'I‘he
`context—based search system includes a message receiver for
`receiving the DPVSM message; one or more databases for
`storing keywords and program information; a confirmation
`message generator
`for
`informing the user of identified
`programming; and a DPVSM control
`for causing the
`DPVSM to supervise the media recording once one of the
`identified results have been selected by the user.
`
`[0019] A better understanding of these and other specific
`embodiments of the invention is obtained when the follow-
`
`ing detailed description is considered in conjunction with the
`following drawings.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`[0020] FIG. 1A and FIG. 10 illustrate telecommunication
`systems including digital video stream managers according
`to embodiments of the present invention;
`
`[0021] FIG. 2A and FIG. ZB are block diagrams of
`exemplary digital media stream managers according to
`embodiments of the present invention;
`
`[0022] FIC. 3 is a block diagram of an exemplary multi-
`media computer according to an embodiment of the present
`invention;
`
`[0023] FIG. 4 illustrates schematically operation of an
`embodiment of the present invention;
`
`[0024] FIG. 5A and FIG. SB illustrate exemplary user
`interfaces according to embodiments of the present invenw
`tion;
`
`[0025] FIG. 6 is a diagram of signaling flow according to
`an embodiment of the present invention;
`
`23
`
`23
`
`

`

`US 2004/0174858 A1
`
`Sep. 9, 2004
`
`[0026] FIG. 7 is a diagram of signaling flow according to
`an embodiment of the present invention;
`
`[0027] FIG. 8 is a diagram of signaling flow according to
`an embodiment of the present invention;
`
`[0028] FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an audio stream
`manager system according to an embodiment of the present
`invention;
`
`[0029] FIG. 10 is a diagram of an exemplary user inter-
`face according to an embodiment of the present invention;
`
`[0030] FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating user interaction
`according to an embodiment of the present invention;
`
`[0031] FIG. 12 is a signaling diagram illustrating opera—
`tion of an embodiment of the present invention;
`
`[0032] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a wireless local
`area network remote control system according to an embodi—
`ment of the present invention;
`
`[0033] FIG. 14 is a diagram of a wireless local area
`network remote control system according to an embodiment
`of the present invention;
`
`[0034] FIG. 15 is a block diagram of a wireless local area
`network remote control according to an embodiment of the
`present invention;
`
`[0035] FIG. 16 is a signaling diagram illustrating opera-
`tion of an embodiment of the present invention;
`
`[0036] FIG. 17 is a signaling diagram illustrating opera-
`tion of an embodiment of the present invention;
`
`[0037] FIG. 18 illustrates an exemplary e—mail system
`according to an embodiment ot‘ the present invention;
`
`[0038] FIG. 191s a block diagram of an e-mail command
`window according to an embodiment of the present inven—
`tion;
`
`[0039] FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating operation of an
`embodiment of the present invention;
`
`[0040] FIG. 21 is a signaling diagram illustrating opera-
`tion of an embodiment of the present invention;
`
`[0041] FIG. 22 is a block diagram of an instant messaging
`control system according to an embodiment of the present
`invention;
`
`[0042] FIG. 23 illustrates an exemplary IM command
`according to an embodiment of the present invention;
`
`[0043] FIG. 24 is a flowchart illustrating operation of an
`embodiment of the present invention;
`
`[0044] FIG. 25 is a signaling diagram illustrating opera—
`tion of an embodiment of the present invention;
`
`[0045] FIG. 26 is a diagram of a telecommunications
`system according to an embodiment of the present inven-
`tion;
`
`[0046] FIG. 27 is a diagram of an exemplary SMS com-
`mand according to an embodiment of the present invention;
`
`[0047] FIG. 28 is a diagram of an exemplary database
`according to an embodiment of the present invention;
`
`[0048] FIG. 29 is a diagram of an exemplary SMS control
`system according to an embodiment of the present inven-
`tion;
`
`[0049] FIG. 30 is a flowchart illustrating operation of an
`embodiment of the present invention;
`
`[0050] FIG. 3I is a flowchart illustrating operation of an
`embodiment of the present invention;
`
`[0051] FIG. 32 illustrates exemplary voice portal interac-
`tion according to an embodiment of the present invention;
`
`[0052] FIG. 33A and FIG. 33]] illustrate exemplary teleA
`communications systems according to embodiments of the
`present invention;
`
`[0053] FIG. 34 is a diagram of a telecommunications
`system according to an embodiment of the present inven-
`tion;
`
`[0054] FIG. 35 is a flowchart illustrating operation of an
`embodiment of the present invention;
`
`[0055] FIG. 36 is a flowchart illustrating operation of an
`embodiment of the present invention;
`
`[0056] FIG. 37 is a flowchart illustrating operation of an
`embodiment of the present invention;
`
`[0057] FIG. 38 is a diagram of a telecommunications
`system according to an embodiment of the present inven-
`tion;
`
`[0058] FIG. 39 is a signaling diagram illustrating operav
`tion of an embodiment of the present invention; and
`
`[0059] FIG. 40 is a signaling diagram illustrating opera-
`tion of an embodiment of the present invention.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
`OF THE INVENTION
`
`[0060] System Overview
`
`[0061] Turning now to the drawings and, with particular
`attention to FIG. 1A, a multimedia telecommunications
`system according to an embodiment of the present invention
`is shown and generally identified by the reference numeral
`100a. As will be discussed in greater detail below,
`the
`multimedia telecommunications system 1000 provides users
`with a bridge between their personal computer and their
`home entertainment system. The multimedia telecommuni-
`cations system l00a receives broadband media (eg, audio
`and video) streams from a broadband signal source, and
`digitizes, encapsulates and transmits to and from a personal
`computer using a local area network technology, such as a
`wireless LAN,
`for
`intelligent processing, recording and
`control from the personal computer. Digital video can also
`be captured from the Internet and sent for playback on the
`home entertainment system.
`
`In particular, shown is a multimedia telecommuni-
`[0062]
`cations system 100ar
`including a media stream manager,
`referred to as a digital personal video stream manager 1020
`(DPVSM), according to an embodiment of the present
`invention. The system 100a includes a media or home
`entertainment subsystem 10hr and a network or computer
`subsystem 103:}. As will be described in greater detail below,
`the media subsystem 1010 is based around a television 1165r
`and other broadband media devices, while the network
`
`24
`
`24
`
`

`

`US 2004/0174858 A1
`
`Sep. 9, 2004
`
`subsystem 103a is based around a personal computer 110ar
`and other local area network devices.
`
`[0063] As shown, the DPVSM 1020 is coupled via a cable
`set—top box 112::
`to a house cable connection 104a. The
`cable set-top box 112:: may be any standard cable box or
`broadband media interface such as, for example, a satellite
`dish interface. The house cable connection 104:: typically
`may be a connection for a coaxial cable, but other connec—
`tions are contemplated. As shown, the DPVSM 102:: further
`may couple to an audio system 118a, and, via a video
`recorder 1140 to a television 116a. The video recorder 114a
`
`may be embodied, for example, as any of a variety of video
`recording devices, including, for example, a videocassette
`recorder (VCR) or an optical disk recorder. In addition, an
`infrared (IR) remote control 120 may be provided for control
`ofthe DPVSM 102a and various ofthe other components of
`the system. The IR remote 120 may be any remote capable
`of interacting with a television-screen based interface and
`allowing the user to make selections therefrom.
`
`[0064] The DPVSM 102a may be adapted to control
`various functions of the various components of the media
`subsystem 1010, such as turning on and off the various
`devices, or programming the video recorder for future
`program recording. The DPVSM 1029 may program the
`devices via their coaxial cable connections,
`in much the
`same way a cable company controls operation of the cable
`set-top box. In other embodimean, separate control inter-
`faces, such as wireless interfaces or infrared interfaces, may
`be provided. For example, if the video recording device has
`an infrared interface. the DPVSM 102a could similarly send
`infrared control signals to the video recording device for
`control thereof.
`
`the
`[0065] As will be described in greater detail below,
`DPVSM 1020 can communicate with elements of the net-
`
`work subsystem 1030 wirelessly over a local area network
`107 via an 802.11 antenna 105.9. In particular, in the ernbodi-
`ment illustrated, the network subsystem 103:: couples to the
`house cable connection 1040 via an Internet access device
`such as a cable or DSI. modem 106:1.
`It
`is noted that, in
`embodiments in which the modem is a DSL modem, an
`Internet connection separate from the cable connection
`would be provided. The modem 106a couples to a home
`802.11 router 108:: and a personal computer 110a, which
`may be a laptop or desktop computer. In the embodiment
`illustrated, the router 108:: couples to the modem 106a and
`the PC 110a via CAT5 cable, It is noted, however, that other
`interfaces, such as wireless interfaces, could be used instead
`of CAT5 cable. The PC 110a is equipped with an Ethernet
`network interface card (NIC) 107.51, or other network inter-
`face, for communicating with the router 108a. As will be
`described in greater detail below, the PC 110a is able to
`communicate, for example, control commands 4555, with
`the DPVSM 1020 via the wireless router 108.9, to control
`various elements of the media subsystem 1010. It is noted
`that an advantage of certain embodiments of the DPVSM
`102 is that it need not provide its own mass storage device
`for storing media files; rather, it can make use of the personal
`computer 110a’s storage.
`
`[0066] More particularly, turning now to FIG. 2A, a block
`diagram of the exemplary DPVSM '10er of FIG. 1A is
`shown. In the embodiment illustrated,
`the DPVSM 1020
`includes a control processor 202 and an audiovisual or
`
`multimedia interface 204. The multimedia interface 204
`receives audio andtor video over the cable connection [040
`(FIG. 1A) or other audioividco input
`to a multimedia
`interface such as an audiofvideo analog-to-digital converter
`206. The video signal is then received at a compression
`circuit 208 for conversion into, for example, MPEG format.
`The MPEG video is then provided to an Ethernet interface
`2“] for packing into Ethernet packets. The Ethernet packets
`are then provided to a local area network interface, such as
`a wireless 802.11 interface 212 for transmission to the
`802.11 router, if desired. The video can then be transmitted
`to the personal computer 110 (FIG. 1A). Thus, the DPVSM
`102:: provides an interface for receiving video signals from
`the cable or satellite TV connection, and converting them
`into a digital format readable by the personal computer 110.
`
`[0067] Similarly, Internet audio and video content can be
`received by the 802.11 router 212 from the personal com-
`puter 110a and displayed over the television or recorded on
`the video recording device 1140. Thus, the data is unpacked
`from the Ethernet packets at 214. If in, for example, MI’EG
`format, the resulting data is decompressed in the de