EP1520406A1

EP1520406A1 - Procedure and system for facilitating of access to media transmissions

Info

Publication number: EP1520406A1
Application number: EP03738798A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jörgen NILSSON
Original assignee: Telia AB
Current assignee: Telia Co AB
Priority date: 2002-06-03
Filing date: 2003-05-27
Publication date: 2005-04-06
Also published as: SE0201652L; NO20045108L; SE0201652D0; SE524613C2; WO2003103284A1; AU2003245187A1

Abstract

Procedure and system for facilitating of access to media transmissions. The procedure is executed by control of a media server which is centrally located and which has access to the media transmissions. The procedure includes the steps: To receive an order for a recording of at least one wanted media transmission, control the media server to record said ordered media transmissions, and control access to said recording.

Description

PROCEDURE AND SYSTEM FOR FACILITATING OF ACCESS TO

MEDIA TRANSMISSIONS

Technical field The present invention relates generally to media transmissions and particularly to a procedure for facilitating of access to media transmissions.

Prior art Today there are many different technologies for recording of and access to media transmissions. Utilization of video recorders for recording of and access to TV- programs has been and is a dominating method. A disadvantage of/with this method is that one physically has to be at the place at the video recorder, both to prepare the recording and to watch the recorded program.

Another disadvantage is that the video cassettes only hold a certain number of minutes of recording, and that one for that reason is limited in one's choice of recordings if one wants to record a plurality of programs. When one then wants to watch the recorded program, and doesn't do it all at once afterwards, it also may be difficult to find the recorded program, because the used tape has not been marked. Besides, one may have to find where on the tape the program is, which can be time-wasting and annoying. One solution to the problem of being physically present at the video recorder to start the recording is shown in the patent document EP 1133088. According to this document, a video/audio server is used for ordering of recording of programs which then are recorded on a video recorder which is physically located in/at a user's home. The user, however, still must be at the home to watch the recorded programs, and the disadvantages of handling video tapes and the recorded programs remains. Other solutions for facilitating of access to media transmissions are for instance utilization of the PPV- technology (Pay Per View) , which means that the user - from a list of a certain number of different films - can order, load down and pay for the films he/she actually is watching. Examples of such PPV-technology imply that the TV-device also is connected to the telecommunications network via a modem which is used at control of downloading of the films for showing on the TV-set. The user, however, is limited to the program offer which is offered by the cable-TV company and he/she has no possibility to record "ordinary" programs himself/herself, and load them down for showing on his/her TV-set. It also only will be possible for him/her to utilize the service to watch the program at his/her own home, because the service is limited to a subscription to which it is associated.

Summary of the invention

The aim of the following invention is to eliminate the above mentioned problems and also in other respects make a more flexible access to media transmissions possible. According to a first aspect of the invention this aim is achieved by a procedure according to the patent claim 1, where a media server is controlled which is centrally located and which has access to the media transmissions, which procedure includes the steps: To receive an order for a recording of at least one wanted media transmission; to control the media server to record ordered media transmissions; and to control access to said recording.

The interpretation of that a media server is centrally located is preferably that the media server is generally accessible in a data communications network which can have interfaces towards other networks and towards users' media receivers in form of, for instance, gateways, routers, GPRS, UMTS, WAP etc.

According to a second aspect of the invention the aim is achieved by a computer program which performs/executes the steps in the procedure according the patent claim 1. The computer program as such can be included by the media server, or more preferably, by a server which is a separate unit in relation to the media server, for instance a service server. According to a third aspect of the invention the aim is achieved by a system which includes a media server equipped with device to: Receive an order for a recording of a wanted media transmission, record ordered media transmissions and make access to said recording possible. One advantage with the utilization of a media server and a procedure for control of a media server in this way is that the user not physically need to be at place at the media server to prepare recording of a program. It is not unusual that one wants to watch a program one has no opportunity to see, and that one does not have possibility to be physically present at the video recorder to prepare recording of the program. The user is by the invention provided with possibility to control the media server for recording via for instance a cellular mobile telephone, a computer with Internet-connection, the fixed telecommunications network etc.

Another advantage is that the user not physically need to be at the place at the media server in order to afterwards watch the recorded program. By the expression access to a recording is meant that the user can choose to watch the recorded program from optional place which has access to possibility to establish connection to the media server. The playback of the program is done/made via a network, for instance via the cable-TV network, via satellite or via Internet.

Yet another advantage with the invention is the fact that a user who utilizes the invention does not need to have a video recorder at hand at all to record or watch the program. According to one preferred embodiment of the invention the recording of the media recording is controlled by selecting place of storing and type of way of storing for the recording.

One advantage with this is that the user can choose to watch the program any time afterwards, because it is stored on selected place of storing. Another advantage is that the user does not "lose/mislay" the recording and that he/she does not need find out where on the video tape the program is .

The advantages of the present invention can be summarized by that the user any time and anywhere on the one hand is provided with the possibility to record a program, and on the other to watch the program. He/she does not even need to have a video recorder at hand for this purpose .

Brief description of the drawings

The invention will be described in more details in the following with reference to enclosed drawings, in which

Figure 1 schematically shows a system in which one embodiment of the invention is realized, and

Figure 2 schematically shows a procedure in which one aspect of the invention is realized.

Detailed description of the drawings Figure 1 shows schematically a system in which one embodiment of the invention is realized. A service server 102 is connected to a media server 104 which in its turn is connected to one or more providers/suppliers of media transmissions 118 and, via a network 120, to a user's home 124 and an office 122.

A user who wants to record one or more programs can control the media server 104 by establishing connection to the service server 102. This can be made in a number of different ways. The user can for this purpose for instance utilize a mobile telephone 112 in the mobile telephone network 106 (PLMN, Public Land Mobile Network) , a computer 114 on the Internet 108, or a telephone 116 in the fixed public telephone network 110 (PSTN, Public Switched Telephone Network) .

The service server 102 includes computer software on the one hand to receive orders for recordings of programs from the user, on the other to control the media server to record these programs, and on the other to make the programs accessible to the user for showing.

One example now will be provided to illustrate how the invention can be utilized to facilitate access to media transmissions .

A user is obliged to work overtime, which means that he will not be home in time to watch the final of the world championship in football. However, he is eager for watching it afterwards, so he logs in on a home page on the Internet 108 by means of a computer 114 to make an order for a recording of the football match. The home page constitutes an interface between the service server 102 and the user and includes the parts which are necessary to make it possible for the user to make an order for a recording via Internet 108. The user enters on the home page that he wants to record the final of the world championship in football which is transmitted on TV4 between 5.00 - 7.30 p.m. He selects to store the recording on a hard disk which belongs to the media server 104 and that the storing shall be made in a suitable storing format. The service server 102 transmits the order for the recording to the media server 104 which in its turn establishes a connection to selected provider/supplier 118 of the media transmission, TV4, for execution of the recording of the match.

On his way home from the job, the car breaks down and he will be further delayed. On the car radio he is informed about that the football match has ended in a draw and for that reason has been subject to 30 minutes extra time. If also the extra time ends in a draw, there will penalty kicks until there is a winner. The user realizes that the match will not be finished at 7.30 p.m., so he needs to prolong the recording. He takes his mobile telephone 112 and utilizes its WAP-function to prolong the recording by 60 minutes. In similar way as the home page 114, the mobile telephone 112, together with the WAP-function, constitutes an interface between the service server 102 and the user and includes the parts which are necessary for the user to make an order (or a change) for/of a recording, this time via the mobile telephone network 106. Later in the evening he visits his girlfriend in order to, together with her, watch the football final. He uses her ordinary telephone 116, which communicates via the fixed public telephone network 110, to call one for the service server 102 intended telephone number. He makes an order for the program via interactive voice response and enters that the match shall be shown on his girlfriend' s TV-set. The service server 102 transmits the order for the playback to the media server 104 which executes a playback of the match via the cable—TV network to a set-top-box which is connected to the girlfriend's TV-set.

In similar way as earlier, the fixed telephone 116, together with the interactive voice response function, constitutes an interface between the service server 102 and the user and includes the parts which are necessary to make it possible for the user to make an order for a recording (or a play back) , this time via the fixed public telephone network 110.

Half a year later the user shall set out for a mountain holiday journey together with his pals and there they want to watch the exciting football match again.

Before starting the mountain journey, he consequently makes an order that this time he wants to load down the program to the hard disk of his portable computer. In this way now the user and his pals are provided with the possibility to watch the program in a mountain cabin which does not have access to establish a connection to the service server 102. They choose to watch the match by means of the user' s portable computer and a connected projector.

For commercial purpose the invention might among other things be possible to utilize so that the service server is provided by an operator who charges to make recordings and play back of programs. Another operator provides the media server which executes these orders. Of course the present invention can be utilized so that the media server and the service server are provided by one and the same operator. Even if the invention has been described with reference to specific exemplified embodiments, many different changes, modifications and the like will be obvious to the expert in the field. The described embodiments therefore are not intended to limit the scope of the invention, such as it is defined by the enclosed patent claims .

For instance has the invention been illustrated with the media server and the service server as two separate units. Of course the present invention can be modified and utilized in such a way that the media server and the service server are one and the same server.

Further, the invention has been illustrated so that establishing of connection to the service server can be made in three different ways. Of course this also can be made by means of other means such as a PDA, notebook or laptop which can establish connection to/with the service server .

The present invention neither is limited by recording of TV-programs, but it of course can be modified and utilized for recording of and access to media transmissions which are made via radio, Internet or the like.

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS

1. A procedure for facilitating of access to media transmissions by control of a media server which is centrally located and which has access to the media transmissions, consisting of the steps: to receive an order for a recording of at least one wanted media transmission; to control the media server to record ordered media transmissions; and to control access to said recording, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that access to said recording is controlled by said recording being selected to be watched from optional place which can establish a connection to the media server; and that said step for control of the media server is executed by a service server.

2. Procedure as claimed in patent claim 1, where reception of the order includes to analyze at least one of: type of media transmission; source of said media transmission; starting point of time of said media transmission; and - ending point of time of said media transmission.

3. Procedure as claimed in patent claim 1 or 2, where control of the media server to record ordered media transmissions includes at least one of the steps to: - select wanted media transmission; select source of/for said media transmission; select storing place for the recording; select type of way of storing for the recording; start the recording of said media transmission at the starting point of time of the media transmission; and end/stop the recording of said media transmission at the ending point of time of the media transmission.

4. Procedure as claimed in any of the patent claims 1- 3, where control of the access includes at least one of the steps to: receive an instruction to start the playback of said media transmission; - select destination for reception of said media transmission.

5. Computer program, including program steps which execute a procedure as claimed in any of the patent claims 1-4.

6. System for facilitating of access to media transmissions, which system includes device for control of a media server which is centrally located and which has access to the media transmissions, where said device for control include devices to: receive an order for a recording of at least one wanted media transmission; control the media server to record ordered media transmissions; and control the access to said recording, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that said devices are arranged to control the access to said recording in such a way that said recording optionally can be watched from optional place which can establish connection to the media server; and that said device for control of the media server is arranged in a service server.

7. System for facilitating of access to media transmissions as claimed in patent claim 6, at which the service server is part of a telecommunications network which is provided by a telecommunications operator.

8. System for facilitating of access to media transmissions as claimed in any of the patent claims 6 or 7, including device for communication with a wireless mobile station.

9. System for facilitating of access to media transmissions as claimed in any of the patent claims 6 or 7, including device for communication via Internet with a computer.

10. System for facilitating of access to media transmissions as claimed in any of the patent claims 6 or 7, including device for communication via with a PSTN- telephone .