36 results about "Audio on demand" patented technology

The present invention provides IP-centric, multi-channel, time-shifted and real-time telecommunications services to a plurality of system users. The system can capture both digital and analog multi-channel feeds and, through a cross-connect layer, can convert the signals to a digital format and subsequently send them to an encoder to be compressed. The encoding process can use a firmware upgradeable software developed to decrease data bitrates while retaining quality of the information at a desired level. The encoded, compressed signals may either be stored on a data-on-demand server for later viewing services, such as television / video-on-demand or audio-on-demand, or may be streamed directly to system users using a Media Streaming Subsystem (MSS). The MSS can be responsive to a system user request and operative to forward a selected stream of compressed digital data to the system user via a gateway means. The system can include a System Controller that can provide management and control of the system components and services provided by the system. The gateway means is able to receive compressed digital data from the Media Streaming Subsystem and transmit that data to a system user sending a request over a communication network. A cable modem, DSL modem or other appropriate interface can be located at each system user's location, thereby providing a means for sending multiple signal sources to a system user's Local Area Network (LAN) to which the User Computing Device(s) (UCD) of a system user are connected. The UCD receives the compressed data from the gateway means, subsequently decodes this compressed data and presents this decompressed information to the system user via a presentation system which may or may not be integrated into the UCD, thereby providing the requested entertainment services to the system user.

An audio-on-demand communication system provides real-time playback of audio data transferred via telephone lines or other communication links. One or more audio servers include memory banks which store compressed audio data. At the request of a user at a subscriber PC, an audio server transmits the compressed audio data over the communication link to the subscriber PC. The subscriber PC receives and decompresses the transmitted audio data in less than real-time using only the processing power of the CPU within the subscriber PC. According to one aspect of the present invention, high quality audio data compressed according to lossless compression techniques is transmitted together with normal quality audio data. According to another aspect of the present invention, metadata, or extra data, such as text, captions, still images, etc., is transmitted with audio data and is simultaneously displayed with corresponding audio data. The audio-on-demand system also provides a table of contents indicating significant divisions in the audio clip to be played and allows the user immediate access to audio data at the listed divisions. According to a further aspect of the present invention, servers and subscriber PCs are dynamically allocated based upon geographic location to provide the highest possible quality in the communication link.

An audio-on-demand communication system provides real-time playback of audio data transferred via telephone lines or other communication links. One or more audio servers include memory banks which store compressed audio data. At the request of a user at a subscriber PC, an audio server transmits the compressed audio data over the communication link to the subscriber PC. The subscriber PC receives and decompresses the transmitted audio data in less than real-time using only the processing power of the CPU within the subscriber PC. According to one aspect of the present invention, high quality audio data compressed according to lossless compression techniques is transmitted together with normal quality audio data. According to another aspect of the present invention, metadata, or extra data, such as text, captions, still images, etc., is transmitted with audio data and is simultaneously displayed with corresponding audio data. The audio-on-demand system also provides a table of contents indicating significant divisions in the audio clip to be played and allows the user immediate access to audio data at the listed divisions. According to a further aspect of the present invention, servers and subscriber PCs are dynamically allocated based upon geographic location to provide the highest possible quality in the communication link.

The invention provides a content playing method and a content playing device. The content playing method includes: 1) setting up a first control interface which packages multiple different playing plugins so as to call the different playing plugins through unified interface; 2) selecting corresponding playing plugins according to attributes of contents to be played; and 3) packaging the playing plugins selected to be integrated with a webpage player and playing the content. The content playing method and the content playing device have the advantages that users can play live videos, audio broadcasts, videos on demand and audio on demand and the like in the same webpage player, and mixed editing of different content resources is realized in the same webpage player.

The invention provides a network played content-customizing method, which includes the following steps: building a unified interface for a plurality of different played content sources; according to played contents selected by a user, obtaining the information of the played contents from the different played content sources via the unified interface, the content information including live video, live audio, video on demand, and audio on demand; according to the information of the obtained played contents, determining the locations of the played contents in a content playlist, forming a content playlist view in the timer shaft form, supplying for the user to customize individual played contents, according to the customized content playlist of the user, and a single network player calling the content in the corresponding content source to play through the unified interface. The invention also provides a network played content-customizing device. According to the invention, content information coming from different resources can be mixed in the same content playlist, so that the user can customize, mix and play network radio stations with various types of contents alone.

A system, method and computer-readable code for segmenting an audio stream into a plurality of small digital audio files using gaps in the natural language of the audio stream is provided. The small digital audio files are transmitted, loaded, and played in a specific order, such that from the user's perspective, the audio stream is reproduced in an apparently seamless manner. This is done without reassembling the audio stream, either in whole or in part. The small digital audio files are created using natural language gaps, and are generally small enough to ensure that a first small digital audio file can be downloaded and played without significant delay, while successive small digital audio files are downloaded to be played in the future. Accordingly, the user receives audio-on-demand in a timely manner.

The invention discloses a cluster streaming media server system applied to large-scale user demand, and belongs to the technical field of streaming media service. The cluster streaming media server system is characterized by containing the following three types of server nodes: a scheduling server is used for judging the network to which the scheduling server belongs according to the IP information of the user and distributing the user to a proper streaming media server, so that the user acquires the best service and the load balancing is performed on each streaming media server; the streaming media server direly provides streaming media service for the user, improves the access and transmission speeds through cache software, and manages the storage system of the server; and a monitoring server acquires the current load information of the streaming media server node through a monitoring probe which is deployed on the streaming media server node, saves the information in a local database, and simultaneously provides a web query page of the inter access to ensure that a developer queries the system resource occupation condition. The cluster streaming media server system has the advantages of providing video and audio on-demand service for the user, along with simple structure and convenient use.

A system and method for providing video and / or audio on-on demand service to owners of video and / or audio program rights for offering digital versions of those programs to web site visitors. The method or system is an Application Service Provider (ASP) model, whereby the services are provided to the video and / or audio owners over the World Wide Web and where no specifics software need reside with the video and / or audio owners. Video and / or audio programs from the owners, once converted to an appropriate digital form, are streamed over the Internet or other IP networks for viewing in real-time direct from a remote device having video and / or audio servers that store the digital programs by viewers who have purchased the right to view them. Customizable metadata is utilized to thematically and contextually identify the digital file. This metadata is searchable by a person seeking digital files for download. E-commerce transaction processing is provided on behalf of the video and / or audio owner, and revenue is appropriately conveyed to the owner and / or the web site.

The method for media content delivery using on demand assets of a specific content provider includes integrating a user media platform with the specific content provider. This integration is established through a digital locker of the media platform and a coordinator of the specific content provider. Once established, the Digital locker of the media platform shall maintain all rights information for content purchases, in addition to also storing and maintaining those rights with the specific content provider such that purchased content may be available to the user without necessarily requiring intervention by the specific content provider.

A system, method and computer-readable code for segmenting an audio stream into a plurality of small digital audio files using gaps in the natural language of the audio stream is provided. The small digital audio files are transmitted, loaded, and played in a specific order, such that from the user's perspective, the audio stream is reproduced in an apparently seamless manner. This is done without reassembling the audio stream, either in whole or in part. The small digital audio files are created using natural language gaps, and are generally small enough to ensure that a first small digital audio file can be downloaded and played without significant delay, while successive small digital audio files are downloaded to be played in the future. Accordingly, the user receives audio-on-demand in a timely manner.

The invention provides a method for customizing network broadcasting content. The method comprises the steps of receiving a broadcasting content choice made by a user and determining type and time attributes of the chosen broadcasting content, the type of the broadcasting content including live video, live audio, video on demand and audio on demand; packaging the broadcasting content information data into uniform broadcasting content information format, determining the position of the broadcasting content on a timer shaft according to the type and time attributes of the chosen broadcasting content and forming a timer-shaft broadcasting content view; calculating a coordinate position and width of the broadcasting content view on the timer-shaft, drawing a timer-shaft scale, and presenting the timer-shaft broadcasting content view to the user. The invention also provides a device for customizing the network broadcasting content. The user can add content of live video, live audio, video on demand and audio on demand to the same content broadcasting list, so that mixed editing of content information which comes from different resources is achieved in the same content broadcasting list.

A method of providing video and / or audio on-demand service to owners of video and / or audio program rights for offering digital versions of the programs to web site visitors. The method is an Application Service Provider (ASP) model, whereby the services are provided to owners over the World Wide Web and no specific software need reside with the owners. Video and / or audio programs from the owners, once converted to an appropriate digital form, are streamed over the Internet or other IP networks for viewing in real-time, direct from a remote device having servers that store the digital programs, to viewers who have purchased the right to view them. The sales transaction is conveyed to the owner, and the digital programs are streamed to the viewer from the remote servers on behalf of the owner. E-commerce transaction processing is provided on behalf of the owner, and revenue is conveyed to the owner.

The invention provides a video on-wall configuration method for an analog TV wall. The method comprises the following steps that a client sends a video on-wall command to a command processing server, and the command processing server forwards the video on-wall command to a video and audio controller; the video and audio controller receives the video on-wall command, forwards a video and audio on-wall command to an Rtsp (real time streaming protocol) server, and also requests a streaming media server to provide a video and audio on demand service; the streaming media server receives the request and then sends a high-bit-rate video and audio stream to the Rtsp server, and then the Rtsp server sends the high-bit-rate video and audio stream with an Rtsp protocol and a control stream to a data matrix or decoder, and the high-bit-rate video and audio stream and the control stream are displayed on a TV wall screen after being processed by the data matrix or decoder; meanwhile, the streaming media server converts the high-bit-rate video and audio stream into a low-bit-rate video and audio stream and sends to the client, and the client displays an image. The invention also provides a video on-wall configuration system for the analog TV wall. The client operation is facilitated and the working efficiency of the client is improved.

The present invention relates to a method for generating a multimedia user profile, and a multimedia search and browsing method using the user profile, which is capable of displaying search items in order of higher user preference to the ordering criteria of the search item that the user prefers, and searching and browsing a multimedia object using the search items displayed according to the user preference. The present invention can be adapted to multimedia service systems such as a digital VTR (Video Tape Recorder), a VOD (Video On Demand), an AOD (Audio On Demand), and an Internet. In addition, the user profile for searching and browsing the multimedia according to the present invention can creates an environment that a user can perform a convenient and easy method of searching and browsing the user-desired multimedia object according to the user preference.

The invention discloses an audio broadcasting terminal, comprising embedded microprocessor, power supply module, network interface control module, memory module, audio driving module, key module, display module and network interface to realize independent broadcast and network unicast, downloading an refreshing, where the embedded microprocessor is used to receive and process network message to control network audio decoding and broadcasting and local network audio and picture message storage as well as transmit network audio unicast request message and help control I / O information of various user interfaces; and also comprising analog audio interface and analog audio control module to directly record and broadcast analog audio signal; and it has audio local storing and MP3 music playing functions and network audio edition and unicast functions and provides independent power supplying and network power supplying functions. And it can act as a portable audio broadcaster and a multifunctional network audio unicast terminal.

A passenger entertainment system having video-on-demand, audio-on-demand, near video-on-demand, and digital and audio broadcast capabilities delivers multiple programming signals to the passenger seats. The system allocates an RF channel and one of multiple streams in that RF channel to a particular program channel so that channel surfing may be available to the passengers even when multiple programming signals are delivered on a single RF channel.

The invention discloses a method for audio data transcoding. The method comprises the steps that EPG (electronic program guide) information of audio data stream to be collected is obtained; an audio signal is collected from an equipment interface corresponding to an equipment channel according to the equipment channel arranged in a preset configuration file; the audio signal is encoded into audio data with a preset format according to a coding format and coding parameters arranged in the preset configuration file; and the audio data is stored as an audio program file according to a transcoding audio data file storage position, a naming rule and the EPG information arranged in the preset configuration file. According to the technical scheme, the collected audio data can be independently stored in a server and used for audio on demand in the form of program according to the preset configuration file and the EPG information, and the collection and transcoding efficiency of the audio data can be improved. The invention also discloses a device and a transcoding server for implementing the method.

The present invention provides IP-centric, multi-channel, time-shifted and real-time telecommunications services to a plurality of system users. The system can capture both digital and analog multi-channel feeds and, through a cross-connect layer, can convert the signals to a digital format and subsequently send them to an encoder to be compressed. The encoding process can use a firmware upgradeable software developed to decrease data bitrates while retaining quality of the information at a desired level. The encoded, compressed signals may either be stored on a data-on-demand server for later viewing services, such as television / video-on-demand or audio-on-demand, or may be streamed directly to system users using a Media Streaming Subsystem (MSS). The M'SS can be responsive to a system user request and operative to forward a selected stream of compressed digital data to the system user via a gateway means. The system can include a System Controller that can provide management and control of the system components and services provided by the system. The gateway means is able to receive compressed digital data from the Media Streaming Subsystem and transmit that data to a system user sending a request over a communication network. A cable modem, DSL modem or other appropriate interface can be located at each system user's location, thereby providing a means for sending multiple signal sources to a system user's Local Area Network (LAN) to which the User Computing Device(s) (UCD) of a system user are connected. The UCD receives the compressed data from the gateway means, subsequently decodes this compressed data and presents this decompressed information to the system user via a presentation system which may or may not be integrated into the UCD, thereby providing the requested entertainment services to the system user.

The invention provides a distributed all-media comprehensive platform system and a working method thereof. The distributed all-media comprehensive platform system comprises a personnel access module, a system function module and a database storage module, wherein the personnel access module is connected with the system function module; the database storage module is connected with the system function module; the system function module comprises a system configuration management platform; the system configuration management platform is connected with the personnel access module and is connected with the database storage module; the system configuration management platform comprises an video and audio on demand system, a news system and a special report system. The distributed all-media comprehensive platform system provided by the invention enables a user to watch TV (Television) and news whenever and wherever possible, take part in activity and voting whenever and wherever possible, share information with friends whenever and wherever possible, reveal happened funny things whenever and wherever possible and show own graceful bearing whenever and wherever possible.

A system, method and computer-readable code for segmenting an audio stream into a plurality of small digital audio files using gaps in the natural language of the audio stream is provided. The small digital audio files are transmitted, loaded, and played in a specific order, such that from the user's perspective, the audio stream is reproduced in an apparently seamless manner. This is done without reassembling the audio stream, either in whole or in part. The small digital audio files are created using natural language gaps, and are generally small enough to ensure that a first small digital audio file can be downloaded and played without significant delay, while successive small digital audio files are downloaded to be played in the future. Accordingly, the user receives audio-on-demand in a timely manner.

The invention discloses a method and a system for adding a digital watermark to a multimedia file. The method comprises the following steps of: receiving a file acquisition request for a selected fragment in a plurality of fragments of the multimedia file from request equipment; decrypting the encrypted file fragment link to obtain identification information of the selected fragment; obtaining theselected fragment according to the identifier of the selected fragment; extracting a user identifier and a channel identifier in the identification information, and adding the user identifier and thechannel identifier into the selected fragment as digital watermarks to generate a watermark-added selected fragment; and returning the selected segment to which the watermark is added to the requestdevice, so that the multimedia file comprising the selected segment to which the watermark is added has the digital watermark. According to the method and the mechanism for adding the watermark in theonline video-on-demand process, the contradiction between the distribution efficiency and the audio watermark flexibility in a large-scale online audio video-on-demand scene is solved.

The invention discloses a smart travel guidance system for a scenic region. The system includes a client terminal and a smart controller. The client terminal is connected with a management server through a fixed base station. The management server includes a central processor. The central processor is therein provided with an audio-on-demand pre-voice explanation module, a radio frequency area recognition module, a wireless team explanation guide module, a wireless audio broadcasting module, a business service module, a map navigation module and a toilet service module. A system functional layer performs statistics and analysis on number of people waiting to use the bathroom in toilets around a tourist through GPS positioning and gives reference to the tourist. When the tourist goes into a bathroom waiting zone, the system functional layer starts to count the number of people waiting to use the bathroom, so that user experience is improved greatly. The system is novel in design and is a good innovative scheme.

The invention discloses a method for audio data transcoding. The method comprises the steps that EPG (electronic program guide) information of audio data stream to be collected is obtained; an audio signal is collected from an equipment interface corresponding to an equipment channel according to the equipment channel arranged in a preset configuration file; the audio signal is encoded into audio data with a preset format according to a coding format and coding parameters arranged in the preset configuration file; and the audio data is stored as an audio program file according to a transcoding audio data file storage position, a naming rule and the EPG information arranged in the preset configuration file. According to the technical scheme, the collected audio data can be independently stored in a server and used for audio on demand in the form of program according to the preset configuration file and the EPG information, and the collection and transcoding efficiency of the audio data can be improved. The invention also discloses a device and a transcoding server for implementing the method.

The invention provides a video on-wall configuration method for an analog TV wall. The method comprises the following steps that a client sends a video on-wall command to a command processing server, and the command processing server forwards the video on-wall command to a video and audio controller; the video and audio controller receives the video on-wall command, forwards a video and audio on-wall command to an Rtsp (real time streaming protocol) server, and also requests a streaming media server to provide a video and audio on demand service; the streaming media server receives the request and then sends a high-bit-rate video and audio stream to the Rtsp server, and then the Rtsp server sends the high-bit-rate video and audio stream with an Rtsp protocol and a control stream to a data matrix or decoder, and the high-bit-rate video and audio stream and the control stream are displayed on a TV wall screen after being processed by the data matrix or decoder; meanwhile, the streaming media server converts the high-bit-rate video and audio stream into a low-bit-rate video and audio stream and sends to the client, and the client displays an image. The invention also provides a video on-wall configuration system for the analog TV wall. The client operation is facilitated and the working efficiency of the client is improved.

The invention provides a method for customizing network broadcasting content. The method comprises the steps of receiving a broadcasting content choice made by a user and determining type and time attributes of the chosen broadcasting content; determining the position of the broadcasting content on a timer shaft according to the type and time attributes of the chosen broadcasting content and forming a timer-shaft broadcasting content view; and presenting the timer-shaft broadcasting content view to the user. The invention also provides a device for customizing the network broadcasting content. The user can add content of live video, live audio, video on demand and audio on demand to the same content broadcasting list, so that mixed editing of content information which comes from different resources is achieved in the same content broadcasting list.

The invention discloses an information broadcasting network access terminal device comprising an analog-to-digital converter circuit, a first address latch circuit, a main controller, a second addresslatch circuit, an external static data memory circuit, a network controller circuit, a network transformer circuit and a data interface circuit, wherein the analog-to-digital converter circuit, the first address latch circuit and the main controller are connected in sequence; one end of the second address latch circuit is connected with the main controller, and the end of the second address latchcircuit is connected with the external static data memory circuit; the other end of the external static data memory circuit is connected with the network controller circuit; the network controller circuit is connected with the network transformer circuit; and the network transformer circuit is connected with the data interface circuit. The information broadcasting network access terminal device can stable network access of campus broadcast, so that the campus broadcast can fully use the network resources, and realize the function of audio on demand, and is stable and reliable.

The invention discloses an audio playback terminal, which includes an embedded microprocessor, a power supply module, a network interface control module, a storage module, an audio drive module, a key module, a display module and a network interface, so as to realize independent playback, network on-demand, download and Refresh; the embedded microprocessor is used to receive and process network information, complete the decoding and playback control of network audio, complete the storage control of local network audio and picture information, and complete the sending of network audio on demand request information and cooperate to complete various user interfaces Control of input and output information. It can also include an analog audio interface and an analog audio control module to realize direct recording and playback of analog audio signals; in addition to local audio storage and mp3 music playback functions, the present invention also realizes network audio editing and on-demand functions, and provides independent power supply And network power supply two functions. The invention can be used not only as a portable audio player but also as a multifunctional network audio on demand terminal.