Systems and methods for mirroring and transcoding media content
Systems and methods for mirroring and transcoding media content are provided. In some embodiments, media content stored on a user equipment device is mirrored on a remote server, and the mirrored copy is transcoded and provided to other user devices in a media content format that is appropriate for the user devices. By so doing, the present invention not only provides a convenient and easy way for users to backup media content and access the media content from virtually any device, but also reduces the complexity and costs associated with maintaining reliable and consistent access to media content across various user devices.
1 . A method for providing access to media content, the method comprising:
mirroring media content stored on first user equipment on a remote server coupled to the first user equipment over a network;
transcoding, on the remote server, the mirrored copy of the media content to a media content format that is appropriate for second user equipment;
providing the mirrored, transcoded media content to the second user equipment;
in response to a user input received by the first user equipment to access the media content, playing the media content from the first user equipment; and
in response to a user input received by the second user equipment to access the media content, playing the mirrored, transcoded media content on the second user equipment.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein transcoding the mirrored copy of the media content comprises transcoding the mirrored copy of the media content in response to the user input received by the second user equipment to access the media content.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein providing the mirrored, transcoded media content to the second user equipment comprises providing the mirrored, transcoded media content to the second user equipment in response to the user input received by the second user equipment to access the media content.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first user equipment is a mobile user device and the second user equipment is installed equipment.
5 . The method of claim 4 , further comprising automatically providing the mirrored, transcoded media content to the installed equipment.
6 . The method of claim 4 , further comprising automatically providing the mirrored, transcoded media content to the installed equipment based on a user-determined schedule.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first user equipment is installed equipment and the second user equipment is a mobile user device.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first user equipment is in a home network, and the second user equipment is outside of the home network.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein one of the first user equipment and the second user equipment is a mobile user device selected from the group consisting of a cellular telephone, a laptop computer, a personal digital assistant, a handheld computer, a portable television system, an automobile television system, a portable media player, and any combination thereof.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the media content is selected from the group consisting of video content, audio content, picture, voice message, multi-media content, and any combination thereof.
11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein one of the first user equipment and the second user equipment is user equipment selected from the group consisting of a personal computer, a set-top box, a digital video recorder, an optical disc recorder, a digital camera, a home telephone, a laptop computer, a personal digital assistant, a handheld computer, a media player, and any combination thereof.
12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first user equipment utilizes an interactive media guidance application to access the media content.
13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the second user equipment utilizes an interactive media guidance application to access the media content.
14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein transcoding the mirrored copy of the media content by the remote server and providing the mirrored, transcoded media content to the second user equipment is performed in real-time.
15 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving a user selection of the media content to be mirrored on the remote server.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein:
receiving a user selection of the media content to be mirrored on the remote server comprises receiving a user designation of a storage drive on the first user equipment; and
mirroring media content stored on the first user equipment comprises automatically mirroring media content stored on the designated storage drive.
17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein:
receiving a user selection of the media content to be mirrored on the remote server comprises receiving a user designation of a media content format; and
mirroring media content stored on the first user equipment comprises automatically mirroring media content stored in the designated media content format on the first user equipment.
18 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the media content is a television program series recording on the first user equipment.
19 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first user equipment is a set-top box.
20 . A method for providing access to media content to a mobile user device, the method comprising:
receiving a request from the mobile user device for media content stored in a first format on user equipment in a home network;
receiving a mirrored copy of the media content by a remote server that stores the mirrored copy of the media content, wherein the remote server is outside of the home network;
transcoding the mirrored copy into a second format of the media content that is appropriate for the mobile user device; and
providing the transcoded, mirrored copy of the media content to the mobile user device in the second format.
21 . The method of claim 20 , further comprising selecting the second format from a plurality of formats based on the capabilities of the mobile user device.
22 . The method of claim 20 , wherein transcoding the mirrored copy of the media content comprises transcoding the mirrored copy after the request for the media content is received from the mobile user device.
23 . The method of claim 20 , wherein transcoding the mirrored copy of the media content comprises transcoding the mirrored copy before the request for the media content is received from the mobile user device.
24 . The method of claim 20 , further comprising storing the transcoded, mirrored copy of the media content on the mobile user device.
25 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the remote server is a first remote server, and wherein:
transcoding the mirrored copy of the media content comprises transcoding the mirrored copy of the media content on a second remote server; and
providing the mirrored, transcoded copy of the media content to the mobile device comprises providing the mirrored, transcoded copy of the media content from the second remote server to the mobile user device.
26 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the mobile user device is outside of the home network.
27 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the mobile user device is selected from the group consisting of a cellular telephone, a laptop computer, a personal digital assistant, a handheld computer, a portable television system, an automobile television system, a portable media player, and any combination thereof.
28 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the media content is selected from the group consisting of video content, audio content, picture, voice message, multi-media content, and any combination thereof.
29 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the user equipment is selected from the group consisting of a personal computer, a set-top box, a digital video recorder, an optical disc recorder, a digital camera, a home telephone, a laptop computer, a personal digital assistant, a handheld computer, a media player, and any combination thereof.
30 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the remote server comprises a first application resident on the remote server and a second application resident on the remote server, and wherein:
receiving a mirrored copy of the media content comprises receiving the mirrored copy of the media content from the first application; and
transcoding the mirrored copy of the media content comprises transcoding the mirrored copy of the media content on the second application.
31 . The method of claim 20 , further comprising mirroring the media content stored on the user equipment on the remote server, wherein the remote server is coupled to the user equipment over a network.
32 . The method of claim 31 , wherein mirroring the media content stored on the user equipment comprises periodically polling the user equipment for updated media content.
33 . The method of claim 31 , wherein mirroring the media content stored on the user equipment comprises mirroring the media content stored on the user equipment according to a user-determined schedule.
34 . The method of claim 33 , further comprising receiving a user selection of the user-determined schedule from an interactive media guidance application.
35 . The method of claim 20 , further comprising providing the mirrored copy of the media content in the first format to the user equipment, in response to receiving a request for the media content from the user equipment.
36 . The method of claim 35 , wherein receiving a request for the media content from the user equipment comprises receiving a request for the media content from the user equipment only if the media content is no longer stored on the user equipment.
37 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the mobile user device utilizes an interactive media guidance application to access the media content.
38 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the user equipment utilizes an interactive media guidance application to access the media content.
39 . The method of claim 20 , wherein transcoding the mirrored copy into the second format and providing the transcoded, mirrored copy to the mobile user device is performed in real-time.
40 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the media content is a television program series recording.
41 . A system for providing access to media content, the system comprising:
a processor configured to:
mirror media content stored on first user equipment on a remote server coupled to the first user equipment over a network;
transcode on the remote server the mirrored copy of the media content to a media content format that is appropriate for second user equipment;
provide the mirrored, transcoded media content to the second user equipment;
cause the first user equipment to play the media content from the first user equipment in response to a user input received by the first user equipment to access the media content; and
cause the second user equipment to play the mirrored, transcoded media content on the second user equipment in response to a user input received by the second user equipment to access the media content.
42 . The system of claim 41 , wherein the processor is configured to transcode the mirrored copy of the media content in response to the user input received by the second user equipment to access the media content.
43 . The system of claim 41 , wherein the processor is configured to provide the mirrored, transcoded media content to the second user equipment in response to the user input received by the second user equipment to access the media content.
44 - 59 . (canceled)
60 . A system for providing access to media content to a mobile user device, the system comprising:
a processor configured to:
receive a request from the mobile user device for media content stored in a first format on user equipment in a home network;
receive a mirrored copy of the media content by a remote server that stores the mirrored copy of the media content, wherein the remote server is outside of the home network;
transcode the mirrored copy of the media content into a second format of the media content that is appropriate for the mobile user device; and
provide the transcoded, mirrored copy of the media content to the mobile user device in the second format.
61 . The system of claim 60 , wherein the processor is further configured to selecting the second format of the media content from a plurality of formats based on the capabilities of the mobile user device.
62 . The system of claim 60 , wherein the processor is configured to transcode the mirrored copy of the media content after the request to access the media content is received from the mobile user device.
63 - 120 . (canceled)