Network media player having a user-generated playback control record
View Patent ↗A network media player enables user-controlled playback of video or other content from various sources according to a playback control record. The network media player includes a content input port, an output port, and a processor configured to retrieve input content from one or more sources using the content input port. The processor is also configured to generate output content from the retrieved input content according to a playback control record so as to vary the playback of the retrieved input content. The processor is also configured to output the generated output content to the output port. In some embodiments, the playback control record includes an applicability identifier usable to determine whether the playback control record is applicable to input content and a content variation descriptor that defines an alteration to be applied to the retrieved input content.
1. A method for user-generated content control in a network media system, the system including one or more data sources and a playback device, the method comprising:
retrieving input content at the playback control device from the one or more sources;
retrieving a playback control record at the playback device;
generating, using a processor in the playback control device, under control of the information in the playback control record output content from the retrieved input content from the one or more sources according to the playback control record so as to vary the playback of the retrieved input content, wherein the processor generates the output content using information contained in the playback control record, wherein the information includes an applicability identifier usable to determine whether the playback control record is applicable to input content, a content variation descriptor that defines an alteration to be applied to the retrieved input content, and latency times of various playback devices that are not pre-assigned to the media player or any of the one or more sources; and
outputting, using the processor, the generated output content.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein retrieving input content from one or more sources includes retrieving content from a local source.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the local source includes one or more from the group consisting of:
a computer;
a digital video recorder;
a set-top box;
a network media player; and
a network media server.
4. The method of claim 2 , wherein retrieving content from the local source includes reading data from a data storage device.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein retrieving input content from one or more sources includes retrieving content from a remote source.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the remote source is a server accessible from the Internet.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the content is a sensory work.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving a playback control record.
9. A network media player having access to one or more data sources, comprising:
a content input port;
an output port; and
a processor configured to retrieve input content from the one or more sources and a playback control record using the content input port, to generate output content from the retrieved input content according to the playback control record so as to vary the playback of the retrieved input content, and to output the generated output content to the output port, wherein the processor generates the output content under control of information contained in the playback control record, wherein the information includes an applicability identifier usable to determine whether the playback control record is applicable to input content, a content variation descriptor that defines an alteration to be applied to the retrieved input content, and latency times of various playback devices that are not pre-assigned to the media player or any of the one or more sources.
10. The network media player of claim 9 , wherein the content input port receives at least one sensory work.
11. The network media player of claim 9 , wherein the content input port is a removal media drive.