PERSONAL STREAMING AND BROADCAST CHANNELS IN A MEDIA EXCHANGE NETWORK
Systems and methods for the exchange of personal streaming media channels are disclosed. An embodiment of the present invention may permit the exchange of media such as, for example, audio and video, in a real time manner via a personal media channel in a media exchange network. The media channel may be established based upon input from a user, and its establishment may be initiated based upon input from sensors such as, for example, a smoke or fire sensor, a motion detector, a swimming pool disturbance detector, and a door bell button. A personal streaming media channel may be a one-way or a two-way channel. The media may be consumed using a set top box, and may be produced by a media peripheral such as, for example, a digital camcorder, a microphone, a video camera, and a MP3 player.
1 - 25 . (canceled)
26 . A system supporting the communication of media content in a communication network, the system comprising:
at least one processor arranged for operably coupling to a first display device to enable consumption of media content, to at least one first media peripheral for production of media content, and to a first storage for storing media content, the at least one processor, during operation, communicatively coupling the first display device, the at least one first media peripheral, the first storage, and the communication network, the at least one processor operable to, at least:
cause display, on the first display device, of a user interface comprising a graphical representation of at least one user defined media channel, the at least one user defined media channel comprising a sequence of media content selected and time scheduled by a first user of a self-administered group of users;
transmit the at least one user defined media channel to one or more other systems at respective locations of other users of the self-administered group of users, via the communication network in a peer-to-peer manner, to enable display of the graphical representation of the at least one user defined media channel on a display device at each of the one or more other systems; and
automatically communicate the sequence of user selected media content between the at least one processor and the one or more other systems, via the communication network in a peer-to-peer manner, according to the time schedule of the at least one media channel.
27 . The system according to claim 26 , wherein the graphical user interface enables a user to immediately establish communication of media content between the system and the one or more other systems.
28 . The system according to claim 26 , wherein the self-administered group of users comprises the user at the first location and the users of the one or more other systems.
29 . The system according to claim 26 , wherein one of the one or more other systems comprises a second media peripheral, and the at least one user defined media channel comprises a scheduled time interval of communication of media content from the second media peripheral of the one other system to the first display device.
30 . The system according to claim 29 , wherein the second media peripheral is a video camera and the media content is video from the video camera for consumption in a real-time manner.
31 . The system according to claim 29 , wherein the at least one media channel comprises a scheduled time interval of concurrent communication of media content from the at least one first media peripheral to the second display device and communication of media content from the second media peripheral of the one other system to the first display device.
32 . The system according to claim 26 , wherein the communication network comprises one or more of a cable infrastructure, a satellite network infrastructure, a digital subscriber line (DSL) infrastructure, an Internet infrastructure, an intranet infrastructure, a wired infrastructure, and/or a wireless infrastructure.
33 . The system according to claim 26 , wherein the communication network comprises the Internet.
34 . The system according to claim 26 , wherein consumption comprises displaying one or both of a still image and video.
35 . The system according to claim 26 , wherein the at least one first media peripheral comprises one or more of a digital camera, a digital camcorder, a video camera, a television, a personal computer, a CD player, a home juke-box, a multi-media gateway device, a multi-media personal digital assistant, a DVD player, a tape player, a microphone, and/or a MP3 player.
36 . The system according to claim 26 , wherein the at least one processor is operable to, at least, initiates a request to communicate media content with the second home upon determining that a certain event has occurred at the first location.
37 . The system according to claim 36 , wherein the certain event comprises one or more of a door bell button press, detection of motion, detection of smoke, and/or detection of fire.