Method and apparatus for interactive distribution of digital content
A system, method, and machine-readable medium are disclosed for the controlled, non-real-time conveyance of digital content for playback. Digital content and associated metadata are marked, rated, categorized, and then converted into encoded digital data. The resulting encoded digital data is transmitted as a plurality of data streams through a communications facility such as a satellite, wireless, or physical network. The data streams are received by a content receiver where they are decoded into metadata and digital content for controlled conveyance and playback. A digital content management module comprising a content selection algorithm compares metadata associated with candidate digital content to a predetermined content selection profile. If the metadata matches predetermined selection parameters of the selection profile, the candidate digital content and its associated metadata are stored in a machine-readable medium for controlled conveyance and playback.
1. A content receiver, comprising:
a digital data stream receiver operable to receive a non-real-time conveyance of a plurality of encoded digital data streams;
a digital data stream decoder configured to extract digital content and metadata associated with said digital content from the plurality of encoded digital data streams;
a storage medium in which are stored digital content selection profiles and profiled digital content files;
a digital content management module operable to:
receive user input and to responsively initiate generation of said digital content selection profiles wherein the generation of said digital content selection profiles is automatically initiated upon receipt of said user input;
use said user input to generate user operation patterns;
determine, subsequent to extraction by the digital data stream decoder of at least a portion of the digital content and the metadata and based on said metadata and said content selection profiles, to selectively generate and store said profiled digital content files in said storage medium, each of said profiled digital content files being comprised of a portion of said digital content and being associated with at least one of said digital content selection profiles; and
a digital content playback module operable to generate audio signals using said profiled digital content files, wherein each of said plurality of profiled digital content files is determined to be generated and stored in said storage medium prior to generating the audio signals using the associated digital content and wherein said user operation patterns are used to generate selection parameters for managing said profiled digital content files.
2. The content receiver of claim 1 , wherein said selection parameters are used to control the sequence for generating audio signals from said profiled digital content files.
3. The content receiver of claim 2 , wherein said selection parameters comprise a content rating value.
4. The content receiver of claim 1 wherein the digital content management module is operable to generate the digital content selection profiles, each of the digital content selection profiles comprising metadata selection parameters.
5. The content receiver of claim 4 wherein the digital content management module is further operable to perform comparison operations involving the metadata and the metadata selection parameters of a predetermined one of the digital content selection profiles.
6. The content receiver of claim 5 wherein the digital content management module is further configured to discard portions of said digital content associated with portions of the metadata not corresponding to the metadata selection parameters.
7. The content receiver of claim 6 wherein the digital content management module is further configured to select for storage other portions of said digital content associated with other portions of the metadata corresponding to the metadata selection parameters.
8. The content receiver of claim 1 , wherein said digital content management module is further operable to:
receive a user input while audio signals are being generated using a first one of the stored profiled digital content files, said user input affecting how said audio signals are being generated, and
upon receiving said user input, revise one of said digital content selection profiles so as to affect future selections of said one of said stored profiled digital content files.
9. A method, comprising:
receiving and decoding a non-real-time conveyance of a plurality of encoded digital data streams comprising digital content and metadata, thereby extracting said digital content and metadata associated with said digital content;
generating a plurality of digital content selection profiles comprising metadata selection parameters;
determining, subsequent to the extracting and based on said metadata and said metadata selection parameters, to selectively generate a plurality of profiled digital content files comprising digital content and being associated with said metadata selection parameters;
receiving user input and responsively initiating generation of said digital content selection profiles wherein the generating of said digital content selection profiles is automatically initiated upon receipt of said user input;
using said user input to generate user operation patterns;
storing said selectively generated plurality of profiled digital content files; and
generating audio signals using said profiled digital content files, wherein each of said plurality of profiled digital content files is determined to be generated and stored prior to generating the audio signals using the associated digital content and wherein said user operation patterns are used to generate selection parameters for managing said profiled digital content files.
10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising: using said selection parameters to control the sequence for generating audio signals from said profiled digital content files.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein said selection parameters comprise a content rating value.
12. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
receiving a user input while audio signals are being generated using a first one of the stored profiled digital content files, said user input affecting how said audio signals are being generated, and
upon receiving said user input, revise one of said digital content selection profiles so as to affect future selections of said one of said stored profiled digital content files.
13. A content receiver device for receiving and processing digital information for controlled, non-real-time conveyance, comprising:
a decoder operable to receive a non-real-time conveyance of a plurality of encoded digital data streams comprising digital content and metadata and to decode said plurality of encoded digital data streams, thereby extracting said digital content and associated metadata therefrom;
a digital content management module operable to:
generate a plurality of digital content selection profiles comprising metadata selection parameters, and, subsequent to the extracting, to determine, based on said metadata and said metadata selection parameters, to selectively generate a plurality of profiled digital content files comprising digital content and being associated with said metadata selection parameters;
receive user input and to responsively initiate generation of said digital content selection profiles wherein the generation of said digital content selection profiles is automatically initiated upon receipt of said user input;
use said user input to generate user operation patterns;
a storage medium operable to store said selectively generated profiled digital content files; and
a digital content playback module operable to generate audio signals using said profiled digital content files, wherein each of said plurality of profiled digital content files is determined to be generated and stored prior to generating the audio signals using the associated digital content and wherein said user operation patterns are used to generate selection parameters for managing said profiled digital content files.
14. The content receiver device of claim 13 , wherein said selection parameters are used to control the sequence for generating audio signals from said profiled digital content files.
15. The content receiver device of claim 14 , wherein said selection parameters comprise a content rating value.
16. The content receiver device of claim 13 , wherein said digital content management module is further operable to:
receive a user input while audio signals are being generated using a first one of said stored profiled digital content files, said user input affecting how said audio signals are being generated, and
upon receiving said user input, revise one of said digital content selection profiles so as to affect future selections of said one of said stored profiled digital content files.
17. A method, comprising:
receiving and decoding a plurality of encoded digital data streams comprising digital content and metadata, thereby extracting said digital content and metadata;
generating a plurality of digital content selection profiles comprising metadata selection parameters;
determining, based on said metadata and said metadata selection parameters, to selectively generate a plurality of profiled digital content files comprising digital content and being associated with said metadata selection parameters;
storing said selectively generated plurality of profiled digital content files;
generating audio signals during playback of said profiled digital content files, wherein each of said plurality of profiled digital content files is determined to be generated and stored prior to generating the audio signals using the associated digital content;
receiving user input relating to the playback of said profiled digital content files; and
generating patterns using the user input wherein the generating the plurality of digital content selection profiles is based upon the patterns.